The BiblioKid Team
Publisher – Brooke Gansemer
Brooke Gansemer is an award-winning children’s book author and founder of BiblioKid Publishing. Her books have received honors such as the Moonbeam Children’s Book Award, Independent Press Award, and Mom’s Choice for honoring excellence in children’s books. She’s also the former Assistant Regional Advisor for SCBWI-IA/MN, writing coach at Journey to Kidlit, and a member of publishing organizations such as the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Midwest Independent Publishers Association (MiPA), & Independent Publishers Group (IPG).
She founded BiblioKid Publishing as a way to help other children’s book writers live their publishing dreams without having to wait years for a traditional publishing contract or struggle through the self-publishing process by themselves.
Editor – Sarah Jane Abbott
Sarah Jane Abbott is an experienced editor who has spent over eight years making books for children. She got her start at Simon & Schuster’s Paula Wiseman Books and Beach Lane Books, where she had the pleasure of working with many wonderful authors and illustrators including Samantha M. Clark, Anita Lobel, Alice B. McGinty and Alan B. Havis, Diane Goode, Samantha Cotterill, and Scott Magoon.
She is a frequent public speaker and presenter and has given lectures and workshops at SCBWI conferences and other events across the country. In 2020, she established Sarah Jane Abbott Editorial, and she now works with authors and publishers on a wide range of projects. When she isn’t reading or editing, you can find her knitting, drinking tea, or trying to master the art of baking a macaron that would meet Mary Berry’s standards.
Editor – Jen Tolnay
Jen has worked in jobs ranging from teaching piano to social media marketing but a constant has been children’s books—reading non-stop as a kid, volunteering at her kids’ school library, and now helping children’s books through their process to publication.
Jen loved reading as a kid and has never stopped enjoying children’s books. Her work as a line editor helps develop your book and get it ready for the next step in the publication process.
Art Director – Christine Kettner
Christine Kettner tells stories through pictures and clarity of design. Throughout her many years of experience as an Art Director, she has worked with companies such as Hyperion/Disney, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and HarperCollins. She has also had the privilege of working with many well-known and award-winning authors. Christine believes collaboration with others creates an object that one can hold in their hand and transport a reader to another world outside their own situation in life.
Production Manager – Alyson Bowen
Alyson is a film-based photographer living in Portland, Oregon. Raised in Florida, warm-blooded and barefooted, she made her way West after receiving her BS in Photography. She has since narrowed her focus to art education, archiving, small press publishing, and fine art print practices.
Alyson’s work has been included in several publications and exhibitions, both nationally and internationally, including the Fotofilmic JRNL, Creative Quarterly journal, Lightbox Photographic Gallery, PULP Gallery, and Photographer’s Forum Magazine. She enjoys finding creative ways to support artists and writers in all stages of their career through publishing endeavors. With her camera in hand you’ll find her bouncing around the West coast documenting her enthusiasm for living in such a beautiful part of the country, in hopes it will inspire others to chase their grandest of dreams.
Marketing Specialist – Brittany Wilson
Brittany is a midwest girl, coffee-loving, mompreneur. And she uses that expertise to help motivate our authors through the publishing process using the strategies we’ve laid out for them. She lives in Iowa with her husband and 3 kiddos. When not working, she enjoys spending time with her family, the outdoors, and trying new restaurants.
Copyeditor – Brigitte Brulz
Brigitte Brulz is an author, freelance writer, journal creator, course designer, and homeschooling mom. She currently serves as an SCBWI IA/MN Regional Social Chair. All three of her picture books have received a Readers’ Favorite 5 Stars review, and her book Pickles, Pickles, I Like Pickles! was chosen for the 2019 Read Across Connecticut program.
Brigitte works with the final edits to ensure all BiblioKid books are published to perfection. Not a single comma or spelling error gets past her. You can rest easy knowing that your book will be in Brigitte’s hands.
Editorial Assistant – Isabelle Friedman
Isabelle Friedman is a junior at North Polk High School and Brooke’s right hand man. She hopes one day to be an editor and is studying with BiblioKid Publishing to learn everything there is to know about working with a publishing house. She is the queen of emails and leader of the welcoming committee.
Isabelle hopes to attend the University of Iowa to major in Journalism and Mass Communication with a minor in creative writing. In her free time, she enjoys hanging out with friends and family, playing soccer, writing, and reading.