Coordinators and Committees

Jake Nicholls (they/them) is a developmental editor of science fiction and fantasy, with a focus on queer and otherwise inclusive stories. Jake works directly with authors through their business Future Worlds Editing.

In addition to developmental feedback, Jake provides specialized services such as sensitivity reading for queer, trans and chronically ill characters. They have a particular interest in gender worldbuilding and can help authors make their fiction radically inclusive of all genders.

Jake lives in the UK, but their head is often away in other universes.

Richard Martinez (they/he) is the editor-in-chief of Los Angeleno, an arts and culture publication that celebrates the various idiosyncrasies that define Los Angeles. They also work for the Ayzenberg Group, an ad agency based out of Pasadena, and the Los Angeles Press Club. Richard is also the president of the LA chapter of NLGJA. Aside from advocating for the death of the Oxford comma, Richard spends most of their time staring lovingly at the 60 or so plants currently threatening to take over their house. They also do a bit of photography and print design when the stars align.

Sam Keir (he/him) is an editor, writer, and educator, but the order of these roles depends on the day of the week! In addition to serving as the LGBTQ+ Editor Association's membership coordinator, he hosts the bi-monthly international meetings and helps with grant writing on the fundraising & resources committee.

An EFA and CIEP member, Sam owns Keir Editing & Writing Services offering developmental and copy editing for LGBTQ+ fiction authors and characters. He has published a number of short stories, and enjoys engaging with the writing community online and at the monthly Inkwell fiction writing workshop he runs in Xiamen, China. Sam’s mission is to help more LGBTQ+ community members share their stories and have their voices heard.

Dr. Cathy Hannabach (she/her) is the founder and CEO of the academic editing and indexing agency Ideas on Fire, where she helps interdisciplinary academics write and publish awesome texts, enliven public conversations, and create more just worlds. Passionate about interdisciplinary indexing and editing, she leads a global team helping scholars make an impact.

She hosts the Imagine Otherwise podcast, highlighting those bridging art, activism, and academia in the service of social justice. Author of Blood Cultures: Medicine, Media, and Militarisms andBook Marketing for Academics, her research and commentary appear in outlets including New Learning Times, Cultural Politics, the BBC, Women and Performance, Contra*, Social Text: Periscope, Studies in Gender and Sexuality, and Dismantle Magazine.

She lives in New Jersey, where in her spare time you can find her strolling through nature preserves and botanical gardens, cooking up a storm, or nerding out over plants and fungi.

Elisha Fernandez (she/her) is a Dominican editor that started when she was just twelve years old. It quickly grew into a lifelong passion, and she later graduated with her degree in Editing and Publishing. Elisha specializes in copyediting and proofreading primarily for nonfiction texts. She hopes to work in fiction multicultural publishing and advocate for greater BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) representation and intersectionality in the industry. 

In addition to chairing the communications committee, Elisha is the moderator for the LGBTQ+ Editors Association's private QTPOC (queer and trans people of color) editor channel in the discussion forum. Elisha is also a self-published poet and writer working on two novels—she welcomes discussion with other writers/editors about the creative process and new books to add to her TBR list. 

Elisha is passionate about social and racial justice and mental health awareness, and she gets involved in activism as much as she can. She currently serves on the council of Raynbow Collective, a small nonprofit based in Utah dedicated to LGBTQ+ students. Elisha also volunteers in the community hosting workshops and small art/crafting events, using her painting, digital art, and cross-stitching to shed light on important topics. You'll often find Elisha at home cooking up yummy vegan recipes, thrifting vintage outfits, or cuddling with her spouse and two orange cats. 

Tiffany Grimes (she/they) is a non-binary writer, book coach, and author web designer  dedicated to amplifying marginalized voices through inclusive book  coaching and design. Tiffany is the founder of Burgeon Design and  Editorial and hosts "The Residency," a free online writing community,  and "Revision Alchemy," an online self-editing course. 

Tiffany grew up  in foster care and was adopted at age 10, and their identity is shaped  by their neurodivergence, high sensitivity, and bisexuality, as well as  anxiety and depression. Recognizing and sharing these facets of their  identity is essential, as their proximity to privilege and degree of  marginalization naturally impact the way they work with their clients  and lead their community. Tiffany lives in Oregon with their cats.

Emily Katzenberger (she/her) is a freelance developmental editor, copyeditor, book coach, and authenticity reader at The Biased Bibliophile.  She has a BA in philosophy and focused on medical and legal ethics during her undergraduate degree.

After refusing to write a book for  fifteen years, she begrudgingly started writing her first novel  recently. Outside of editing, writing, and reading, you can typically find her spending too much money on special edition books, obsessing  over her special interests, or playing with her dog, Remi. 

In addition to chairing the fundraising & resources committee, Emily serves as a moderator in the LGBTQ+ Editor Association's discussion forum.