Our Board

Jennifer (she/her) is a customer insights analyst by day and writer / small business owner / My Writing Shed founder by night. She is a member of the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), the St. Louis Publishing Association (SLPA), and the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi). She serves on IBPA’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. She is blessed to be the #FunBookstoreAunt as a volunteer for Lit. On Fire Books. She’s also honored to be part of the #BloggessFam (weirdos and strangelings who adore Jenny Lawson) community on Twitter. She has participated in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) since 2018 and credits the support of the Peoria regional NaNoWriMo group for her one and only win. She’s published as co-author under pen name, Cody Ashbury and is currently working on a horror novel crossover. All of the above are the catalysts for why she started My Writing Shed.

Cara (she/they) is a writer, developmental fiction editor, and writing coach. Through her small business, Read the Stars Developmental Editing, and her directorial role at My Writing Shed, she works daily to educate and empower authors of all walks of life. She is a member of the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA). Her personal writing includes sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and romance. She is also an avid diarist, having filled over thirty journals cover to cover. Writing has always been her life’s greatest passion, whether it’s through weaving her own stories or helping to guide and encourage other writers on their journeys.