BAWiP’s 2026–2027 MENTORSHIP COHORT
See cohorts from 2025–2026 | 2024–2025 | 2023–2024 | 2022–2023 | 2021–2022 | 2020–2021

Mentors

Michelle Phan

Michelle launched her publishing career at North Atlantic Books as a publicist before transitioning to marketing at UC Press. With 7+ years of experience in book promotion, she is passionate about uplifting authors and books that share the knowledge necessary for our times. She has been actively involved with Bay Area Women in Publishing since 2019, and currently serves as Vice President and on several committees.

Shayna Keyles

Shayna Keyles is the Head of Acquisitions at North Atlantic Books. Shayna has specialized in nonfiction developmental and structural editing for the past ten years, including how-to manuals, cookbooks, professional self-help, narrative nonfiction, memoir, and more. Outside of work, Shayna can be found getting to know their neighbors, block printing, experimenting in the kitchen or garden, playing tabletop games, and exploring anything explorable.

Beth Barany

Beth Barany is an award-winning science fiction and fantasy novelist with more than 20 years of experience in publishing as an author, developmental editor, writing teacher, coach, and creative entrepreneur. She has helped hundreds of fiction writers write, revise, publish, and market their books; founded Barany School of Fiction; authored multiple books for writers, including Plan Your Novel Like a Pro; and presented for publishing organizations and writing conferences internationally. As a second-time BAWiP mentor, Beth brings deep industry knowledge, practical business experience, and a passion for helping publishing professionals grow into the next version of who they want to be.

Kristen Frantz

Kristen Frantz (she/her) is the COO and senior vice president of sales and marketing at Berrett-Koehler Publishers, overseeing the operations, sales, and marketing teams. She works closely with Penguin Random House, BK’s print distributor, and CoreSource, BK’s ebook distributor, to get authors’ books into as many hands as possible. Kristen has been with BK since its founding in 1992, and she’s worked in nonfiction publishing since 1989, including a stint at McGraw-Hill. She’s been part of BK’s leadership for its entire history, helping steer the company through more than three decades of change in the industry. Outside of work, you can find her striking yoga poses or hiking with her mini Australian shepherd.

Susie Chavez

Susie Chavez is Marketing Specialist at Stanford University Press, where she oversees the Marketing Communications team and coordinates the Press’ brand-focused outward-facing promotional materials, including advertising, catalogs, direct mail, and social media. She also serves as President of the Publishing Professionals Network and holds positions on the Association of University Presses’ Equity, Justice, Inclusion, & Belonging and Marketing committees.

Before coming to SUP, Chavez served as Georgetown University Press’ Exhibits Coordinator, where she arranged and developed virtual platforms in response to 2020’s sudden shift to a remote workplace. She holds master’s degrees from both Columbia University and The George Washington University, as well as a bachelor’s degree from Hampton University.

Elizabeth Dougherty

Elizabeth Dougherty coauthored The Complete Expert-to-Author Guide: Plan, Write, and Publish Your Nonfiction Book with Marisa Solis. Their company, Book Structure Pros, specializes in helping subject matter experts and thought leaders become book authors. Services include book coaching, developmental editing, manuscript assessments, and book proposal development. They also offer customized workshops, webinars, and speaking events. Elizabeth has been a developmental editor since 1988, working in books, magazines, and online media. As executive editor at the book publisher Weldon Owen, she ran programs for brands such as Gymboree, Pottery Barn Kids, and Hallmark. Her super-specialties are women’s leadership, parenting, and health and wellness. She holds a master’s degree from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.

Natalie Gomez

Bio coming soon.

Rachel Lopez Metzger

Rachel Lopez Metzger has been designing books for over twenty years and has a degree in graphic design from California College of Arts and Crafts. Although cookbooks and children's picture books are her sweet spot, her love for design, print, and words inspires her no matter the book type or topic. Working with first-time authors and illustrators is a specialty and passion.

A California native who has never strayed too far from the coast, she currently resides on an island in the San Francisco Bay—though she leaves it frequently for sailing, wine-tasting, and other travel adventures with her husband and kids. When not behind the computer making a book, you might find her knitting, cooking, or trying to figure out how to get a printing press into her small backyard office.

Mentees

Sammie Parsons

Sammie Parsons is a marketing specialist at Insight Editions. She has an MA in Public Relations, Advertising, and Social Media from Point Park University, as well as a BS in Environmental Science with a focus in Strategic Communications and Social Media from Westminster College.

Ellen Yang

Ellen Yang is the founder and principal of Punctuation PR, a full-service agency specializing in author publicity, marketing, and operations. She represents award-winning fiction and nonfiction writers as well as faculty at leading research institutions. She holds a BA in English and linguistics from Stanford University and serves on PEN America’s Young Patrons Leadership Committee. She is based in Los Angeles.

Nhu U. Huynh

Nhi U. Huynh is a freelance writer, editor, and poet currently based within the San Francisco Bay Area. They graduated in May 2025 with a B.A from UC Berkeley. They double majored with honors in Comparative Literature and English. Their background is within creative writing, editing, and design.

Lydia Ramirez

Hello! My name is Lydia Ramirez (she/her) and I am a recent Bryn Mawr College graduate with a degree in English Literature. I am looking to enter the publishing field, especially in entry-level editor roles. I also have a strong interest in contemporary film and women's studies!

Sonya Pendrey

Today, Sonya Pendrey is advocating for writers from the Richmond of San Francisco. Currently, she's freelancing in publishing while teaching a docupoetics workshop at Ruth Asawa School of the Arts and writing a short story collection. In 2025, they were a Robin Seaman Award recipient from Bay Area Women in Publishing and a Creative Writing Teaching Fellow at University of San Francisco. Previously, she served as Nonfiction Editor at Invisible City Literary Journal, intern at ZYZZYVA, and creative writing mentor at Chapter 510. Sonya holds an MFA in Writing focused in Poetry from University of San Francisco and a BA in Environmental Studies concentrated in Global Environmental Justice from UC Santa Cruz. Sonya is a mixed Latina endemic to the San Francisco Bay Area. More at sonyarosepoetry.com.

Margarita Alexandrov

I’m Margarita, a marketing and communications professional with a lifelong love of books, especially fantasy and classical lit. I grew up surrounded by Russian literature and folk tales, and I’ve always been fascinated by the way stories can shape how we see ourselves and the world. I’m excited to be part of BAWiP as I explore a future in publishing, learn more about the many paths into the industry, and connect with others who share my love of books and storytelling.

Renee Avril

Renee Avril is a digital marketer for a Bay Area independent book and gift retailer, specializing in non-fiction, cookbooks, and games. As a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM), she combines hands-on retail insight with experience in social strategy, content, and campaign coordination to connect readers with the books that fit their moment. She is passionate about the intimate side of book marketing: understanding what readers are going through and how a book can offer comfort, escape, or new ideas. Renee aims to move from recommending titles one customer at a time to curating and promoting them at scale, working alongside authors and artists as a trusted collaborator. She is committed to expanding opportunities for women in publishing in the Bay Area.

Roseanne Wells