meet the team
Joanne Simon Tailele, Founder & Author
Award-winning author Joanne Simon Tailele established Simon Publishing LLC, a professional publishing solution with a special personal touch to help you, the author, bring your treasured creation to life. She understood how writing is only half an author's journey, once having spent months (actually, more like years) crafting the perfect manuscript, only to be stopped in her tracks by the "what-to-do-next".
Sadly, Joanne passed away on July 5, 2024. We truly miss her leadership, knowledge and professional guidance. In celebration of her accomplishments as an author and publisher, see Marco Island Writer's Golden Angel Awarded.
Melissa Waters, Publisher & Editor
Melissa Waters continues Joanne Simon Tailele's legacy in helping writers achieve the dream of becoming published authors. She manages all aspects of the publishing process in collaboration with Simon Publishing LLC's awesome creative team, from manuscript review to editing to publication.
With Joanne's professional guidance, Melissa authored, illustrated and designed two beautiful children's books, An Authentic Adventure with a Marco Island Burrowing Owl and The Tigertail Trees. Learn more about Melissa and her amazing Marco Island adventures at An Authentic Adventure.com.
Robin Johnson, Book Cover Designer
Robin Johnson’s business, Florida Girl Design Inc., has served clients with design and print services nationally since 2002. She has worked with authors and book industry clients as a book cover artist and graphic designer worldwide since 2010. Robin works with authors, publishers and industry professionals creating book cover designs and marketing materials. We are so pleased to have her as a free-lance contributor to our team. www.gobookcoverdesign.com
Joe Eckstein, Artist & Illustrator
Joe Eckstein is a children’s book author, illustrator, and cartoonist who loves to encourage and inspire people through art and stories. Originally from Ohio he has a Bachelor’s degree in fine art from Bowling Green State University and has worked as an illustrator for children’s education publisher Carson-Dellosa. Joe lives on the beautiful southwest coast of Florida and is married to the love of his life, Kristen. His work has been published in books, greeting cards, magazines, and newspapers.
Joe is the creator of the cartoon character Herby the Parrot, author and illustrator of Herby Gets a Life, and illustrator of numerous other books for children. He currently has more exciting books in the works.
Jill Yris - Developmental Editor & Award-Winning Writer
Patience, a good eye, knowledge and experience all lead to great editing skills. What are the author’s intentions? Is the prose filled with color, texture and emotion? Jill Yris is an established, professional editor and writer whose portfolio includes national subjects such as actress Shirley Jones, Wall Street Journalist Foster Winans, renowned artist Taylor Oughton and Coach Johnny Majors. She treats her clients and subjects with respect and the attributes of honesty, integrity and loyalty are paramount in her professional and personal life. When editing your book, she’ll check for flow, facts, content and accuracy because every single one of your words matter.
Suanne Schafer, Proofreader & Copy Editor
Suanne Schafer has served as editor for a mainstream/romance publishing house and fiction editor for an online literary magazine. In the latter capacities, she has edited over 200 novels, 1000 short stories, and three anthologies. She has also taken classes through the University of California San Diego’s Copyediting Program. A writer herself, she understands the need to maintain an author’s voice while smoothing out the writing.
P.J. Morgan, Audio Narrator
P. J. Morgan, a lifelong storyteller, book nerd, actor, and secret author, is our professional audiobook narrator! She is an empathic performer with a broad skillset who believes in the power of the written and spoken word to transform, educate, elevate, and escape. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, P.J. especially enjoys stories featuring diverse characters, unusual protagonists and sympathetic villains.
P. J. narrates in her home studio using professional, industry-standard equipment:
- VocalBooth Gold series with added bass traps
- CAD Equitek E100S microphone
- Audient iD14 interface
- Studio One Artist using Punch and Roll
- Izotope RX Standard
To quote Jennie Nash, you are ultimately "the God of your story". We may have suggestions, however, you have the final say on your finished product. Although we cannot promise that you'll make the New York Times Bestsellers List, we do promise to help you produce the best quality book possible.
