Jill Dianne Swenson, Ph.D.

President

Jill Swenson is a developmental editor and literary consultant who specializes in narrative nonfiction. She earned her M.A. and Ph.D. from The University of Chicago and has 40 years of teaching, editing, and coaching writers. Tenured at Ithaca College as a journalism educator and media studies scholar, Jill left academia after 9/11 and lived off-the-grid for a decade in the Finger Lakes of upstate New York farming and raising deer, elk and bison. She has worked as a car mechanic, a Christmas wreath-maker, and a lifeguard at a women’s pool in Saudi Arabia. She has taught writing workshops at the Loft Literary Center, Grand Marais Art Colony, and currently online with Elephant Rock Writing Studio.

Jenna Goodman

Editor

In addition to reading an average of 200 books a year, Jenna Goodman has worked in shiny L.A. ad offices, poured coffee in late night truck stops, and skated inside blocker on the roller derby track. She combines a sharp editorial eye with a supportive approach to help authors reach their goals while meeting the high expectations of the publishing world. Jenna also works as a pediatric occupational therapist, looks after her husband, author Shawn Goodman, and two daughters.
 

 

Sharon K. Yntema

Bookkeeper

Sharon K. Yntema has been a bookkeeper since 1978, and an author since 1980 (Vegetarian Baby series, More than 100: Women Science Fiction Writers). She has finally published her sixth book, Ithaca Area Bookstores: 1819-2019, after working on it for six years (with time out for COVID). Sharon has begun work on her next book/project (The Natural History of My Backyard, starting two million years ago when the area was under 1.5 miles of glacial ice!

 

Audrey Arnold

Editorial Assistant

A UW-Green Bay graduate with her Bachelor’s degree in English and Arts Management, Audrey Arnold works as a library clerk at the Brown County Library in addition to her editorial work for Swenson Book Development. Ever since she was little, Audrey has had a passion for writing and reading, and her time as editor for Sheepshead Review during college led her to discover a love for the editing and publishing field. Her short stories have been published in a few small magazines and journals, and her dream is to someday publish a novel.

Swenson Book Development also collaborates with graphic designers, photographers, image editors, cover designers, illustrators and other professionals on specific projects as needed.