ABOUT AWAKEN VILLAGE
THE FUTURE
THE VISION
THE TEAM
From first words to publication and beyond, we are here to support you.
When we reveal the stories that so deeply desire to be shared and expressed and then release them into the world, we change not only our world but the world around us. And as we rewrite our stories, we awaken parts of ourselves that can lead to the awakening of others.
Whether you have a seed of an idea or a full first draft of your manuscript, we are here to guide you. This includes everything from the emotional journey a writer embarks on and the importance of telling one’s story in the most compelling way to a beautiful cover design that represents the essence of the author and book.
We understand the importance of the process, and not just focusing on the final outcome, when telling our stories.
Our dedicated team is here to support authors from putting the first words on paper all the way through to publication and beyond. Our mission is to awaken the planet, one book at a time, by serving as a companion publisher to authors with an inspiring message to share.
Awakening the planet, one book at a time
Amanda Johnson
Founder & Chief Inspirational Officer
Amanda works one on one with authors to bring their unique stories and perspectives into the world in an authentic and compassionate way.
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As an author herself, Amanda understands the importance of the process in writing our stories and not just focusing on the final outcome. Seeing the value of the team that helped birth her book planted the seed and ultimately gave birth to Awaken Village Press, a transformative indie publishing house that is here to awaken the planet, one book at a time.
Elizabeth Gudrais
Editor & Program Facilitator
A professional writer and editor with more than a decade in journalism experience, including magazines and newspapers. Elizabeth's specialties include science/medical reporting and long-form narrative.
A meticulous editor with a solid grasp of literary analysis, Elizabeth nevertheless connects with the heart of each story she encounters. The transformative power of stories is the reason she chose to pursue a career in writing and editing. Elizabeth serves our authors as an editor, writing program facilitator, and workshop coordinator.
Hannah Taragan
Writer & Copy Editor
Hannah is an actor, writer, and filmmaker. After graduating magna cum laude from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts, Hannah spent time traveling and working on a variety of projects in film and publishing. Her work has been featured in festivals including LAFA, Cannes Indie Shorts Awards, Cults Movies International Film Festival, Phoenix Short Festival, and more.
She is thrilled to collaborate with AVP, drawn to the company’s commitment to human connection and its team of passionate creators looking to free authors and release stories to craft a better world.
Andrea Gibb
Designer
Andrea is a talented graphic designer, artist, and writer based in British Columbia. She knows in her heart the importance of all manner of stories. She helps writers become authors by transforming manuscripts into beautiful books with unique covers and professional interiors.
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Besides being an experienced designer, she is a self-published author, and she offers her expertise to help you navigate the creative process that can sometimes feel overwhelming.
Marianne Johnson
Proofreader
Marianne, or “Mer” as we call her, is now retired from a long, satisfying career of office administrative support, where she enjoyed supporting others for over thirty-five years.
Her keen eye for detail and strong grasp of grammar and punctuation continue to make her an invaluable resource in the publication process.
Kaitlyn Wosik
Social Media & Book Marketing Manager
Kaitlyn and her agency Social City Consulting have extensive digital strategy and marketing experience, including specific expertise in managing social media for authors.
In addition to general social media support and creating scroll-stopping content for Awaken Village Press, Kaitlyn also supports our authors with marketing to help maximize the impact their messages make in the world.
“I’m working on my second book with Awaken Village Press, and I couldn’t be happier with the service and attention to detail across the board.”
Mike McGinnis, Author
Clinton Brown
Director
Clinton came to the Awaken Village team as a long-time mentor/friend of Amanda and her projects. He spent twenty years as an entrepreneur, owning several businesses including his own publishing company. In those twenty years, he advised on the growth of more than 1,500 businesses around the world.
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He is passionate about whole systems design and ecological wellness. As a member of Awaken Village, he supports our growth and our company’s wellness, projects, team members, and clients.
