Meet Maddy, a dynamic force in the world of independent publishing. As an associate artist of the National Centre for Writing and a finalist for the 2023 FSB Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Maddy is a passionate advocate for helping others achieve their dreams. Maddy's extensive experience in editing fiction and non-fiction has earned her a reputation as a skilled and reliable editor.

With two published books under her belt and her third book due in 2024, Maddy knows first-hand the hard work and dedication it takes to bring a book to life. Maddy's literary claim to fame is that she is related to Bram Stoker, the Irish author of Dracula!

Jude joined Softwood in 2025 with a wealth of administration experience from previous roles at the University of Suffolk. She has a passion for creative writing and we're looking forward to benefiting from her skills and boundless enthusiasm for independent publishing!

Holly is an artist, illustrator, and social media content creator. She has a love of all things book-related and enjoys nothing more than giving a writer’s words visual representation through her artwork. A speciality of Holly’s is book edge painting, allowing her designs to turn any book into a special edition and collector’s item. Holly has run her own art business for several years and prides herself on working closely with clients to achieve their vision and the best possible final result. As well as art and illustration, Holly has a background in acting and is a keen writer, having written a children’s book, along with several TV comedy scripts.

Becca joined Softwood in 2023 as an editor, having earned an undergraduate degree in English Literature and an MA in English. In addition to her academic credentials, Becca has a customer-service background, collaborating with clients in a professional and reassuring way to achieve their desired outcomes. She is enthusiastic about various forms of literature and values the unique perspective of each writer, prioritizing their vision. Becca also likes to write when she can, which enables her to appreciate the effort that authors put into their work.

AJ is an East Anglian writer, editor, and actor, with a special fondness for all things speculative or philosophical. He has had pieces published in several magazines and journals, and has recently started writing for the stage. As a poet and performer, he is particularly interested in ensuring that the client's style or 'voice' is maintained, while helping to polish their project to a high sheen.

Charlotte has a wealth of experience with editorial and production projects, having guided fiction, non-fiction, children’s, and adult books to publication. Her English Literature degree provides a background for success in copy-editing and development editing, while honing her skills through a variety of freelance positions has given her a rare adaptability.

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Beyond this, Charlotte lends her proven expertise to formatting and typesetting, copy writing, website content creation, ghost writing, and language editing, translated works across blogs, essay collections, and monographs, all while being a delight to work with!

A natural communicator who loves nothing more than diving into the written word with her authors.

Claire has been a cover designer and brand specialist for over 20 years and she is passionate about creating bold, conceptual covers and on-brand promotional toolkits to draw readers in to promote your story. Her book branding skills are very popular with authors looking to create a consistent visual world.

Introducing Nathan, a seasoned professional in the world of digital communications. With over 15 years of experience, Nathan is a specialist in social media marketing and strategy implementation. His expertise in managing clients' publishing projects and creating impactful social media marketing strategies has earned him a reputation as a reliable and effective partner. He is dedicated to providing top-quality service and is committed to delivering results that exceed expectations.

When he's not busy project managing, Nathan enjoys staying up-to-date with the latest trends in social media and exploring new ways to connect with audiences - and reading PG Wodehouse!

Grace looks after Softwood Books’ marketing clients, creating and implementing effective strategies that help authors stand out to both consumers and retailers. With a keen eye for design and a talent for shaping compelling narratives, Grace has supported a wide range of authors in building visibility, confidence, and momentum for their books. She graduated from Royal Holloway with a degree in English and Classics before joining the Softwood team in 2025. Combining creative flair with strategic thinking, Grace is passionate about ensuring every book she works on reaches the audience it deserves.

As an illustrator and social media content designer, Jasmine is deeply committed to producing impactful visual content for books of every genre. With a Master's in Publishing and a Bachelor's in Fine Art, she has honed her expertise as both a publishing specialist and a versatile artist, continually expanding her impressive portfolio. She has self-published two of her own poetry books which can be found here.

After completing her Masters degree in Publishing, Wendy made her start in the publishing industry as a freelance digital marketer and graphic designer before transitioning over to the world of book design where she found her true passion. Nothing makes her more happy than helping authors bring to life their manuscripts through great cover and layout design. Wendy has worked with indie publishers and authors on books for all ages; as a designer, she is curious, communicative, and continuously learning

Rachel is a Suffolk-based author and editor. She has worked with authors, universities, technology companies and charities to produce fiction, magazine articles, teaching materials, and online content. Her dystopian series for young adults has won two international awards, and her 2023 standalone novel is a semi-finalist in the international Book Bloggers' Novel of the Year Awards. Reading and writing are her passions, and she specialises in working with authors to make sure their indie-published books are as good as they can be – while respecting and developing the author's original vision. 

With a Bachelor's in Graphic Design, Joanne worked around small design gigs before finding her calling in book cover design. Gaining experience through initiative schemes with Penguin, HarperCollins, and DK, she went on to find commissions with Big Five and indie publishers. She hopes to continue honing her experience in the industry and create eye-catching covers.