Heidi Komlofske
President & CEO
When I met Ross back in May 2008, he told me of this crazy idea he had to create the perfect book review publication — something he (as a voracious book reader) couldn’t find on the market. I figured it would be the perfect combination of skill sets: Ross’s connection with the publishing industry and my 20 years of graphic design and marketing experience.
Having come from the world of static design for companies (advertising, marketing collateral, website), I rolled up my sleeves and taught myself how to do what I call “fluid design” in InDesign. What I can tell you is that there were a lot of tears when it came down to the deadline wire for getting those first issues to the press. It’s been a learning process for both of us — mostly Ross learning that, no, you can’t just move a book review from one page to the other an hour before the file is due to the printer, because it will create a hole.
Fast-forward to 3 years later, and we’ve managed to create a company that is not only surviving this horrible economy, but expanding into other cities. We went from having a virtual office in Sacramento (and working from home) to moving into a real, big-boy office in Midtown Sacramento in August 2011. (I still miss working in my pajamas, though!)
What is it that I do at 1776 Productions, you might ask? Well, it’s certainly not much to do with the books, which people find quite odd. I remember very early on after starting the business, I had to fill out a questionnaire for an article that a local newspaper was writing on Sacramento Book Review. Ross was reviewing my answers before I sent the file back, and said “You cannot say that your favorite book is The Da Vinci Code — you can’t tell that to anyone!” So, here I am, confessing my book sin to everyone here. I am not the literary one of this partnership. I handle more of the organization of the publicists and communications to them and our reviewers. Of course, I’m the one who’s fingerprints is all over the company, as far as design, marketing, and of course, the publications. THAT’S what I do best.
You can reach me by email or at 877.913.1776 (extension 3) <<HOW the president & CEO of the company got Extension 3 is beyond me! I think Ross had something to do with this!
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Ross Rojek
Editor-in-Chief
I’ve been a reader since before I can remember. From growing up in a family of teachers to skipping school to spend extra time at the library, books have always been a part of my life. For almost 15 years, I retailed comics and books in Midtown and Downtown Sacramento, and in 2008, we launched the Sacramento Book Review. Together, we created a new model of book review publications while the traditional newspapers downsized or canceled their coverage of books. Since then, we started publishing San Francisco Book Review and licensing to other cities.
I am the main contact for all-things-books here at the company — from requesting which books we’d like from the catalogs, maintaining the book database, to helping to decide contents of each publication issue.
You can reach me by email or at 877.913.1776 (extension 1).
Lisa Rodgers
Associate Editor
I’ve always loved books. In fact, I spent many of my childhood summers reading rather than playing outside, much to my father’s occasional disgruntlement. I recently graduated from Sacramento State with a BA in English and a minor in German.
I handle daily correspondence, book requests to publicists and from reviewers, generally try to keep the book room organized, and other small tasks as they come up. I do a little bit of everything. You can reach me at lisa.rodgers@1776productions.com.
Elizabeth Tropp
Editorial Assistant – Intern
I’m a junior journalism major at Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, minoring in history and have a habit of blurting out historical facts at random times. After graduating from college, I plan to write for a history magazine and aspire to eventually become an editor. In my spare time, I read mysteries curled up on a comfy chair with a mug of chai tea, dabble in photography, and dream of traveling to other countries.
I assist with things that don’t require that I physically be in the office, such as posting reviews to the website, emailing publicists when their reviews are ready, requesting books — generally learning about the book publishing industry.
Erin McDonough
Editorial Assistant – Intern
I’m is a sophomore at Yale University, majoring in English. Growing up, I was known to walk almost anywhere with my nose in a book, most likely a novel by Jane Austen. An avid reader of literary publications, I spent my summer working on an Argentine publication. I work with the Yale Herald, participate in the Muslim Students Association, and most importantly, am the designated DJ among my suitemates.
I handle tasks that can be completed remotely, such as adding reviews to the website, emailing publicists, preparing book covers for display, etc. I’m happy to be learning the ropes of the book publishing industry.
Missy McEwen
Editorial Assistant – Intern
My name is Missy McEwen and I’m a bibliophile. I’m also an avid reader; Fyodor Dostoevsky, Thomas Hardy, Katherine Mansfield, and Alice Munro are some my favorite writers.
I graduated from the University of Pittsburgh ages ago with a BA in English Writing and I’m still trying to make a living from it. Right now, I volunteer for several literary magazines as a poetry editor and an editorial reader, splitting my time between central Connecticut and New York City.
I am a telecommuter and one of my tasks is to upload book reviews to the website.
Derek Erickson
Editorial Assistant – Intern
I’ve been writing stories since I was a little kid, whether they be about Lego men or crazy snowmen. Since then, I’ve evolved into full-on novels, ranging from paranormal romance to good old-fashioned adventure. The goal is to get published one day, and I’m making my way there, one step at a time. I’ve been a nomad for as long as I can remember, constantly moving and exploring the world. I’ve stopped in to study English at Sacramento State and we’ll see where the world takes me next week!
I do lots of things around the office, whatever the staff needs of me. I always try and stay busy and on top of whatever new project gets thrown at me. So far, I’ve avoided being sent out on coffee runs, but we’ll see if Lisa gets me yet!
Kim Winterheimer
Copy Editor
Growing up in Portland gave me plenty of rainy days to spend curled up with a book. When I was young, I read books about girls who owned ponies, and as a teen I read anything with words and pages—though if it had a pony in it I read it twice. After graduating from the University of Oregon I spent two years in Argentina as a travel and web writer. My most recent experience in publishing was copy editing for a small press, and I currently work as fiction editor for The Masters Review (masters-review.com). When I’m not reading, writing, or daydreaming about ponies, I eat lots of food.
Holly Scudero
Copy Editor
I have been a voracious reader for pretty much my entire life. When I first discovered 1776 Productions and their need for book reviewers back in 2009, I thought I had found the most ideal gig ever: receive books, read them, and then write my opinion of them out for anyone and everyone to read? What could be better? I still write a number of reviews every month, but now I have the added perk of being a copy editor too, which conveniently combines my love of books with an obsessive-compulsive need to make things grammatically correct. When I’m not thinking about the written word, my hobbies include cooking, baking, exercising, knitting, gaming, and several other nerdy endeavors.
Robyn Oxborrow
Copy Editor
I am a part-time freelance writer and editor based in Reno, NV. I was a late bloomer when it came to enjoying books and the act of reading, and spent most of high school making up for it by reading every Anne Rice or Frank Herbert novel. Now I have a growing interest in working for print and online publishers, and greatly enjoy helping others to develop their ideas into a story or work of art. Outside of books, I enjoy tracing my family’s history and learning more about the Basque community.
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Cathy Lim
Copy Editor
Cathy Carmode Lim has been reviewing books for more than a dozen years, two of which she was the book page editor for a newspaper in Alabama. Currently, she runs Rated Reads (www.ratedreads.com), which gives ratings to books based on potentially offensive content. She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Brigham Young University, where she focused on copy editing; she has since worked for five newspapers and edited book manuscripts.
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