ABOUT US
Our values
SMALL BUT MIGHTY
We’re a small, dedicated team of book nerds, and we plan to stay that way because we value client connection above all. We want to have close relationships with all the authors we work with and will treat every book we work on like it’s our own. We limit the work we take on so that we can be here for you through the entire process.
We build relationships that last
We care deeply about the success of our authors. We grow to care for all of our clients both personally and professionally. We believe that getting to know our authors leads to the best collaborative, working relationships. It’s why most of our client relationships have lasted years.
Informed but flexible
There are norms in both the traditional and independent publishing industries. We’re informed by best practices in both, but we’re not attached to any one way of doing things. The first step of our process is to understand your values and what you’re trying to achieve with your book and author brand. We understand the rules but we’re willing to throw them all out to help you build a plan that works for you.
We care about quality above all
The indie publishing process has become quick, easy, and cheap, but our top priority is the quality of your book inside and out. We could publish your book overnight if we wanted to, but we won’t. Crafting and editing great words takes time, impeccable design takes time, and printing books of lasting quality takes time. Our process is deliberate and efficient, but we will never rush your project.
SAEAH LEE Wood
Founder & Creative Director
Saeah has spent the last decade immersed in the world of books as an editor, producer, and creative strategist. Before that, she spent 15 years in operations management as a marine engineer and officer in the U.S. Navy, where she learned how to build complex things that work—and last. She brings a positive contrarian spirit to publishing, questioning assumptions, rethinking outdated models, and championing new ways for authors to create and share their work. She founded Otterpine to support author sovereignty—offering creators more control, more transparency, and more beauty in how their work is brought into the world. She’s lived in more than a dozen countries, visited over 70, and now calls the mountains of western North Carolina home. When she’s not making or reading books, she’s a fiber artist, a hand bookbinder, and loves exploring quiet forest trails and hidden waterways on her SUP.
Amy Reed
Editorial Director
With a career spanning 15+ years in the traditional publishing industry as both an editor and writer, Amy loves everything about the bookmaking process. She has edited just about every kind of nonfiction book you can imagine—from personal growth and parenting to social issues and memoir. She’s also an award-winning author of eleven novels. After almost three decades of living on the west coast, Amy now calls the mountains of western North Carolina home, though she is still learning how to live away from salt water. She spends her free time hanging out with her amazing daughter and going places where she can’t get cell service.
Elizabeth Evey
Senior Illustrator & visual Designer
Elizabeth has been drawing since she could hold a pencil. She grew up in California and found her home in the Appalachian Mountains in 2009. She specializes in fine art and illustration, drawing inspiration from symbiotic connections in nature. With 10 years of graphic design experience and 5 years of web design, Elizabeth strives to create harmonious digital environments. When she’s not on the computer she enjoys tending to her orchid collection with her cat, Tuna, and finding a good tree to hang her hammock.
Ivica Jandrijević
Senior Book Designer
As a graphic designer, Ivica stumbled into the captivating world of books 17 years ago, developing a deep appreciation for the process of creating them. With a solid background of 12 years at Croatia’s leading book publisher and 5 years successfully running his own business, he’s contributed to over 1000 titles spanning various genres. A lover of the outdoors, he spends as much time as he can in the mountains hiking, cycling, running, taking photographs, and mushroom foraging with his wife and two daughters.
Jared Kuritz
Director of Marketing & Author Engagement
Jared Kuritz has spent more than two decades as a passionate advocate for authors, publishers, and publishing professionals worldwide. As founder of a literary PR and marketing firm, Jared has helped hundreds of authors across traditional, hybrid, and indie models. For 19 years, he directed the La Jolla Writers Conference, fostering education, mentorship, and community for writers at all stages. He has also managed a book award program, served as Managing Director of an academic press, and helped develop an innovative audiobook marketing and distribution platform. Believing no two books—or authors—are alike, Jared creates tailored strategies that align with each client’s unique goals, ensuring success beyond the launch. When he’s not working with authors, he’s with his family, watching the Padres win, or seeking out new adventures.
Jen Hagedorn
Fulfillment Associate
Jen has a wealth of experience in the arts and has worn many hats in the world of production. With a degree in mass communications, majoring in public relations and advertising, she has designed and managed marketing materials; managed a photography studio; worked as a freelance scriptwriter, producer, and voice actor; and dabbled in theater—among many other creative and professional pursuits. The most fulfilling of these was being able to homeschool her son. She recently finished a 2-year professional crafts clay intensive program because, not-so-secretly, she is a clay artist. She likes her coffee, journals, and books, and she loves the feeling when time stands still.
Lorraine Tipaldi
Fulfillment Associate
Hannah Yarrington
Fulfillment Associate
Get in touch
Send us an email to introduce yourself and your book, to say hi, or to share something random.
Or even better, send us a letter or postcard. We always reply.
hi@otterpine.com
81 Broadway St Suite 201, Asheville, NC 28801
