OUR VALUES

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.

about
OUR TEAM
Saeah Lee

SAEAH LEE Wood

Founder & Creative Director

Saeah has over 15 years of experience in systems engineering and operations management as a marine engineer and an officer in the US Navy. She traded her hard hat to live in a world of books and has never looked back. After visiting 70 countries and living all over the world, she found a home in the beautiful mountains of western North Carolina. When she’s not thinking about or reading books (and even when she is), she’s a fiber artist, a hand bookbinder, and an explorer of quiet places.

saeah.com

Amy Reed

Amy Reed

Editorial & Production Manager

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.

amyreedfiction.com

Elizabeth Evey

Elizabeth Evey

Illustrator & 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.

elizabethevey.com

Ivica Jandrijevic

Ivica Jandrijević

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.

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.

jenhagedorn.com

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

Testimonials
Saeah produces my books start-to-finish. She's a perfectionist that cares about books even more than I do, so I trust her judgment even more than I trust my own.
Derek Sivers
Author of Anything you want & Hell Yeah or No
Amy brought not only her technical skills and incredible writing polish, but also her thoughtful insights into the content and direction of my book. She became an important part of bringing the whole, critically acclaimed book into the world.
Daniella Mestyanek Young
Author of Uncultured: A Memoir
World class production! World class team! Any creative undertaking from launching a book to branding a new company, Otterpine will not disappoint. They treated our dreams, visions, and aspirations like it was theirs with the utmost professionalism and mastery. If you’re a creative and have birthed a new idea, look no further than Otterpine. They’ll take your vision and execute it flawlessly. 
Haley Scheich & Dr. Tarek Pacha
Authors of My SuperHero Foods
Writing a book is hard enough, but figuring out how to get it published can feel daunting. After trying it myself, I realized that the process of getting my book professionally edited, illustrated, laid out, printed, published, and marketed both online and in bookstores, and handling all fulfillment issues too…well, it can feel downright insurmountable and it’s hard to do well. That’s where Saeah and her team at Otterpine come in—they do all the heavy lifting for aspiring authors and make it a smooth (and fun) process!
Erik Palin
Author of Hiking South Korea
I am incredibly fortunate to have worked with Saeah Wood, Amy Reed, and the team at Otterpine. Their attention to detail has been amazing and collaborating with them has been an absolute pleasure.
Arunjay Katakam
Author of Generation Hope: How Inclusive Economics Can Help Us All Thrive
Thank you to the Otterpine team, with special gratitude to Saeah Wood and Amy Reed, for embarking on this project and transforming our vision into a reality that has far exceeded our expectations—your incredible work has left us in awe.
Evan & Reed Milnor
Authors of The Essential Dog Owner’s Guide: A Reference for the Responsible Dog Owner