Ellen Kleiner, Founder and Director
In
her more than 35 years as an editor, Ellen Kleiner has worked for national book
and magazine publishers including Bobbs-Merrill Company and John Wiley
& Sons in New York; William Gannon, Publisher, Sun Publishing, Mothering
Magazine, Miracles Magazine, and New Mexico Magazine in Santa Fe, New
Mexico; and Four Corners Magazine in Sedona, Arizona. To date, she has
worked on more than 1,900 books and magazine issues, many of which have
won notable awards.
Ellen was drawn to Santa Fe by its natural beauty, cultural diversity, and creative community. An active member of the New Mexico Book Association and PEN New Mexico, she has played a leading role in Santa Fe's emergence as an independent publishing center.
Ellen created Blessingway Authors' Services in 1993 to help independent publishers and self-publishers achieve success in the literary marketplace. Blessingway's areas of specialty include parenting, complementary health, spirituality, psychology, education, women's issues, self-help, inspiration, Southwestern subjects, fiction, and children's books. The plan was never to branch into foreign rights agenting. But when an editorial client discovered that her New York publisher was doing nothing to sell translation rights to her books overseas, Ellen offered to give it a try. She was as surprised as anyone to see how successful her efforts were. Suddenly, Blessingway had a new, exciting service to offer. Its author and publisher clients currently enjoy mutually fruitful relationships with publishers around the world.
Peggy Keller
Literary Representative
Peggy Keller began her career in publishing over thirty-five years ago at Yale University Press as assistant to the sales manager. She subsequently worked in sales and marketing at Random House for more than sixteen years. Since then she has served as president of Prelude Press, an independent publisher based in Los Angeles, and consulted with publishers of all sizes, concentrating on sales, marketing, and publicity. Peggy’s clients include, among many others, Health Information Press (LA), Virgin Retail Group (megastores nationwide), Zagat Surveys (NYC), Pureplay Press (LA), and LA Times Books.
Karen Weaver
Office Manager/Author Representative
For as long as she can remember, Karen has been enchanted with New Mexico’s landscape, and believes fate led her to Ellen and the amazing group of souls at Blessingway. While she left everything behind in Massachusetts to answer this calling, pilgrimaging is not a new concept to Karen. An explorer by nature, she has traveled around the country working as an actress, voice-over artist, High School English/writing teacher, senior casting agent, and journalist. She has journeyed down many paths over the course of her life, and feels that her dual position as office manager and author representative nicely connects the threads in her career tapestry.
Lora Lisbon
New Media Director
Lora's background is in both editorial and promotion. In 1992, she was CEO of a London-based public relations company when she was offered the chance to make a career switch and joined Reed Elsevier UK as a launch editor for glossy magazines. Since then, she's done stints for Judy Daish literary agency, Condé Nast, John Brown Publishing, and Northern and Shell newspapers. She specializes in developmental editing, helping authors polish the concept and narrative curve of a story or book. Currently, Lora is working on putting together social media seminars for Blessingway's authors. She also manages publicity for radio, television, retail, and author websites.
In
addition to providing expert technical assistance in every aspect of the
writing and publishing process, Blessingway holds your hand, strokes your
ego, and keeps you sane. I’m looking forward to a lifelong association.
—Charlie Appelstein, author of No Such Thing as a Bad Kid
A highly respected resource for [self-publishing] is Ellen Kleiner of Blessingway Authors’ Services. . . . I’ve never seen a book that Ellen has shepherded through the process that was not a masterpiece.
—Gail Larsen, author of Transformational Speaking: If You Want to Change the World, Tell a Better Story
Embraced by Blessingway, my writing endeavor grew beyond my wildest hopes . . . and so did I. With Ellen Kleiner, the Crown Jewel of these author services, "our" self-published volume has received rave reviews and awards. I am honored and forever grateful to have found the way to such personalized, respectful, and top-notch support.
— Gail Goeller, author of Coming of Age with Aging Parents
I wouldn't have a book without Blessingway. Ellen Kleiner is the best editor in the Southwest. Writing a book is like giving birth, and the personal support Ellen gives before and after delivery makes her an ideal midwife for both fledgling and veteran authors.
— Sankara Saranam, author of God Without Religion
In the Native way of life, we come to understand and know that all things happen for a reason. It was meant for Blessingway and us to know each other and help each other in this life. They have been patient, understanding, supportive, and caring ever since we started this incredible and interesting journey together, and we feel the same way toward them.
—Tsoligiu M.A. RuizRazo, author of
Tomorrow's Children
and Felicia Chardon, publisher of World Edition, USA
Without you, I'd be like a mute talk show host. You are incredible and I think this book is beautiful, and thank you for putting in all the time and effort from the very beginning.
—Jeremy Spiegel, MD, author of Art Healing and The Mindful Medical Student
"I'm continually amazed at the quality and ingenuity of what they do at Blessingway Authors' Services.... Whenever I have a tough question about any aspect of publishing, Ellen is the one I go to. The business is grueling; Ellen is an oasis in the middle of it. And her charges are customer friendly."
—David Landau, publisher, PurePlay Press
Let us know how we can help you. Contact us at Blessingwy@aol.com.
© 2011 Blessingway Authors' Services
All rights reserved
Santa Fe, NM | 505-983-2649
E mail: Blessingwy@aol.com