Meet Our Team
Life is so much better with a buddy
…and here at The Author Buddy, we get to work with ours,
all while helping Authors on their journey to publishing success.
Our beta readers, editors, and designers specialize in Romance—all subgenres from Sweet & Wholesome and Contemporary to Dark and Taboo. Our team is also experienced in Thriller/Suspense, Fantasy, YA, Women’s Fiction, and more.
Take a look at our team members and their specialties below. Hover over each team member profile photo to view their specialties. Click each team member’s photo to jump down to read their full bio.
Our Design Team
Our Admin Team
Rachel

Rachel’s Beta Subgenre Specialties:
- PNR
- Contemporary
- Steamy & Erotica (Not Dark)
- Historical / Regency
Rachel’s Design Specialties:
- Florals
- Original Illustrations
Rachel Christley, Queen of Fiction Finesse at The Author Buddy, has been in the book world for nine years. She is the original beta reader behind The Beta Buddy, which has now grown into an entire team of trained beta readers that help authors polish their manuscripts and make sure their stories shine their brightest.
In her seven years of Beta Reading, Rachel has had the pleasure of working with authors around the world and across the romance spectrum, from PNR to Sports RomComs, from baby authors to bestselling authors, and she has earned a reputation as an essential part of so many authors’ publishing process.
You may also know Rachel from her work as the head book lover at Steamy Lounge, Steamy Book Bargains, and Boxed Romance Bargains.
Rachel loves coffee, cats, gorgeous covers, and book mail, and is a sucker for a good epilogue!
Rachel founded Christley Creatives in 2020, and designs custom and premade covers for indie and traditionally-published authors, including gorgeous covers for bestselling authors like Charmaine Pauls and Carly Philips.
Rachel is available for the following services:
- Platinum Read – Developmental
- Platinum Beta Reading
- Premade Cover Design
- Custom Cover Design
- Custom Graphics Design
Perrin

Perrin’s Beta Subgenre & Trope Specialties:
- Steamy
- Monster/Sci-Fi/Fantasy
- Romantic Comedy
- Romantic Suspense
Perrin’s Design Specialties:
- RomCom
- Illustrated
- Dark Florals
Perrin is a graphic and web designer with 20+ years of experience in the corporate and small business world, and now—as Grand Duchess of Design for The Author Buddy—six years professional experience in the realm of romance and fantasy…a land in which she is much more comfortable anyway.
Perrin read her first romance: at age 8, because her Mama just left books all over the house willy-nilly (it was Flowers in the Attic, and that should explain why Perrin is the way she is.) Now, she happily reads smut while waiting in the school carpool line.
If a romance character wanted to lure Perrin into a sexy trap, it would be most easily achieved with: unicorns, naps, bubble baths, a beard, anything purple, coffee, shrimp, “good girl,” and of course, allllll the steamy romances.
While Perrin loves small town, sweet, romcoms, and most other romance subgenres, her true specialty is diving into all of the more unusual romantic subgenres and tropes–the darker, weirder, and kinkier, the better!
Perrin is available for the following services:
- Platinum Read – Line Edits
- Platinum Beta Reading
- Premade Cover Design
- Custom Cover Design
- Custom Graphics Design
- Custom Author Branding Design – Coming Soon
- Author Websites – Coming Soon
Kim

Kim’s Beta Subgenre & Trope Specialties:
- Romantic Suspense
- Dark Romance
- Contemporary Romance
- Dystopian Romance
- Enemies to Lovers
- Touch Her and Die
- Mafia
- Age Gap
- Grumpy / Sunshine
- MC/ Motorcycle Club)
Kim’s Design Specialties:
- Dark
- Sweet
Unofficially known as the Sorceress of Steam, Kim is a romance author by day and cover design darling by night. She’s been obsessed with artistic expression since childhood, and can’t remember a time when she wasn’t making up stories or doodling in the margins (and usually getting into trouble for it). Thankfully, she’s both stubborn and idealistic, and ignored all those people who told her that she could never turn art into a career.
In her spare time she hordes books, watches her favorite shows on repeat, guzzles coffee, and reads. Her guilty pleasures are disaster movies and most vampire related things. She’s never met a broody alpha book boyfriend she didn’t like. Especially if he’s the enemy we hate to love. Extra points if he’s also the villain. And if he has dark hair and blue eyes? Game over. Now if only she could meet one of those guys in real life…
Kim is available for the following services:
- Platinum Read – Line Edits
- Premium Beta Reading
- Professional Beta Reading
- Premade Cover Design
- Custom Cover Design
- Custom Graphics Design
Marisa

Marisa’s Design Specialties:
- Dark
- Floral
- Object
- Cute & Sweet
- Horror & Mystery
- LGBTQ+
- Discreet
Originally from Long Island, New York, Marisa is an Award-Winning Designer, who ventured to the South after college. Now in Charlotte, North Carolina, she co-habitates with her Husband, Son, and Bonus Daughter. Included in the chaos are three crazy dogs, two sweet cats, and one evil cat (who runs the place), who all live here under their king, Craig, the bearded dragon.
Marisa proudly holds a dual Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, with concentrations in Graphic Design and Photography. She entered Book Land (as she likes to call it) as an avid reader and book blogger, back in the Slammed and Fifty Shades days. After meeting multiple authors who found out about her art background, and questioned why she wasn’t designing book covers instead, she decided to take the leap into the world of Book Cover Design.
In January of 2014, Cover Me Darling was born.
Before starting Cover Me Darling, Marisa spent over a decade in both the Photography and Graphic Design fields. Her objective is to take your vision and turn it into a reality, whether you know exactly what you want, or need some direction. Aside from book covers, she also works with authors to create a brand for themselves, by designing logos, online media kits, printable swag, and more.
Marisa has worked with everyone from first time Indie Authors to New York Times, USA Today, and Wallstreet Bestsellers. Her covers have made such bestseller lists many times and Cover Me Darling has won multiple awards in the book-verse.
Marisa is available for the following services:
- Premade Cover Design
- Custom Cover Design
- Custom Branding Design
- Printable & Swag Design
- Social Media Design
Testimonials Coming Soon!
Ashley

Ashley’s Subgenre Specialties:
- Fantasy
- Paranormal
- Mystery
Once stopped at the airport by TSA when she was 7 because they did not believe her entire suitcase was filled with books for a 3 day trip, Ashley has continued her obsessive habit of reading as an adult. If she is not at the barn with her horse or acting as a chauffeur for her dog to get his daily PupCups, she is probably working her day job in software sales.
Her first romance novel was a Nora Roberts’ book read over her mom’s shoulder while on a plane because her mom thought she could read fast enough to prevent her from seeing the naughty scenes. She was wrong.
She primarily reads fantasy (NA and YA) and contemporary romance novels in her free time with occasional dabbles into other genres like sci-fi, paranormal, mystery, and cozy books. She has a soft spot for enemies to lovers, one bed, friends to lovers, grumpy/sunshine, and fake dating tropes. The only tropes she won’t read are step-siblings/incest and pregnancy (surprise or otherwise). She also reads all sorts of pairings with no preference for M/W, M/M or W/W or any combinations with even more (her Ao3 account would suggest otherwise but she would like to blame the shows for giving the characters such chemistry, #destielforever). She is not a specialist in unnatural anatomy, but does frequently get kink friendly offerings to read (and enjoy).
Ashley is available for the following services:
- Platinum Read – Line Edits
- Premium Beta Reading
- Professional Beta Reading
- Quick Pass Beta Reading
- Quote & Teaser Service
Terri

Terri’s Subgenre Specialties:
- PNR
- Contemporary
- Dark
- LGBTQ+
- Erotica
- High Fantasy
Sinful. Supernatural. Southern. Does it get any better?
USA Today Bestselling author Terri A. Wilson, brings you supernatural stories with southern characters full of sin, sass, and sarcasm.
Terri considers herself a professional liar. That’s right. She tells stories for a living. She creates worlds and brings dreams to life. She loves love in all its many beautiful forms. She writes stories with the hope that readers will fall in love with love.
When she’s not writing, she stays connected to her inner hippie and searches the internet for funny memes. Her tribe includes a dog, two daughters, a ton of imaginary friends, and an incredible man who keeps her tethered to the ground while she flies and loves her unconditionally.
Her preferred genre is anything that makes her happy, which is almost everything. She is open to PNR, Contemporary, Dark, LGBTQ+, Erotica, and High Fantasy.
Terri is available for the following services:
- NEW Full Service Editing with Terri
- Platinum Read – Developmental
- Platinum Read – Line Edits
- Platinum Beta Reading
- Premium Beta Reading
Brandy

Brandy’s Subgenre Specialties:
- PNR
- Dark
- Romantic Suspense
Brandy is a romance lover who spends her days lost in a sea of medical charts and her nights devouring the passion found between the covers of the books she adores and writes.
Brandy can’t remember a time when she didn’t read romance. She loved Harlequin romance and can still remember getting in trouble in school for reading during class. Her teachers documented it well on report cards!
One of Brandy’s all time favorite books is Julia Quinn’s The Duke and I. She was a huge fan long before Bridgerton came out. One of her biggest dreams came true over a decade ago when she was tapped by Avon Books to be a part of a limited group of reviewers for all things Avon Books. She still continues to review for them and loves it!
Brandy loves all romance but can’t get enough of the wilder side. She can usually be found lost in a world of supernatural creatures, exotic worlds, dark and mysterious Anti-heros or flying through the universe. She has no problem hanging up her space boots or handcuffs and taking a leisurely stroll with her second chance romance down Main street. Romance for her has no boundaries, limitations or expectations. She loves it all.
Brandy is available for the following services:
- Premium Beta Reading
- Professional Beta Reading
- Quick Pass Beta Reading
- Quote & Teaser Service
Becky

Becky’s Subgenre & Trope Specialties:
- LGBTQ+
- Erotica
- Cozy Mysteries
- Grumpy/Sunshine
Becky lives in Asheville, NC with her wife, twin 11 year olds, a dog, two fish, and a very angry hedgehog. She gets paid to test health care software but her real passions are books, animals, and nature. She can almost always be found with a book in her hand and since she began keeping track in 2022 she has read 903 romance novels, with a focus on LGBTQ+ romance. Her first M/M novel was Red, White, and Royal Blue and her interest in the genre blew up from there.
Her first romance novel was most definitely Flowers in the Attic in middle school but when she got to college she started reading the really spicy stuff when she discovered erotica. Her first job after college was at a Catholic thrift store to which someone donated the entire set of Anne Rice’s Sleeping Beauty trilogy which she quickly snatched up.
A romance character would lure her in to a sexy trap by having and taking care of a lot of animals, by cleaning her house and taking care of adulting tasks, by cooking for her, and by bringing her lots of presents including books, coffee, and warm jammies. The romance tropes she loves to read include Fake Relationship, Grumpy/Sunshine, Betting, and the Two Person Love Triangle.
Becky is available for the following services:
- Premium Beta Reading
- Professional Beta Reading
Testimonials Coming Soon!
Keeper

Keeper’s Subgenre & Trope Specialties:
- YA
- Sci-fi
- Fantasy
- Enemies-to-Lovers
- Why Choose / RH
As a kid, Keeper loved to diagram sentences and often got in trouble for reading when she was supposed to be doing other things. She has a love for travel, people, and creating, with a degree in art and a passion for design and making. Keeper is very thorough and detail-oriented and loves nothing more than to help people realize their creative dreams, so she is always eager to help you find the perfect wording.
If a romance character wanted to lure Keeper into a sexy trap, how would they do it? A trip to almost anywhere, a five-star meal, drinks and live music outdoors on a summer night, lavender flowers, a blindfold and handcuffs, a hot tub, or snuggly blankets with a storm outside.
Keeper loves to read young adult, sci-fi, fantasy, and steamy romances, with a fondness for kinky narratives and have-it-all endings.
What tropes make Keeper swoon the hardest? Call to Adventure, Community Comes Together, Assemble the Team, Enemies to Friends/Lovers, Why Choose.
Keeper is available for the following services:
- Premium Beta Reading
- Professional Beta Reading
- Quick Pass Beta Reading
- Proofreading
Jess

Jess’s Subgenre & Trope Specialties:
- Dark
- Erotica
- Fantasy
- LGBTQIA
Jess is an editor, witch, nonfiction essayist, and grassroots organizer with more than 20 years of professional experience in journalism and publishing.
Her claim to reading fame? In first grade, Jess received all 19 of the original Boxcar Children books from a family member. They expected the books to last through the summer, but Jess finished them in one day. She regularly picked up her grandmother’s Harlequin books that were left in random spots around the house. Then, in middle school while stuck at home sick for months, her mom brought home some of her childhood favorites from the library — Dragonriders of Pern — and Jess discovered an abiding love of fantasy.
If a fictional character wanted to lure Jess into a sexy trap, her partner says it’s as easy as offering, “a book, a slice of pizza, caffeine, and a kitten”. He’s not wrong. When Jess isn’t reading anything she can get her hands on, hyperfocusing on an essay, or raging against the system, she and her partner ramble around their 1950s house and try not to trip over their 14 rescue cats.
While Jess will read anything and she gets down with smut on the regular, her true love is fantasy, and her favorites include an unlikely band of characters saving the world. Or at least, their part of the world. She’s drawn to messy characters, morally grey love interests, sharp edges, and stories that rip open her soft heart and offer it back to her on a platter. She regularly cries about The Thirteen.
Jess is available for the following services:
- Premium Beta Reading
- Professional Beta Reading
- Quick Pass Beta Reading
- Proofreading
Testimonials Coming Soon!
Lily

Lily’s Subgenre & Trope Specialties:
- YA / NA Fiction
- Middle Grade Fiction
- Sweet & Wholesome Romance
- Sports Romance
- Romantic Comedy
- Romantic Suspense
- Thriller / Suspense Fiction
- Women’s Fiction
- BIPOC Fiction
- BIPOC Romance
- Billionaire
- Second Chance Romance
- Slow Burn
- Friends to Lovers
- Enemies to Lovers
Lily has enjoyed exploring and making her mark in the world of publishing as a reviewer, book award judge, beta reader, and editor for almost a decade, and giving back to authors for the creative work of putting their thoughts and dreams into paper. When you think about it, bringing a story to life is not a small achievement and Lily loves being part of that literary journey.
She stumbled upon “A Woman of Substance” by Barbara Taylor Bradford, a romance novel that set her on a lifelong interest in the genre. And my oh my! Didn’t she love it! Enemies to lovers, forbidden romance, slow burns, fiery heroes and heroines? Yes, please! Her absolute favorites are romance, historical fiction, mystery and suspense, YA, and contemporary fiction. However, she will gladly dive into just about any book with a captivating blurb. For a rainy afternoon, a good book, a cup of warm chocolate, and a comfy rocking chair will do. And hey, a cozy blanket, and she will easily slip away into her fantasy world.
Lily is available for the following services:
- Platinum Read – Line Edits
- Premium Beta Reading
- Professional Beta Reading
- Proofreading
- Full Service Editing with Lily – coming soon!
Testimonials Coming Soon!
Morgan

Morgan’s Subgenre & Trope Specialties:
- Women’s Fiction
- Non-Fiction
- Romantic Comedy
- Thriller / Suspense Fiction
- LGBTQIA Fiction
- Horror
- Cozy Mysteries
- Fantasy
- Grumpy / Sunshine
- Monsters
- Touch Her and Die
- Small Town
Outside of becoming a Beta Reader for The Author Buddy(!!), Morgan is an early education and intervention specialist with half a decade of experience in early childhood education. She is a passionate mother, friend, reader, and amateur author, and dreams of one day making the leap (or, more accurately, a slow climb) from early childhood education to collegiate status as a creative writing professor. Until then, and long after, she is grateful for the opportunity to be one of the first set of eyes peering into the world(s) you’ve created.
Morgan enjoys the occasional romance novel, especially if anything fantastical is involved (werewolves, vampires, fae-folk, the works!); her favorite subgenres are gothic and/or psychological horror, literary fiction (specifically with weird/dark undertones), and nonfiction novels that dive into history, true crime, and science and nature.
Morgan is available for the following services:
- Premium Beta Reading
- Professional Beta Reading
Testimonials Coming Soon!
Kelli

Kelli joined The Author Buddy team at the end of 2023, but she’s been a huge supporter since the very beginning!
As our Project Manager, Kelli is using her vast organizational skills to herd our little band of smut lovers, and we are eternally grateful for her help!
Our authors will occasionally see emails from Kelli during a project, but know that she’s always there in the background helping to make sure all of the projects run as smooth as your MC’s pickup lines!
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