About Us
Publisher Spotlight aims to be a key discovery spot for books by international and independent publishers. With more than three decades in the book industry, our marketing ranges from the independent bookseller world, to library collection developers and programmers, to pitching and promoting to national book review journals and important influencers. Myrick Marketing & Media is uniquely positioned to target niche markets in ways that maximize both sales and visibility. Located just outside of Nashville, Tennessee, we are also strategically close to Ingram, one of the world’s largest book wholesalers.
Ellen Myrick, President and Chief Marketer
Ellen Myrick has been working with children’s books, publishers, librarians, teachers, and professional conference exhibit promotions for more than 30 years. As a marketer, she knows the children’s book audience and how to match its interests in quality fiction, nonfiction, inclusive, and international choices from a stable of publishing clients, the mission of Publisher Spotlight. She has been a frequent moderator and presenter at book industry conferences including the Audio Publishers Association Conference, the American Library Association, and regional and state library and bookseller associations. Ellen has served on the boards of the Educational Paperback Association (now EBMA), the Audio Publishers Association, and the Women’s National Book Association, and has served as the Judging Chair for the Audie Awards.
Stacey Ashby, Vice President of Operations
Stacey Ashby has been working with Ellen and Publisher Spotlight from the Myrick Marketing & Media’s beginning. Stacey manages the business needs of coordinating and planning for both conferences and ongoing publicity work.
Emma Schneider, Marketing Manager
Emma Schneider began at Publisher Spotlight as an intern with a background in design communications. She is a graduate of Belmont University, with a B.A. in Publishing, with an emphasis in marketing and publicity. Emma now serves as Marketing Coordinator and manages Publisher Spotlight’s Instagram account. As a child, her favorite place in school was the brightly painted library with its endless shelves of books and hidden reading nooks. She never imagined having a career in children’s publishing, has loved every moment of it, and is passionate about putting excellent books into the hands of young readers and bringing awareness to small independent presses.
Christina Moorehead, Publisher Liaison
Christina Moorehead has been an early childhood, kindergarten, and primary elementary teacher in public, private, and international schools, using Reggio Emilia and Montessori methods. Literacy has been a touchstone across all of her teaching experiences, with a focus on nurturing confident, curious, and joyous readers. Christina serves as the General Secretary for USBBY, as the Program Director for the Center for Teaching Through Children’s Books, and also contributes to TeachingBooks conducting author interviews.
Rebecca Gibson, Publisher Liaison
Rebecca Gibson has always known she was a “book person.” She has worked in libraries and other book-centric businesses. She’s a yoga teacher and an irisarian, as well as working directly with several of our client publishers in title promotion.
Izzy Krause, Publisher Liaison and Advertising Coordinator
Izzy has always loved diving into the imaginative and creative worlds in her favorite books. After teaching in public schools, she is passionate about finding ways to get high-quality, diverse texts into the hands of all young readers & amplifying independent publishers as a team member of Publisher Spotlight.
Francisca Goldsmith, Consulting Librarian
Francisca Goldsmith has an extensive career in providing library services and managing library services and collections. She writes professionally in a broad number of categories. At Publisher Spotlight, Francisca handles social media and contributes knowledge and awareness of the changing landscape of children’s literacy and access to reading options. Francisca has been both a member and chair of many youth book and media award juries and gives regular professional presentations at conferences and workshops.
Tracy Gallagher, Special Projects Librarian
Tracy Gallagher has been working with children’s books since she learned the alphabet, thanks to a librarian mother. And, as a librarian mother herself, she is completely happy to be working with the team at Publisher Spotlight helping independent publishers gain exposure.
Josalyn Moran, Consultant
Josalyn, a former high school social studies teacher, bookseller, and publisher, comes to Publisher Spotlight after attending various national teacher conferences with the group. She has served on the boards of the Educational Paperback Association, the Eric Carl Museum of Picture Book Art, the Children’s Book Council, and Every Child a Reader. From Virginia Lee Burton to Gertrude Chandler Warner to Katherine Paterson to tomorrow’s read, stories have filled her personal and professional life. Her mission is to bring “more books to more kids.”
Heather Amie, Office Manager
Heather has been a constant reader since childhood. Joining our team has reawakened her passion for children’s books in particular. As Office Manager, Heather assists in both handling materials for conferences and assisting Stacey with business resources.
Rhena Curran, Logistics Coordinator
Rhena came to Publisher Spotlight after her graduation from Belmont University with a BA in Publishing, minoring in Marketing. Her undergraduate internships included a position on the staff of Belmont Story Review, a national literary magazine. In her free time she likes to read, and can often be found working through her (very large) TBR stack.