Your Partnership Team

Cheri Cowell - Owner and Author Specialist

Cheri received her MA in Theological Studies from Asbury Theological Seminary.  As owner of EABooks Publishing,  her personal experience as an award winning author and speaker has given her the unique perspective to understand the many complicated challenges that authors encounter in the publishing world. She is a native Floridian, born in Ft. Pierce and resides in Central Florida with her husband, Randy. In her “spare time” Cheri enjoys scrapbooking and card making, loves owls and once portrayed Woodsey the Owl in a 3rd grade drama. 

Michelle Booth – Managing editor

Michelle has more than 20 years of experience helping clients tell their stories. In addition to her writing, editing and proofreading expertise, she has proven skills in formulating and executing marketing communication plans; creating and implementing PR campaigns; planning, negotiating and executing advertising campaigns; and orchestrating special events and industry trade shows for domestic and international companies. Michelle earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tulsa; she is a member of the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) and the Florida Authors & Publishers Association.

Robert Ousnamer - Cover Designer, Conversion Specialist, Marketing Coach

Bob is the dedicated husband of Carol and a proud father and adoring grandpa. He is also a professional photographer. Study at Indiana University and his business background in creative design qualify him to bring you the best experience in publishing your book. And don’t be surprised to find Bob dressed all in red in December, resembling that jolly-old-elf from the North Pole. (Santa’s watching – look busy!)

Lily Crowell - Director of Company Operations

Lily Crowell has lived in Central Florida since 1971 and graduated from the University Of Central Florida with a BA in Sociology.  As one of her first jobs she worked as the Branch Manager for Kelly Temporary Services.  She is happily married for over 30 years to Stewart. Early on in her career, her husband had an opportunity to open his own business.  It was a leap of faith, and since 1988 she has run the business operations for their residential and commercial painting business in Central Florida.  She is active with the Oviedo-Winter Springs Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club of Winter Springs. They have two wonderful grown sons. Lily is looking forward to helping realize the vision of EABooks Publishing.

Wanda Barbella – Acquisitions Editor

Wanda completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Management and a Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology from a Christian University, Palm Beach Atlantic University.  She was the Chief Operating Officer of a publicly traded mortgage company before following her passion and switching to counseling.  She has a private practice working with addictions, eating disorders, and trauma and is a consultant providing licensing, accreditation, auditing, and training services to agencies in the same three fields. She has served as the Governance Chair of the Board of Directors for another non-profit organization and has been active on numerous fund-raising committees.

John Copeland - Audio Speclialist, Voice Professional

John Copeland is the go-to guy for EA audio books!  He’s the engineer, as well as a voiceover talent.  John’s velvety voice can melt a rock on a cold day. He’s also sought after for his knowledge in media technology and everything “techy”.  He is the co-founder of IC Media, and has over 30 years experience in radio, television, and corporate event production.  He has produced award winning radio commercials, TV shows and live events of all sizes.  His engaging style has resulted in many satisfied clients including: Outback, Orlando Magic, Chicago Bulls, Pizza Hut, Sears, Westinghouse and the US Postal Service.  You can trust your audiobook to his professional care and expertise

Laurie Copeland - Voice Professional, Marketing Coach

Laurie is an author, actress, audiobook voiceover talent and marketing coach. She minored in Theatre and majored in Speech Communications at Geneva College.  As an adult, her love for theatre and the voice arts never abated, which led to teaching drama to 1st through 12th graders.  She applies her 30 years of acting experience to her audio book readings with EA audio books.  As Marketing Coach, she applies her marketing and social media skills she’s gathered as co-owner of JamJar Studio and as an author.  She is the co-author of The Groovy Chicks book series and many magazine articles.  So she knows how it feels to “birth a book-baby” and handles each project with gentle loving care, whether it’s narrating your audio book or as your Marketing Coach.

Dawn Staymates - Lead Formatting Specialist

Dawn’s experience as an office manager and conscientious attention to detail equips her to be the very best formatter for EABooks. She loves the challenge of taking a manuscript and transforming it into book form. Born in Chicago, Dawn studied at Bellevue University in Nebraska and loves traveling with her husband, David and reading. They have a daughter, son, and five grandchildren. A self-described child of God, Dawn also has a black belt in Tae Kwon Do!  

Tanya Shanley - Administrative Assistant

Tanya received her Bachelors degree in Child Psychology from Bloomsburg University in PA. During the past seven years, Tanya was able to care for her two young children at home. During this time, she led the Event Ministry with MOPS (Mother's of Preschoolers), volunteered at her children's schools, and helped with Church functions. She also helps her husband run a Video Production Company in Orlando. Her hobbies include digital scrapbooking, walking, Bible studies, and spending time with her family.

Kristen Veldhuis - Project Coordinator, Formatting Specialist

Kristen’s experience includes corporate marketing and strategy analysis and federal government budget analysis providing her a broad range of experiences in meeting deadlines while being extremely attentive to detail.  She earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Florida and a Masters of Business Administration from George Mason University.  Kristen spent the past several years as a stay at home mom to her three children.  During that time she performed leadership roles with Mothers of Preschoolers and her favorite hobbies include running and reading.

Jessie Collins – Formatting Specialist

Jessie’s experience is mainly in Healthcare with over 40 years in the field as an RN. Her education includes both a BSN and MSN degrees, the last in Nursing Informatics. Jessie is an avid and voracious reader, with an eye for details, organization, knowledge of meeting deadlines and computer software assists her in getting the formatting for your book done correctly. Growing up a Military BRAT means she meets few strangers. She and her husband love to read, play board games and are raising fur-babies!

Deborah B. Smith – Illustrator

Central Florida award winning artist, Deborah Smith, has devoted her life to being an artist. "I love to create works that have mood, rich color and the dramatic illusion of light in them." She studied painting under Alex Anderson in Tallahassee, FL and has had a notable thirteen-year career culminating as the Arts and Entertainment Director with Walt Disney World and was the first artist given personal recognition for her works there. We are honored to have Deborah as a part of our creative staff.

Dave O'Connell – Illustrator

Dave studied at Center for Creative studies four years in Detroit Michigan. He has worked for Skidmore Studio for over 30 years as an Illustrator and artist. creating art for many clients like Chevy, Mazda, Ford, Michelin, US Postal, Carfax, Serta and storyboards for Super Bowl commercials. Dave enjoys taking the client script to life and seeing them on tv. He has taught art classes at CCS  Detroit and McComb college and loves painting and using his art to speak at camps, men’s groups and church youth events. Dave has illustrated three children’s books; Always Late Nate, The Christmas Nest, and Dust, The Story of the Original Tooth Fairy. He has also illustrated and published a spiritual coloring book entitled I Call Him.

Dara Lehner - Formatting Specialist

Dara Lehner is an English, Reading and Writing teacher to both Middle School and High School students. She graduated with a triple major from Urbana University in Ohio. She is both a published writer and photographer in a variety of magazines, newspapers, anthologies, and books. Dara loves technology and relishes helping and teaching others via online formats. She has a background as an editor, formatter, motivational speaker and facilitator at Christian writing conferences. Dara loves her southern roots in Appalachia, yet married her Midwestern husband, Joe, 38 years ago. They have two children and six grandchildren living in Ohio, which constitutes road trips from their current NC home. Besides her passion for literature and history, her hobbies include researching genealogy, gardening and needlecraft.