Our Team
Laura Rahimi Barnes
Founder and CEO
With millions of books sold worldwide, Laurelin Paige is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling Author. She lives in Austin, Texas with her family. She's also a proud member of Mensa International, though she doesn't do anything with the organization except use it as material for her bio. Laura’s first love is the romance genre and she loves putting pieces of herself in stories, from her Iranian heritage to her day-to-day life mothering children with disabilities.
Paige Press was established in 2014 by Laurelin Paige, the pen name for Laura Rahimi Barnes. After spending the last eight years transitioning from a one-woman publishing powerhouse to an in-house team of like-minded professionals, the company began selectively acquiring authors. Now, Paige Press is home to a full-service publishing house and content development division in order to better utilize her writing and marketing experience to further the careers—and stories—of even more authors.
She holds an MBA from Regis University, and Paige Press authors also benefit from her years of hands-on marketing and branding skills. Her knowledge of the evolving market and advertising acumen are grounded in her own experience, and proven by her record.
Kayti McGee
Director of Content Development
Kayti McGee is a USA Today bestselling author of romantic comedy and paranormal romance who lives in Kansas City, Missouri. She is also a member of Mensa International. Beyond her own writing, Kayti has spent years working behind the scenes to help other authors craft outlines, synopses, blurbs, queries, and ad copy. Her background in framing narrative structure means that each Paige Press author has a road map for every story, as well as cohesive branding language.
She oversees the creation of Paige Press story materials from concept to outline, pitch to promotion. In addition, she produces auxiliary materials for film/television options, reading apps, and other content avenues. Kayti specializes in romance, suspense, speculative fiction, and she’s passionate about high-concept occult horror.
Sarah Piechuta
Production Manager
Sarah graduated with a degree in Communications from Niagara University in Niagara Falls. After working on a few political campaigns and then programming for a manufacturing company, Sarah found the romance book world and has made it her home ever since. Spending the last seven years working as an assistant to several authors, she loves working behind the scenes to make sure her authors can concentrate on what they do best - writing. She lives in Cleveland, Ohio.
Melissa Gaston
Graphic Designer and Social Media
Melissa was born and raised in the Seneca Nation in New York, which led her to a passion for Native stories. After earning a degree in Social Sciences from the University of Pittsburgh, Melissa moved into design. She’s been working professionally in the book world for more than nine years, from her family’s home in Washington, DC.
Brandie Coonis
Editor and Content Creator
In Los Angeles, Brandie established her publishing roots at RF Literary and as an assistant to author Francesca Lia Block. After graduating from USC's School of Cinematic Arts with an MFA in Writing for Screen and Television, she attended the Clarion Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers' Workshop, where she sharpened her narrative sensibility and editorial acumen. Most recently a member of the editorial team at Glasstown Entertainment in NYC, she loves working with writers and stories that defy genre. Brandie has a deep affinity for visceral prose, speculative fiction in all its forms, and stories laced with history, magic, and loss.
Roxie Madar
Content Creator and Publicity
Roxie studied Hospitality and the classics at university in Hungary before immigrating to the United States in 1996. After her daughter survived the tragedy at Sandy Hook, Roxie threw herself into the perpetual happy endings of the romance world. She was part of the vanguard of indie book bloggers, working with Schmexy Girl to promote authors in what was, at the time, the unconventional social media marketplace. Along with blogging, Roxie has been a professional beta reader for five years, and has worked with Candi Kane PR since its inception.
Orion Allison
Content Creator and Editor-in-Training
Orion is combining her work experience as an intern at RF Literary, her creative experience in the art and writing zine/fanfic arenas, and her college classwork to offer a clear, forward-thinking voice for the young adult LGBTQ+ and disabled community.
Ann R. Jones
Associate Editor, Content Creator, and Sensitivity Reader
With a professional background in television, Ann started on-air as an ABC news reporter in Rochester, NY. She eventually relocated to New York City and made the move from in front of the camera to behind the lens. As a Writer/Director for Discovery, Viacom and Paramount productions she worked on a rainbow of programming including The Daytime Emmys and The Tonys. Ann has produced pieces for Black Enterprise Magazine and scripted several programs celebrating black activism and entrepreneurship. In 2018 Ann expanded her sandbox to the book publishing community, becoming an editor, ads strategist and influencer. She now lives outside of Philadelphia with her family.
Yashu Pericherla
Editor in Training and Author Recruitment Specialist
Yashu is working to diversify the publishing industry and the literature that comes out of it, and her role at Paige Press supports that vision. From culture to race to queerness, she is focused on bringing to light voices that have historically been ignored. She has a BA in English from Hofstra University with a concentration in Creative Writing and Literature, as well as a minor in Political Science.
Rebecca Friedman
Content Creator and Literary Agent
Rebecca began her career at Greenburger Associates. From there, she worked at Sterling Lord Literistic and the Hill Nadell Agency before founding her own agency in 2013. She is a graduate of Barnard College and lives in Austin with her family. Rebecca loves to sell commercial and literary fiction with a focus on literary novels of contemporary romance, women’s fiction, suspense, and young adult. From her early obsession with the Holocaust to her interest in underrepresented cultures, she’s always been passionate about great stories told by strong voices.
All Paige Press projects are represented by Rebecca at RF Literary.