San Rafael, CA —  Insight Editions, award-winning publisher of pop culture, lifestyle, and children’s books, best selling journals, novelty gifts and stationery has named several new hires to key positions over the past several months at this fast-growing independent publisher.

In the marketing and publicity department:

Rachel Kempster Barry has been named Vice President of Marketing, Publicity and eCommerce. She was previously Vice President, Marketing and Publicity at DK; director of the Morristown Festival of Books; and principal at Tuesday Magic Marketing where she worked with clients including Penguin Young Readers and WORD Bookstores.

Colleen Lindsay joins as Senior Publicity and Marketing Strategist with an emphasis on pop culture, gaming and entertainment. She previously was a Publicity Lead at Amazon Publishing, and Marketing Director for Open Road Integrated Media, and worked in publicity at Del Rey Books.

Kayla Kohlmeister joins as Associate Publicist and Marketing Strategist with an emphasis on lifestyle and stationery. She has previously worked in sales and marketing at Chronicle Books and No Starch Press.

Marysol Olvera has been promoted to Marketing and Publicity Associate. She was previously a Publicity Intern, and will be responsible for supporting the publicity department, reporting campaign metrics and executing campaigns for assigned titles.

Yasuaki Daito has been promoted to Marketing and Publicity Assistant. He was previously a Marketing Intern. “Aki” will be responsible for supporting Insight Editions key marketing campaigns with an emphasis on supporting campaigns for pop culture and entertainment titles, fan community engagement and social media.

In the editorial department:

Justin Eisinger joins the company as Senior Editor. He most recently served as editorial director of graphic novels & collections at IDW Publishing, where he collaborated with George Takei on the bestselling graphic memoir They Called Us Enemy.

Karyn Gerhard, joins as Senior Editor at Weldon Owen. Karyn previously worked at Alpha Books (DK), Bulfinch Press, and Abrams. She’s looking forward to expanding WO’s craft, film, popular culture, and art titles.

John Foster joins as Senior Editor at Weldon Owen. John previously worked at The Quarto Group, Sterling Publishing, and Watson-Guptill Publications. He will focus on expanding Weldon Owen’s popular culture, entertaining, lifestyle, and book-plus titles.

Jan Neal joins as Senior Production Editor. She was previously a senior production editor and acquisitions editor for Alpha Books (an imprint of Penguin Random House), working on the Idiot’s Guides series.

Samantha Holland joins as Editor. She was previously an Associate Editor at Callisto Media and publishing Coordinator and Licensing Editor at Lucasfilm for nonfiction and novelty titles from Insight Editions, DK, Egmont UK, and more.

Scott Nybakken joins as Senior Editor. He previously worked as an editor at DC Comics and Fantagraphics Books, and has contributed book and movie reviews to The Stranger, New York Press, and People Magazine.

Grace Orriss begins her publishing career as Editorial Assistant. She is a recent graduate of UC Berkeley, where she majored in English and was an editor for The Daily Californian newspaper.

Claire Yee joins as Editor at Weldon Owen. She was previously an Associate Editor at Callisto Media and Acquisitions Coordinator at McGraw-Hill Education. She’s looking to expand Weldon Owen’s lifestyle, craft, and cooking titles.

Chelsea Lobey joins the company in the new role of Group Publishing Coordinator. She previously held positions at Ooligan Press, Wipf & Stock and Beyond Words.

Insight Editions’ founder, CEO and Publisher Raoul Goff noted, “With the addition of these talented and innovative professionals, Insight Editions is positioned for success in 2021 and beyond. We’ve assembled a team with the talent, experience, creativity and tenacity to face the challenges of growing our dynamic business and expanding our list into new formats, categories, sales channels, and marketing platforms and activations.”

About Insight Editions

Founded in 2002, Insight Editions is a bestselling publisher of illustrated books, novelty gifts, journals, stationery, and collectibles that push the boundaries of creativity, design, and production. Through its licensed publishing program, Insight Editions produces unique books and products that provide meaningful ways to engage with characters and stories for popular brands and properties including American Girl, Disney, Downton Abbey, Star Wars, Marvel, Paramount Pictures, and Warner Bros, and retail brands like Williams Sonoma.

Award-winning art and photography titles celebrate the artistry and history of a wide range of subjects, from rock to film to nature conservation. Insight Editions manifests its dedication to sustainability and conservation through publishing partnerships with organizations such as Jane Goodall Institute, The National Parks Association, Mission Blue, and Roots of Peace.

Insight Editions’ New York Times bestsellers include Bowie: Stardust, Rayguns & Moonage Daydreams, Henry Winkler’s I’ve Never Met an Idiot on the River, and Radhanath Swami’s The Journey Within. Recent bestsellers include Harry Potter Coloring Wizardry, Friends: The Official Cookbook, The Official Downton Abbey Afternoon Tea Cookbook, and Self-Care: A Day and Night Reflection Journal. The innovative pop-up book Harry Potter: A Pop-Up Guide to Hogwarts and Beyond was awarded a 2019 CLIO Entertainment Award.

Insight Editions is distributed to the trade by Simon & Schuster Distribution Services. Imprints include Insight Kids, Insight Comics, Earth Aware, Earth Aware Kids, Mandala Publishing, NewSeed Press, Weldon Owen, and the toy and gift brands Incredibuilds, Luminaries, and PopCraft. For more information, visit insighteditions.com.