About Us
Welcome to The Foundry
At The Foundry, we are passionate about guiding authors on their writer journey to master their stories and transform their lives. We believe that every writer has a unique voice and a powerful story to tell, and our mission is to help you bring that story to life with honesty, integrity, communication, and quality at the forefront of our services.
Our Vision
We are your guides on the journey to mastering your story! At The Foundry, we don’t just help transform your writing; we are your mentors on this adventure called life. The Foundry’s vision is to empower you to reach your full potential as a writer, fostering creativity and growth at every step.
Our Commitment
The Foundry’s commitment to you is built on the foundation of honesty, integrity, communication, and quality. These core values drive everything we do in our, ensuring that you receive the highest level of support, guidance, and excellence throughout your creative writer journey.
Honesty
We believe in providing transparent and straightforward feedback, ensuring you always know where you stand in your creative writer journey. Our guidance is rooted in truth, helping you grow with clarity and confidence.
Integrity
At The Foundry, we uphold the highest ethical standards in all our interactions. We are committed to acting with integrity, respecting your vision, and honoring our promises to deliver exceptional support and service.
Communication
Effective communication is key to a successful partnership. We maintain open lines of communication, actively listening to your needs and providing timely, thoughtful responses to keep you informed and engaged throughout the process.
Quality
Excellence is our standard. We are dedicated to delivering top-tier services that reflect our commitment to quality. From editing to mentorship, we ensure that every aspect of our work meets the highest level of craftsmanship and care.
The Founders
Erin Miller
A Lifelong Passion for Storytelling & Growth
Since childhood, Erin Miller has harbored a profound love for storytelling and acting. In 2009, he pursued his passion by enrolling at Emerson College’s School of Storytelling, where he earned a certificate in the craft. Subsequently, he attended Dartington College of Arts, where he obtained an associate degree in writing and refined his skills as a performer and entertainer. Over the years, Erin has dedicated himself to personal development by studying psychology, delving into marketing and branding, and attending numerous Harmony Institute seminars on personal development, conflict resolution, and mentorship.
Mentorship & Author Development
Erin Miller has dedicated himself to meticulously honing his skills in multiple creative endeavors, including being a versatile and talented audiobook narrator, voice actor, producer, author, and author developer. Beyond his own writing, Erin serves as an author developer, nurturing the talents of aspiring writers. Through his mentorship, he provides guidance, feedback, and encouragement, helping authors refine their craft and bring their stories to fruition.
Erin’s passion for writing and his commitment to helping others have led him to become an accomplished author developer. He understands the importance of mentorship and the impact it can have on aspiring writers. Through his mentorship, Erin provides valuable insights, constructive criticism, and encouragement, helping authors identify their strengths, overcome challenges, and develop their writing skills.
Erin’s mentorship is not limited to technical aspects of writing. He also helps authors develop their creativity, imagination, and storytelling abilities. He encourages them to explore different genres, experiment with new writing styles, and push the boundaries of their craft. Through his mentorship, Erin helps authors unlock their full potential and bring their unique voices and stories to life.
Impact on the Writing Community
Erin’s dedication to mentorship has had a significant impact on the writing community. His guidance and support have helped countless aspiring writers grow and develop their skills, contributing to the richness and diversity of the literary landscape.
Alexander Wankier
In the vibrant world of literature, Alex stands out as a passionate freelance editor with an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and a profound adoration for books. His journey as an editor began at a young age, nestled amidst towering bookshelves and the enchanting aroma of paper. With each turn of the page, Alex’s imagination soared, igniting a lifelong love affair with the written word.
His dedication to excellence and meticulous attention to detail have honed his editorial skills to a razor’s edge. Alex possesses an uncanny ability to identify even the most subtle nuances and inconsistencies in a manuscript, ensuring that every word, sentence, and paragraph flows seamlessly. His commitment to quality is unwavering, and he approaches each project with the same level of enthusiasm and professionalism.
Alex’s true passion lies in fantasy and science fiction novels, genres that ignite his imagination and stir his creative spirit. His understanding of these intricate worlds allows him to bring a spark of magic and innovation to each project. Alex’s editorial touch enhances the emotional resonance of the characters, giving them depth and complexity. Working closely with authors, He and the Foundry team craft captivating storylines, ensuring each novel immerses readers from beginning to end.
Beyond his technical prowess, Alex’s genuine love for storytelling sets him apart. He approaches each manuscript with empathy and understanding, immersing himself in the author’s vision. His ability to collaborate effectively with writers allows him to bring out the best in each narrative. Alex provides valuable insights and suggestions, helping authors refine their ideas and bring their characters to life.
Our Partners
Derek Gruen
Derek is a passionate artist with a lifetime of creative experience and a degree in graphic design. He specializes in logo design, book cover art, and concept art, helping clients bring their visions to life. His artistic roots run deep, inspired by fantasy, science fiction, and the natural world. Derek works with authors to create stunning visual solutions that captivate and inspire your project.
Logo Design
Channeling his creativity and attention to detail, Derek crafts truly unique symbols that represent you and your work’s essence. Through meticulous research and brainstorming, he creates a logo that not only stands out visually but also conveys your brand’s core values and messaging.
Book Cover Design
Each cover Derek designs thoughtfully captivates the viewer’s attention and establishes an immediate connection with your story. Whether you envision a vibrant and eye-catching cover or a more minimalist and sophisticated design, Derek turns your vision into a reality.
Concept Art
Derek specializes in creating surreal and captivating landscapes, 3D illustrations, and thought-provoking concepts. He delivers artwork that not only meets your expectations, but exceeds them. With unwavering dedication, he pours his heart and soul into every piece, ensuring that it resonates deeply with the narrative and atmosphere you seek to create.
Collaborate with Derek to bring your creative vision to life, resulting in an artwork that truly stands out and leaves a lasting impression.
Colton Iverson
Colton Iverson is a passionate writer and an industry veteran with nearly a decade of experience in the world of writing, editing, and publishing. After writing nine books, he has honed his craft and established himself as a prolific author. Colton’s journey in the writing world led him to create Narrative Ink and partner with amazing industry professionals to help authors realize their true potential as creative individuals.
His extensive knowledge and love for the written word shine through his works. Colton’s dedication to the craft and his unwavering commitment to helping others on their literary journeys make him a prominent figure in the world of writing advice.
Nicole Whisler
Nicole Whisler, a highly acclaimed developmental editor and book coach, guides fantasy writers through every stage of the writing process, from brainstorming to drafting to revising stories with beating hearts. Through her signature coaching program, Fantasy Footsteps, she works one-to-one with writers to transform their fledgling ideas into fantasy worlds and stories that captivate.
From 2011 to 2017, Nicole taught English and creative writing full-time, then moved from the field of education to focus on developmental editing. It didn’t take long for her to discover the perfect blend of teaching and editing: book coaching. Stepping fully into the coaching world has allowed her to create an environment where authors can flourish.
Nicole is a former co-organizer of the Jefferson City Novelist Group, which has supported mid-Missouri writers through critiques for over a decade. She is also a member of the Editorial Freelancers Association and the Professional Editors Network and recognized as a leading Book Coach by the Coach Foundation. Nicole lives in Fayetteville, Arkansas, with her husband and three daughters, where she hosts an in-person critique group for fiction writers at her local library. In her spare time, you can find her reading, exploring the outdoors with her family, or working on her fourth YA fantasy novel.
Nicole’s dedication to her clients’ success, experience working with aspiring and seasoned authors alike, and detailed personal feedback lead fantasy writers to craft stories that linger in readers’ minds long after they’ve read the last page.
Theresa
Theresa provides developmental editing for fantasy and science fiction writers who want to send their readers on epic journeys and craft immersive fantastical worlds. Her services cover both big-picture elements like plot, character, and worldbuilding, and narrative techniques like point of view. She takes time to understand their story, creative intentions, and which aspects of their writing they want to improve. If they’re stuck, she can help them see solutions to their plot and structural problems, as well as develop relatable and intriguing characters that grow in a meaningful way. She helps them convey their story ideas effectively, turning their draft into the story they want to tell.
By studying narrative patterns and techniques, she has accumulated profound knowledge in analyzing and developing a story. They have completed professional training including the comprehensive Developmental Editing (DE) courses ‘DE – Fiction Theory’ and ‘DE – In Practice’ (Liminal Pages) and is a member of Club Ed for editing professionals where she earned certificates in ‘Editing Science Fiction and Fantasy’ and ‘DE 5: Manuscript Evaluation’.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and a Master’s degree in Agricultural Science and is happy to discuss speculative fiction projects to help authors craft scientifically plausible worlds.
When not immersed in fiction, she works part-time at a goat farm and enjoys exploring the outdoors as well as foreign languages. This time away from editing allows her to process the stories they read and come up with insights about the manuscripts she is working on.
Sophia DuJardot
With over a decade of vocal mastery, Sophia DuJardot, the founder of Belle Voix Studios, empowers authors to bring their literary creations to life. Her proficiency in crafting captivating audiobooks and engaging social media content has positioned her as an indispensable partner for authors who aspire to amplify their voices. Sophia’s exceptional ability to transform written words into vibrant auditory experiences ensures that each story she narrates resonates profoundly with its audience, forging an unbreakable bond between authors and their readers.