George “Clay” Mitchell
EVP & Publisher, Rogue River & Dragonbrae
George wrote his first short story in first grade (1978) about a boy who woke up to prepare for school. Everything was going wrong, only to have the kid wake up again to realize he was about to repeat the day, and he’s been telling stories ever since.
A vigorous reader since he picked up his first book, George completed two 100-book challenges during two summers and takes pride that he’s read every Texas Bluebonnet Award book nominee who was listed from 1980-1984. It was also at this time he discovered the kind of books that children weren’t probably supposed to read, like the works of Ian Fleming, HG Wells, Issac Asimov, Edgar Allan Poe, Ray Bradbury, Robert E. Howard, Jules Verne, Alexander Dumas, Louis L’Amour, Arthur Conan Doyle, John le Carré, and Gothic Romances (Women With Great Hair Fleeing Dark Houses). He’s also read an entire encyclopedia set about the stories of the Bible and all of the Time-Life Old West books before he was eight years old. (He still has the original set his parents owned with the index, and for a long time, it was a point of tension with his mother about whether or not he would give them back.)
Before junior high, he also discovered Dungeons & Dragons and the world of role-playing games. This led to ghostwriting and editing some RPGs during the d20 boom.
Being half-deaf, watching movies and TV shows was challenging to follow before closed captioning became widely available. In college, he discovered foreign films… movies, and TV shows with English captioning built right in. This developed his appreciation for stories being accessible from around the world. He’s a bit of a cinephile and will often guess the lines and “plot twists,” much to the amusement and dismay (respectively) of his family.
What does this have to do with Roan & Weatherford? To quote the founder, Casey Cowan, “George is the best story developer I’ve ever met. It just comes naturally to him.” It wasn’t just instincts but the accumulation of stories and insight across different mediums about what works and doesn’t.
He has developed over 70 novels for Roan & Weatherford across various genres and reading levels and has begun work on a story-development guide to help teach others what to look for.
George is also a 20-year newspaper veteran and freelancer for an online high school sports website. He can also accurately predict what penalty is about to be called during a football game.
Wishlist
At Roan & Weatherford, we seek stories that defy the ordinary and challenge the reader’s perception of reality. With a deep appreciation for classic literature and a passion for boundary-pushing narratives, we are drawn to works that blur the lines between good and evil, where each twist and turn leaves a lasting impact. Inspired by Jules Verne, H.G. Wells, John le Carré, Ian Fleming, E. Howard and modern masters such as Anne Rice, Neal Stephenson, Umberto Eco, and Stephen King, we seek emerging voices in thriller, mystery, horror, fantasy, and science fiction. We believe in the power of stories that take readers out of their comfort zones, delivering experiences that linger in the mind long after the final page is turned. We aim to discover and champion unique voices that bring fresh, thought-provoking perspectives to the genres we love.
Amy Cowan
EVP & Publisher, Young Dragons
Amy Cowan, a seasoned professional with nearly a decade of experience in publishing, excels in acquisitions, editing, and financial intricacies. Presently the Publisher at Young Dragons, an imprint of Roan & Weatherford Publishing Associates, she spearheads Children’s and Middle Grade content, collaborating seamlessly with picture book illustrators. Based in Northwest Arkansas, Amy enjoys spending time with her always-supportive husband, six children, and three grandchildren, often accompanied by her newly-found love of crochet projects. Her expertise in shaping literary landscapes and her devotion to family and artistic pursuits define Amy’s dynamic presence in both her professional and personal spheres.
Wishlist
I am on the lookout for captivating middle grade novels. I’m particularly interested in acquiring stories that transport young readers to new worlds while anchoring them in relatable, believable experiences. I’m particularly drawn to manuscripts that feature strong, engaging protagonists facing challenges in a way that feels authentic to their age and experiences. Whether it’s in a haunted forest, a magical kingdom, or a futuristic world, the story should be grounded in emotions and reactions that resonate with young readers. And, of course, a well-crafted villain who tests the heroes in meaningful ways is a definite plus.
Staci Troilo
EVP & Publisher, Radiance
Staci Troilo is the Executive Vice President and Publisher of Roan & Weatherford’s Radiance Imprint. She joined the company in 2014 and, after a brief departure during which she moved back to her hometown to be near family, she returned to Arkansas and the company in 2022. Born and raised in Western Pennsylvania, she chose to stay in the area she loved through her college career, receiving her B.A. in Professional Writing and Creative Writing from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Upon earning a scholarship to continue her education, she achieved her M.A. in Professional Writing from her alma mater in two semesters. Staci has worked as a writer and editor for over thirty years, more than fifteen of which were spent editing for independent publishers. She is currently searching for exceptional manuscripts in the upmarket and romance genres.
Wishlist
For upmarket, I’m looking for complex drama. Secrets hidden under layers of riddles wrapped in an enigmatic shroud. Stories with throat-gripping beginnings, messy middles, and jaw-dropping endings. Bonus points for snippets of humor to give readers a smile or two between crying jags.
For romance, I’m looking for strong, unique characters. A mash-up with another genre that’s seldom or never done. Something to revitalize the standard, tired tropes. I want the chemistry to be palpable, regardless of heat level, and any explicit scenes to focus more on the emotion of the moment than the biology and logistics. At the heart of the matter, these are all love stories. I want to fall in love with the characters as they fall for each other.
Casey Cowan
EVP & Co-Publisher, Hat Creek & Otterford
Casey has worked in the journalism and literary fields for nearly thirty years as a graphic designer, reporter, and publisher. In 2013, he co-founded Oghma Communications, which, through its subsidiary, Roan & Weatherford Publishing Associates, has become an award-winning mid-sized independent publisher of genre fiction and nonfiction. The following year, in partnership with late Western writing legend Dusty Richards, he also co-founded Saddlebag Dispatches, an award-winning magazine featuring original fiction, poetry, history, interviews, and articles dedicated to the American West. When he’s not working, Casey enjoys reading, writing, travel, music, catching up with his six adult children, indulging his five young grandchildren, and sharing his crazy life with his always-supportive wife, Amy.
Wishlist
From my childhood as an Air Force brat to my education in military history, I’ve always resonated with stories of war and espionage, be it fact or fiction, past, present, or future. But simple conflict is not enough for me. History is, at it’s essence, a story about ordinary—and even sometimes not-so-ordinary—people caught up in extraordinary circumstances. I’m looking for stories with deep and fully-realized characters drowning in the flood of their own emotions, fears, flaws, and petty jealousies as they face such intense moments. More than that, I want real stakes and uncertainty in my stories, as well. Nobody wins all the time, and no plan survives first contact with the enemy. The prospect of failure, defeat, loss, and death must be included. Examples of the kinds of novels I would like to acquire include Michael Shaara’s The Killer Angels, Herman Wouk’s The Winds of War and War and Remembrance, Anton Myrer’s Once an Eagle, and early works by the likes of such authors as Tom Clancy, Stephen Coonts, and P.T. Deutermann. For nonfiction, historical works by luminaries like James D. Hornfischer, Ian W. Toll, Stephen Ambrose, and Dan Jones top my list.
Anthony Wood
EVP & Co-Publisher, Hat Creek & Otterford
Anthony Wood is a Senior Vice President and the Deputy Publisher of Roan & Weatherford and Co-Publisher of the Hat Creek and Otterford imprints. He joined the company in 2021 and has enjoyed the relationships established and his growing responsibilities within the company.
A native Mississippian, Anthony has lived and worked from Florida to Alaska, and has traveled extensively. He served as an inner city ministry at street level and administratively for three decades before retiring to devote his time to becoming an author.
Anthony craves Historical Fiction and Western stories that allow him to enter the head and heart of characters that are genuine and flawed, but also testy and just. Anthony and his wife, Lisa, live in Central Arkansas, where he enjoys the outdoors, research and writing, and being with family.
Wishlist
I want characters who entice me to live their stories with them. I want to be drawn into their heart, minds, and souls so deeply that I become them. I want authentic, believable characters that drive the story. I like to see a character grow in whatever direction the story takes them in historically accurate settings. Sanitized characters do not portray the real world. I want characters to change so that by the end of the book, in some way, I’m changed as well. I don’t want to just read a book. I want to have a conversation with the author. I want to travel to new worlds and make new friends and enemies. I want to learn something new, experience an emotion I’ve yet to feel, and be driven to become better. I want to read a book that leaves me satisfied, but wanting more, that makes me ponder the possibilities but also leaves me with a conclusion. I want to finish a book and say, like Louis L’Amour, ‘Some part of it is always with you.’ Authors I enjoy are James L. Haley, Mark Twain, Velda Brotherton, David Gibbins, Winston Groom, David McCullough, Brian Kilmeade, and Alexandre Dumas.
Lindsay Flanagan
VP & Co-Publisher, Mad Cat
Lindsay Flanagan is the co-publisher of Mad Cat, the young adult imprint of Roan & Weatherford. She is an award-winning editor and author and has worked in the publishing industry for a decade, editing for traditional publishers and working at literary agencies. She is also a senior editor at Eschler Editing, specializing in developmental and substantive editing and ghostwriting. Her debut novel, AnnaGrey and the Constellation, the first of six books in the Laéth Realm Adventures series, was published in August 2023. The next installment, Little Red Wraith, comes out in August 2024, with the third in the series, AnnaGrey and the Red Fox Girls, in April 2025.
Wishlist
Fantasy with great worldbuilding, unique settings, dark magic; Gothic, steampunk, alternate history; time travel; portal fantasy; westerns–yes, westerns–with magic!; Native American stories: historical, mythical, fantastic, contemporary; Mexican stories: historical, fantastic, contemporary; stories about girls whose hearts have been broken but rise above to empower themselves and other girls, not drag other girls down.
I fall in love with gorgeous prose like that of Laini Taylor and characters with a bit of darkness in them like Lada in Kiersten White’s And I Darken series. I’d love to see a classic literature reimagining of Dracula or Phantom of the Opera with a female lead, or stories set in Sleepy Hollow or a haunted carnival.
My favorite books of all time:
The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
And I Darken by Keirsten White
The Horseman by Christina Henry
Heartless by Marissa Meyer
The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
Enna Burning by Shannon Hale
Sabine Berlin
VP & Co-Publisher, Mad Cat
Sabine Berlin is the co-publisher of Mad Cat, the young adult imprint of Roan and Weatherford Publishing. She is an avid reader of everything from Asimov to Austen, and has over twelve years experience as an editor with Eschler Editing, where she specializes in young adult fantasy, science fiction, and historical fiction. She has a passion for education and has degrees in History, Editing and Document Design, and Higher Education Leadership. Her YA science fiction novel And the Sky Full of Stars was released in 2022.
Wishlist
Strong sibling relationships
Cryptids both creepy and funny
Space mystery – Veronica Mars but on Mars!
Steampunk Asian Style
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy humor with teenage kids who stole Mom and Dad’s spaceship while they were out of the galaxy for the weekend
Contemporary or near future sci-fi
Alternate realities with cool historical twist
My favorite YA books of all-time:
Heartless by Marissa Meyer
Wildwood Dancing by Juliet Marrillier
Keturah and Lord Death by Martine Leavitt
Ender’s Game Orson by Scott Card
Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
Storm Humbert
VP & Executive Editor, Science Fiction & Fantasy
Storm Humbert grew up in Ohio, got an MFA and taught for a bit at Temple University in Philadelphia, and now lives with his wife, Casey, and their cats, Nugget and Honey Mustard, in Michigan. In his free time, Storm likes to be with his wife, play games, and work out. His writing has appeared in Andromeda Spaceways, Interzone, Apex, Galaxy’s Edge, and other magazines. Storm’s work has also featured in many anthologies, including the The Librarian and We are All Thieves of Somebody’s Future. He is also a winner of the Writers of the Future contest and has work forthcoming from other markets.
Storm and some friends recently started a small press: Calendar of Fools. Their first anthology, Inner Workings, came out in Winter of 2023, and their next project, Intergalactic Rejects, is due out next year. Storm has been lucky to have had tremendous writing instructors and mentors throughout his life, including Lee K. Abbott, Samuel R. Delany, Don Lee, David Farland, and Tim Powers, so he tries to teach and facilitate writing whenever and however he can. This is why he currently teaches a monthly workshop at the Westland Public Library.
Wishlist
I am currently looking for character-driven, adult fantasy and science fiction (with the exception of military SF). For fantasy, I am particularly drawn to big, thic (I meant to spell it that way) multi-POV epics. I want diverse casts of characters struggling toward individual goals across a rich, unique world. I want magic that means something and monsters who think they’re heroes—heroes who are a bit monstrous.
For science fiction, I want stories that not only make me think, but make me wonder and question. I also love experimental forms and structures, particularly in SF and love when scientific topics are presented in original ways.
In all things, I’m a sucker for wonderful prose. Give me elegance and beauty and precise word choices. I would also especially love to see Own Voices queries from BIPOC, LGBTQ2S+, and other underrepresented author groups. In the end, I believe novels must ultimately make an argument of some kind, so if all your book is doing is “telling a good story,” it’s probably not for me.
Rachel Santino
VP & Executive Editor, Western Fiction
Rachel Santino was born and raised in Virginia. She took a liking to reading at a young age and began writing and editing after college. She has a varied career in education, travel industry, event planning, photography, and the restaurant industry. She now runs Armadillo Editing and edits for top publishers in the Western genre. She loves building lasting connections with authors and works diligently to help perfect books readers will love. She’s traveled five of the seven continents and loves a good road trip. When not working, she enjoys time outdoors with her husband and visits with her family. Rachel is a member of Western Writers of America and Women Writing the West.
Wishlist
Rachel is looking for Western and historical fiction stories set after the Civil War with a strong sense of place and vivid natural settings of the Old West. These stories should highlight the struggle between civilization and wilderness and explore elements of adventure, clean romance, drama, faith, family, humor, mystery, and survival. Protagonists and antiheros of the frontier are often interchangeable and define a strong feeling of personal justice and individualism and are dangerous, unpredictable, and charismatic. Keep her hooked with plenty of suspense or pull at her heartstrings with stories of reluctant heroes and unattainable love.
Chris Enss
SVP & Executive Editor, Western Nonfiction
Chris Enss is a New York Times bestselling author who has been writing about women of the Old West for more than thirty years. She has penned more than fifty published books on the subject. Her work has been honored with nine Will Rogers Medallion Awards, two Elmer Kelton Book Awards, an Oklahoma Center for the Book Award, three Foreword Reviews Magazine Book Awards, the Laura Downing Journalism Award, and a Willa Cather Award from Women Writing the West for scholarly nonfiction. Enss’s most recent works are The Doctor Was A Woman: Stories of the First Female Physicians on the Frontier, An Open Secret: The Story of Deadwood’s Most Notorious Bordellos, and Along Came a Cowgirl: Daring and Iconic Cowgirls of Rodeos and Wild West Shows.
Wishlist
We’re seeking compelling nonfiction historical works and biographies that explore the lives of resilient women on the American Frontier. We want stories that delve into the unique challenges these women faced, their contributions to the settlement of the West, and the lasting impact of their courage and determination on American history. Manuscripts or proposals should bring these often-overlooked voices to life, offering fresh perspectives on the trials, triumphs, and legacies of frontier women.
Rachel Patterson
VP & Executive Editor, True Crime
Rachel is a native to the beautiful Ozark region of Arkansas where she resides with her husband and 4 children. She is a Logistics professional and loves her “day” job. In her spare time she enjoys being outside hiking, swimming, kayaking, and just enjoying all nature has to offer. Also an avid reader, she enjoys all genres with a passion for fantasy and true crime…and maybe a spicy romantacy thrown into the mix.
Wishlist
As the Executive Editor for Otterford Gumshoe, she would love to see more True Crime with a focus on serial killers. Especially if the story dives into the psychology and explores what makes them tick.
Sherry Monahan
VP & Executive Editor, Cookbooks
Sherry Monahan began her writing career when she combined her passion for food, travel, and history. She penned her first book, Taste of Tombstone, in 1998. That same passion landed her a monthly magazine column in 2009 when she began writing her food column in True West entitled, Frontier Fare.
Sherry is a culinary historian who enjoys researching the genealogy of food and spirits. While there’s still plenty to explore about frontier food, she’s expanding her culinary repertoire to include places and foods from all over America and beyond. She holds memberships in the James Beard Foundation, the Author’s Guild, Single Action Shooting Society, and the Wild West History Association.
Wishlist
Sherry is seeking high-quality cookbooks that go beyond recipes to explore the rich stories, culture, and history behind the dishes—works that cover a wide range of topics, including not just food but also cocktails, beverages, desserts, pastries, spices, and lost cultural dishes or techniques. Manuscripts or proposals should blend culinary expertise with engaging narratives that bring the history and heritage of each dish or drink to life.
Dennis Doty
SVP & Editorial Consultant
Dennis Doty is Publisher of Saddlebag Dispatches Magazine and an Editorial Consultant for Roan & Weatherford. He joined the company in 2017 as a junior editor and has been blessed/cursed with frequent promotions.
Born and raised in Southern California, Dennis has been a carny, U.S., Marine, rodeo cowboy, Personnel Manager, and Retail General Manager before retiring and finding his true calling as an author, editor, and publisher. Since 2002, he has made his home on the edge of the Daniel Boone National Forest in Southeastern Kentucky. He is looking for truly outstanding stories in the Western and Historical genres.
Wishlist
I love a character-driven story set in a vivid background. I need to see a definable character arc as well as a logical, but often surprising, story progression. I want a story that pulls me in and makes me care about the characters. Love them or hate them doesn’t matter as much as the need to feel something about them. Whether western or historical, I insist on historical accuracy within the bounds of the genre. That being said, I enjoy a believable cross genre story as well. If you want to set your western in the future or on an alien world, make me believe it. I read multiple genres and can get lost in a well-crafted fantasy world just as easily as a traditional western. Some of my favorite authors include, Elmer Kelton, Dusty Richards, Louis L’Amour, Bernard Cornwell, Jack London, John Steinbeck, Jeff Shaara, Jean Auel and W.E.B. Griffin.
Lisa Lindsey
Senior Line Editor
Lisa Lindsey has been an avid reader since childhood. The fictional worlds she dove into inspired her to begin writing her own stories at age 15. She’s been scribbling tales of fantasy and paranormal creatures ever since, as well as jotting down the occasional poem, all under the pen name Rie Lindsey.
Lisa’s writing has won a handful of awards, and she has short stories published in Volumes 4 and 5 of Del Garrett’s Vault of Terror anthologies. She was recently offered a contract with Roan & Weatherford Publishing Associates for her urban fantasy series. She also serves as a line editor with Roan & Weatherford, where her obsession with grammar rules is being put to good use. She serves as secretary for White County Creative Writers and is a member of Gin Creek Poets, a branch of Poets’ Roundtable of Arkansas.
Besides writing, Lisa enjoys baking sweets, crocheting cozy things, and brushing up on her French. Raised in Arkansas and having lived all over the Natural State, she finally settled down in Searcy with her husband, Darren, and their three children.
Wishlist
I like to see the following things:
Thought-provoking, intriguing narratives that bring a new spin/perspective on difficult topics
Worldbuilding capable of taking me to a new place/reality
Truly laugh-out-loud humor to brighten my day
Dragons because why not?
Don Money
Line Editor
Don Money was born in Arkansas and raised on a pig and cattle farm. His interest in writing began in the sixth grade when he wrote his first short story as a Gifted and Talented project. After graduation he joined the US Air Force and traveled the globe as a Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Weapons Defense Specialist. After ten years in the service, he returned to his roots in Arkansas and now teaches literacy and history to sixth graders at Beebe Middle School.
Don writes stories across a variety of genres. His short stories have been published in multiple anthologies including with Vault of Terrors, Trembling With Fear, Shacklebound Books, Black Hare Press, Wicked Shadow Press, and Black Ink Fiction, and in Troopers, Martian, Stupefying Stories, Saddlebag Dispatches, and Stygian Lepus magazines. Don has won numerous writing contest in Arkansas, Texas, and Oklahoma.
Wishlist
I want stories that brings characters to life on the page and immerse me in the setting. The elements of action, adventure, suspense, intrigue, and humor always hook me into a story. I enjoy reading western, historical military fiction, fantasy, science-fiction (especially military science-fiction), and mythology inspired books. Some of my favorite authors include Louis L’Amour, Tom Clancy, Jonathan Maberry, Eli Cranor, Rick Riordan, C.J. Box, and Gary D. Schmidt.