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MEET OUR TEAM
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JACK GANNON
CO-FOUNDER, PRODUCTION & FINANCE MANAGER, ONLINE MANAGER, WEBMASTER
Jack Gannon began his literary career with high school best friend Cyndi Williams-Barnier after they were both retired from their respective careers, writing the stories they talked about way back in high school. Together they have written nine books, both self-published and by another publisher.
YBR Publishing was born when Jack wrote and published his first solo book, "I WALKED IN SANTA'S BOOTS", a coffee-table-sized hardbound autobiography about his quarter-century as Santa Claus for Beaufort, SC. "SANTA" was entered into the Beaufort County Library Historic District Collection as an important book reflecting the history of Beaufort, SC, as well as the Columbia State Library as an important book in South Carolina history.
His decades in print media gave him the experience to put together that first book in a unique and attractive scrap-book style, and now serves as the Production Manager for YBR Publishing. Jack works one-on-one with each author to create a distinctive visual signature in the book from cover to cover, a trademark style individual to each author with YBR Publishing. In addition, Jack is YBR Publishing's webmaster, online manager, and finance manager.
Jack also serves as the Proclaimer Ministry chair for St. Peter's Catholic Church in Beaufort, as well as the Emcee for its annual Fall Bazaar every October.
He is retired from The Beaufort Gazette & The Island Packet after 24 years in management plus another ten years prior as a motor route delivery carrier and intern reporter.
In January 2021, Jack was double honored by Marquis Who's Who with inclusion in the Marquis Who's Who Top Executives and the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award for his lifetime careers in print media and publishing. Jack was just included in the ninth edition of "MILLENIUM: Honoring the Legacies of Professionals from Around the World" for his career in publishing (he can be found on Page 57).
Jack lives in Beaufort, SC, with his wife Mendy. Their beloved Pomeranian, Tasia, passed in July 2022 just three months shy of her 16th birthday, and has been succeeded by a new solid black Pomeranian they named Kieran. Also, they have Mister Grey, an 8-year-old Russian Blue who is "a lot of cat"!
CYNDI WILLIAMS-BARNIER
CO-FOUNDER, MARKETING MANAGER, and EDITOR
Cyndi Williams-Barnier, a Beaufort, South Carolina native, brings to YBR 25 years of county government service in Emergency Management, including writing and managing grants, writing training programs and detailed multi-agency operations manuals for disaster preparation and recovery. Her detailed programs are still used as guideposts for county, state and federal agencies including FEMA, Homeland Security and the National Guard at the Pentagon.
As co-founder of YBR Publishing and co-author of nine books, she brings a unique personal perspective and experience to maximize marketing opportunities for YBR and our authors. Her eye for detail and creative skill bring the emotional connection to every manuscript.
Cyndi was awarded a plaque and flag flown over Camp Phoenix, Afghanistan, from the Department of Defense; plus she was awarded a retirement plaque from the Beaufort (SC) County Emergency Management Division for her 20 years of service.
Cyndi lives in Ridgeland, SC, is married to Bill Barnier (see next) and has one adorable cat (who serves as her personal YBR critic)!
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BILL BARNIER
OPERATIONS MANAGER and SENIOR EDITOR
Bill Barnier is our Operations Manager and Senior Editor. Over his fifty-year working career, he has been a welder, mechanic, copper miner, photographer, landscape business owner, paint specialist, warehouse manager, bus driver, home builder, pilot, and world traveler. For the last nineteen years he has been a Power Control Technician at the local Electric Coop.
His college professor recognized his writing talent, which he has used in writing newsletters, technical manuals, and safety training courses and served as an award-winning Public Affairs Officer for his Civil Air Patrol Squadron in South Carolina. He has written a monthly guest column in the South Carolina United Methodist newspaper for seven years.
Bill has edited thirteen fiction novels for YBR Publishing, six novellas, and is currently working on a compilation of his newspaper columns for hard cover publication.
His greatest reward is coaching young and new authors who have great stories and passion for writing but need to be guided toward becoming successful authors.
Bill lives in Ridgeland, SC, with Cyndi and one cat, Scooter.
LOREEN RIDGE-HUSUM
ART DIRECTOR and INDEPENDENT CONTRACT ILLUSTRATOR
Loreen Ridge-Husum is YBR's Art Director, overseeing original art used in manuscripts and covers.
Loreen was born on the Atlantic side of the former Canal Zone, later moving to the United States to study and graduate from Winthrop College in Rock Hill, SC, with former classmate Jack Gannon. While at Winthrop she worked on the college newspaper and wrote press releases as a student assistant for the Winthrop Public Affairs Office.
She is currently a Visual Arts tutor at Greenville Tech in South Carolina; is a member of the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA); and is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, serving as the local chapter yearbook editor.
With her brother-in-law Ed, she wrote and illustrated WHERE IN THE WORLD IS THE CANAL ZONE, an historical coloring book published by YBR in 2019. She is currently developing a new WHERE IS coloring book with her daughter, Piper. Loreen also provided the illustrations for YBR's first children's book, THE ADVENTURES OF HARRIET THE SAUSAGE DOG and the cover design for YBR's O.Z. DOESN'T DIGGS G.C.C. AT EMERALD CITY. Currently she is completing the coloring for ZIGGY ZIG-ZAGS THE LIGHT- THE ICE QUEEN HATETH when the artist was unable to complete it himself.
Loreen can be contracted separately for book cover art & design and non-book related artwork.
Loreen lives in West Pelzer, South Carolina, with her husband Ray.
STEPHANIE AUSTIN EDWARDS
AUTHOR SERVICES CONSULTANT
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR
Stephanie believes “A professional writer is an amateur who didn't quit.” [Richard Bach]
Since 2002, Stephanie has been writing her own stories and then sharing everything she’s learned about writing and the publishing world as she learned it. This has led to creating the writing life of her dreams. Let Stephanie help you with your writing challenges and questions. Email Stephanie at steffedwards@live.com to set up a free 15-minute call to explore how she can help. Click to access her complete Author Services Description and Fee Schedule. Visit her website at www.stephanieaustinedwards.com.
Stephanie is a former dancer and costumer who now works as a writer, teacher, and consultant. After graduating in dance from San Diego State University, her twenty-two-year career in theater moved her to New York City. She worked on Broadway, in film and television with such talents as Liza Minnelli, Michael Jackson, Lauren Bacall, Woody Allen, Martin Scorsese, Hal Prince, Stephen Sondheim, Bill Cosby, and Michael Bennett. Later, she returned to her roots in Beaufort, South Carolina, where she consults with other writers, facilitates writers groups, teaches writing workshops, and joyfully volunteers at The Pat Conroy Literary Center to help honor the mission and legacy of Pat, a friend since high school.
Her articles have appeared in Beaufort Magazine, The Beaufort Gazette, Lowcountry Weekly and ArtNews; her short stories can be found in such journals as RiverSedge and Short Story America VI. She is a contributing author to Our Prince of Scribes, an anthology about Pat Conroy, and Beaufort Through the Ages. She is a featured Lowcountry Author on the SCETV Series, "By the River". Her debut novel, "What We Set in Motion", won a Best Submission Award at the Atlanta Writer’s Club Conference, a Joel Friedlander Gold Cover Award, is a 2020 Pulpwood Queens Book Club selection.
Stephanie lives with her amazing husband, Paul Coffman, Jr., their brilliant bird dog Linus, and their appropriately named kitty cat, Gabby, who is in constant communication with them about "the meaning of life".