Don’t see the area of expertise you were hoping for? Email us at hello@saltandsagebooks.com. We have some hidden talents, and we’d love to know how we can better support the writing community!
Meet our Sensitivity & Expert Readers
Sachiko Suzuki
- Japanese-American characters, history, and issues, including hafu/quafu life
- White-presenting mixed-race; minority culture
- Large family life, homeschooling
- Traumatic childbirth, child loss, and grief
- Christianity, Puritanism, and religious sensitivity; post-Mormon concerns
- Trauma, sexual abuse/assault, PTSD, self-harm and suicidal ideation
- Recovery life and therapy
- Military life (specifically USAF)
- Body positivity, fatphobia, and fat activism
- Eating disorders
- Special needs children, specifically: failure-to-thrive, genetic issues, and early intervention
- Abusive relationships
- Mental inpatient care
Dr. D
- Educational innovation
- Entrepreneurship
- Improvisational theater and scientific communication
- Physics
- Computer security
- Artificial intelligence
- Experimental techniques in science
- Preservation and restoration of Native American science and history
- Clean energy
- Data mining
- Search for precursors
Kira Aitch
- Black
- Biracial/Multiracial
- Pansexual/Queer
- Wheelchair/Ambulatory Wheelchair Use
- ADHD
- Trichotillomania
- OCD
- Anxiety and Depression
- Meniere's Disease
- Chronic Illness
- Midwestern
Jordan Merica
- Black Native/Afro-Indigenous Experiences
- Critical Race Theory Research & Editing
- Neurodivergence & Trauma Recovery: ADHD and CPTSD
- Queer BIPOC Experiences
- Black & Indigenous Womanist Theories
- Indigenous Land Stewardship
- Histories outside of White/Eurocentric Timelines
- Decolonization of Museums and Anthropological Studies
- Appalachian Environmental Justice & Rural Resistance
Cassiopeia Gatmaitan ("Cath")
- Filipino
- Bisexual, demisexual
- Non-binary/Gender non-conforming
- Chronic pain
- PTSD, depression, anxiety
- Hard of hearing
- Body image, eating disorders
- Boxing
- Political activism
- Autism and ADHD
- Asthma and other chronic respiratory issues
Al Ross
- Non-binary Identity
- Trans masc identity
- Bisexuality
- Non-binary Identity & Bisexuality Intersectionality
- Ulcerative Colitis / IBD
- General Anxiety & Panic Disorder
- Major Depressive Disorder
- ADHD
- Anthropology
- Film/Television Production
Madison Parrotta
- Italian
- Bisexual
- Disabled
- Wheelchair user
- Spinal Muscular Atrophy
- Disability in Theater
- Surgery
- Ableist Physician Experiences
- Adaptive Technology
- Physical Therapy
- Medication
- Alcoholism
- Disabled Sexuality
Neha Patel
- Indian culture
- Hinduism
- Immigrant experience of the Indian diaspora
- Intergenerational trauma, casteism
- Racism (including internalized racism, institutional racism, microaggressions, othering, colonialism, and colorism)
- Living in the American South as a minority, being liberal in conservative environments, and experiencing culture shock
- Women’s issues and feminism
- Interests: literature, political discourse/current events, comedy, traveling and/or road tripping as a woman of color, history of the Western world, and Indian cooking
- Locations: Southern California, the Deep South (Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama), Missouri, and Texas
Fatin Marini
- Palestinian culture
- Arab rep
- Islam
- Muslim characters
- Motherhood
- Expat life
- Arab diaspora
Laz Shaak
- White passing, assimilated mixed Métis
- Transgender men
- Invisible disability
- Epilepsy, seizure disorder
- Childhood transition / hormone replacement therapy as a teenager
- Gay men / gay masculinity
- Family estrangment
- Low income, on disability benefits
- Video games, including mobile games
Cameron Van Sant
- Transgender men
- Pansexual, gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer, and questioning sexualities
- Non-binary genders
- Gender questioning
- Christian Protestantism, ex-Christians
Ravi Teixeira
- Transmasculine and nonbinary people
- Mixed Cape Verdean
- Mixed or light-skinned people of color
- Hard of hearing
- Mental illness
- Comics, graphic novels, etc.
Melanie K.
- Chinese-Canadian/Asian-American
- Chinese diaspora culture
- 2nd generational identity issues
- Multicultural backgrounds
- Catholicism and Catholic school
- Racism
- Interracial relationships
- Chronic illness and mental health
- Food history and culture
- Art and design
Helen Gould
- TTRPGs
- Black and mixed-race people
- Race relations within the UK
- Gender and sexuality
- Mental health, trauma, depression
Tova Seltzer
- Reform and Reconstructionist Judaism
- Asexuality/the ace spectrum
- Child of a same-sex couple and of separated/remarried same-sex parents
- Conception via sperm donation
- Phobias
- Aromanticism
- Tabletop gaming
- Spanish language (working fluency, translation)
David Pena
- LGBTQ+ culture and experiences, specifically Transgender Bisexual/Gay Men
- Transmasculine experiences in Spain and the Netherlands
- Spanish (Spain) culture
- Only Girls education from 5y.o. until 18y.o.
- Psychology - anxiety, depression, minority stress, eating disorders
- Minor Spanish translations/slang use
- Raised Catholic
Leila Halimo
- Black
- Somali
- Canadian, American
- Islam
- Trans woman
- ADHD, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, OCD
- Physical disabilities, IBS, GERD
- Body Image Issues
- Gender Identity Issues
- Abuse (Domestic, Physical, Emotional, Mental, CSA)
- Racism/Anti-Blackness (microaggressions, discrimination, dehumanization)
- Poverty
- Immigration (child of immigrants, immigrant herself)
- Islamophobia
- Homophobia
- Transphobia
Jenna Beacom
- Deaf
- ASL
- Hard of Hearing
- Cochlear implants
- General disability representation
Victoria
- Korean American
- 2nd generation immigrants
- Anxiety
- Depression
- PTSD
- Chronic illness
- Estrangement
- Surgery
- Multi-lingual households
- Growing up in a white-dominated southern city as a person of color (specifically Charlottesville, Virginia)
- Racism (including internalized racism and institutional racism)
- Sexualization of East Asian women
- Anti Asian abuse
Nico Westbrook
- Black American
- Microagressions
- Racism
- Being Black in predominantly white spaces
- Interracial relationships
- Biracial
- Queer/LGTBQ characters and themes
- Trans
- Nonbinary
- Gender nonconforming
- Homophobic family
- Polyamory
- Neurodivergence (Autism and ADHD specifically)
- Mental illness (Bipolar, Depression, Anxiety, PTSD)
- Chronic pain
- Body image
- Christianity
- Gaming and TTRPGs
- Coffee
Mikki Helmer
- LGBT issues, specific to Lesbian and Bi-sexual matters
- Demisexuality
- LGBTQIA intersectionality with mental health (depression, anxiety, bi-polar, manic cycles)
- Mental health
- LGBT intersectionality with religion (Mormonism, atheism, paganism, druidry)
- Mormonism / Ex-Mormonism
- Horses/Equestrian (Western riding, hunt seat, dressage, medieval riding, trick riding, vaulting, training, mares & foals/breeding, shoeing/farrier, endurance, mounted joust, equine armor, horse breeds and horse types, equine psychology and behavior, mounted fighting, mounted archery)
- Falconry
- Archery
- Tea (history, brewing, holistic uses)
- Western United States geography and survival
Heba Elsherief
- Muslim
- Arab
- Egyptian
- Arab Diaspora
- Post-Colonial People/Themes
Mandy Ballard
- Death of a spouse, remarriage
- Parenting/family dynamics
- Homeschooling
- Anxiety
- Faith Transitions
- Christianity
- Mormonism
- Tarot
- Performing arts (musical theater, vocal/choral, piano, string instruments/orchestra, dance)
- Fat representation
- Body positivity and wellness
- Yoga
- Physical therapy
- North American natural resources and wildlife
- Homesteading (gardening, raising animals, related skills)
- Cooking and baking
Justin Ho
- Chinese American
- Christian
- LGBTQ+ community
- Schizoaffective Disorder (Bipolar Type 1 + Schizophrenia)
- Interpersonal, institutional, and internalized homophobia
- Growing up in a Christian school
- Growing up in Hawaii
- Inpatient and outpatient mental health treatment
- Gaming community experience
- Stan culture (Pop stars, One Direction, K-pop)
- Fan fiction reader and writer
Lune Dube
- Abenaki and Mohawk Native American
- Ashkenazi Jewish
- Biracial
- Iroquois/Haudenosaunee History and Culture
- Bisexual/Pansexual
- Nonbinary: Two-Spirit
- ADHD, Anxiety, C-PTSD, Depression, OCD
- Childhood Trauma (Emotional, Sexual and Verbal Abuse)
- Witchcraft and Paganism
- Childcare and Summer Camps
- Wilderness Education
- Geek Culture
Ariane Resnick
- Jewish
- Gay/lesbian
- Racially ambiguous
- Autism
- Abusive relationship history
- Partnered with trans men
- Chronic illness history, working with chronically ill people
- Birth trauma
- Interracial relationships
- Body positivity
- Sexual and physical assault
- Femme invisibility
- Cookbooks, nutrition
Thais Carreira Afonso
- Afro-Brazilian
- Latine
- Lesbian
- Ace spec/Demi-sexuality
- Neurodivergency
Basil Wright
- African-American
- Seminole
- Southern Baptist
- Hoodoo/General Witchcraft
- Queer
- Agender
- Asexual
- Autistic
- ADHD
- Anxiety
- Physical disability (scoliosis, TBI)
- Dyscalculia
Melissa Vera
- Latine (Chicane and/or Mexican American)
- 2nd Generation American
- Conservative Christianity
- Religious Disaffiliation
- Queer, Gay, Bisexual
- Demisexuality
- OCD
- ADHD
- Major Depressive Disorder
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
- ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder)
- Binge Eating Disorder
- Disordered Eating
- Eating Disorder Partial Hospitalization
- English/Spanish Code-switching
- Interracial Relationships
- Racism and Microaggressions
- Familial Homophobia
- Familial Estrangement
- Parent with Borderline Personality Disorder
- US/Mexico Border Culture
- ABA Therapy
- Locations: Ohio, Boston, San Francisco, Texas, San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico
Kim VanderHorst
- Canadian
- Autistic
- Demisexual
- Mental Health (ADD, OCD, Anxiety, Depression, Suicidal Ideation)
- Difficult Pregnancies & Miscarriage
- Death of a Parent
- Performing Arts (Music)
Karen A. Parker, MFA
- White (German ancestry), Black (African American), Indigenous Native American heritage
- "Sounding white," xenophobia, living in Japan as a foreigner
- Languages: English and some Japanese
- Bisexual, graysexual
- Nonbinary, femme-presenting, masc-presenting, gender identity confusion, gender dysphoria
- Generalized anxiety disorder, mild depression, ASD Level 1
- Secular Buddhism, tarot, Western astrology, some Christianity
- Puberty, PMS, menstruation, hormone cycles
- Biracial upbringing
- Middle class, college graduate
- English literature, Japanese language and literature
- Freelance, self-employment, contract-based employment
- Creative writing, some musical composition knowledge
- Running TTRPGs, livestreaming, video games, anime
Mehr Husain
- South Asian religions
- South Asian culture and traditions
- Pakistan, history and politics
- Diaspora, South Asia in Britain
Rebecca Blevins
- Personal neurodivergent experience includes clinical anxiety, clinical depression, ADHD, OCD markers, dyscalculia
- Autistic
- Parent of four children (three adult one teen) including three autistic, with all children having a mix of ADHD, OCD, clinical depression, anxiety disorders, and executive functioning challenges. Does not support Autism Speaks.
- Brain health (OCD, general anxiety disorder, clinical depression, non-military PTSD, postpartum depression, bulimia, body dysmorphic disorder, fat phobia)
- Chronic illness
- Mobility aid use
- Biromantic
- Demiromantic
- Graysexual/greyace
- Bisexual
- Body positivity
- Natural lifestyle (vegetarianism/veganism/plant-based eating, natural remedies, etc)
- Homeschooling (graduating from, teaching own children, transitioning to public school)
- High-risk pregnancy (bedrest, hyperemesis gravidarum, placenta previa, diabetes, traumatic birth)
- Medical trauma, medical sexual assault
- Midwestern USA
- Certified group fitness instructor, dance fitness, weight training
- Rural, small-town living
- GED graduate
- First-gen college graduate
- Growing up far below U.S. poverty line and on government welfare
- Former Mormon/LDS
- Agnostic theism
Akelah Adams
- African-American culture and issues
- Military experience, including relocating and living on base
- Latinx culture and issues
- Racism
- Asexuality spectrum
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Fatphobia
- Death of a loved one
- Family members getting cancer
- The grieving process
- Growing up in the U.S. South
- City life
- Going to school/university in a foreign country
- Culture shock
- Fostering and adopting
- Comics, graphic novels, etc.
- Video games
Amy Derickson
- Trans women
- Nonbinary people
- Relationships involving LGBTQ+ identities
- Depression
- Anxiety
- ADHD
- Pansexual/Bisexual
- Drag Culture
Patricia Ruiz
- Latinx women
- Mixed race identity
- Standard and regional Spanish language and culture (including translations)
- Standard and regional French language and culture (including translations)
- Latinx diaspora in the USA
- Jewish identity and communities
- Mental Illness (Generalized Anxiety Disorder)
- Body image and eating disorders
- Translation checks: Spanish, French, German, and Brazilian Portuguese
- Latinx culture (Puerto Rico, Cuban, Dominican, Caribbean), 1970s and 1980s Argentine history
Lydia Suen
- Chinese-American culture
- The mixed-race experience
- Children of immigrants
- Tiger parents
- Complex family relationships
- Interracial romance
- Faith transitions
- Archery
- Gamer culture
- San Francisco Bay area
- Ancient Chinese magic systems
Amy Bowen, LCMHC
- PTSD, cPTSD, Trauma
- Sexual assault, rape, abuse (including childhood)
- Emotional and mental abuse (including narcissistic abuse)
- Dissociation and dissociative disorders
- Mental illness (depression, anxiety, bipolar, schizophrenia, personality disorders, etc.)
- Therapy process
Stefanie Molina
- Mexican American
- Japanese American
- Irish American
- Mixed-race/multiethnic
- Bisexual/Pansexual
- Anxiety
- Panic disorder
- Emotional/psychological abuse
- PTSD, particularly C-PTSD
- ADHD
Hinahina Gray
- Native Hawaiian and White
- Hoʻomana Hawaiʻi
- Māhū
- Pansexual
- Depression, anxiety, and PTSD
- Indigenous Diaspora
- Native Hawaiian Spiritualism
- The Mixed-Race Experience
Neelam "Leona Maple" Gandevia
- Asian
- Indian
- Indian culture
- South Asian/Indo-Canadian/Gujarati
- Vancouver, Canada
- Hindu, mixed spiritual beliefs
- Woman
- Racism
- Feminism, intersectional feminism, intersectionality
- Demisexual, pansexual, and queer
- Depression, anxiety, executive dysfunction
Nicole Hawken
- CFLE (Certified Family Life Educator)
- Childbirth: traumatic, home, natural, PPD & PPA
- Mental health, including anxiety, depression, addiction, CPTSD, bipolar, narcissism, and sociopathy
- Sexual assault
- Betrayal trauma
- CBT therapy, DBT therapy, group therapy, marriage counseling, EMDR
- Institutionalization (mental hospital)
- Deconstruction from a high demand religion
- LGBTQ+ ally
- Parenting anxious and depressed children
- Parenting neurodivergent children
- Single parenting
- Foster care and CPS intervention
- Blended families & dysfunctional family systems
- Family court
- Locations: Tennessee, Kentucky, Louisiana, Texas, South Carolina, Colorado, Mississippi
Veronica Vega
- ADHD & ASD
- Anxiety, Depression, and Suicidal Ideation
- Trauma Associated with Childhood Bullying
- Executive Dysfunction Associated with ADHD
- Racism, Microaggressions, Racial Profiling
- Fat Politics
- LGBTQ+
- Interracial Relationships, Racism & The Dating Scene
- Math Anxiety and Dyscalculia
- Afro-Latinx Culture
- Immigrant Experience, Alien Status & Deportation Anxiety
- Jamaican Patois, Patois, AAVE, Caribbean Dialects
- The Caribbean
- Eating Disorders (EDNOS, Binge Eating, Purging, Restriction & Food Obsession)
- CBT
- Catholicism
- Multiculturalism in the USA (Specifically African American And Afro-Caribbean American Culture)
- Music & Musical Theatre Major, Experience in Musical Theatre, Auditioning, Stage Management
- Feminism
- Weightlifting, Powerlifting, Swimming And CrossFit
- Black Politics, Reparations, And Black Activism (BLM Etc.)
- POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), GERD, Hidden Illnesses
- Anxious Attachment
- Weightlifting, Powerlifting and CrossFit
- Fandom, Cosplay and Fanfic
Savannah Tenderfoot
- Ojibwe
- Algonquin
- Irish
- British
- Ashkenazi Jewish (Agnostic)
- Anxiety & Depression
Al MacKay
- Transmasculinity / transgender men
- Non-binary identity
- Gay men & gay masculinity
- Depression and anxiety
- Late 2000s & early 2010s internet subcultures
- Independent comics
- Bullying (online, verbal, physical)
- Filmmaking and film history
- Intimate partner abuse / gaslighting
- Autism
Melli
- Korean American
- Christian
- Third culture kid (immigrant culture, code-switching)
- Racism (microagressions, macroagressions, stereotypes, colorism, Eastern vs. Western beauty standards, etc.)
- Ageism
- Tokenism
- Special needs education (ABA in home, school, and community settings; family support)