Dr. Janina Scarlet - Founding Director
Dr. Janina Scarlet (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist, author, a neurodivergent queer person with a disability, and the Founder of Divine Feminine indie book publisher indie book publishers . She authored sixteen books and has written chapters for eighteen others.
Dr. Scarlet is the recipient of the Eleanor Roosevelt Human Rights Award by the United Nations Association. She regularly consults on books and television shows, including HBO’s The Young Justice. She was also interviewed for Marvel’s MPower series and was portrayed as a comic book character in Gail Simone’s Seven Days graphic novel.
Dr. Scarlet's goal is to promote books with at least 50% female characters, because when women have more representation in fiction, it empowers thus to have a greater voice in reality.
Erin Michelle Gibes - Acquisition Editor
Erin Michelle Gibes is a neurodivergent writer, editor, book coach, parent, and survivor of domestic abuse. She has been a developmental editor and certified book coach since 2020.
Her short fiction has been published in a variety of journals and anthologies, and she is currently working on a novel that examines the narcissistic cycle of abuse through the lens of speculative fantasy.
Paxton Alyssa - Copy Editor
Paxton Alyssa (she/her) has been an avid reader since age 3, when her mother caught her reciting the story of The Ugly Duckling while turning the pages of the phone book.
She discovered her love for copy editing in college, where she served as Co-Editor in Chief of her school’s literary magazine.
Her favorite thing about working as an editor is getting a glimpse of the way that others view the world, as well as the chance to learn about different cultures and experiences.
Dr. Harpreet Malla - Sensitivity Reader
Dr. Harpreet Malla (she/they) is a licensed clinical psychologist, who has a passion for working with identity development as it pertains to minority and queer populations, with a specialty in nontraditional relationships (interracial relationships, arranged marriages, ENM/poly constellations, and kinky/queer folx).
In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Malla is pioneering research on the evolution of arranged marriages in the South Asian diaspora and has authored a chapter on this topic. She has served as the former Diversity Chair for the Los Angeles County Psychological Association for 5 years, and is now the Chair for Division VII at the state level with the California Psychological Association where she advocates for marginalized groups and seeks to promote understanding through education.
To add some levity to her professional portfolio, Dr. Malla has also presented at pop culture events to bring psychology to the masses in fun ways at Wonder-Con and San Diego Comic-Con, and by featuring her work in pop psychology publications.
Sasha West – Graphic Designer and Visual Artist
Sasha West is a creative problem solver with formal graphic design training and a love for telling stories through art. As an individual artist, she shares her vision of the world through photography, drawing, poetry, and fiction writing.
As part of the Divine Feminine team, Sasha helps authors translate the essence and feel of their stories into an authentic and effective visual introduction that is a book cover.
Cielo Villaseñor - PR and communications Manager
Cielo Villaseñor is an award-winning communications maven with specialized expertise in cause-driven communications.
Her acumen has been developed over sixteen years in communications and has been honed through representation of a diverse list of clients and organizations ranging from the United States House of Representatives to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Her experience includes brand building, voice development, political communications, environmental advocacy, non-profit messaging, media and public relations, reputation and image cultivation, experience design, and content development in its many, varied forms.
As the founder of VillaComm—a communications consultancy firm, and Etheread—a communications collective and think tank, she believes in working toward evolution and innovation in communications.