Meet the Team

  • SAMANTHA CABRERA, FOUNDER, Managing Director, Children's Literary Editor

    Samantha Cabrera founded Calla Press Publishing LLC in 2023 after running as a literary journal for seven years. She holds her MFA in Writing from Lindenwood University and her work is published at Believe.com, Faithlife Women, Christian Woman, The Black Barn Online, among others. An excerpt from her memoir, The Doctor’s Wife, won honorable mention at the WriterCon 2021 contest. Before dedicating herself to motherhood and publishing, she was an English teacher at a Christian private school for two years. She lives in the Texas countryside along with her husband and three children. A Child’s First Book of Bible Words is her first children’s book. A lovely fact: she wrote a letter in ninth grade to her Nana stating she dreamed of starting a publishing company. Her Nana still has that letter.

  • MADISON AICHELE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, PUBLISHER

    Madison Aichele is a writer with an enduring love for words and stories. Throughout her life, God has used writing to open unimaginable doors. Whether crafting emails and blogs for small businesses, copywriting for tech startups, producing podcasts, or drawing beautiful creatives together in community, the power of language and God-glorifying messages has never lost its wonder. With over six years of experience in marketing and community building across several industries, God has called her to focus her efforts on writing and the publishing industry. Taking a leap of faith, she left her full-time job in 2021 and founded Madison Aichele Writes. She's been a firsthand witness to all God can do with an obedient 'yes,' genuine love, and sincere effort, which has overflowed into a writing ministry built to encourage women with the knowledge the best is yet to come. She currently lives in Nashville, TN, with her husband and three-legged cat and is working on her first book.

  • ROSA GILBERT, PUBLISHING ASSISTANT, LITERARY JOURNAL EDITOR

    Rosa Gilbert is a stay-at-home mom as well as an aspiring editor and writer. Born and raised in the Dominican Republic, Spanish is her first language. However, it was through learning English at a young age that she fell in love with words. She quickly realized she enjoyed crafting her own stories—through poetry and prose—just as much as she did reading those penned by others. She hopes to make a difference in publishing by helping faith-based writers bring their stories to life. Rosa holds a B.S. in Journalism from Liberty University, has had articles published in both English and Spanish, and has worked as a freelance editor for Dr. Steven J. Lawson’s OnePassion Ministries. She currently lives in suburban Ohio alongside her husband, James, and their daughter, Catalina. You can find her writing at https://rosagilbert.substack.com/.

  • LARA D'ENTREMONT, PUBLISHING EDITOR

    Lara d’Entremont is an author and mom to three little wildlings. While the wildlings snore, she designs websites and edits for a variety of writers, but her first love is writing—whether it be personal essays, creative nonfiction, or fantasy novels. She desires to weave the stories between faith and fiction, theology and praxis, for women who feel as if these two pieces of them are always at odds. You are welcome to visit her online home at https://laradentremont.com/.

  • Allana Walker, Book Editor

    Allana Walker holds her MFA in Creative Writing from Liberty University and is a member of the Gospel-Centered Discipleship Writers Guild. She was selected as a quarter-finalist in Ruminate’s 2022 fiction contest for her short story “A Girl Without a Number.” In everything she writes, Allana strives to find light in the darkness, beauty in the brokenness, and joy in the sorrow. For a taste of her writing, you are welcome to visit her blog at https://allanawalker.substack.com/.

  • Leslie Anne Bustard, Former Communications Coordinator

    Leslie Anne Bustard was awakened on Mercy’s shores just before sunrise, on April 14, 2023, following a three-year battle with breast cancer and melanoma.

    Leslie was our former communications coordinator and contributor when Calla Press Publishing was a pure literary journal. She worked with us for a year and humbly directed us to wonderful literary connections we wouldn’t have had without her. It was an honor to work with dear Leslie. She was incredibly poetic, an incredible editor, and her passion for children’s literature inspired us all.

    Her first book was Wild Things and Castles in the Sky: A Guide to Choosing the Best Books for Children (Square Halo Books, 2022). You can find more about Leslie at PoeticUnderpinnings.com.

  • NASZER NEBRES, CHILDREN'S BOOK ILLUSTRATOR

    Naszer Nebres is a talented freelance illustrator from the Philippines. He uses traditional media like watercolors, gouache and pencils to create his whimsical and colorful illustrations. To see his work, you can view his portfolio here: https://www.behance.net/nashnebres He is open to illustration projects.

  • ANGELA KNOX, ARTIST

    Angela Knox is a Christian traditional artist based in the Canadian countryside along with her writer-husband and six beautiful children. Her and her husband, Jeff, are the authors of Harriot Hare, CPP’s first children’s book published. She is currently closed to freelance illustration opportunities.

MEET OUR ASSISTANT BOOK EDITORS

Esther Gonzales

Esther is a poet, writer, journalist, graduate student, and Sunday school teacher from New Jersey. She has loved writing since she can remember; she believes everyone has a story to tell and if we look closely enough, we can see God’s love and grace woven throughout our lives. Through her writing, she hopes to give others a glimpse of who God is by sharing all the ways He has been there for her. With a background in journalism, she hopes to utilize her skills to help others find their voice and tell their story.

Meghan Mcdonagh

Language and visual storytelling have always been deeply rooted parts of Meghan’s life. With a background in graphic design and a lifelong passion for writing, she loves creating content to inspire others—whether it’s a powerful message to broaden someone’s point of view, or sharing a small moment of beauty in nature. She loves the ability of words to bring people together and support others through difficult seasons. Nothing provides her with greater joy than sharing God’s message to encourage how people see and engage with the world around them.

KELLY FLANNERY

Kelly Flannery is a writer, editor, marketer, and the founder of Words That Stick LLC. She has a B.A. in English from Northwest University and is a graduate of the University of Washington’s Certificate in Editing program. She has a lifelong passion for books, whether it is writing them, editing them, looking at them in bookstores, or taking home more than she will ever be able to read. She believes in the power of storytelling and its ability to bind us together and show the glory of God. You can learn more about Kelly and her work at wordsthatstickllc.com. 

KAREN MILLER

Karen is a freelance writer and editor from Texas with a penchant for stories that weave together whimsy and truth. She holds a B.A. in English Literature & Language from Texas Tech University and is currently working on her first children's book. When she's not perched behind her laptop, you can find Karen wandering through her favorite antique shops and independent bookstores with her husband and two young daughters.