Every manuscript we proofread, every eBook we design, and every paperback we publish, is the result of our amazing team all working together to make one another’s ideas stronger. At Rowanvale, this is possible because every one of us strives towards a common goal — creating the best experience for those embarking on their self-publishing journey.
Find out more about the amazing people behind Rowanvale below.

Cat Charlton

Managing Director

Cat is Rowanvale’s Managing Director. A force to be reckoned with, she is the driving force behind sales, marketing and strategy. Cat founded Rowanvale Books in 2012, after her father had a poor experience with a big-name self-publishing company. Having studied Psychology at Exeter University, she has since completed further studies in Leadership and Management. In her spare time, Cat can be found raising her two sons in the Welsh countryside and going on various road-trips around the UK.

Hannah Gill

Digital Marketing Strategist

After graduating with a First Class Honours degree in English Literature, Hannah is now completing her MA at Cardiff University. In her down time, Hannah can be found travelling (her favourite place so far is Barcelona), listening to podcasts or training for a half marathon. 

​Lucy Jones

HR & Recruitment

Lucy is a third year BSc Psychology student at Cardiff University, currently completing a year in industry placement. In her spare time, Lucy loves travelling (with Ålesund in Norway being credited as her favourite place), baking, and reading with her cat, Dexter, next to her!

Aleksandra Lakus

BAB Service Co-Ordinator

While studying English Language and German at Cardiff University, Aleks found a burning passion for the publishing industry, which stemmed from her love of literature and languages. Exploration of different cultures through books is one of her favourite hobbies - she's particularly fond of romance novels with an intercultural twist (currently she's obsessed with Elif Shafak's works!) but also enjoys good old classics such as 'Pride and Prejudice' and 'East of Eden' . She loves all things nature and when not reading, you can probably find her backpacking around Europe, going on multiple photography trips and drinking a lot of coffee!

Stephanie O'Neil

Scheduling Assistant & BAB Service Co-ordinator

While studying English Literature at Aberystwyth University, Stephanie found a burning love for books and the publishing industry, which stemmed from self-publishing  her own debut novel. In her spare time, Stephanie loves to write her own novels and practice British Sign Language which enables her to be as inclusive to everyone as possible. Stephanie lost her hearing in one ear when she was two, and she’s a proud reader and a proud member of the Deaf community. ​

Esme Curties Grainger

Scheduling Assistant
Esme is a BA English Literature student at Cardiff University, passionate about getting involved in the world of publishing. In her spare time, she loves to travel and spent an Erasmus semester abroad in Prague studying Anglophone Literature. You will most likely find her reading or planning her next trip! ​

Rebeckah Griffiths

In-House Designer (Cover Design, Illustration & Formatting) 

From spending her childhood copying the covers of Disney VHS tapes and taping all manner of scribbles and doodles to the surface of her house, Rebeckah has since abandoned the 'sensible' veterinary dream and took the plunge to dedicate herself to illustration full-time. She studied at University of South Wales and spends her time either developing her craft or sticking her nose between the pages of a book.

    Ionawr Davies

    In-House Designer (Cover Design & Illustration) and Welsh Translator

Rowanvale’s best Welsh speaker, Ionawr studied illustration at the University of Central Lancashire. Her favourite genre to illustrate is children’s books — having worked in nurseries and schools for a number of years, Ionawr has an incredible amount of experience with children’s literature. She credits the ability to illustrate books for a living as ‘a real privilege’. In her spare time, she likes to spend time with family and explore the lovely Welsh countryside.

Alice Hunt

​​​​In-House Designer (Formatting)​
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Having loved books for as long as she can remember, Alice knew she wanted to have a career in publishing. She graduates with a first class degree in Graphic Design, helping her to live out her dream of designing books for a living. In her spare time, Alice loves to explore nature, learn new crafts such as knitting, and of course, read. Her favourite genres include fantasy, thrillers and recently discovered, non-fiction.

Cat M'Crystal- Fletcher

Project Account Manager & Marketing Advisor

Cat is a lover and a do-er of all things beautiful and creative whilst living in a windmill in the glorious Vendeé countryside. Due to her childhood living in a country of censorship, she holds communication as an entity to be protected; the written word as precious and books sacred. On her checklist of life is a bullet, ‘author’; until her manuscripts are ready, she is passionate about supporting those brave enough to become one.  

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Yolanda Martinez

Project Account Manager

From a young age Yolanda has had a fascination with reading and learning. After completing her BA in English Literature at Nottingham Trent University, she went on to complete an MA in International Relations. This love of books has brought her into the publishing world and she is excited to be a part of Rowanvale.
In her time off, Yolanda loves travelling and has an extensive list of possible destinations (all recommendations welcome). She also enjoys the gym, going on long walks and getting lost in a good book!
Beth Young
Publishing Advisor ​​
Beth is a Third Year BA English Literature student at Cardiff University, with a passion for reading, writing and communicating with others. Since a young age, Beth could be found scribbling down stories into a notebook. Now older, Beth prefers close analysis of fiction, and in her spare time, she enjoys walking around the parks of Cardiff, attending the gym, socialising with friends and sticking her nose in a good book. Since reading and focusing her A-level coursework on Margret Atwood’s ’The Handmaid’s Tale’ (and then finishing the sequel in a matter of days), dystopian novels have become a favourite.
Ellie Owen
Senior Writing Advisor
Though she studied History at the University of York, Ellie's heart has always belonged to fiction. It felt inevitable that she'd end up in publishing somehow, and when it turned out that she had a lot of opinions on semicolons, editing revealed itself as her true calling. She joined Rowanvale in 2017 and has been Senior Writing Advisor here since 2018.  
She works on books from every genre and market but has a particular love for science fiction and fantasy, her favourite authors being Brandon Sanderson, Joe Abercrombie and Tamsyn Muir. When she's not reading, she can be found playing Dungeons and Dragons, watching anime and getting far too emotionally invested in video games.
Sophie Brown
Writing Advisor
Sophie has been passionate about literature ever since she was a child and her favourite book was Frances Hodgson Burnett’s ‘A Little Princess’. However, it was the time she spent volunteering at her local library that made her realise she wanted to work with books long-term. This is a passion that she continued in her study of English Literature at Cardiff University. In her spare time, Sophie studies languages, takes photos with her film camera and drinks a lot of coffee!
Jaide Long
Writing Advisor
For as long as she can remember, Jaide has been obsessed with the magic of words. After completing a BA in Media, Communications, Politics and International Relations, she interned at an Australian travel magazine publisher. After taking a few years off to have three children, Jaide returned to the publishing world and joined Rowanvale Books. In her spare time, Jaide watches movies of all genres (except horror!), plays boardgames with her kids and explores her local Vendée countryside. She also enjoys the odd puzzle or classic novel with a glass of red wine!
Katya Minster
Writing Advisor
​Having studied Fine Art in Cape Town, South Africa, Katya moved to Cardiff to continue her studies in English Language and Literature. During her degree she fell hopelessly in love with Medieval texts, many of which form the basis of so many famous tales today. With this appreciation of storytelling coming from so many generations back, Katya’s interest lies in helping the authors of today share their stories with the world, and she is excited to work in a publishing company that helps more Welsh authors find their voice.

She enjoys working on all genres, believing that we can learn from everyone, but has a special love for historical fiction, poetry and fantasy. In her spare time, Katya can either be found hiking in the Brecon Beacons, or totally absorbed in many of London’s art galleries.