Co-Founder, Publisher

David began his publishing career as a young author-illustrator at age eighteen. Since then, he's held many roles in publishing on both the creative and business sides. Prior to launching Bushel & Peck with his wife, Stephanie, David was the publishing director for Familius, where he helped the company become one of Publishers Weekly's "Fastest Growing Independent Publishers." As publisher of Bushel & Peck, he has acquired and developed countless children's books, from award-winning titles like Stuck! and The Witness Trees to commercial powerhouses like the Draw With Mom franchise. His work with authors—from celebrities like Nancy Kerrigan and Keyshawn Johnson to kidlit luminaries like Jane Yolen and Rob Sanders—has produced a host of starred reviews, awards, and other accolades. David's own books for kids have sold over a half million copies. He was named a Publishers Weekly Star Watch Honoree and a Trvst Changemaker and was the "General Management Outstanding Graduate" of his BYU Marriott School class. David lives in Fresno, where you'll find him gardening, working with the youth in his church, and testing recipes on his long-suffering family.

• Favorite book: Whatever we're publishing next!
• Favorite composer: You can't pick a favorite child. But I do love Beethoven and Respighi . . . and Prokofiev, Chopin, Debussy, Mussorgsky, Mozart, and Tchaikovsky.
• Can't live without: Butter

Co-Founder, Strategic Advisor

First and foremost, Stephanie is a mom to a wonderful boy named Tucker. For several years, she has worked as a preschool teacher and aid for kids with special needs. But Stephanie is also a warrior. In 2011, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). As a single mom, she worked her way through school and graduated from Fresno State with a degree in child development. Stephanie is also the author of over a dozen books for kids, including a bestselling regional board book series. In her free time, she loves to cycle, garden, decorate, and count her son's freckles.

• Outfit of choice: Sweats
• Can't live without: Boston Baked Beans 
• Would most love to meet: Sasquatch

Managing Editor

Dean Burrell has been making books for more than 30 years, specializing in subjects ranging from lifestyle and self-help to art and design to memoir and fiction to food and craft. He honed his editorial skills by learning from the best, first at Harper San Francisco and then at Chronicle Books. He enjoys working with all team members, liaising between authors and clients, editors, designers, and print buyers. Above all, he adheres to a publishing philosophy that says every project begins with a vision. It’s this vision, clearly and succinctly defined, that drives each project to success. Dean was born in a small town in Upstate New York—the birthplace of Jell-O—and spent quality time in New Hampshire while attending college. After the startling realization that snowstorms are best enjoyed somewhere else, Dean fled the cold winters and settled in Northern California.

Director of Sales and Marketing

Proud mom of five, Nicholle leads the sales and marketing efforts at Bushel & Peck. Her work covers publicity, awards, trade reviews, outreach to new accounts, direct-to-consumer sales, social media, and all other activities that support both front and backlist titles. Nicholle earned a degree in archaeology and likes to say that sales isn't that different—both require digging for hidden treasures!

Director of Operations

Arenda grew up in a small town in Arizona as the oldest of five children, where she developed a strong sense of responsibility and a lifelong love of the outdoors and reading. She earned a degree in Elementary Education from Northern Arizona University and taught middle school Language Arts and Social Studies. After spending time at home raising her two daughters, Arenda transitioned into publishing. At Bushel & Peck, she supports the full lifecycle of each book through production coordination, shipping, and customer service.

• Favorite book: The Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandry Clare
• Can’t live without: Ice Cream and Vanilla Coke
• Would love to meet: Hugh Jackman

Art Manager

Jessie is the art manager at Bushel & Peck Books. An illustrator herself, some days she is helping bring cozy woodland characters to life. Other days, she is coordinating artwork, developing creative projects, or matching the right artist with the right opportunity. With a background in children’s publishing, illustration, artist representation, and creative direction, Jessie helps guide artwork from early ideas to finished books and products. She enjoys bringing clarity to creative projects and helping ideas become focused, intentional, and ready for readers.

Editorial Manager
Lead Editor, Board Books

Kathy MacMillan (she/her) is an award-winning author, nationally certified American Sign Language interpreter, librarian, editor, and signing storyteller. She has published more than two dozen books with traditional publishers, including board books (Sign the Seasons series and Little Hands Signing series, Familius), picture books (The Runaway Shirt and She Spoke series, Familius), children’s nonfiction (including Super Cities!: Baltimore, Arcadia), and middle grade and young adult fantasy (including the Sword and Verse duology, HarperTeen). Her debut novel, Sword and Verse, was a finalist for the Compton Crook Award, and her recent nonfiction picture book, She Spoke Too: 14 More Women Who Raised Their Voices and Changed the World, was the Foreword Indies 2024 Gold Winner-Juvenile Nonfiction Book of the Year. She has also published eight resource books for educators, librarians, and parents, including 5 volumes in the bestselling Storytime Magic series from ALA Editions. As an editor, Kathy has worked with authors across categories and publishing paths to help them realize the best versions of their work. She lives in Baltimore, MD, USA. Find her online at KathyMacMillan.com or on Instagram at @kathys_quill.

Lead Editor, Chapter Books & Middle Grade

Carol Lynch Williams is both an editor and the award-winning author of more than 30 young adult and middle grade books. Her novel The Chosen One received the Whitney Award for Best Youth Fiction, and her work has been recognized by multiple organizations including the American Library Association. Carol brings the perspective of a working writer to her editorial work, helping authors develop their stories while honoring the voice and vision that make each book their own. She is the conference director for Writing and Illustrating for Young Readers (WIFYR) and a professor of creative writing at Brigham Young University. Carol earned her degree in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts in 2008.

Lead Editor, Nonfiction

Julie Lavender is an author, journalist, speaker, former teacher, former homeschooling educator, wife, mom, and grandmommy. She is the author (or co-author with her husband) of 63 titles, published by children’s educational houses, Penguin Random House, Bushel & Peck, End Game Press, Revell, and others. Julie’s work has appeared in national and regional magazines and newspapers. She is a frequent speaker at writers’ conferences, women’s events, and homeschooling gatherings. Julie has received 45+ industry awards, and she was the winner of the national Guideposts magazine writing contest in 2014. The Lavenders are a former military family, and Julie enjoyed seeing more of this big, beautiful world while living in nine homes in six states. Julie is the proud mommy of four adult kiddos and two sons-in-love and adoring grandmommy of three grandtreasures. She and her husband enjoy writing together and are passionate about educating and inspiring little ones. Julie loves to cook, bake, hike to waterfalls as long as it’s not too strenuous, travel to new places, and spend time with family.

• Favorite color: Purple and lavender (of course!)
• Would like to visit: Hawaii, Alaska, and the Galapagos Islands
• Collects: Children’s picture books, nativity sets, gingerbread trinkets
• Favorite ice cream flavor: Chocolate chip

Metadata Manager

Victoria Van Cleave is a children’s author, literacy expert, and lifelong champion of reading. She began her career as an elementary teacher, spending many rewarding years in classrooms across the country helping students unlock the magic of words. With a Master of Science in Reading Education from The Florida State University, she went on to mentor future educators at The George Washington University and other institutions, sharing her passion for literacy and learning. Today, Victoria brings her expertise to Bushel & Peck, where she works closely with authors throughout the publishing process and creates educational content that helps young readers connect meaningfully with our books. When she’s not immersed in the world of storytelling, she loves traveling with her family in search of quirky museums, hidden thrift shops, and used book stores.

• Favorite book from childhood:The Monster at the End of This Book
• Can’t live without: Music
• Favorite snack: Popcorn

Designer

Maddi is a senior at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, currently in her final year studying graphic communication. Her work blends her love for design, print, and marketing. Maddi lives with cystic fibrosis (CF), and while it’s brought its share of challenges, it’s also shaped her perspective and led her to the passions she cares about most; especially using her creativity to support and uplift others living with chronic illness. Outside of school and work, she’s happiest by the ocean and will take any excuse to jump in and surf. A big fan of sushi and anything sweet, she’s usually either in the water or on the hunt for her next favorite sweet treat!

• Favorite Disney character: Ray the firefly
• Big fan of: Sunsets
• Can’t live without: Bacon
• Favorite childhood book: The Witches by Roald Dahl

Publicity Assistant

Wendy received a B.S. from Brigham Young University in sociology and health education and a Master of Forensic Sciences from George Washington University. She enjoys spending time with her husband and six children.