Meet the CYC Team

Elisa Doucette - Founder, Client Strategy & Writing Coaching

Elisa studied at the University of Maine, with a dual concentration in Creative Writing and Classics (focused on Roman Latin linguistics & culture), and serves as the Editorial Advisor to the Y-Combinator AI software startup Foster. A frequent contributing writer, podcast guest, and event speaker, her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Boston Globe, Entrepreneurs on Fire, Forbes, The Business of Writing, Froemmer’s Radio, Yahoo! Small Business, BlogHer, WordCamp, The Huffington Post, Undomesticated Magazine, and many others. She is a member of ACES - The Society for Editing, former curator for TEDxAberdeen, and a judge for the Page Turner writing awards.

She can often be found traveling about looking for great stories to live, interesting tales to share, and delicious food & drink to nom on. When she’s not working or writing, she is likely curled up with her Kindle, devouring a new book.

I believe in this principle, even though it isn’t always the popular opinion: Writing is an individual pursuit. No “one strategy” or “one method” or “one word count” is going to guarantee your success. It is all about learning frameworks and systems, then figuring out how to adapt them to your writing life and craft. Every wheel has already been created, you just have to figure out how to spin yours.

Erika Rasso - Director of Development & Production

Erika Rasso holds a B.A. in English and marketing, and an MFA in Screenwriting from the University of California, Los Angeles. She has worked as a writing consultant, an editor for literary and academic journals, an assistant to film producers, and most recently, an executive coordinator at The CW Network. When she’s not writing or editing, Erika spends her time reading (big surprise) and trying to get her money’s worth from her AMC A-List subscription.

Has been part of the team since: September 2015

I believe in this principle, even though it isn’t always the popular opinion: Even though I love grammar and the strategic ways it is used to convey ideas, I don’t believe that your writing has to be mechanically perfect to be exceptional. If we look back on Nathaniel Hawthorne and James Joyce, their works are filled with run on sentences and misused punctuation, and they are still regarded as literary masters! Besides, grammar is always evolving. A mistake you’ve made in one article may no longer be a mistake a month or two later.

Specialties & Interests: Email & Newsletters, Scriptwriting, Arts & Entertainment, Writing about Writing, Business, Food & Drink, Learning

Location: Los Angeles, California, USA

Most Read Book: The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Favorite Story to Tell: When I was in Paris with my parents, we were taking a bike tour and I was lagging behind. We were crossing a busy street and a bus turned the corner and hit me! I was completely okay, the bus was going really slow, but I was very mad that the bus didn’t wait for me!

Sarah Ramsey - Senior Developmental Editor

Sarah Ramsey holds a M.A. in Science, Technology and Public Policy and a B.A. in History. She has spent most of the last two decades doing strategic communications work for space-focused organizations like NASA. She wishes she could write space-based, because if she could live anywhere else, Mars would be it. 

In addition to providing communications expertise to government agencies and non-profit organizations, she writes genre fiction and short- and long-form articles for food and beverage industry publications. In her free time, you can find her working through a long to-be-read list and an even longer to-be-written list.

Has been part of the team since: January 2017

I believe in this principle, even though it isn’t always the popular opinion: Because I like contradictions, I believe that to write well you must always be thinking, but that you shouldn’t overthink how you write. To me, writing is like the overflow buffer for the brain – you get your thinking all out on the screen or in notebooks (or on napkins, the back of envelopes, old receipts buried in your purse). It can be helpful to think about your individual  process of writing with an eye to improvement, but the most important thing is to get words on the page. You can’t fix what isn’t there.

Specialties & Interests: Development Editing, Content Editing, Science and Technology, Food and Beverage (especially where it connects with small businesses and public policy), Pop Culture and Fandom, Genre Fiction

Location: Alexandria, Virginia, USA

Most Read Book: Sparrow Hill Road by Seanan McGuire and The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Favorite Story to Tell: My high school had an exchange program with a school in Germany. During my month-long stay there, we took a three-day trip to Berlin. We were there when the country voted on keeping the still-newly unified country’s capital in Bonn or moving it back to Berlin. Berlin won the vote, and the city went crazy in celebration. Strangers were hugging each other, cars honked, people cheered, there was a massive crowd in the Breitscheidplatz – for a group of kids from a small town in Arkansas, this was like nothing we’d ever seen. We were welcomed to the celebration like we were from there, and that changed the way I looked at the world.

If you want to connect, find me on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Instagram.

Chris Angelis - Senior Content Editor

Chris Angelis has a PhD in English literature from the University of Tampere, where he has also taught Gothic fiction. In addition to this work, he is a literary-fiction writer and the owner of a literature blog, Home For Fiction. 

When Chris doesn’t write or edit, he programs webapps related to writing and texts. He also likes to think he’s a musician, playing bass/guitar and piano, and creating post-rock and post-metal soundscapes with his one-man band, The Focus Protocol. In an ideal world, Chris would spend most of the year on the beach of some Greek island.

Has been part of the team since: April 2019

I believe in this principle, even though it isn’t always the popular opinion: Thucydides argues we can be either peaceful or free, but we can't be both. This is a principle I want to apply to writing and art in general. Can we, as writers, escape the constraints of being peaceful? Can we be free in our writing? It's a goal worth aiming for!

Specialties & Interests: Short Stories, Fiction (Long-Form), Poetry, Personal Essays, Philosophy, Writing about Writing, Technology, Travel

Location: Tampere, Finland

Most Read Book: For practical reasons—my doctoral dissertation—Bram Stoker’s Dracula. For pleasure (I’m serious!) William Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

Favorite Story to Tell: When I was 11 or 12, vacationing at my grandparents’ house, I accidentally drank some lighting fluid that was kept in an empty water bottle. I was terrified, but even more so when I heard a neighbor suggesting I should be taken to the hospital. My grandparents thought there was no danger—they just gave me some milk and olive oil. I was fine a few hours later, though my breath smelled like a disintegrating diesel engine for a couple of days. Ah, fun times…

If you want to connect, find me on LinkedIn.

Danielle Thompson - Account Coordinator & Graphic Designer

Danielle graduated from the University of Victoria with a BA in History and a Minor in Applied Ethics. She worked in the hospitality industry for six years where she learned exactly how to keep other people happy and is now working on the same for herself. She is currently finishing the last course of her Graphic Design Certification from British Columbia Institute of Technology. 

Danielle has a passion for correction, perfection and making things shine. This is truly all-encompassing—from folding laundry and washing dishes to proofreading and editing, and (of course) design! She happily lives in the PNW of Canada, and loves exploring forest trails, paddleboarding at the lake, and generally being near the ocean in her free time.

Has been part of the team since: June 2022

I believe in this principle, even though it isn’t always the popular opinion: The world doesn’t hate us for making something imperfect. Perfectionism gets in the way of greatness. I’m slowly rewiring my brain to fully believe this myself.  

Specialties & Interests: Photo Retouching, (Re)branding, Vector Graphics, Proofreading

Location: Victoria, BC, Canada

Most Read Book: Pet Sematary by Stephen King

Favorite Story to Tell: In 2015, I was in Nepal with my cousin when a massive earthquake hit, not far from where we were staying. When I got back from my excursion, my cousin was quite shaken up about it, but I hadn’t felt anything and didn’t know what was wrong. Turns out that exactly when the first earthquake shook the entire area, I was up in the air paragliding! It was a wild coincidence (and the best place to be!), but I did experience the many aftershocks on the ground.

Alice Sholto-Douglas - Content Editor

Alice Sholto-Douglas has experience with writing, copyediting, and academic research. She completed her Master’s in Literature at the University of Cape Town, where she spent six years teaching undergraduate students. She also holds a BA (Hons) in Arts and Literature from New York University as an editorial assistant for academic journals. As a fierce believer in the value of research and strong idea expression, writing is tangible and gratifying to her. She has honed her skills and expertise while working for various publications and organizations on an array of subjects, including art, law, business, and education.

Has been part of the team since: June 2022

I believe in this principle, even though it isn’t always the popular opinion: That how we put words to the world precipitates real effects, and so we make the world through words.

Specialties & Interests: Literature first and foremost but also law, business, and education.

Location: Cape Town, South Africa

Most Read Book: The Harry Potter series, What I Loved by Siri Hustvedt, and Beloved by Toni Morrison

Favorite Story to Tell: When I was little, about ten years old, I wrote a letter to Dumbledore (from the Harry Potter series) because I was under the illusion that Hermione was me in the future, and I needed him to know. It made complete sense in my head. In the letter, I wrote, "I have a ginger cat, like Hermione, love school and books ... like Hermione. I think I might be Hermione. I know it's silly! But I think it's true" – and then, scrunched up because I'd run out of space – "Please write back." I left it on the windowsill for an owl, and Dumbledore never wrote back.

If you want to connect, you can find me on LinkedIn.

Amna Faiq Ali - Content Editor

Amna holds a BA in Business Administration from National University of Modern Languages, a Masters in Business Administration from Quaid-e-Azam University, and a Masters in Philosophy from Lahore University. She has worked full-time as a writer and head of the content department for a renowned Web3 company in Pakistan. With that 7 years of experience, she holds a diverse writing portfolio, helping conglomerates across the globe. When working with her essay students, she is well-known for strict markings and detailed feedback!

In her free time, Amna loves learning new things, creating new recipes, designing new clothes in her head, and buying new books. She happens to be very "talkative" when it comes to penning down words, but IRL she is a more active listener and observer.

Has been part of the team since: March 2023

I believe in this principle, even though it isn’t always the popular opinion: No-one has two hearts in their body, so you either want something or don't want something. There is nothing called “neutrality” at a personal level. The more clear one is about this, the easier it becomes to make decisions and avoid dilemmas.

Specialties & Interests: Blockchain, Crypto, Web3, Current Affairs, Cooking, Economy, Politics, Conspiracy Theories, Style & Beauty, Research.

Location: Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Most Read Book: The Godfather by Mario Puzo, Shahab-nama by Qudrat Ullah Shahab, Confessions of an Economic Hitman by John Perkins, Why Nations Fail by Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson

Favorite Story to Tell: My Business Communication professor always deducted my marks for overwriting exam answers. But now I am a professional “accidental writer” with seven years experience!

Shanece Grant - Content Editor

Shanece Grant is a writer, editor, and digital marketer with 8+ years of experience creating captivating content. With expertise in copywriting, SEO, and managing Google Ads, Shanece excels in delivering impactful marketing messages. Shanece is passionate about nature, languages, research, and storytelling. If she could do anything, she would explore other galaxies in person. In her free time, you can find her writing horror stories.

Has been part of the team since: June 2023

I believe in this principle, even though it isn’t always the popular opinion: Pursuing alternative education paths outside of traditional institutions, such as self-directed learning, unschooling, or pursuing unconventional skills. This challenges the conventional notion that formal education is the only path to success. It also emphasizes individual autonomy in shaping one's educational life journey.

Specialties & Interests: Short stories, script writing, poetry, hobbies, lifestyle, philosophy, technology

Location: Jamaica

Most Read Book: Duma Key by Stephen King, The Harry Potter Series, Runaway Jury by John Grisham

Favorite Story to Tell: Growing up, I had these extraordinary neighbors whose cars were like time machines straight out of the past. They were ancient relics, probably not even street legal, and to top it all off, they had absolutely no brakes. Can you imagine? But here's the kicker: It didn't faze them one bit. I'd watch in awe as they fearlessly leaped out of their moving vehicle, gracefully tucking and rolling to safety, or simply wait patiently for the car to come to a halt on its own. The absence of brakes never hindered them from squeezing every drop of adventure out of life. And that got me thinking, if they could conquer the road without brakes, then what could possibly stand in my way?

Simoun Redoblado - Copy Editor

Simoun graduated cum laude from the University of the Philippines Diliman, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education. A former English teacher and assistant principal, Simoun writes and edits material seven days a week (occasionally stopping for coffee). His online work has been published in sites like Collider, Amendo, Crazy Money Facts, and The Hip Hop Insider. A high school textbook author since 2013, he has written and co-written titles that have entered national circulation in his home country of the Philippines.

Caffeine binges aside, Simoun is a devoted husband to one and father to two. His biggest fear, in fact, is to get those numbers mixed up when introducing himself.

Has been part of the team since: July 2023

I believe in this principle, even though it isn’t always the popular opinion: Imperfection is everywhere. I have yet to see a perfect person, perfect relationship, perfect company, or perfect Eggs Benedict. When we embrace our flaws and work together to compensate for these shortcomings…well, we don’t become flawless. We become, in the truest sense of the word, human. Perhaps that should suffice.

Specialties & Interests: Personal Essays, Researched Articles, Writing about Writing, Arts & Entertainment, Self-Development, Learning, Family

Location: Quezon City, Philippines

Most Read Book: How Not to Write: An Office Primer for the Grammatically Perplexed by Terence Denman and Mythology by Edith Hamilton

Favorite Story to Tell: When I submitted the earliest draft of my first-ever CYC submission (a piece on the craft of writing in Hamilton), I described myself as a “father of one” in the introductory paragraphs. About a week later, as I worked on fleshing out the piece, I had to retool that phrase. Why? Just a few days after my proposed article was greenlighted by Elisa, my wife and I found out that we were pregnant with our second child! That one-word revision will forever be seared in my heart.

If you want to connect, you can find me on Facebook or Twitter.

Melanie Keath - Copy Editor

Melanie has a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Iowa State University, where she couldn’t rein in her varied interests enough for a double major and so graduated with three minors, in French, English, and psychology. She went on to work as a copy editor at The Tribune in Ames, Iowa, before leaving the newsroom for a non-profit position mentoring university students, both in the U.S. and abroad. She married in 2004 and spent the next 15 years as a stay-at-home and sometimes-homeschooling mom to four sons. 

Putting her word-brain back to work as a proofreader has been a joy. When she’s not editing or driving kids around, you’ll find Melanie with a cup of coffee in hand, listening to audiobooks, podcasts, or public radio. 

Has been part of the team since: September 2023

I believe in this principle, even though it isn’t always the popular opinion: Kindness is better. Better than being right, better than brutal honesty, better than winning. Kindness wins.

Specialties & Interests: Proofreading, Fiction, Personal Essays, Learning, Family, Travel, Lifestyle

Location: Pennsylvania, USA

Most Read Book: The Chronicles of Narnia. I read them myself, and then read them to all of my kids.

Favorite Story to Tell: In line for the bathroom at the Hilton Hotel in downtown Nairobi, I ran into an acquaintance and classmate from Iowa State University. We hadn’t seen each other in years, but Midwest recognizes Midwest. I was at the tail end of a five-week trip mentoring Kenyan and American students; she was on the front end of what has become a 20-year career as a professor in Nigeria. Big world, small world.