David Brake, CEO Content Connections and
          AuthorBound

"Books are the carriers of civilization. Without books, history is silent, literature dumb, science crippled, thought and speculation at a standstill."
- Henry David Thoreau

David Brake began his career in publishing as a textbook sales representative, covering Nebraska, South Dakota, and Iowa. The winters were cold, and he had to walk two miles to the barn where he kept his car. The year was 1985, shortly after having graduated with a degree in English. He had an affinity for Twain, Hemingway, and Thoreau. And he needed a job.

Since then he has been an Editor, Executive Editor, and Publisher for major publishing houses, including Times Mirror, Prentice Hall, and McGraw-Hill. Prior to starting Content Connections in 2002 he worked with scores of authors, publishing several best selling books in the areas of Business, Information Technology, and Science. At Content Connections he has specialized in helping publishers, authors, and prospective authors via innovative technology and the ACCESS Model that he teaches to clients seeking an edge in today's competitive and unforgiving publishing world.

He lives in Arizona where the winters are warm. He no longer parks his car in a barn.

Holly McAllister, AuthorBound Program Director

"There are some books that refuse to be written. They stand their ground year after year and will not be persuaded. It isn't because the book is not there and worth being written — it is only because the right form of the story does not present itself. There is only one right form for a story and if you fail to find that form the story will not tell itself."
- Mark Twain

Holly McAllister brings over 15 years experience in advertising, broadcasting and electronic media to Content Connections' media-enhanced publishing services. As an AuthorBound co-founder and the program's senior project director, Holly helps authors and publishing clients find the "right form" for writing their books. Her clients utilize Content Connections' suite of innovative online publishing tools to: assess their audience, refine their concept, execute their content plan, measure their competition, determine sales viability of their content, and build a social network of co-producers interested in the success of their book.

Holly earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communication from the University of Utah. Her advertising career gave her experience as a media director, media buyer, research analyst, account manager and copywriter. She was editor of Our View on Advertising, providing tips on advertising and marketing to clients and advertising / marketing industry professionals. She loves developing a message that communicates the essence of a client's concept and meeting the challenge of getting that message to the right people.

"I am thrilled to see my skills and experience in advertising and marketing fully utilized within the publishing industry and for my authors through AuthorBound's proprietary suite of publishing services."

Holly spends time between two places she calls home, Salt Lake City, Utah, and Mesa, Arizona, with her significant other, Hudson (a pure-bred Yorkshire Terrier she refers to as her "forever puppy").

Roland Elgey, President Content Connections / Chief
          Business Development Officer AuthorBound

"I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book."
- Groucho Marx

Roland is a twenty five year publishing veteran whose senior management experience ranges from content creation to sales and marketing to international rights.

He began his career with Wiley and McGraw-Hill in the UK and moved to the US to join Macmillan, holding a number of positions in both the computer publishing and trade reference divisions, and working with brands such as Betty Crocker, Frommers Travel, Websters New World Dictionaries and Que computer books. Roland subsequently joined Hungry Minds, best known as the publisher of the Dummies and Cliffs Notes brands, and a market leader in both technology and trade publishing. His most recent role was as CEO of Coriolis, a major player in IT certification publishing.

Margaret Thompson, Tools Writer

"I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it."
- Pablo Picasso

Having a degree in Liberal Arts has led Margaret to a myriad of places. She has worked in a sperm bank, assisted CEO's, and recently completed a two-year stint as a VISTA volunteer in Appalachia. She has a love of literature, science, art, music, and many other things. Margaret started college as pre-med, but was seduced by Shakespeare and Dylan Thomas. Thus began the duality of combining science and the humanities. Not an easy task—hence a Bachelor of Science degree in Liberal Arts. Margaret would have been very happy during the Renaissance.

Currently, Margaret lives in the rain-soaked Pacific Northwest and loves to dangle her water-wealth to her parched Arizona counterparts.

Sydney Brake, Tools Writer

"When once the itch of literature comes over a man, nothing can cure it but the scratching of a pen. But if you have not a pen, I suppose you must scratch any way you can."
- Samuel Lover

A sophomore communication major at Southern Utah University (SUU), Sydney has involved herself in many campus organizations and leadership positions, including the editorial editor of SUU's student produced newspaper, the Alpha Phi sorority alumni relations director and the publicity director for SUU's student association. She hopes to continue developing journalism skills necessary to one day join the ranks of Peter Jennings and Diane Sawyer.

At Content Connections, Sydney hones her experience in journalism and marries it with her creative energy to fulfill her duty as a tools writer.

A passion for travel and poetry, Sydney enjoys life most when sitting at the base of the Roman Piazza di Spagna (the Spanish Steps) reading sonnets by Elizabeth Barrett Browning, or analyzing works of Emily Dickinson at St. Stephen's Green in Ireland. When she isn't studying, working or traveling, Sydney can be found cooking gourmet meals for her college roommates.

Mike McAllister, Associate Project Manager

"The whole difference between construction and creation is exactly this: that a thing constructed can only be loved after it is constructed; but a thing created is loved before it exists."
- Charles Dickens

Mike was born and raised in the foothills of Salt Lake City, Utah. After trying his hand in almost every undergraduate program, he set his sights on the photography degree at Arizona State University and made the move from the ski slope covered mountains of Utah to the deserts of Arizona.

Since joining Content Connections in October of 2005, Mike has played numerous roles while finishing his degree. Since graduating, Mike has been working as an associate project manager specializing in Virtual Focus Group production. He is also part of the Creative Team.

In his spare time Mike enjoys watching movies, traveling, cooking, going to baseball games and "vegging-out" with a good book. Mike currently resides in Queen Creek, Arizona with his wife and daughter.

Haley McAllister, Tools Writer

"One must be an inventor to read well. There is then creative reading as well as creative writing."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Haley McAllister is a senior at the University of Utah majoring in English with an emphasis in creative writing. When she's not studying James Joyce and theory, Haley stays busy running for the University of Utah Track & Field team on a full-ride scholarship. She is well known through the athletic department for correcting her coach's grammar during workouts. After graduation, this December, Haley plans to continue her career at Content Connections while she obtains a master's of Arts and Teaching degree from Westminster College.

Jennifer Davis, Associate Project Director

"To speak of 'mere words' is like speaking of 'mere dynamite'."
- C. J. Ducasse

Jennifer's journey to Content Connections, and summarily to AuthorBound, wasn't what you might suppose. Right out of high school, she joined the Active Duty Army, serving as a paratrooper, medic, and radiology technician for the next few years. Her various trainings and assignment to the 82nd Airborne Division took her to many places, including Missouri, Texas (where she met her husband), Washington state, North Carolina, Georgia, and Dexheim, Germany. After leaving active duty and starting a family, Jennifer earned two Associates degrees in General Education and Radiology, then worked for PetSmart editing and developing training documents used in the US and Canada as she worked on her Bachelor's degree in Technical Writing and Multimedia Communication from Arizona State University - Polytechnic. Jennifer came across Content Connections' internship during her senior year. She applied, was accepted, and soon graduated Summa Cum Laude in May 2008. She has since accepted a position at Content Connections working with higher education publishers and AuthorBound divisions. Jennifer also has experience in web coding and design, graphics manipulation, and teaching.

Katie McAllister, Review Coordinator

"The greatest gift is a passion for reading. It is cheap, it consoles, it distracts, it excites, it gives you knowledge of the world and experience of a wide kind."
- Elizabeth Hardwick

Katie was born and raised in Mesa, Arizona and doesn't see any reason to ever leave. She grew up in a large family as the sixth of eleven children. She always loved school and after graduating high school couldn't decide what to study in college. She has taken courses in Music Education, Medicine, and Business but is still deciding which to follow through to the end first.

Having just recently made the move to working for Content Connections, Katie is very excited for the opportunities and experiences that lie ahead.

She is currently living in Queen Creek, Arizona with her husband and they are expecting their first child in October 2008. In her spare time, Katie loves reading romance novels, playing the piano, singing with her sisters, and watching movies.