Welcome to Burgeon Design and Editorial—a sanctuary for the creatively audacious, the narratively rebellious, and the editorially avant-garde.
If you're reading this, chances are you're a writer who refuses to be boxed in or an editor weary of the one-size-fits-all approach. You're in the right place.
Since 2019, we've been the go-to ally for those daring to disrupt the literary norm. Here, we don't just edit or design; we empower you to carve out your own indelible space in an ever-changing publishing landscape. Dive in, and let's make some literary history together.
Ready to make waves and stand out in the publishing industry?
We want you to write stories that people need, stories that make readers sit up and take notice. We want you to win awards, sell a ton of copies of your book, and above all be seen. You’ve got big goals, and you know what? So do we.
We know that's easier said than done, but our writers have gone on to win awards, have gotten literary agents and book deals (absolutely can't wait until I'm allowed to announce these!), have gone on to self-publish and receive rave reviews, and have written absolutely gorgeous stories that are completely unputdownable. It's our mission to help other writers break past barriers and see their own potential. To dream big and shatter those glass ceilings.
What we believe
We’re on a mission to amplify marginalized voices. We want to see more queer stories, protagonists of color, fat protagonists, stories with Jewish and Muslim characters, characters who come from broken families and low income backgrounds, and stories with disabled main characters on the shelves.
Hi, I’m Tiffany Grimes (she/they)
AUTHOR MENTOR, EDITOR MENTOR, SQUARESPACE WEBSITE DESIGNER, AND LITERARY ADVOCATE.
Committed to amplifying marginalized voices, I blend my skills in editing and coaching to champion diverse narratives. I advocate for works that challenge norms and offer inclusive perspectives.
Embracing a human-centered approach, I resonate with the multifaceted lives of my clients, holding space for both their publishing and business aspirations and their individual, messy lives.
I'm a non-binary, able-bodied English-speaker. My identity is further shaped by my neurodivergence, high sensitivity, and bisexuality. I grew up in foster care and was adopted at age 10, and I navigate life with anxiety and depression.
Recognizing and sharing these facets of my identity is essential to the ethos of Burgeon, because while we champion the marginalized, the unheard, and the overlooked, my proximity to privilege and degree of marginalization naturally impacts the way I work with my clients and lead my community.
A literature major at heart
I’m a writer, developmental editor, coach, and website designer by trade, but a book-obsessed nature enthusiast, cat mom, and fervent tea lover at heart. Whether I'm trekking through the mountains or unwinding with a good book and a cat on my lap, my love for literature is always at the core of what I do.
Growing up, I heard all too often that writing was 'just a hobby,' but I didn’t let that deter me. I took my passion to college and grad school, working side gigs ranging from bookseller to tour guide to keep the dream alive. But let's be real—balancing multiple jobs left me more burned out than inspired.
That led me to a crucial discovery: mastering the craft is only half the battle. Cultivating the right mindset is equally vital. It's a lesson you can’t find in a textbook, but it's become the cornerstone of my work as an editor and writing coach. I aim to be the mentor I wish I'd had, offering not just skill, but the emotional and mental support writers and editors often need.
So, if you're an unapologetic nonconformist, a creative soul, or someone with a voice that refuses to be boxed in, you’ve found your community. We're here not just to fine-tune your words but to empower you to conquer your own unparalleled path in the literary world.
Experience
✦ I have a BA in English Literature from Flagler College (minors in Creative Writing and Psychology) and a MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University.
✦ At Flagler, I was the managing editor of FLARE: The Flagler Review and President of the Alpha Epsilon Omega Chapter of Sigma Tau Delta, the International English Honor Society. I have also been a reader for The Passed Note and am the founder of The Burgeon Zine.
✦ I’m the current Communications Coordinator for The LGBTQ+ Editors Association and The Editors Tea Club.
Past speaking experience
✦ Since starting Burgeon, I’ve had the privilege to work with 140+ clients and have seen a wide array of challenges and triumphs, and I am able to tailor my guidance to each individual’s needs.
✦ I’m a speaker at industry events, and I host writing retreats and workshops for aspiring and established writers alike.
✦ My own work has been published in Feels Blind Literary, Meat for Tea: The Valley Review, Microfiction Monday Magazine, The Fiction Pool, Herstry, Sad Girls Club, and Ruminate Magazine.
Squarespace Circle Day (August 2023) - Collaborate to Innovate: Embracing Outsourcing
Write Anyway Summit (October 2023) - Writer’s Block Demystified: Empowerment Tools to Reignite Your Creativity
Renew, Reflect, Write (December 2023) - How to Overcome Writer’s Block (For Good) with Tiffany Grimes
Be a Bestseller 5.0 How to Become an Authorprenuer (January 2024) - The Power of Authentic Branding & Messaging For Authorprenuers
The Sustainable Visibility® Not-Quite-a-Summit-Thingamabob (February 2024) - Storytelling for Social Change: How to Authentically Share Your Story to Amplify Your Impact
We’re writers first and foremost
Founded on inclusivity and radical creativity, we've built a boutique editing and design house serving those who yearn to disrupt conventional norms. We understand the writer's journey because we've walked the path ourselves.
Meet the Burgeon Team
Our collective of powerhouse women is a dynamic fusion of expertise, creativity, and passion. Each team member brings a unique skill set and perspective to the table, making us more than the sum of our parts. Bound by a shared love for storytelling and a commitment to inclusivity, we've curated an environment where creativity thrives and every voice is celebrated. Read on to meet the remarkable women who make it all happen.
EDITOR, AUTHENTICITY READER, VOICE OVER ACTOR
Samantha (she/her) is a writer, copy editor, voice over actor, and professional singer, and lives in Los Angeles, California with her husband, daughter, and three-legged cat. If you have a small child, you might be familiar with some of her voice over and singing work on Abcmouse.com.
COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER AND AUTHENTICITY READER
Narjis (she/her) is a Shia Muslim, Pakistani American writer who grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. When she’s not praying for her characters to make it through the book (mostly) intact, she can be found in downtown Toronto with her husband eating chocolate chip cookies.
BLOG MANAGER AND AUTHENTICITY READER
Aliya Bree Hall (she/her) is a lesbian freelance writer and journalist living in PDX. When she’s not immersing herself in publishing, you can find her reading, embroidering, thrifting, wine tasting or cuddling up on the couch with her girlfriend and their three cats: Jane Austen, Benji and Hannibal.
Who We Serve
We serve visionary writers and rule-breaking editors who find conventional rules limiting and yearn to forge their own path in the literary world. Founded on values of inclusivity and audacious creativity, we're more than just an editing and design house; we're a sanctuary for those who dare to be different.
Our Expertise
We're not just book editors and web designers; we're advocates for stories that defy genres, characters that break molds, and voices that disrupt the status quo. With specialized services in manuscript editing, book coaching, editor mentorship, and both author and editor centric web design, we empower you to transform your creative vision into tangible success.
Why Choose Us
We get it—conforming isn't your style. And it's not ours either. When you collaborate with us, you're not just hiring professionals; you're joining a community dedicated to challenging norms and uplifting voices on the fringes. Come disrupt, dissent, and defy with us.
Our why
WE LIVE IN A WORLD THAT IS EXTREMELY IMBALANCED WHEN IT COMES TO DIVERSITY IN BOOKS.
✦ The gatekeepers in the industry are 76% white, 97% cis, 81% straight, and 89% non-disabled. These are the people who determine which stories are published and amplified and which are not.
✦ In 2018, just 11% of books were written by people of color. While agents and editors are calling for diverse stories, there is a higher focus on trauma-centered and educational stories instead of joy.
✦ Banned books are on the rise. With the current political climate seeking to remove books that center around queer stories, stories with protagonists of color, books with Jewish and Muslim characters and religious themes, as well as stories with “obscene material” (with no definition as to what qualifies as obscene), 1,145 titles have been banned across numerous US districts.
We want to fix this. We want to exist in a world where marginalized writers and readers are equally recognized in publishing.
Publishing offers possibilities.
The ability to connect with readers, leave an enduring legacy, create meaningful change in the world through your words, and receive the recognition you earnestly desire.
YET WE LIVE IN A WORLD THAT AIDS AND ABETS INEQUALITY.
Publishing gatekeepers consistently provide smaller advances to marginalized authors, refuse to publish amazing work from marginalized individuals because “they’ve already published an [insert-marginalization-here] book this year,” and consistently requests books from marginalized writers only to turn around and say, “I couldn’t connect with the voice.”
It’s important to acknowledge that there’s only so much of our author career we can control. We cannot discuss author success without discussing systemic oppression. Outside forces–including but not limited to racism, ableism, homophobia, the recession, generational trauma–are much to blame for why you might be struggling with your author career.
We can’t dismiss these systemic issues in pursuit of individual success, nor can we promise to singlehandedly eliminate societal inequality. But it's time to empower authors, lower the ladder for others, and foster a writing community that thrives on diversity, support, and collective success.
fantasy | sci-fi | speculative fiction |
memoir | literary fiction | health and wellness | self-help | biography | contemporary | historical | romance |
fantasy | sci-fi | speculative fiction | memoir | literary fiction | health and wellness | self-help | biography | contemporary | historical | romance |
GENRES WE LOVE
Who says editing is all about comma splices and typos?
Not us. We're champions of the 'Whole Author Approach.' We're not just here to help you finalize a manuscript; we're your co-pilots on the extensive journey that follows.
But don't worry, alongside this expansive support, you'll also get what we're best at—making your story not just good, but unforgettably compelling. Because, at the end of the day, we care about more than just a well-written book; we care about the talented individual who wrote it.
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