First Choice Books’ Team
We are pleased to introduce our fantastic team of self publishing experts here at First Choice Books:
Administration
Patrick O’Connor • Co-Owner and Operations Manager
patrick@firstchoicebooks.ca
Patrick outside the front door of First Choice Books ready to welcome you!
Patrick O’Connor, originally from Peterborough, Ontario, is a world traveler with a background in marketing, management, and customer relations, fluent in German and French. Here at First Choice Books, Patrick is our operations manager and main sales representative. He follows up with our authors and helps them make the best decisions for their project. During his down time, he teaches advanced cycling classes, and also enjoys cooking and gardening.
Melanie Perkins • Co-Owner and Strategic Planning
melanie@firstchoicebooks.ca
Melanie Perkins earned a graduate degree in Oregon, culminating in a PhD, giving her an intimate understanding of both literary and scientific research leading to publication. She is considered an expert in problem solving, performance measurement and engineering economics. Melanie worked for over 17 years writing reports and manuals for the government. She has lived and worked across the US, Canada and the UK, and has an identical twin sister. Melanie thoroughly appreciates her natural surroundings on the West Coast. As a result, Melanie works to bring the most affordable, environmentally sensitive printing options to First Choice Books customers, while broadening our range of new products and services, and reaching out to writers interested in self-publishing throughout North America and around the world.
Wendy Baron • Accounts and Shipping
wendy@firstchoicebooks.ca
Accountant Wendy Baron hails from Calgary, Alberta, and, in between training for 10 K races in part by cycling or walking to work every day and attempting to do something about the weeds in her garden, works with our authors to ship their books world-wide. She’s the go-to person for invoicing and shipping quotes. Wendy is also a proud grandmother, and recently published her first calendar with First Choice Books.
Bindery
Rick McGowan • Shop Foreman
Rick McGowan has been the Bindery’s shop foreman since 2008, and specializes in getting all First Choice Books authors’ books cut, bound, laminated, and finished professionally. He has advanced technical skills in operating, maintaining and upgrading our binding machinery, such as the Schneider paper cutter and the Bourg Binder. He also oversees our hard cover re-binding and hot foil stamping. Outside the shop, Rick is a student of Japanese culture, and travels to Japan with his family.
