Our Team

Makayla Nielson is the founder of The Book Crate and a fantasy, science-fiction, and short story writer. Her novel The Voyage of Clara Bowman, co-written with Trenna McMullin, is available now on The Book Crate website and Amazon. Keep an eye out for Chimera's Blood, co-written with Alexandra Ely, set for release with Jumpmaster Press in early 2026.

Makayla has written short stories for Manawaker Studio's Flash Fiction Podcast, Twisted Tales, Tall Tale TV, Flash Fiction Magazine, Balloons Lit. Journal, Inkpot Literary Magazine, Stance: Studies on the Family, and Collective Tales Publishing.

Makayla was raised in Normal, Illinois and currently resides in Lehi, Utah with her husband and three (almost four!) children. She earned a bachelor's degree in Family Studies emphasizing Human Development, and a Gerontology minor from Brigham Young University, and a master's degree in Gerontology from the University of Utah.

Web & Design Executive

Jessie Goble

Jessie Goble is our Web & Design Executive, bringing a creative eye and thoughtful detail to everything she builds. While her full-time career is in Human Resources, web design has long been a passion project, one she pursues for fun and fulfillment outside of her day job.

Based in Pennsylvania, Jessie lives with her husband and their mini labradoodle. When she’s not designing, you’ll likely find her outdoors, curled up with a good book, or browsing for inspiration (and maybe shopping a little). She has founded and contributed to multiple startups and creative ventures, blending strategy, aesthetics, and user experience to bring ideas to life online.

Jessie loves creating spaces on the web that feel intentional, welcoming, and easy to navigate, always with the end user in mind.

Authors

Trenna McMullin

Trenna McMullin was raised in the beautiful Flathead Valley of Montana and spent her childhood enjoying the outdoors near Glacier National Park, where the stunning vistas and ancient trees fed her imagination. She began reading at a young age and her love of books quickly transformed into a love of writing. She finished her first full length fantasy novel at the age of sixteen. It needed a lot of work, but it ignited a passion for storytelling that lives to this day. She graduated from BYU-Idaho with a bachelor's degree in University Studies, including a minor in Elementary Education and clusters in European History and French Language. After moving around the Pacific Northwest she has settled back home in Montana with her husband and seven children, where she bakes, reads, and writes as often as possible.

Annika Champenois

Annika Champenois grew up partly in Denmark, partly in Utah, and wholly in the world of books. For years, she has been happily stuck in the romance genre. Her books are sweet, sometimes sassy, and always clean, dedicated to brighten readers' days and make them laugh. Annika climbs trees, studies languages, and dances freestyle when no one can see her.

Alexander Rob

Alexander Rob lives in Utah with his wife and three children. He has loved writing and reading since he was young, and has a love for good stories in any format. He is the author of Everfont, Land of the Ill-Imagined, and There Will be Thousands.

R. Lynn Hanks

R. Lynn Hanks is a sci-fi romance author who loves crafting flirty space fantasies with messy, complex characters that feel real, exploring those sparkling years in early adulthood when you are just coming into yourself. You can pick up her latest, Gamma Raids I, a Star Trek x Firefly space opera romance and meet epic best friends, Kat and Lee as they race to save their galaxy.

Julie Janis

Julie Janis crafts imaginative fantasy adventures filled with rich magic, thrilling action, and swoony romance for readers of all ages to enjoy. When she’s not dreaming up new worlds, she’s reading from her endless TBR list, exploring mountain trails, rewatching The Lord of the Rings, or indulging in her love of ice cream. She lives in Utah with her husband, son, and their Toy Australian Shepherd.

Courtney Millecam

Courtney writes fantasy novels with atmospheric settings, magic, heart
pounding adventure, and swoony love interests. When she's not writing,
you can find her spending time with family, enjoying the mountains
near her home, or curled up reading with a Dr Pepper in hand. Her
debut novel, The Never Heir, is a 1920s Peter Pan retelling about what
happens to the lost boys after they leave Neverland.

Havelah McLat

Havelah McLat grew up on a small farm in rural Ohio with her family. As a kid, she spent hours drawing and then crafting short stories to go along with her illustrations. As she got older, her passion grew to write stories about the world, faith, and topics that matter the most to her. She has written several short fictions that have been featured in different anthologies and independently published four books. When she isn’t writing, she reads books, draws, and spends time with her family.

Alexandra Ely

Alexandra is a young adult fantasy and science fiction author. Growing up in rural California she pursued creative writing at a young age. She credits much of her imagination to the childhood costumes and wide open space she grew up with. In high school, Alexandra was tutored by an old Russian playwright who taught her the intricate art of plot twists, drama, and conflict. Alexandra has a heart for young adults and hopes her stories will inspire her readers to live out their own grand adventures.