“Gizmo” | Owner & Coordinating Director
Ari is the owner and visionary behind the Heathens & Heartbreakers fever dream. Book Bash? Yes!
Sprout’s beloved gremlin . . . I mean, Gizmo, has a master plan and an MBA specializing in brand strategy. The snark, graphics, and neon-emo branding slapping harder than your latest book boyfriend? Ari. What can we say? Subtlety wasn’t on her syllabus. Lucky us!
Mom and Texas native with Mexican and Native American roots, she’s all fire and sass but still came out a vampire. Sun allergy? Unconfirmed. Unwillingness to leave a house containing all her favorite things? Confirmed.
Children’s author and illustrator? Oh my God. Her other pen names have some explaining to do!
Between writing romances, orchestrating events, and running Veiled Vellum & Co. with her escaped mental patient bestie, Sprout, she’s redesigning the universe with Photoshop and a spreadsheet. Fewer revisions? Denied.
She’s both chaos and its master, wrapped in an angelic-looking package with suspiciously good organization.
“My heart doesn't require you to not be a colossal fuck up to love you.”
“I collided into nightmare and fell into a daydream.”
“The only men worth the pain are the delicious devils between my pages.”
“Die on your own time.”
“In that moment, the angel wept while the devil within me smiled.”
Heathen Heartbreak Highlighted
“Sprout” | Co-Founder & Logistics
Shelly is the co-conspirator who said “yes” before Ari finished explaining. We’re choosing to call it entrepreneurial spirit.
She’s our Sprout, a Louisiana mom of three, angsty romance author, and graphic designer with an MBA specializing in marketing. The glitter bomb in Ari’s organized cabinet comes with credentials. Apparently, chaos has a target audience.
Together, Shelly and Ari own a graphic design and author services business, Veiled Vellum & Co. helping fellow authors give their books a look worthy of everything inside. Shelly brings creative flair, marketing know-how, and commentary nobody remembers requesting.
Equal parts hoodie gremlin and caffeine-fueled menace, she can often be found napping or writing beneath a looming deadline. Her fictional characters suffer for a living. She prefers a blanket.
A little sour, a little sparkly, and wholly unforgettable. We’d put her back in the cabinet, but Ari’s already cleaned and redesigned it.
“You are my new addiction. The thing I will do anything to have. Even if it means you burn, too.”
“Logic holds no place where a broken spirit resides. Where a soul has been made black, not by your own actions but the actions of others.”
“I’ve become a collector of red flags. Pretty soon, I’ll be drowning in a sea of them, and I don’t have the self-preservation to care.”
“You never forget the reason your heart keeps beating. The reason your lungs have air. Even apart all these years, it has been and always will be for him.”
“The angel with the broken wings was sent to save the devil from himself.”
Heathen Heartbreak Highlighted
“Beastie” | Daily Operations Manager
Crystal is the calm command center behind Heathens & Heartbreakers. Schedules, coordination, follow-through? Handled. She’s Gizmo and Sprout’s Beastie, the true reason they are semi-functioning adults on the daily.
A Mississippi native, Alabama mom of two, and respiratory therapist, Beastie is also a VPA to several bestselling authors and co-owns Naughty Nerds Author Services. Keeping people breathing (except herself) and authors on schedule is where she excels.
She has a soft spot for smutty mafia romance and very little patience for a task refusing to cooperate. Quietly capable, fiercely dependable. Our Beastie gets things done, including all her stalking of her besties, Sprout and Gizmo, on Life360.
“Boo” | Volunteer Manager
Sharron is our Chicago-based Volunteer Manager and the reason “we need volunteers” became an actual team instead of another group chat. She vetted every signup, built our volunteer teams, and handles their schedules and training. We brought enthusiasm. She brought a functioning operation.
She’s also PA to badass Australian dark romance author Nicci Harris. Apparently, our particular brand of nonsense doesn’t fill her calendar.
Soft voice. Sharp eye. Suspicious command of time. Our little Boo makes people feel cared for while keeping everyone accountable. We’d demand an explanation, but she’s probably busy doing something with the volunteers we forgot needed doing. What can we say, the woman is an obsession we all need in our lives.
“Sparkplug” | Event Emcee
Hollie runs regions, interviews authors, and runs recreationally, which feels excessive. We’re a little exhausted writing this. As our emcee, she brings enough energy to make caffeine, cocaine, and gasoline question their contribution to the world. Oh my God. She’s a Panic! at the Disco song! Addictive and adorable. Also, yes, we are aware it’s champagne, and our boozy babe loves it, but connection. Thanks!
This single dog mom is married to her job. It takes up ninety percent of her time, and her cutie-patootie doggy would like a word. Between crafts and loving on the book world, she’s collected enough books to open multiple bookstores all her own.
Hollie is a Cancer through and through; she’ll go miles out of her way for anyone she meets. But . . . if you cross the line she placed several counties away? Congratulations. You’re a closed chapter, and she’s taken up scrapbooking with your pages.
Beware of our fierce little chatterbox. She’ll love you and leave you with a smile.
“Chaos” | Concierge & Logistics Specialist
Brandi is a South Texas mom, corporate event planner, collector of wives, and alien-smut connoisseur, she brings meticulous planning and cayenne-level commentary to the proceedings.
From Heathens & Heartbreakers setup to hospitality, she makes sure everyone has a place, knows where they’re going, and has what they need.
Our colorful spice of life has your back, your itinerary, and possibly some spicy grape juice.
“Juice” | Talent Recruitment Director
Brittnee is the velvet hammer of Heathens & Heartbreakers. Smooth, strategic, and sweet enough to make you miss the negotiation.
A SoCal mom of four and devourer of all books, she recruits authors, narrators, and vendors, turns announcements into temptation, and solves problems before we finish complaining.
Our silver-tongued sweetheart has a gift for people and a counteroffer for chaos. You were only stopping by? Adorable. Juice has a proposition.
“Spitfire” | TikTok Manager & Team Liaison
Emily flirts with the algorithm and keeps receipts. Our romance-obsessed rep queen runs TikTok, keeps our team informed, and is the bubbly face in our videos. Sweet smile. Full administrative access. An adorable amount of leverage.
Through her business, Wilted Rose Author Services, she works as a graphic designer and PA to beloved indie authors. She gives their books a little visual seduction and their working lives some breathing room. Apparently, being everyone’s favorite menace comes with excellent organizational skills.
Newly married to her high school sweetheart, this Alaskan mountain girl loves dark romance and knows our event details inside out. Questions, updates, something you missed in the group chat? Spitfire has answers. And probably proof she already sent them.
She also knows where the bodies are buried. Beneath your favorite bookstore, naturally. Admire her emoji choices. Leave the excavation alone.
“Jinxie” | Digital Experience Curator
Christy is why your TBR needs structural support. Book covers, quotes, swoony Pinterest boards? Our little Jinxie knows your weaknesses and has scheduled a post.
A married Ohio mom of three, beta reader, and ARC collector, she takes on too many books and calls it a good time. Chaos is apparently a leisure activity.
One of Ari’s original readers, she became an instant friend through books and a shared love of poetic prose. Her youngest also became Gizmo’s little bestie. Recruiting across generations with music? Efficient.
Our self-proclaimed “cursed” Heathens & Heartbreakers comment-section succubus keeps socials buzzing and notifications irresistible. You’re welcome. Your screen-time report sends its condolences.
“Depraved” | Event Liaison & International Relations
Tennessee-mom, tattoo-covered, and gloriously neon, Jay is our badass book babe with a heart of gold. Depraved is the nickname. Going above and beyond for people is the habit.
Her shelves hold trophies from her ongoing crimes against trees. She hallucinates over their remains. We’re not saying she’s a serial killer but…
Also, Amo Jones, Jay’s credit card company would like to have a word.
Jay’s an author PA, editor, beta reader, and serial ARC collector. She reads 600 words per minute and still overcommits. Red Bull has replaced the blood in her veins and is now the offering she gives to her Norse Gods.
A Viking enthusiast, sport-bike rider, and Sleep Token fanatic, Jay brings huge personality and genuine care to event liaison and international relations. Tattoos, piercings, caffeine, and diplomatic responsibilities. We’re delighted with our hiring decision.