Staff

SAM HIYATE is keen to discover new voices and help writers prepare their works for market, and to help them build lasting careers. In the past two decades with THE RIGHTS FACTORY his hundreds of book deals have resulted in several bestsellers such as MORE, the memoir by Molly Roden Winter, THIS ONE SUMMER, the graphic novel by Jillian and Mariko Tamaki, non-fiction such as HEALTHY AF (DITCH THE DIET) by Oonagh Duncan and THE MYTH of CAPITALISM by Jonathan Tepper and Denise Hearn, and fiction such as GIRLS IN WHITE DRESSES by Jennifer Close and THE ADULT by Bronwyn Fischer.

Morinobu Yoshida is a publishing professional from Yokohama, Japan. After working at a publishing house in Tokyo for five years, he decided to dive into international publishing and began pursuing the publishing certificate at Toronto Metropolitan University. With his passion to promote the global exchange of cultures and ideas through books, he currently works as a rights assistant at the Rights Factory, while working as a freelance editor/copyeditor and also a kitchen assistant at an awesome Indian restaurant in downtown Toronto. He has a taste for literary fiction, literary journalism, and history books.

Nikki is a Social Media Manager who brings a background in publishing, event planning, marketing, social media marketing, and education. Driven by her love for the written word, Nikki has shifted careers to make books her entire personality. She has previously held positions as a social media coach, personal assistant to various authors, and social media manager at a publishing house. Nikki is also an assistant agent at The Rights Factory.

Phoebe is a Toronto-based publishing professional with a background in visual arts and administration. She holds a BFA from Queen’s University and recently completed the Publishing Certificate at Toronto Metropolitan University, where she developed an interest in rights management and international publishing. She is a lifelong reader who is passionate about books and storytelling and dedicated to supporting diverse voices. 

Krista is an Agency Assistant who brings to this role a background as a competitive figure skater, a Level One coaching certification and a sales career culminating as the co-owner of a small executive recruitment firm. As a writer, her short stories have appeared in the Agape Review and her novella, The Birdcage, is published by The Bombay Circle Press. She’s a member of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association, having served as Manager of Volunteer Recruitment, Special Projects Director and Vice President of Membership. She lives north of Toronto in a quiet hamlet, where she obsessively reads everything from creative non-fiction to book club romance to Giller prize winners amidst the chirp of birdsong and flush of farmland breeze.

Selena Mercuri is a writer, publicist, editor, book reviewer, and social media manager based in Toronto. She holds a BA in Political Science from the University of Toronto and studied Publishing at Toronto Metropolitan University, where she received the Marsh Jeanneret Publishing Award. Her work has appeared in The Fiddlehead, The Literary Review of Canada, Room, Prairie Fire, The Ampersand Review, and The Seaboard Review. She is the recipient of the 2023 Norma Epstein Foundation Award for Creative Writing and was a finalist in the 2024 Hart House Poetry Contest. Selena is an MFA candidate in Creative Writing at the University of Guelph.

Isobelle Lans is an editor, website designer, and writer based in England. After working as an in-house editor for a London publisher, she started her freelance editing business where she works directly with fiction writers pursuing publication. She brings the best part of a decade of editorial and business experience to the team.

Alex Morrison is drawn to stories that showcase strange worlds and psychological realism. A reader of all genres, she especially loves memoir, non-fiction, and fantasy for teens and adults. Her work in substance use treatment and crisis response has shaped her eye for authentic, sensitive portrayals of mental health in literature. A former intern at 5 Otter Literary, she holds a BSc from the University of Toronto and is completing the Publishing Certificate at Toronto Metropolitan University. You can find her working on her fantasy novel or at her yoga studio.

Diana DeVault is an editorial assistant with a background as a writer, editor, and author's aide. Calling the American East Coast home, she lives in New Jersey with her partner, their nine cats, and enough books to qualify as her own library. She has a bachelor's degree in English from Randolph College and a master’s degree in creative writing from Southern New Hampshire University. Diana’s hobbies include reading, writing, playing video games, learning everything she can, and pretty much any activity that falls under the “cozy” umbrella. With an interest in working with authors who write young adult, middle grade, science fiction, fantasy, and anything with a touch of magic, she is especially captivated by LGBTQIA+ content and underrepresented voices.