Hi! I'm Erika
I’ve always been drawn to stories — the kind that make you stay up too late, rethink what you believe, or feel just a little less alone in the world.
My love of storytelling started early. As a child, I once won a giant cookie for writing a persuasive essay about why I deserved the cookie — an early lesson in how powerful the right words can be. That curiosity continued through years spent studying classical art and theatre, where I learned how narrative, structure, and emotional resonance shape the way audiences experience a story. Creativity has always been part of who I am, whether imagining Shakespearean worlds on stage or exploring new fictional ones on the page.
Over the last fifteen years, I've built a career in digital content and e-commerce, where that same instinct took a different shape. My work centers on understanding how people read, what makes information feel clear and engaging, and how thoughtful language and design choices influence the way someone experiences a piece of content. I regularly develop product messaging, social selling content, and creative assets designed to connect with readers quickly and effectively—skills that translate directly into helping writers strengthen the clarity, structure, and flow of their manuscripts, and into designing covers that capture a story at a glance.
By night (and early mornings, and weekends), I'm a writer. I understand both the excitement of a new idea and the uncertainty that comes with shaping it into something meaningful. I know firsthand how vulnerable it can feel to share unfinished work. Writing asks us to take the ideas living quietly in our minds and place them on the page for others to see. That takes courage. It also takes support.
That's why I created Narrative Compass—to bring all of it together: the artist, the designer, the editor, and the storyteller. Between a classical art background, years designing worlds for the stage, and a career spent learning how words and visuals connect with readers, I get to put the whole of that experience to work helping others tell their stories. Whether that means strengthening your manuscript or giving your book a cover that feels true to it, my goal is the same—clear direction, honest feedback, and steady encouragement, so you can move forward with confidence in both your work and your creative process.
What I Write
I write speculative fiction with strong emotional threads, layered mysteries, and characters searching for truth in complicated worlds. My current series explores time, legacy, and the stories we inherit — and the ones we choose to change.
Like many writers, I didn’t start with perfect drafts or perfect confidence. I started with questions:
Is this working?
Am I communicating what I meant to say?
Will readers understand what this story is trying to do?
Writing has taught me that stories rarely arrive fully formed. They evolve through exploration, revision, and reflection. Sometimes the most important breakthroughs happen when someone else helps us see the story more clearly.
Through Banter with Banks, I share behind-the-scenes insights into my own writing process — the challenges, discoveries, and lessons learned along the way — because I believe transparency helps writers feel less alone in the journey.
INTENTIONAL DESIGN
Nothing here is templated. Every editorial note and every cover choice is made with purpose — shaped around your story rather than dropped on top of it.
CRAFT FIRST
A background in classical art, scenic design, and years spent inside manuscripts means your story is in skilled, careful hands — from the first page to the final cover.
YOUR VOICE, ALWAYS
My role is to guide, not to take over. I help you see your story more clearly, strengthen how it's told and shown, and leave you firmly in control of where it goes.
Editing Philosophy
Every writer’s voice is different. My role as an editor is not to change your voice — it’s to help you strengthen it.
I approach editing as a collaborative process focused on clarity, intention, and reader experience.
When I edit, I often focus on questions such as:
Where might readers feel confused, disconnected, or unsure what matters most?
Are character motivations clear and emotionally believable?
Does the structure support the story you want to tell?
Are there places where clarity, flow, or word choice could be strengthened?
Where is the manuscript already working well, and how can we build on those strengths?
I believe feedback works best when it is honest, specific, and encouraging. My goal is always to help you see your story more clearly so you can decide what direction feels right for you.
Writing can feel overwhelming at times, especially when you’ve spent months or years inside a manuscript. Having another perspective can make the next step feel clearer.
Think of me as a guide — someone who helps you navigate the path, while you remain firmly in control of where the story ultimately leads.
Creative Design
Every story deserves a cover that feels true to it. My role as a designer is not to hand you my vision—it's to help you bring yours to life.
I approach cover design as a collaborative process, drawing on my background as a classically trained artist and graphic designer to translate the feeling of your story into something readers can see before they read a single word.
When I design, I often focus on questions such as:
- What promise should this cover make to the reader about the story inside?
- Does the imagery and mood match the genre readers are looking for?
- Do the typography and composition guide the eye and feel intentional?
- How do the colors, texture, and tone carry the emotional weight of the story?
- Where a cover is already close, how can we refine it so every element earns its place?
I work with carefully chosen stock imagery and my own artistic training to shape covers that feel custom, cohesive, and market-ready—without losing the character that makes your book yours. I believe design works best when it's honest about what draws a reader in, grounded in craft, and shaped around your vision rather than a template.
Publishing your story can feel like a lot, especially when it comes to presenting it to the world. A cover is often the first thing a reader meets, and getting it right can make the next step feel clearer.
Think of me as a guide—someone who helps you navigate the visual side of your story, while you remain firmly in control of how it's ultimately seen.