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About Rocky Nook
We love the arts: photography, drawing, painting, pottery, crafts…the list goes on and on. Whether it’s taking a photograph that captures the candid smile of a child riding her bike for the first time, painting an epic landscape at sunset, learning to master the latest design software, or creating a friendship bracelet for your best friend, we find it all fascinating, and we love how everyone can be creative and express themselves. Seeing as you’re visiting our site, you probably do, too.
Rocky Nook is a small, independent publishing company that was founded in 2006 in Santa Barbara with the goal of helping photographers of all levels improve their skills in capturing those moments that matter. In the last few years, we’ve diversified and expanded our publishing to include topics for all creative people, whether your goal is to be a professional artist, start a side hustle, or simply pursue your love of the arts as a creative outlet and hobby.
We are a small (but mighty!) ten-person team that loves creating beautiful books that help you master the technology, find inspiration, and hone your craft in order to create better and more meaningful work. In doing so, we are fortunate to partner with many of the best artists and teachers in the world.
In 2016, the company relocated to San Rafael, California—just 13 miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge—after founder Gerhard Rossbach retired and handed the reins over to Scott Cowlin. Scott is lucky to be joined by a very talented group of publishing veterans, photography enthusiasts, and aspiring artists. Most of the team is based in San Rafael, a few colleagues keep our roots alive in Santa Barbara, and in 2021, we welcomed a colleague who works from his home in the UK
Our Values: Quality Laughter Balance Kindness and Respect Growth Transparency Make Mistakes Relationships
Quality. Every time you pick up one of our books, we want you to think, “Someone put a lot of care, thought, and energy into making this a great book.” Great authors, innovative design, quality production, amazing editing, and a fabulous customer experience are what we strive for every day
Laughter. Life is too short not to enjoy what you are doing. We strive to do great work and enjoy ourselves along the way, whether it’s helping our customers at a tradeshow, talking with an author about a book outline, or figuring out how we are going to get the color just right on the printing press, our aim is to have fun and probably tell a joke or two along the way.
Balance. We love what we do. It is very satisfying to provide people with the tools they need to pursue their goal of becoming better artists. However, at the end of the day, the most important things happen outside the office. We believe in taking the time to take care of ourselves and our loved ones. We work hard and take pride in the books we publish, but keeping it all in perspective is key to a happy, balanced life.
Kindness and Respect. We live by the Golden Rule and always aspire to treat our customers, partners, authors, and each other as we would like to be treated.
Growth. We are a business, and we strive to grow and create profit so that we can keep doing what we love. But that is only one way we look at growth. We also push ourselves to keep learning and growing in our understanding of the communities we work with, our customers’ needs, and the technology that drives both the art and publishing worlds forward.
Transparency. We have no secrets around here! Our objective is to be open and honest with customers, partners, and authors. We will make some mistakes along the way (see below), but when we do, we will be open and honest about them.
Make Mistakes. “What’s that,” you say? “One of your values is to make mistakes?” Yes, absolutely. If we aren’t making mistakes, then we’re becoming set in our ways and we’re not pushing ourselves enough to try new things. It’s like selective color: you have to try it once to know it’s a mistake, right?
Relationships. We are proud of what we can accomplish as a team, but we know we wouldn’t be where we are today without the strong relationships we have with our authors, customers, and partners.
Meet The Rocky Nook Team
SCOTT COWLIN
Scott is the Publisher and CEO at Rocky Nook, where he is able to utilize his passions for publishing, marketing, reading and creative hobbies on a daily basis, while also working with some of the most talented creatives in the business. A life long bay area native, Scott has masterfully built a career in publishing that combines his passions. He often gets a silly smirk on his face when he realizes that people are paying him to play with cameras and read books, many of them about photography and the arts.
If you ask him about it, he’ll likely give you a witty yet well thought out reply, which is where he brings in another of his passions for humor (sarcasm is a specialty). When Scott isn’t dreaming up an amazing marketing plan for his latest product or playing with his latest gadget, he’s likely hanging out with his wife and daughters. No matter what they’re doing, there’s a good chance you’ll find a camera, a book or ten, and a lot of smiles all around.
TED WAITT
Ted came to Rocky Nook in 2015 as Associate Publisher, having worked in the publishing industry for over 10 years. He revels in the creative process and art of bookmaking—from building the foundation of the author relationship to the title concept to the craft of writing, editing, and holding the printed piece in hand.
Ted is an avid photographer who enjoys capturing city scenes while exploring the streets of San Francisco. He and his wife enjoy international travel while sharing the goal to continue to seek out and experience more sights of the world.
LISA BRAZIEAL
Lisa joined the team at Rocky Nook in 2016, with 25 years of experience in the publishing industry. In her role as Project Manager, she plays a vital part in the production and publication of each and every book that Rocky Nook produces, overseeing everything from the initial book schedule to the choice of paper, cover stock, and printer. And she does it all with a smile on her face and a song in her heart. It is pure bliss to work with Lisa.
When she’s not coaxing, cajoling, or coaching authors and colleagues for the #1 photography book publisher, you will most likely find Lisa riding the highways and byways of California on her motorcycle, hitting the links on a local golf course (her latest obsession), or spending time with her amazing husband.
DAMON HAMPSON
amon has close to 25 years of global sales, marketing and business development experience in the publishing and education technology sectors. He is in his professional “happy place” when he is helping to build new relationships with customers and partners. Over the course of his career, he has worked closely with key strategic partners such as Apple, Adobe and Amazon.
Damon currently resides in the historic market town of Knutsford in the UK with his wife and son. He is a passionate photographer (www.damonhampsonphotography.com) and has recently taken up half marathon running.
KELLY REED
Kelly Reed joined Rocky Nook in May 2019 as executive editor and is working with the team to develop new book ideas and author opportunities. She has worked in the Bay Area publishing industry for over ten years, most recently at Insight Editions where she spearheaded a number of pop culture projects including the smash hit parody A Die Hard Christmas and cookbooks such as The Godfather Corleone Family Cookbook and the forthcoming Official Supernatural Cookbook. Before that she was a senior acquisitions editor at Ulysses Press in Berkeley where she acquired a number of books in the fields of health, humor, fitness, and cooking. She was born and raised in Northern California and graduated from Chico State with a degree in journalism and English. She lives in the Petaluma area with her husband and enjoys exploring Bay Area backroads and restaurants.
MAGGIE YATES
Maggie Yates is a writer, editor, theatre artist, and succulent enthusiast. She began editing for Rocky Nook in 2013 after earning her MFA in writing from the University of San Francisco in 2012.
By night, she works for Out of the Box Theatre Company in Santa Barbara, and hosts Theatrix, a bi-monthly podcast about Santa Barbara theatre, arts, and culture. She is a theatre critic and arts writer for Broadwayworld.com and the Santa Barbara Independent. She is a proud member of the Santa Barbara Cactus and Succulent Society, and is steadily growing her collection of plants.
JOCELYN HOWELL
Jocelyn has been an editor for Rocky Nook since 2010. She is grateful for the opportunity to work with amazing photographers who are excited to share their experiences and expertise with other photographers around the world. Jocelyn lives in Santa Barbara, California, with her husband and two kids. Outside of editing photography books, she enjoys running, hiking, camping, and playing in the great outdoors with her family.
ADRIANA CERUNDOLO
Adriana Cerundolo is a community builder who loves bringing people together through shared learning, creativity, and meaningful connection. With experience leading global communities at Google and Celo, she now serves as Community Manager for The Nook, fostering connection, expression, and growth among creators worldwide. In her free time, she enjoys creating music, practicing yoga, hiking coastal trails, and chasing beautiful light with a camera in hand.
KORYN OLAGE
Koryn is a brand marketer with a creative background in art & design. Her professional niche is working with mission-oriented brands that specialize in environmental and community-enriching commitments. Previously, she worked with brands that created innovative consumer products and has since pivoted to the creative publishing industry. She enjoys that Rocky Nook provides an outlet for her own creative interests while supporting the broader creative community.
In her spare time she volunteers with a circular-fashion non-profit, providing accessible sustainable fashion education to her local community. She enjoys gaming, embroidery, and exploring San Francisco by bicycle.