Our Team
It's a Dog's Life
WELCOME TO THE PACK
Publishing
Author-Assist
SERVICES AVAILABLE; web page to come
Trainings
In development; web page to come
Kristin Donnan
Writer, Editor, Publisher, and Emotional Support Dog
Kristin has owned and operated an independent media-production company since 1987. Its current persona is Rockin' Dog Studio, through which she produces original works in several genres—and facilitates production or publication in various ways, depending on the needs of each project, collaborator, and/or client.
She is known for her long-standing research in paleontology, along with her participation in Todd Douglas Miller's 2014 feature-length, Emmy Award®-winning documentary, Dinosaur 13. Kristin assisted with the film throughout production, appeared on screen, and accompanied the film during festival appearances. Dinosaur 13 was based on Rex Appeal, a book co-authored by Kristin and renowned paleontologist Peter Larson; the second edition of that book is on Rocndog Books' 2025 release list. We also are releasing a second edition of Bones Rock!, a how-to paleo book for all ages.
In 2013, Kristin, also a long-time freelance book editor and magazine publisher, first worked with a graphic designer to Author-Assist in the publication of a novel. Since then, she has provided editorial and design services for the creation of both fiction and nonfiction books. By Fall 2025, she will have provided publication services for a dozen works. She also writes feature-length screenplays and provides script notes to other screenwriters.
Since 2004, Kristin has worked in various capacities with MacGillivray Freeman Films, the world’s largest developer and producer of giant-screen documentary films. In 2019, she joined the company’s writing team to produce feature-length educational IMAX scripts and television series scripts.
In all of this work, her MS-level counseling psychology certification facilitates both effective interviewing of clients and the injection of deep meaning in projects. She also earned an MFA in Screenwriting from the American Film Institute. Kristin lives and works in rural South Dakota.
John Edwards
Creative Director & Print Guru
John started as an art director in publishing in 1995, and quickly advanced to creative director in the British and European markets. By the early 2000s, he owned his own firm—Mediamark Ltd.—and designed magazines, books, and, eventually, websites for clients across the United Kingdom, United States, Europe, and the Middle East,
In 2014, he and his family decided on a Big Adventure, which took them west—to the hinterlands of South Dakota. Sponsored by Evergreen Media in Rapid City, John's focus narrowed to a small roster of regional publications—and to enjoying what a rural lifestyle had to offer.
After the family returned to England in 2020, John continued his work with Evergreen, but also broadened his client base. He currently enjoys designing magazines, books, and other projects that allow him to explore ever-changing horizons.
Today, the elusive Brit is rarely seen in the wild, but that's because he's "always sat in the box," an office somewhere in Northern England—near the sea, and howling distance from Scotland. His amazing wife, Amanda, and children Niamh, Martha, and Jacob are very tolerant about his strange work hours, which accommodate clients worldwide.
Jared Kuritz
Book Marketing Consultant
Jared brings more than 25 years of book marketing experience to Rockin’ Dog Studio. As President and CEO of STRATEGIES, he works with independent authors, traditional publishers, and hybrid publishers to develop customized, results-driven marketing and publicity campaigns that help books reach the right readers and build lasting momentum in the marketplace.
Over the course of his career, Jared has guided authors, publishers, and publishing teams through the ever-changing world of book promotion. From business modeling consultation, campaign strategy, and audience development to media outreach, event participation, and long-term platform building, Jared helps clients turn publishing goals into actionable plans that create visibility, credibility, and measurable opportunity.
Jared also served for 19 years as director of the La Jolla Writers Conference, which earned recognition from Writer’s Digest as one of the “top writers conferences worth your money.” Through that work, he helped thousands of writers better understand the craft, business, and marketing realities of successful authorship.
In addition, Jared spent three years developing an academic press from the ground up and helped create a cutting-edge audiobook marketing SaaS platform. Across all of his work, he brings a rare combination of publishing insight, strategic marketing expertise, entrepreneurial experience, and hands-on guidance to help books—and the people behind them—move confidently and successfully into the marketplace.
(We weren't sure if Jared's relationship with humans or canines was more important...so we put the dog first. But Kayden is very cute too.)
Shunka
The Muse
For those of you who had the pleasure of meeting Shunka. . . . well, he needs no introduction. But for everyone else:
Shunka was amazing in ways that directly informed this company. He was completely attentive, listened with his whole self, and was instantly responsive. He traveled well, loved completely, and was a team player.
Rockin' Dog was named because this being walked with enthusiasm—but also with strength. When coyotes cried 360 degrees around our rural homestead, he would let out an authoritative howl that silenced them all. And as he became blind in the last fourth of his life, he continued to hike and even climb cliffs with me—off-leash, following my voice commands or the smack of my palm on a rock. He pushed past obstacles, and asked for help when he got stuck.
Shunka actually changed people's lives—and not just mine. People still talk about him. And not one wonders for a moment why I reformatted my entire company brand around him.
Thanks for keeping watch, Shunk.
Go ahead and leap.
Even when Shunka was blind, he climbed mountains, ran through pastures, and never stopped bouncing. This tenacious fella inspired our company culture and its leaping-dog logo—with help from one of his fans, Layne Kennedy. Layne gave permission for us to build from his gorgeous image, "Leaping Dogs" (©LayneKennedy). Thanks, Layne!
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