Our Authors + Creators
Our goal is to create a space to young women athletes who are looking for a platform to share their voices. We know that 80% of elite female athletes surveyed by Parity Now said they earned under $5,000 from sponsorships in 2023 and 41% of athletes paid $10,000 or more out of pocket to compete. 64% of these athletes report feeling very or extremely stressed about money.
Strong Girl Publishing offers them a way to fund their dream.
At Strong Girl Publishing, our athlete authors aren’t just great at their sports: We celebrate girls and women as multifaceted individuals who don’t fit into any one box. They’re strong women, but not just physically.
They can be anything: They can be into punk rock and want to PR their 5K. They can love fashion while figuring out how to get grass stains out of their soccer uniform. They can read books on the team bus instead of being part of the singalong, or they can be the one who starts up the Sweet Caroline moment. They can wear mascara on the start line—for themselves, not for anyone else.
We believe that every girl and woman contains multitudes, and every girl and woman can tap into her inner athlete, on and off the playing field. And our authors aren’t just creating a product. They’re supported with friendship, with mentorship, with whatever they need in the process.
Molly Hurford
Founder, Author, Ultra-runner
Molly is the founder of Strong Girl Publishing and a longtime endurance athlete currently focused on ultra-running when she’s not editing or writing books about girls in sport. She’s the author of a lot of books, including the Shred Girls Series and the YA novel Running as Fast as We Can. She’s also a journalist and podcaster.
Micha Powell
Author, Olympian, 400m sprinter
Micha is a world-class Canadian Olympic sprinter specializing in the 400m, currently running for New Balance. She is also a 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medalist. Born in Montreal to three-time Olympian Rosey Edeh and Long Jump World Record Holder Mike Powell, athletics is a part of her DNA. She’s the author of Sprinting Through Setbacks.
Stevie Lyn Smith, RD
Author, Ironman, registered dietitian
Sports dietitian and endurance athlete Stevie Lyn Smith, RD, is the author of the upcoming book "Power Up: A Young Woman's Guide to Winning with Sports Nutrition," which aims to address the unique nutritional needs and challenges faced by young women athletes in high school and college.
Marley Blonsky
Author, cycling advocate
Marley Blonsky is a nationally recognized advocate, storyteller, and cyclist working at the intersection of size inclusion, sustainability, and the joy of bikes. She is the co-founder and Executive Director of All Bodies on Bikes, a nonprofit dedicated to creating a more inclusive cycling culture for people of all sizes, backgrounds, and abilities. She’s also the author of the children’s book The Ragtag Best Friends Bicycle Club: A Story About Riding Your Own Way.
Vanessa Coulbeck
Author, researcher, social entrepreneur
Author Vanessa Coulbeck is a PhD researcher focusing on self-compassion, body image and physical activity promotion for young girls. She is also a dynamic leader in youth empowerment and social impact initiatives, and is the author of the Mirror Diaries series.
Dr. Sasha Gollish
Strong Girl Talk Podcast Cohost, Author, Runner
Dr. Sasha Gollish, PhD, PEng, ChPC. is a national team middle- and long-distance runner, coach, engineer, and gender equity advocate. She’s the founder of Yellow Running Shoes and author of the Unstoppable guided journal. She is the Director of Community Engagement and Knowledge Mobilization at the University of Toronto’s Mental Health and Physical Activity Research Centre, where she leads research on equity, athlete well-being, and safe sport.
Dr. Gabrielle Rossi
Author, Cyclist, Founder of Girls in Gear
Dr. Gabrielle Rossi is an author, educator, and lover of leisurely bike rides. She’s the Founder and Executive Director of Girls in Gear, a national nonprofit that helps girls of all ages discover the joy, confidence, and freedom that come from riding their bikes. Named the recipient of the Youth Empowerment Award by the League of American Bicyclists, Gabrielle frequently speaks around the country about her work and the transformative potential of biking for girls.
Dr. Catherine Sabiston
Author, Researcher, Professor, Mom
Catherine is a professor of sport and exercise psychology at the University of Toronto and holds a Canada Research Chair studying physical activity and mental health. Catherine grew up playing every sport she could, and now enjoys running with her dog Luna and watching her kids play lots of sports!
Mackenzie Myatt
Author, Off-Road Cyclist
Mackenzie is an off-road cyclist who’s raced at the World Cup level on the mountain bike and is currently pursuing MTB, gravel and cyclocross. She’s the author of In Defense of Big Dreams.
Rachel Pageau
Downhiller, Journal Designer
Our pro downhiller who helps you reach your goals!
Pip Claffey
Illustrator, cyclist
Pip’s illustrations can be found on the covers of the Shred Girls series as well as our masthead on the homepage!
Emjay Haislip
Illustrator
Emjay Haislip is an illustrator from the Washington D.C. area who loves bringing colorful characters and stories to life. They create illustrations for children’s media, brands, and anyone who needs a splash of creativity. They sell goods and run workshops under the name We Are All Makers.
Crystal Yang
Illustrator
Crystal Yang is an aspiring biomedical communicator, currently completing her BSc degree at the University of Toronto. Motivated by her value of accessible education and passion for art, she illustrated a graphic novel for Strong Girl Publishing. When she's not drawing, Crystal spends her free time crocheting, swimming, or hanging out with her friends!
Lisa Baldwin
Developmental editor
Lisa has come on board to work with new authors developing their work and will be focusing primarily on the Mirror Diaries series. She is pursuing a B.F.A in Writing with a minor in Creative Writing at Savannah College of Art and Design. She is the Vice President of the SCAD Writer's Club and spends her free time creating and taking care of her pets.
DW the Dachshund
Mascot/Audio Engineer
DW the Dachshund has discerning taste in books, so we ensure that all of our products meet his approval before bringing them to market.
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Marley Blonsky
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