Andrea Lard| Author, Editor, Book Designer & Writing Coach

Andrea is an author, book editor, designer, and writing coach for clients worldwide. She earned the title Best Selling International Author in 2015. Her specialization is writing nonfiction on business, social issues, economics, health, wellness, coaching, and current events. However, Andrea edits fiction and nonfiction. Her favorite genres are literary fiction, historical fiction, suspense, and light romance. She holds a graduate degree in corporate leadership with an emphasis in instructional design and an undergraduate degree in behavioral science. She is also a member of the Editorial Freelance Association. 

Between 2021 and 2023, Andrea has assisted over 250 new authors with their books through her publishing services. Her bestseller book, The Gatekeeper's Keys: Book Dream to Published Reality Unlocked!, is a reference guide for new authors. She has addressed common questions and hurdles that new authors face, providing valuable tips, tricks, and insights into writing and publishing that can be hard to find.

More About Andrea and Her Story

I have always enjoyed research, reading, and writing. I hold a master's degree, two undergraduate degrees, and an associate's degree, complemented by several licenses and certifications to demonstrate my educational background. I love being given a subject to research and write about. However, I never considered the option as a full-time career. It was more of a hobby unless I was writing for a class.
 

The long, winding road eventually led to hitting the bestseller list on Amazon in the US, Australia, and Europe. But it seemed I had bargained with a genie in a lamp. The book was a collaboration with other authors, and my part was amateurish. I learned it did not take much to become a bestseller. I also learned that being a bestseller did not have teeth in many cases. So, I went back to my corner—back to reality—and licked my wounds. I continued to write and worked to improve my craft.
 

Along the way, I found some people would read blog posts, articles, and social media blips. So, this gave me an outlet to write and that I did! I have blogged on and off for over a decade now. I have deleted more blog posts than most people write in a lifetime. And most of this writing revolved around real estate because—well, my real job was in real estate sales. 

While I love writing about real estate trends and doing market research, after a while, I needed to write about other things. So, I would blog about recipes, family, business, children, and almost anything else. Yet, I felt that I often could not justify spending the time on it.
 

In 2018, our twins turned eighteen, and my husband began to dream about retirement—and moving. I told him I needed a five-year plan to decide what I wanted to do in his retirement (he is older and was not ready!). I figured now is the time! So, I began freelance writing and editing. After all, I had written and turned in more papers than any person should in a lifetime. My research and writing had been critiqued and graded for two decades. I have been a mentor, a coach, a motivational speaker, and educated in instructional design. 

So, I started off slow and easy on Fiverr offering inexpensive editing and writing services. I took some online classes to improve my skill set. During 2020, with the pandemic, writing kept me sane and busy and brought some joy. It gave me breathing room to really commit. So, I started writing and editing regularly for others. I am still unsure how I grew a client base—it is all a blur. However, I can say that I now write, coach, and edit daily for paying clients worldwide.

I have written, ghostwritten, or edited books that have reached Amazon's bestseller status. The feedback has been nothing but positive, and I am loving it! 

While her teachers found it frustrating, Kayla was born to be an editor. She would correct word choice, usage, and other grammatical errors starting in elementary school. Her critiques continued through high school. However, she now focuses on story development, identifying plot holes, discovering Easter eggs, and refining her prose. Kayla loves fantasy and romance—reading over 100 books a year outside of editing.

Kayla started with Creative 5280 in 2020. However, she switched gears because at that time she was passionate about working with children with Autism. As a registered behavioral technician, she found joy in helping families with children on the spectrum. 

She still has a fondness for her students, but the profession was high-stress, with high turnover, and led to burnout. This led to her return, and we are happy to have her back. She has picked up where she left off and debuted as an editor in her first book in early 2025. Her attention to detail is unmatched and her thoughtful feedback has been welcomed by clients across the board.