Reji Laberje has 12 #1 Bestsellers in her 60+ books and plays (so far), as well as another 17 #1 Bestsellers amongst those books for which she was a contributing editor; ultimately, her pen has been on 29 #1 Bestsellers as of the end of 2021. She has combined print book sales of half a million copies across all of her works.
Today, Reji writes science fiction under the name JERI SHEPHERD and she hopes to continue creating relational human stories that connect people with one another.
Reji has led more than 85 other book projects in multiple roles including: author, co-writer, editor, designer, publisher, consultant, coach, and marketer. Her unique book marketing approaches have helped lead more than 80 different authors to #1 Bestselling titles on lists with Amazon, Barnes & Noble, USA Today, and others. In addition, she has consulted with numerous independent authors and publishing companies who have gone on to create successful books and imprints of their own. Hundreds of stories have been told, published, and sold through her professional gifts and services.
Reji began writing plays professionally in 1997 and ran school programs and writing events alongside other work until her first publication (children's chapter book, "The Tale Travelers Book 1: Henry's History" in 2007 through a Random House Imprint). Eventually, writing became her full-time career, taking her through every aspect of the industry. While she sold her publishing label in 2017 and has been retired (from her writing services and author programs) since 2019. She relaunched her authoring under a new genre and new name in 2021, returning to her roots in fantasy and science fiction . . . this time for an adult audience. (Jeri Shepherd's series, "The Fault Lines," releases on 4.14.2022 with the first book, "At Fault.")
Over the course of her combined more than 25 years in writing and publishing before her current ventures, she had the great pleasure of working with Traditional and Independent Publishers including Triumph Books, Truths Publishing, Ascend Books, Nico 11 Publishing & Design, Signature Strength, FEW International Publications, her own labels - Reji Laberje Author Programs, Reji Laberje Writing and Publishing, and Bucket List to Bookshelf, and many more. Her books have been valuable fundraising partners to incredible organizations including The V Foundation for Cancer Research, The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, the National Kidney Foundation of Wisconsin, Children's Museums in Chicago, Seattle, Boston, New York, and San Francisco, humanitarian missions around the world, and many more.
Reji was the solo author on more than twenty titles for young readers including the popular "Max Explores" board book series, but much of her career was spent behind the scenes. Laberje's books and other written works include those co-written with ESPN’s Dick Vitale with whom she's had the pleasure of collaborating on five different books in various roles; Extreme Weight Loss Alums Bob Brenner (with whom she wrote two books), Mike Epstein (for whom she wrote speeches), and Bruce Pitcher (with whom she wrote a book chapter); Philadelphia Eagle great, The Invincible Vince Papale, with whom she created a book chapter; inventor of The Green Bay Packers' Lambeau Leap, LeRoy Butler, with whom she wrote the foreword for a book; Australian-American business legend Iain Macfarlane for whom she wrote a full-length business leadership biography; radio personality Steve Palec for whom she wrote his full-length biography; Hall-of-Fame Pitcher Fergie Jenkins (for whose book she was in the role of editor, book designer, marketer, and project coordinator); Bobby and Jackie Joyner-Kersee who contributed to work she did on the Dr. Richard Lehman book while working for his first publisher; and countless interviews and writing endeavors with successful Olympians, athletes, musicians, celebrities, medical professionals, artists, and other positivity endorsers, leading to numerous other completed books and written works. The co-authoring chapter of her career has also included leaders of industries and successful Christian ministries (such as the Fellowship of Extraordinary Women and Margo Fieseler Ministries). She has edited hall-of-fame sportswriters and Pulitzer Prize-winning authors. Laberje has also been honored to partner with great book professionals and talented illustrators including: Philip D'Amore, John Konecny, Donald Jay Ely, Liza Fenech, Spenser Bower, Rob Peters, and more. Reji Laberje has truly been the unknown name behind many household names and, without even knowing it, many homes may have books she's touched sitting on their shelves.
Beyond being a Bestseller since 2015, Reji's past honors include prized readings and critiques from the Baltimore Playwright's Festival ("The Station" and "Retribution" - 1997); nominations for the Newbery Medal ("Cooper Ridge, The Wonder Kid" - 2014), and the Caldecott Award ("How Daisy Grew," "Little Bean," and "Make Room for Jake McNair" - 2016), and being a semi-finalist in (Madison, Wisonsin's) Forward Theater's "Two Steps Forward" Monologue Festival ("The Unexpected Airman" - 2019).
Reji is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, where she served as an Arabic Linguist and earned her degree in international communications. She and her husband (since 1996) share children, grandchildren, and pets in their Wisconsin-based lives. Together, they enjoy the outdoors, church, service, the arts, music making and listening, travel, camping, hobbies, and enduring family time and relationships.
Learn more at: linktr.ee/faultlinesbooks
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