Lisa Battiston

Lisa Battiston (she/her) is a Boston-based writer and communications veteran with a passion for the written word. Dedicating her professional career to public service, Battiston has served as Deputy Press Secretary at the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) for eight years with a strong commitment to best serving the riding public through transparent communications in media responses and promoting Agency initiatives. Previous to her work with press and the media, Battiston managed the MBTA’s social media presence for five years as the first Public Information Officer, leading an effort to proactively engage with the public through friendly, informative, and creative postings. Lisa’s previous written work has also been published in a number of mediums, including Boston Hassle, Allston Pudding, and others. Lisa completed her Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (Nonfiction) at Emerson College and Bachelor of Arts at Butler University in English (Creative Writing).

Lisa is an avid reader, a first-time beekeeper, a fan of punk music, and a passable bass player. She is also very excited to be part of the Writers Inc. team and promote its critical mission of creative expression for children and families coping with tremendous circumstances. 

Julie Markarian

Julie Markiarian (she/her) is a Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) with a B.A. in English Language and Literature, and a M.S. in Child Life and Family-Centered Care. She has worked as a CCLS in various inpatient and outpatient settings throughout Boston, and currently works for a non-profit organization north of Boston. She is passionate about helping kids be kids, and making sure that everyone she is able to support through her work can feel seen, heard, and celebrated for who they are.

In her free time, Julie loves reading, baking, flipping furniture, going on outdoor adventures with her husband and loved ones, and spoiling her cat Butters.

Maxwell Svec

Max Svec (he/him) is an accomplished nonprofit professional with well over a decade of experience in the pediatric healthcare space. Throughout his career, he has been let into the stories of countless patients and families, often during their most vulnerable moments—something he considers the privilege of a lifetime. He holds a B.A. in Film, Video, and Interactive Media and is well-versed in program development and management, event operations, community building and engagement, and marketing and communications. He is the Manager of Strategic Programs & Events at One Summit, a nonprofit based north of Boston. Max loves working with purpose and is on a mission to leave the world better than he found it.

In his free time, he enjoys hiking and camping, exploring our National Parks with his wife, and sharing laughter over joyful meals and game nights with family and friends.

Ginny Lewis

Ginny Lewis (she/her) is a writer and an educator with 9 years of experience working on hospital-based writing programming, and 20 years of experience working with children in classroom, residential and medical settings. She holds a BA in English, an MA in child development, a CPA in narrative medicine, and she is a Certified Child Life Specialist. She is currently a senior artist with the creative arts program at Boston Children's Hospital. Ginny is known to many as "the book lady". Since 2014, she has helped hundreds of children and families to publish books. While her WPM count is still unknown, she can type quickly enough to match the pace of a child’s imagination.

Ginny is an avid runner and loves going to live music with her husband. She also enjoys cooking and crate digging, ice skating, chatty dinner parties, hiking in the Berkshires, and exploring local wildlife preserves.

Carly Reagan

Carly Reagan (she/her) has been working with young children for nearly 20 years. With a B.S. in Early Childhood Education and an M.A. in Children’s Literature, Carly recognizes the joy and power that literature and storytelling have for children (and adults) as we build an understanding of ourselves and compassion for others. She is currently working as an early childhood educator in Charlestown, Massachusetts. Apart from learning about the world alongside children, Carly enjoys experimenting with printmaking, puppetry and textile arts, and volunteering with/for local and global neighbors.

Advisory Council

Butters Markarian-Svec

Butters is the very best rescue cat who was adopted by his humans in 2020. He enjoys eating, asking for food, pretending he hasn’t eaten in years, playing fetch, and showing off his little face smudge. He also enjoys snuggling his humans, Julie & Max.

Charlie Lewis

Charlie’s online dating profile says it all: he’s unemployed, still lives with his parents, and is terrified of shiny pinwheels. He is especially fond of manchego cheese, listening to Big Star and scrambling around Acadia National Park. He also adores children and is training to become a pediatric therapy dog. Charlie is well-traveled, and he always enjoys a good road trip.

Captain Reagan

Captain is a wise and dignified (and only mildly domesticated) Bengal cat.  She loves belly rubs, chasing ping pong balls, and sharing her operatic gift of song with her humans each night.