LILY & FOSTER
Our Team
Mel Foster
CEO, Founder
Mel Foster is the CEO and founder of Lily & Foster, bringing eight years of dedicated writing experience and an impressive portfolio of twenty completed manuscripts to her leadership role. Her deep understanding of the creative process, combined with firsthand experience navigating today's complex publishing landscape, positioned her uniquely to identify the critical gaps in author support services.
Driven by her belief that exceptional storytelling deserves exceptional guidance, Mel founded Lily & Foster to transform how authors experience the journey from manuscript to publication. Her vision centers on providing the personalized attention and literary expertise that emerging voices deserve—creating an environment where writers can develop their craft and share their stories with confidence.
Under Mel's leadership, Lily & Foster is committed to democratizing access to professional editorial services while maintaining the highest standards of literary excellence.
Lily Foster
COO & Executive Editor
Lily Foster serves as Chief Operating Officer and Executive Editor at Lily & Foster. With a Bachelor's degree in English Literature and over a decade as a Language Arts and Writing instructor, she brings a rare combination of editorial precision and pedagogical insight to manuscript development.
Lily's classroom experience uniquely prepared her to identify each writer's strengths while strategically addressing areas for growth. She channels her deep understanding of narrative structure and language mechanics, along with a teacher's instinct for fostering growth, to guide authors through the most critical phases of refinement—an approach honed through her work as Editorial Consultant and Line Editor on Mel's debut novel and subsequent projects.
At Lily & Foster, her commitment to literary excellence forms the cornerstone of the company's editorial philosophy: rigorous standards meet compassionate guidance.
David Steffano
Chief Financial Officer
David Steffano serves as Chief Financial Officer for Lily & Foster, bringing over 25 years of strategic financial leadership across multiple industries. Armed with a Bachelor's degree in Economics from Drew University and a Master's degree from the prestigious Mark H. McCormack Department of Sport Management at UMass Amherst's Isenberg School, David has built an exceptional career spanning financial services, professional sports, and entertainment.
David's executive portfolio includes senior leadership roles with premier organizations such as the Kansas City Chiefs and the National Lacrosse League, where he honed his expertise in complex contract negotiations, regulatory compliance, and large-scale budget management. Currently serving as Managing Partner for Evenergy, a Kansas City-based event management firm, David brings proven experience in scaling creative enterprises and navigating the unique financial challenges facing content-driven businesses.
His deep understanding of intellectual property considerations, licensing agreements, and creative industry economics makes him uniquely qualified to guide Lily & Foster's financial strategy as the company expands from editorial services into selective publishing. David's strategic oversight ensures sustainable growth while maintaining the company's commitment to author-centric service excellence.