Center Street – Meet the Team
Daisy Hutton
VP and Publisher, Hachette Nashville
Daisy Hutton is the Vice President and Publisher of Hachette Nashville. Daisy joined Hachette Book Group in late 2019 to oversee publishing for the Hachette Nashville group of imprints, including CenterStreet, FaithWords, and Worthy Publishing. She is a native Mississippian and a graduate of Ole Miss, where she earned her B.A. in French and English Literature. She also holds her M.A. in Comparative Literature from Washington University in St. Louis. Daisy has worked in the publishing industry for more than 20 years, beginning her career at the Georges Borchardt Agency in New York and spending time in at The Perseus Book Group and Harvard Business School Press in Boston. She joined Thomas Nelson in 2008 as VP of International Licensing and was promoted to Fiction Publisher in 2012, overseeing all Fiction publishing under the Thomas Nelson and Zondervan imprints. She became publisher of the W Publishing nonfiction imprint in early 2017.
Alex Pappas
Editorial Director
Alex Pappas leads a publishing program that specializes in nonfiction books on American politics, the military and leadership for a Middle America audience. He has acquired and edited multiple New York Times bestsellers and has worked with Ben Carson, Newt Gingrich, Vivek Ramaswamy, Salena Zito, Clay Travis and Doron Spielman among other bestselling authors.
Before entering publishing, Alex spent 12 years in the news business. He began his career as a local newspaper reporter in coastal Alabama before moving to Washington, D.C., to write about politics for digital, print, and TV news outlets. He worked his way up to become a senior editor for the website of the Fox News Channel.
A graduate of The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee, Alex studied political science and was editor in chief of the campus newspaper. In college, Alex interned at NBC’s Meet the Press under moderator Tim Russert and in the White House press advance office during President George W. Bush’s administration. He lives in the Washington, D.C. area.
Kristen Andrews
Creative Director
Kristen Andrews has over 18 years of experience in design and creative direction, including publishing industry roles at HarperCollins, and Hachette since 2021. Her book cover designs have won awards from the American Advertising Federation and ECPA, garnered bestseller status, and been featured in international media. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California, and studied graphic design at OTIS College of Art + Design. In addition to publishing, Kristen’s professional experience extends to marketing design and branding across a variety of industries. Originally from Chicago, Kristen lived in Los Angeles for 12 years before moving to Nashville. When she’s not in Photoshop, Kristen loves running and spending lots of time with her family and dog.
Katie Robison
Senior Publicity Director
Katie Robison has been working in book publicity since 2004, including more than a decade running her small, independent PR firm where she spearheaded media tours for New York Times bestselling authors and titles across a huge range of genres and publishing houses. She brings an impressive roster of strong media relationships and a keen understanding of the ever-evolving media landscape to every project she touches. A native of South Georgia, Katie lives outside of Nashville, TN with her husband and four kids.
Whitney Hicks
Senior Designer
Whitney Hicks is currently a Senior Designer. She is an award-winning graphic designer, who holds a bachelor’s degree in advertising from the University of Tennessee. She started her publishing design career in 2012 on a contract basis and subsequently transitioned into a go-to freelance resource for the Hachette team. She joined Hachette Book Group full-time in 2016. In her tenure, with over 13 years of book cover art and production experience in the industry, she’s contributed her talents and organizational knowledge to over 500 titles with Hachette Book Group.
Jessica Breen
Executive Marketing Director
Jessica Breen has more than twenty years of marketing experience spanning K–12, academic, and trade publishing in both the U.S. and Europe. She has held marketing positions at companies including Yale University Press, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, and Simon & Schuster, as well as six years leading marketing strategy for Hachette’s Basic Books Group, where she oversaw numerous New York Times bestselling campaigns. Her leadership, stellar instincts, and creativity enable her to find new and exciting ways to connect authors and readers. She holds a master’s degree in publishing from the University of Stirling in Scotland. Originally from Pennsylvania, Jessica lives in New Jersey with her husband and sons.
Taylor Peterson
Digital Marketing Manager
Taylor Peterson is the Digital Marketing Manager at Hachette Nashville, where she works on digital advertising, organic social media, influencer marketing, and marketing strategy. She joined the team in 2024. Before entering publishing, Taylor worked in PR and marketing across the education, nonprofit, and mental health sectors. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Public Relations from the University of Florida. A lifelong reader and person of faith, Taylor finds the Christian publishing space to be a natural and meaningful fit. She enjoys connecting thoughtful books with the audiences they’re meant to serve. Outside of work, she loves attending pilates classes, trying new recipes, or, unsurprisingly, reading something new.
Ella Rose Murphy
Associate Publicist
Ella Rose Murphy graduated with a bachelor’s in public relations and communication studies from Western Kentucky University in 2024. She has worked in the entertainment PR world almost 2 years now—specifically working with authors, influencers, and women leaders. With a keen understanding of the current media landscape, Ella Rose is constantly in the know of current events and popular trends. An avid reader in her personal life, she has found her perfect fit at Hachette Nashville.
Carrie Bawcum
Marketing and Public Relations Assistant
Carrie serves as the Marketing and Public Relations Assistant for Hachette Nashville, a role fueled by her lifelong passion for literature. Before joining the Hachette team, Carrie successfully owned and operated an online women’s boutique, where she honed her eye for trends and brand engagement.
Her part-time schedule allows her to maintain a deep connection to the industry by reading several books a month while balancing her active personal life. Residing just outside of Nashville, Carrie has been married to her husband for 20 years and is the proud mother of two children. When she isn’t at her desk or at a Garage Barre class, she is likely spending quality time with her family and her feisty chocolate lab.