Book People With Startup Hustle.
You Have a Message. We Have the Map.
Writing a book is a massive undertaking. But for many authors, the publishing process feels like a choice between two bad options: the “black box” of traditional publishing where you lose control, or the risk of drowning in details by going it alone.
Dexterity exists to offer a third way.
We’re book people with startup hustle—a community-built publisher that partners with authors to create books that make the world a better place. We replace the guesswork of self-publishing with big publisher expertise. Led by industry veterans, we utilize a data-driven, 3-stage, “6D Process” to engineer your success:
This proven process ensures your book is prioritized by sales channels and positioned to find your readers before it ever hits the shelf.
Backed by the Dexterity Collective—a powerhouse community of over 175 vetted writers, editors, and marketers—we provide the bandwidth of a large agency with the personal care of a boutique partner. Whether you need our full imprint, assisted self-publishing, or flexible publishing services, we have the team to help.
We are proud members of the Nashville Entrepreneur Center and the IBPA, and our titles have been featured on Good Morning America, People, and Fast Company. But our greatest award is helping authors like you move your content forward.
Why I Left Corporate Publishing to
Build a More Agile Home for Authors.
After 30 years in the publishing industry and helping lead 16 national and New York Times bestsellers to market, I saw a recurring problem that wasn’t being solved.
The big publishing houses offer prestige, but they often lack the agility and personal partnership that modern leaders actually need. On the other hand, the ‘DIY’ world offers speed, but lacks the data-driven precision and retail relationships required to actually move the needle.
I founded Dexterity to bridge that gap.
We aren’t a ‘publishing factory.’ We are a team of Book People with Startup Hustle. I built this company to give independent authors access to the same elite strategy, metadata engineering, and distribution power used by the world’s biggest titles—without losing the human connection that makes a book project meaningful.
Whether you are an Empire Builder looking for ROI or a Legacy Leader sharing a lifelong message, our goal is the same: to take the risk off the table and ensure your voice is heard in a market flooded with noise.
You have the message. We have the map. Let’s build something that lasts.
— Matt West, Founder & CEO
Testimonials
“As an apprentice for Dexterity, expect to be challenged, expect your education to be valued, and expect your input to matter. My semesters working alongside the Collective were the most valuable learning experience I had outside of the classroom, and I was able to apply everything that Matt and Regan taught me–whether they intended to teach it or I picked it up from observation–to the homework and lessons from my classes. Dexterity places high value on every employee, contractor, and client; it was a true honor to grow alongside this group of people.”
—Kathryn Notestine, Former Dexterity Apprentice
“I’m so grateful to work with a team that is so experienced in all aspects of the preparation and publication of a manuscript. After publishing my first book through a traditional and well-known company, this time I wanted more control over the process and the product. Dexterity’s depth of expertise, responsiveness, integrity, and quality of work is much appreciated. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to anyone who wants an exceptional product.”
—Michele Rigby Assad, Former CIA Intelligence Officer, Corporate Speaker, and Author of Get Off the X
“Dexterity has gone above and beyond. I am a longtime author of bestsellers published by big New York houses, but unlike those houses, Dexterity didn’t forget me once So Long As it’s Wild was released and the book tour ended. They continue to provide promotional materials for ongoing speaking events and highlight my book at conventions and conferences. Dexterity follows up. They do what they say they will do. Because of our joint efforts, my book has been optioned for a feature movie and the script is almost complete. When I’m ready to write my next book, Dexterity will be my first stop.”
—Barbara Jenkins, New York Times Bestselling author of The Walk West and So Long as It’s Wild
“Dexterity Publishing brings care, excellence, and integrity to every step of the publishing journey. They don’t just produce books. They steward stories with intention. I wholeheartedly recommend them to authors who want their work handled with professionalism and heart.”
—Sara Cormany, Award-winning author of Even When
175+ Experts. One Unified Vision.
We don’t have employees in cubicles. We use the Dexterity Collective, a community
of the world’s best editors, designers, and marketers to build
a bespoke team for your project.
Richard pioneered the first book publishing major in the country at Belmont. His 30+ years in publishing include marketing, ghostwriting and editorial gigs. Also, he converted an old wooden-shoe factory to a coffee shop.
Bruce has worked as a designer in the publishing industry for over 25 years, as a long-time freelancer as well as art director. His free time is taken up by a love of photography and gawking at vintage craftsman architecture.
After 20 years in Christian publishing, Lisa’s expertise spans from consulting to proofreading. She’s compiled and authored several books but is most at home helping others put into words what’s in their heart.
Matt Litton is a #1 national bestselling ghostwriter, author, editorialist and content editor. He believes that powerful stories can change lives and affect positive and enduring change in our world.
Are you an author, publisher, bookseller, or solopreneur looking to connect with Dexterity or join the Collective? We would love to hear from you. Contact us below!
Dexterity’s Core Values
Our team keeps 5 core values in mind during every task, campaign, and book we do.
The Team
Matt has 20+ years in publishing, having worked with everyone from Fortune 500 companies like Amazon and Barnes & Noble to indie bookstores, libraries, and just about everywhere else books are sold. He has worked for both Thomas Nelson (now Harper Collins) and LifeWay’s B&H Publishing Group and held roles in business and product development, sales operations, digital publishing and data strategy before becoming an independent consultant.
Matt most recently served as industry lead for a 9-month project with the Nashville Entrepreneur Center called 1440, an Ingram Content Group-sponsored Accelerator program for tech startups innovating in publishing. He’s a Nashville native, and when he’s not working, he can likely be found tinkering with tech, listening to vinyl, or hiking and camping with family.
Kim West oversees finance and operations for Dexterity. Working with our authors, clients, and customers, she keeps our company’s accounting and order processing on track.
Before her time here at Dexterity, Kim previously worked in the financial services, real estate, and education sectors, and she holds a B.A. in Government and International Politics from George Mason University. In her free time, she loves a good coffee, watching documentaries, and spending time with her husband and twin teenage sons.
Ashley Harris is Dexterity’s Assistant Marketing Manager, working with authors and clients to create and carry out creative marketing campaigns and pitch our titles to a wide variety of media outlets. Ashley first began working with Dexterity in 2018 as a student freelancer and continued her professional development with an editorial and marketing internship at Beaufort Books in New York City in 2019.
In 2020 Ashley earned a B.S. in Book Publishing with an emphasis in Marketing and Publicity and a minor in English Writing from Belmont University. She started at Dexterity part-time in October 2020 and joined the team full-time in January 2021. When she’s not reading, Ashley fills her time with cross-stitching, building LEGOs, hosting game nights, cuddling with her cat Luna, and searching for the best tacos on Earth.
Lauren Arieux Bryan is Dexterity’s Production Editor, primarily focused on managing projects and providing coordination and support for our clients and freelancers. A former Dexterity freelance editor and proofreader herself, Lauren certainly lends these skills to the role, as well. She originally hails from Alabama, where she earned a B. A. in Journalism from Auburn University (War Eagle!) and a Masters of Library Science from the University of Alabama, which further solidified her love of books and data. After working as a librarian and bookseller, she moved to Nashville 15 years ago and has since hung her hat at (the unfortunately now-closed) Davis-Kidd Bookstore, managed data and research for the administrative arm of the United Methodist Church, and served as an acquisitions editor for the United Methodist Publishing House.
She lives in Bellevue, Tennessee with her husband, where they attempt to keep the chaos under control with their two wild boys and their two, also wild, dogs. When not hiding somewhere quiet to read, she can be found killing houseplants, working in her vegetable garden, traveling to visit family and friends, and longing for the day she has access to a neighborhood pool.
Anna Summerville is Dexterity’s Publishing Coordinator, training under the staff in book production, editing, and marketing. Anna also assists with data entry, proofreading, fact-checking, and more. Anna started her apprenticeship with Dexterity in August 2024. She has also completed an internship with Humanities Tennessee.
Anna attends Lipscomb University, where she is working toward a BA in English. When she is not curled up with a book, she spends her time writing short stories, cross-stitching, playing video games, and roller-skating on the weekends. Originally from Knoxville, Tennessee, Anna currently resides in Nashville.
Shirley Lachance is Dexterity’s Marketing Coordinator, working to develop and launch social media and email marketing campaigns. She assists in pitching stores and media outlets, data entry, sales tracking, and more. Shirley joined team Dexterity in January of 2025 as a marketing and PR intern while finishing her undergraduate studies.
In May of 2025, Shirley graduated from Belmont University where she earned a B.S. in Creative and Entertainment Industries with a minor in Music Business. In her free time, she can be found volunteering at her church, enjoying quality time with friends and family, testing out new recipes, or weeping her way through a contemporary romance novel. Originally from Rhode Island, Shirley now lives in Columbia, Tennessee.
