Learn more about Crystal Watanabe and the Pikko’s House team.
Aloha!
My name is Crystal Watanabe, and I am an independent editor for fiction authors. I’ve loved books all my life, and I believe that helping authors achieve their publishing dreams is what I was meant to do.
In 2012, I did a beta reading for Hugh Howey, bestselling author of Wool, for Third Shift: Pact. He was so happy with my feedback that he suggested I start doing this for authors, and he offered to send referrals my way for editing if I wanted it. I was working in a career in administration at the time, so I wasn’t ready. I eventually took him up on his offer, and I began editing full-time in late summer 2014. Pikko’s House now works on over seventy-five novels a year and serves more than 150 clients around the world, both in self-published and traditionally published circles.
I am a member of the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA), a founding member of the Association of Independent Publishing Professionals (AIPP), a member of the Authors Guild, and an affiliate member of the Science Fiction Writers of America (SFWA). I have been a supporting member of WorldCon since 2016.
Crystal in a Nutshell
Creative, goofy, passionate.
Loves: Domokun, comics, science fiction, Star Wars, Marvel, Game of Thrones, and The Hunger Games.
Personal Details
I’m a 39-year-old wife and mother to three living in Honolulu, Hawaii. Born and raised in the small town of Hilo, Hawaii, I grew up reading nonstop, doing that ridiculous flashlight-under-the-covers thing until I read myself into needing glasses in the first grade. After that, my parents let me read whenever I wanted as long as I had a good, strong lamp nearby.
I’m a Domokun addict, a Marvel fangirl, and a former hardcore gamer. In fact, the name Pikko was the name of my character in Final Fantasy XI, where I achieved minor fame as a gardening Tarutaru, spending hours and hours of time in my Mog House. Thus the name Pikko’s House.
In June 2010, Yum-Yum Bento Box was released, and I officially became a published author. The sequel to Yum-Yum Bento Box, Yum-Yum Bento All Year Round, is now available.
I am the owner and cofounder of the Hunger Games fansite Jabberjays.net. I cohosted EnderCast for 37 episodes and JabberCast for 28 episodes.
Find out who completes the Pikko’s House team.
Find out who completes the Pikko’s House team.
Carla Pinilla
Lisa Gilliam
Cheryl Murphy
Sarah Grace Liu
Ernie Luis
Ernie originally knew Crystal as his editor first, but after earning a degree in Creative Writing, Ernie began working for Pikko’s House as a developmental fiction and nonfiction line editor.
Therin Knite
Lyric Taylor
Lyric holds a degree in English and a certificate in Creative Writing. She is fascinated by nonfiction work such as memoirs and autobiographies and has been an editor of all genres since 2015.
Jahleen Turnbull-Sousa
Jahleen specializes in business, medical, and nonfiction material. She has a passion for clear communication and loves to help writers convey their ideas and experiences effectively.
Jody Wenner
Jody is an indie author with four mystery novels and several science fiction shorts published. She reads widely and is well-connected to the indie writing community and current trends within it.
Beth Hodgson
Beth is a wife, mother, writer, artist, cosplayer, and gamer. She loves all things fantasy and scifi, especially stories with epic plots and magic. She also has an obsession with pixel art.
Rachel Rowlands
Rachel writes YA and children’s fiction and has a degree in English and Creative Writing. She’s been editing for publishers and authors for several years and loves working on fantasy and sci-fi.