ABOUT US
Welcome to INCLUDAS! Here we create books full of characters with disabilities. We have a lot of things in the works, but below are just some of our featured diversity team and projects. Our mission also includes designing diverse ways of creating inclusion and accessibility in how a reader interacts with a book, whether through touch, thought, sight, sound, or emotion. This publishing platform gives diversity books a home while having readers learn about disability inclusion. #includas #includasbooks
Our Founder/Owner | Luda Gogolushko
Luda is founder and owner of INCLUDAS Publishing, an idea that was seeded back in 2013, but ended up being so much more. Once a recreation-inclusive business turned into an entertainment inclusive business, this journey finally landed into the publishing industry. It all began many years ago when Luda was born with muscular dystrophy, a neuromuscular disease that deteriorates muscles over time. Since age nine, she has been using a wheelchair, blazing along to make her own accessible path in life. From serving on a national diversity committee for collegiate recreation to working with Google to help test different accessibility measures, Luda knows that the fight for inclusion is far from over.
Luda is founder and owner of INCLUDAS Publishing, an idea that was seeded back in 2013, but ended up being so much more. Once a recreation-inclusive business turned into an entertainment inclusive business, this journey finally landed into the publishing industry. It all began many years ago when Luda was born with muscular dystrophy, a neuromuscular disease that deteriorates muscles over time. Since age nine, she has been using a wheelchair, blazing along to make her own accessible path in life. From serving on a national diversity committee for collegiate recreation to working with Google to help test different accessibility measures, Luda knows that the fight for inclusion is far from over.A passion for the entertainment industry since middle school, Luda took her dreams of the red carpet all the way to college, where she used a simple assignment and turned it into a dream—she wrote a paper on the Oscars, and got a special tour of the event in Los Angeles. A fighter at heart, she never gave up on getting an internship with Universal Studios Hollywood and the GRAMMY museum. But the biggest reward is having freedom to create her own fiction, build limitless worlds that only come in dreams, and strive to one day take a story to the big screen.
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“Despite all the struggles and hardships, I turn to fiction to create a reality that ignites a magical realm.”
April 2020 | IBPA Publishing University Scholarship Winner | Independent Book Publishers Association
May 2018 | Dispelling the Myths of Small Press Panel | BookCon (formally RT Convention)
July 2017 | Sparking the Live Unlimited Spirit (article feature spotlight) | MDA Quest Magazine
March 2017 | Behind the Curtain: The Logistics of Starting Your Own Press | Independent Book Publishers Association
November 2016 | Is Inclusivity Really Worth It? | Publishers Association UK
July 2016 | How Segregation Brought Me to My Dreams | Romantic Times (RT) Digital Magazine
June 2016 | Me Before You & Why It Hurts | Diversability Guest Post
March 2016 | The Joys and Pains of Inclusion | NIRSA Know Article
May 2011 | Battle of Body Image {interview by Ellen Stohl} | New Mobility Magazine Front Cover
Luda and Chairsy: Making Friends
Where Is Mama?
What If I Fall?
IBPA Conference | Orlando, FL
April 2021
Our Staff
Madison
Volunteer Senior Editor
Madison's interest in books began when she entered kindergarten–she was seized by an overwhelming fear that she would never be able to learn to read. Now that she can, her reading tastes have grown from YA to fiction to drama to academic literature, and beyond. But it annoys her that more people with disabilities aren’t included in the media, so she wants to help change that.
Madison holds a BA in English and Theatre, enjoys anything to do with books, loves bread (a lot), and lives life as someone with spinal muscular atrophy type II.
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“Don’t let other people dictate your choices.”
Jessy
Past Intern
Jessy enjoys reading fantasy, Gothic, and historical fiction. She also has a passion for listening to music (alternative, symphonic rock, and medieval folk), as well as creating her own songs and recording them.
Being on the autistic spectrum makes it difficult for her to process information, but her quietness is her greatest asset. She enjoys editing and writing her own stories, with hopes of being published one day.
Jessy currently studies in San Diego, majoring in English (BS).
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“Work hard, keep writing, and never give up.”
Our Authors & Illustrators
Aly Sanchez
Aspiring Romance Author
Aly enjoys the liberty that comes when the pen hits the paper, allowing her to give life to characters and places in any way she chooses. She has a deep, inner romantic side that she likes to let loose through her writing. There’s no better feeling than having readers connect and feel an array of strong emotions from a story she has created.
Aly loves the color green, is the eldest of three children, enjoys photography and painting, and lived life with muscular dystrophy, central core disease.
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“Don’t rush anything or force it, for great things take time and difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations.”
Emha Goliesh
Romance Author
Emha writes because of the freedom to rewrite reality and manipulate fantasy. She likes to test the limits of story creation and introduce new concepts to readers, as well as challenge herself to feel things out and write what comes through on the deepest emotion.
Emha grew up with not knowing she had dyslexia, but as much as reading is a struggle, her passion for writing never fades. She is definitely a cat person, prefers watermelon with seeds, hates being late, is obsessed with nature, fascinated by the universe, and confused by the human body.
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“Dream past the fantasy. Fight past the battle. Drift past the rhythm.”
June 9th
October 19th
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L.S. RYDDE
Romance Mystery Author
L.S. is a pen name for an author who's fascinated by mystery and romance in one. Anything that's uncommon or never before told fascinates this writer to play with different paths and stories. Inspired by solving mysteries, yet too scared to watch true crime, but watches it anyways, it's fair to say, writing is less scary. To balance fears, love takes hold of this soul to find happy endings. Advice to writers: Start from a blank page once in awhile.
L.S. hopes to create stories that make people think smarter, wiser, and deeper.
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“Don’t hold anything back, the pages should be yours truly.”
Kendra Gottsleben
Kid's Book Author
Kendra enjoys writing because she can express herself and share her experiences with others. Through her writing, her hope is that readers understand that life is full of adversity and that life’s ups and downs shouldn’t stop anyone from reaching for their dreams.
Kendra holds a bachelor’s degree in both psychology and sociology. She always sees the positive in life and helping others, and is a fashionista who loves bright colors and sparkle. At age four, she was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition called Mucopolysaccharide Type VI also known as Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome (MPS VI).
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“Don’t change your foundation just to fit in. Always stay true to who you are!”
Kendra’s Perfect Dance Routine
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Kevin Nordstrom
Kid's Book Illustrator
Kevin draws and writes to bring something magical into the world–where there is heart and emotion behind each creation, where it’s okay to laugh and be silly, and where the dreams of wonderful ideas are limitless. He also enjoys screenwriting and running an art inspired business: Whimsical Mischief Studio.
Kevin was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in his early twenties, but only recently opened up about it. The moment came when he realized he was going to be a father. He wants the world his sons grow up in to be one that doesn’t stigmatize those who are different.
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“Every day is a new opportunity to be a better version of yourself.”
Luda and Chairsy: Making Friends
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Future Author/Illustrator