Our Team

Brandy Elrod - Owner/Editor

Brandy grew up as a rodeo farm kid who at the age of 30 sold all of her horses and bought a beach house…She has always been competitive by nature so naturally she became bored…her husband was an avid shotgun competitor and she had just started teaching at a private Christian school (she taught HS Ag for 15 years in public and private education); the kids wanted a shotgun team, so she started going to coaching classes. Her actual shooting started by meeting Larry Feland at a local charity tournament, after a few conversations about her birth injury (born with a brachial plexus injury to the right shoulder thanks to doctor malpractice which left me with no use of my right arm (she has 30% usage of her right arm)), she was in his Gunsmithing shop where he built a custom gun that she could lift. Brandy is now many years and guns into her shooting experience. She was on the USA para-trap team from 2019-2022 where she competed all over the World and was very fortunate to win World medals. Her favorite thing to do is teach youth, women, and people with impairments how to shoot. She is an NSCA & NRA level II shotgun instructor and also has many youth shotgun/archery organization certifications. She had the pleasure to coach some of the top youth athletes in the US as well as opened the door to a life-long passion for many women. I also dabble in hunting as I live on our family high fence ranch where we raise axis, fallow, and whitetail but I absolutely love to hunt many species of birds. All of that grit and tenacity led her from starting out as a Blogger in 2020 with Lady to most recently this summer taking over ownership. Brandy looks forward to making sure that Lady is your go-to guide for living your best LadyShooter LifeStyle!

Natalia Gonzalez - Writer/Creative Director

Natalia is an avid Helice shooter. She started her shooting journey in the world of sporting clays but most recently her love is Helice. Natalia began her journey with the magazine as the Editor and Blogger. She stepped away from the Editor role to spend more time with her family and most recently joined us again as a writer and skincare expert. Natalia loves to write about people and their journeys in the shooting world as well as her shooting adventures with her son at various sporting clay clubs across the U.S. Natalia has many years of experience in the skincare industry and look for her skincare articles in each issue. If you are in the Tomball, Texas area do not hesitate to make an appointment with her for the best facial of your life! You can also learn more about her products as she has her skincare line at Esthetician Skin.

Julie Faris - Sales

Julie Faris, a multitasking powerhouse as a mother, wife, leader, and all-around superwoman, is set to revolutionize and empower women like never before! With a passion for firearms and a spirit of adventure, Julie is on a mission to unite with other fabulous females eager to unleash their inner warrior queens. As the driving force behind Aegis Authority, a premier Firearms Training Company based in sunny California, Julie partners with her husband Steve to create a welcoming sanctuary where women can sharpen their skills. With a blend of charm and confidence, Julie transforms beginners into sharpshooters with a sprinkle of sass and a generous dose of encouragement! Heading the High Desert Chapter of A Girl & A Gun, Julie's infectious enthusiasm and playful training approach resonate with women from all walks of life. Whether leading a session or sharing stories by the campfire with her family, Julie's magnetic energy fosters a unique atmosphere of fun, empowerment, and pure joy. Beyond her vast array of certifications and accolades, Julie's true superpower lies in her ability to forge personal connections with women, inspiring them to shatter barriers and reach for the stars. When not perfecting her aim or motivating the masses, Julie can be found taming her pack of rescue pups, trading veggie plates for juicy steaks, and diving headfirst into her latest hunting escapade. Join Julie on her thrilling journey and experience all the excitement on IG/FB: @aegisauthority and www.aegisauthority.com

Holly Hearn - Chef

Holly has been incredibly passionate about the outdoors, wildlife, boating, hunting, and fishing since she was a small child. In 2020, she stopped pursuing her career in engineering to work full-time on her dream of hunting, fishing, and feeding all of you! She has been butchering wild game for over a decade, and cooking it at a gourmet level for about seven years. The foundation laid by her family, particularly her grandfather, gave her a great desire to continue her pursuit of the outdoors. They taught Holly there is always something new to learn and memories to be made when you bring those you love along for the adventures. The cooking competitions and international travel opportunities she has been blessed with have also provided her with knowledge and experience that has inspired her unique culinary style. The way she has fallen in love with cultures, flavors, and traditions outside of her own translates into every element of her recipes and each of her plates. Holly loves the way her career spills over into her own kitchen and you can always find her experimenting with delicious flavor combinations, and new butchering techniques, and prepping all her road trip meals so she can travel to her next kitchen to create the perfect menu for you! Make sure to check out Holly’s recipes and stories in each issue. If you would like to learn about Holly’s services Game Girl Gourmet

Melonie Kennedy - Writer/Firearms/Fitness Expert

As an author and editor, Melonie’s work has appeared in a variety of media, both online and in print, from poetry anthologies and trade journals to magazines and books. She has worked with clients on everything from quick proof of ad copy and banners to lengthy manuscripts. As a wellness professional, she teaches across a broad spectrum: her yoga classes and guided relaxation offerings focus on physical fitness and mental health, while her firearms training and emergency skills classes assist those inspired to become better-prepared citizens of more resilient communities. Check out Melonie’s articles on all facets of the firearm industry. Go here to learn more about Melonie.

Tammy Stein - Writer/Firearms Training Expert

Tammy was busy with life, children, church, and family when her husband challenged her to get a concealed handgun license. This is when it really began for her and changed the way she thought about guns and safety for Tammy and her girls. Tammy took her first concealed carry class and felt the thrill of shooting for the first time. She was amazed at how that simple step changed her whole way of thinking about guns and how empowered she felt to know she could take care of herself and her girls. This made her want to go to the Range which she had no idea how to do, where to go, could she go by herself? From that day on Tammy figured out the secret to the range, ask people to come with you. Tammy has a long list of certifications and an extensive history in the firearms industry. Enjoy Tammy writes articles on everything from gun care to hosting a foreign exchange student. Go here to learn more about 1840 INC.

Sharon Taylor - Writer/From the Blind series

Sharon grew up as the ultimate tomboy! She was her dad’s shadow, he graciously hauled her hunting for whitetail, hogs, rabbits, and coons at their family’s farm and fishing for redfish and speckled trout in Trinity Bay! In her late twenties, a coworker introduced her to handguns, and in her early 30’s she bought her first handgun and obtained her Concealed Handgun License. Even though she was somewhat confident in her abilities, she knew there was more so she took marksmanship classes at Alvin Community College through their law enforcement academy. In her 40s, her cousins welcomed her back to the farm for the first deer hunt in years. She was able to hunt the farm for the next few years until it was sold, and then she started hunting public land in the Sam Houston National Forest. In the summer of 2019, her church started small groups, both bible study and activity-based. She really wanted more women to shoot with so she approached her Pastor with the idea of a women’s group for handgun education and learning to shoot. He asked her what qualified her to lead such a group. Through this prompting, she became a certified instructor with the United States Concealed Carry Association (USCCA), and had six ladies in her first small group. Read Sharon’s From the Blind series as well as various other articles she provides on being a firearm instructor. Go here to learn more about Sharon.

Katie Ball - Writer/Firearms Expert/Range Owner

Katie Ball and her husband Jeremy own Sharp Shooting Indoor Range & Gun Shop in Spokane, Washington.  Katie is first and foremost a mom to two boys (Connor and Paxton) and a dog mom to Hungarian Vizsla (Dozer). She runs a women's social media page that focuses on conceal carry for women, product reviews, situational awareness & less lethal self-defense concepts. She loves fishing, is a Vizsla enthusiast, and considers herself an aspiring shooter- especially interested in pistol and rimfire rifles. You can follow her adventures on IG/FB @thatsharpshootinggirl and @sharpshootingspokane 

Tori King - Writer/Homesteading Expert

Tori is a homeschooling, homesteading, momma of three. She loves traveling, sightseeing, and going on adventures. She considers herself a “Jack (Jill) of all trades, master of none.” She is always up for learning new things, and she loves to bounce around from one project to the next. Sometimes, she get these crazy ideas. Thankfully, she is blessed with a patient and talented husband. He can build just about anything she throws at him. She started teaching herself to water bath can in her late teens. With help from friends and books, she also learned to pressure can. Now, there isn't much that she does not try to can. Her passions are homesteading, canning, natural health, and self-sufficiency. She loves sharing her newfound knowledge with others and watching them become more self-sufficient as well.  She does not profess to know everything, but she has an ever-growing library of "How to" and "DIY" books. Over the years, she has also developed extensive research skills, and is continuing to add to her arsenal of knowledge every day.