Want to see your nonfiction book published and finally call yourself an author?
My author services were built for you!
From editorial feedback and mentoring, to market research and platform development services, my author services are designed to address the inherent commercial risks in your book proposal before you submit it to literary agents or book publishers directly.
Too many aspiring authors submit projects and manuscripts to literary agents and book publishers that are rejected instantly—for reasons the frustrated writers sometimes never learn.
Deciding to represent you, or acquire your manuscript, is a big risk for agents and publishers.
Publishing is a commercial business, which means that each decision to acquire a book carries financial risk.
Literary agents take a financial risk when taking on a client because they cannot guarantee they’ll be able to sell the book proposal to an editor at a publishing house. If they can’t sell your work, they won’t earn any money—because the traditional agency model is based on commission.
Acquiring editors take a financial risk on behalf of their publishing house when making an offer for your book, because there are countless variables involved in shepherding a work from manuscript to publication—and in connecting book buyers with your book.
That’s why agents and editors must consider proposals and manuscripts against commercial criteria in addition to their personal taste.
It’s all very frustrating to prospective authors, but completely reasonable from the decision-makers’ perspective. And it’s the reason why I decided to focus on helping authors improve their appeal to agents and publishers before they submit their book proposal and agent query letter.
Who are my author services for?
- Some of my clients are academics looking to take their message to a broader audience beyond peer-reviewed journals and the university presses.
- Others are professionals with multiple qualifications and a thriving private practice, who are understandably frustrated by the mysterious nature of book publishing.
- And sometimes they are authors who have already published a book outside the USA, but who need practical information and constructive advice about getting published in the USA.
My clients submit book proposals that have already addressed the red flags that agents and publishers see in most proposals.
The type of people who talk to me about working together tend to recognise the value of:
- your time
- refining your key message/ idea for the general audience (as distinct from your academic or professional peer group)
- conducting a platform audit of your existing audience/readership
- planning and executing the development of your ideal audience/readership
- researching a shortlist of target publications, websites, podcasts, and social channels that your ideal reader uses and engages with regularly
- making sure your book’s outline properly reflects your key message and tells a compelling story
- researching competitor / complementary titles in order to help define the ground of your work and distinguish the territory of your expertise
- identifying story ideas and collaborating editorially on shorter pieces for publication, whether it’s opinion pieces for newspapers, features for magazines/websites, or posts for LinkedIn
- editing to remove the ‘scaffolding’ of academic discourse and encouraging your natural storytelling voice to emerge
- agent/publishing strategy
- agent research.
Avoid instant rejection with the benefit of my author services!
Take a look at my success stories and testimonials. Too many self-styled gurus don’t know what it’s like to write a commercially viable book, or to successfully pitch a book proposal to agents and publishers.
I’ve worked inside publishing houses as an editor, and twice I’ve been published by them as an author. I’ve worked with publishers as a freelance developmental editor. I’ve been a literary agent. And I’ve helped clients get agents. And I’m the author of two books.
I know what I’m talking about.
Email me or schedule a brief no-obligation call to discuss how I could help you reach your publishing goals more quickly. I want to help you and am confident I can.