I work with nonfiction and memoir writers who want to create books that do more than share information or tell a story. They want to offer something meaningful to readers—and they want to do it well.
Bring me your idea, a rough draft, or years of notes. Using my reader-centered approach, I'll help you see your book through the eyes of the people you hope to reach while staying true to the message you want to share.
Many writers come to book coaching with years of experience, insight, or lived perspective they believe can help others.
They may have taught, led, supported communities, or spent years reflecting on the lessons life has given them.
They are often:
What they don't always know is how to shape that knowledge into a book readers can understand, trust, and use—or how to see whether the message is truly coming through.
Together we clarify the purpose of your book, identify the readers it serves, and build a structure
that allows your ideas and stories to connect to the people who need your book right now.
The books they are writing include:
The goal isn’t simply to finish a manuscript — it’s to create a book that genuinely serves its readers.
When you know your subject intimately, it's easy to assume readers understand more than they do, follow connections that exist only in your mind, or recognize the significance of details that feel obvious to you.
As both an editor and a lifelong reader, I help you step outside your own perspective and see the book through the eyes of the people you hope to reach. Together, we'll identify what readers need, what questions they bring to the page, where they may become confused, and what will help them stay engaged and trust your message.
The result is a book that doesn't just communicate what you know—it connects with the people you wrote it for.
Before becoming a book coach, I spent more than two decades helping writers transform complex experiences, hard-earned insight, and personal stories into work that could connect with readers.
Over the years I’ve supported writers at many stages — from early ideas to finished pieces ready for publication.
For thirteen years, I served as the editor–publisher of Open Minds Quarterly, a literary magazine dedicated to writers exploring experiences of mental health and recovery. In that role, I worked closely with both emerging and experienced writers as they shaped deeply personal and socially meaningful stories for publication.
Those years showed me what happens when people find the courage to share their stories—and when readers encounter experiences that challenge assumptions, deepen understanding, and change the way they see the world.
Today, I bring that same editorial perspective to my coaching—helping writers create books that honor their experience while remaining deeply connected to the readers they hope to reach.
Note: As an Author Accelerator certified book coach, I am qualified to coach writers using Author Accelerator's strategy, methods, and materials, such as the Blueprint for a Book method, but I operate independently of Author Accelerator and am not affiliated with them. Our coaching community is strong, however, and if I am not the right fit for you, I am happy to connect you to another certified coach.
Writing a book is intellectually demanding and emotionally complex work.
Even experienced professionals often find themselves questioning the direction
of the manuscript or losing perspective on the project.
A book coach provides something many writers do not otherwise have: a knowledgeable partner in the process.
My role is to bring editorial insight and an informed reader's perspective to your manuscript
while respecting the voice, experience, and expertise that only you can bring to the page.
Together, we'll hold onto the thread of the book—so your ideas, stories, and message unfold
in a way that connects with readers and fulfills the promise your book is making.
See what my clients are saying about their book coaching experiences.
Writers enter the coaching process at many different points in their book’s development. Depending on your stage of writing, our work may focus on:
Clarifying your book's promise, identifying the readers it serves, and creating a structure that supports their journey through the book.
Developing chapters with ongoing editorial feedback (and deadlines!) to strengthen clarity, structure, and reader connection.
Evaluating the manuscript as a whole, strengthening its structure and reader experience, or developing a proposal for agents and publishers.
Wherever you begin, the goal is the same: to create a book that is clear, purposeful, and meaningful for the readers it is meant to serve.
Many writers arrive with an idea, notes, or early chapters — but aren’t yet sure
what kind of support would help them move forward.
If your book idea feels important but still slightly out of focus, you do not have to figure it out alone. Begin with my Mini Blueprint Strategy Session, a focused session that helps you turn your idea into a clear one-page plan using the Blueprint for a Book method.
It's a simple way to clarify who your book is for, what promise it makes, and what comes next before committing to a longer coaching engagement.
For writers who want sustained support while planning, drafting, or revising their manuscript. Coaching provides ongoing editorial guidance, accountability, partnership, and reader-centered feedback throughout the writing process. Various options are available, including monthly coaching, intensive coaching programs, and manuscript evaluation.
Writing a book can feel solitary, especially when it unfolds slowly across full and demanding lives. I host a small online community called Writing What’s Possible, where nonfiction and memoir writers gather to return to their manuscripts, join co-writing sessions, and talk about the craft of writing with care for readers. It's a welcoming place to make steady progress, stay connected to your work, and spend time with other writers who care deeply about creating books that matter.
If you’re considering writing a nonfiction book or memoir and would like professional guidance along the way, the best first step is a conversation.
You can tell me about your idea, what you’ve written so far, and where you feel uncertain. We’ll talk about what your project might need next and whether working together would be helpful.
Bring your idea, your draft, or your questions — we’ll figure out the next step together.
If another publishing professional would better serve your goals, I’ll point you in the right direction.
Either way, you’ll leave the conversation with a clearer sense of how to move forward.
Who is your ideal reader? It's one of the most important questions you can ask while planning a book. The answer shapes everything from your message and structure to the stories, examples, and details you choose to include.
My free workbook, 7 Key Questions to Ask About Your Reader Before You Write, will help you begin thinking about your book through the eyes of the people you hope to reach.
Subscribe to The Book Case and I'll send it to your inbox.
Here are some of the most common questions I hear when I meet with prospective clients. If you can't find an answer to your questions, get in touch through the contact form below. Want to know more? Visit my Book Coaching Services page.
Our work begins with a discussion about your goals for your book project. I will evaluate the work you have done so far and develop a coaching plan. Each time we meet, I will review your progress with you, we will discuss which challenges you are facing, and I will offer suggestions and exercises to help you move forward. After we agree on your next step, I will give you a deadline to submit your new work to me. I will review it before our next meeting. You can also expect me to cheer you on and keep you on task during our coaching sessions! I aim to give reassurance while being firm on accountability.
No, although I do offer copy editing separately as a service, my book coaching packages do not include copy-editing services. What I do offer is high-level editorial guidance. If I notice you need writing assistance, I may point you to other resources. You may want to engage an editor in later stages of your book-work, and I can direct you to the most appropriate editor for your project or provide a quotation for copy editing or proofreading service.
No, I can’t. The trends and buying decisions of the publishing industry are changing all the time. But the work you do now will reveal where your readers are and what they need from a book like yours. You may see that your best publishing path is through traditional publishing, but alternatively, you might discover you can reach your readers best through other avenues like self-publishing or a hybrid publishing model. No matter which publishing path you choose, I can support you with a Book Proposal Coaching Package. We will work together on a proposal that you can use to approach literary agents or publishers or to develop a marketing and publicity plan for your self-published book.
I like people a lot, especially people who think about social issues and how each of us impacts the world. Do you have big ideas about how to change the status quo? Do you believe in hope and in people? Do you enjoy working in collaboration and problem-solving? Are you open to new ways of working? Are you comfortable with critique of your work? Are you willing to invest time in thought as well as in action? In details as well as big ideas? If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, we may be a good match. I work well with ‘everyday experts,’ people who gained their wisdom and insight by showing up, often for years, in support of their community.
My roster of recent clients includes people I admire very much. People who founded small community agencies, academics who applied themselves to bettering circumstances for vulnerable people, and artists who engage community to improve health outcomes. Often, my clients have a personal reason or experience behind their passion to change the status quo. Some are in roles of responsibility and leadership because they understand how the systems work and want to change from within rather than fighting against. Others are doing the front-line work on social issues. All of them hope that their daily efforts will make a big impact through incremental change. They know how to fix the problems they see.
When you fill out the contact form, tell me about yourself and about your project. What difference do you want to make? Let’s see if our work together will help both of us reach out goals for the future.
Of course you can! Many people tackle big projects on their own. Here are 10 reasons why a book coach might help you:
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