Making your dream of becoming a published author a reality!

Yes, I can help you with…

Congratulations!

Self-publishing a book is an undertaking for the courageous. The fact that you are on my site reading this means that you have overcome your initial reservations and moved forward into serious exploration.

That’s farther than most aspiring authors ever get.

Hey, I get it. It’s easy to feel inadequate, overwhelmed by all the moving parts, or just downright scared. If that’s where you are, that’s where we’ll begin.

Or maybe you’re ready to get moving but don’t have a solid concept for your book yet, and you need an objective, experienced ear to help you develop your unique idea. If this is where you are, then that’s where we’ll begin. We’ll talk about what’s holding you back and explore some simple, accessible ways to get you unstuck and moving forward.

Maybe you’ve already got a concept defined. If so, in our first coaching session, we will discuss your book project, define your long-term objectives, identify where you currently are with respect to your project, and decide upon next steps.

Could you benefit from a timeline, or an official project plan? Great! We’ll build a sensible one together that fits in with your life style and your goals for your book.

We will continue to meet via phone or video call on a weekly basis so I can answer your questions, provide tips that I’ve picked up on my own journey, monitor your progress, and help you keep your book project moving forward.

No matter where you are in your book publishing journey - whether you’re still trying to refine your book idea, or if you need help understanding the Amazon KDP system, or if you’ve got a finished manuscript and you need a marketing and advertising consultant, I’ll provide you with guidance, information, support, and encouragement at any - or every - step along the way.

How much does coaching cost?

Costs for coaching vary based on the needs of your project and on the skills and experience you already have, but in general coaching is purchased in blocks of four one-hour weekly sessions for $400 per month.

Perhaps you already have your first draft finished (yay, you!), and now you’re looking for the necessary services to get your manuscript in shape for publication. The first thing you need to determine is what kind of editing you need. In case you’re not familiar with all the types, here’s a quick review:

• Developmental editing concerns itself with the structure and depth of information in a non-fiction book whereas in fiction it examines elements such as character development, plot, drama, etc. As a developmental editor I can help you assess a book idea, or read an early draft to help you get and stay on track as you write your second draft. This step helps ensure that your book idea is sound and that all the pieces are in place to provide an excellent experience for your readers, which translates into success for you as an author.

• Line editing is all about style, sentence structure, vocabulary choice, and provides suggestions for greater clarity and polish, helping to make your language as concise and powerful as possible, while respecting your voice as author.

• Copyediting is the process of correcting errors in grammar, spelling, syntax, and punctuation.

• Proofreading is a final check after layout to check for pagination, page breaks, hyphenations, spelling inconsistencies, etc.

Different types of editing are needed at different phases along the way. If you’re not sure what you need, I offer a free editing consultation. You send me a chapter, I read it, assess it, and edit a passage so you can see what types of suggestions I may make. Then, we talk and figure out what the next best step is.

What does editing cost?

Editing costs vary, but range from .01 to .08 per word. But don’t worry - you’ll know how much the recommended level of editing will cost before the work is started.

Book layout is an art and science unto itself. Should the copy start on an even-numbered page, or an odd-numbered one? What is the best font to use? What is the best trim size for your book? (And what is trim size?) How should the chapters be separated? What considerations need to be made for the print version of the layout as opposed to the ebook version? Where do the copyright and ISBN go (and speaking of which, where do you get those, anyway?). The layout phase is also where the differences in ebook requirements (Kindle, Nook, Kobo, and iBooks, for example) come into play.

I’ve been through it all. Several times. Follow me; I’ve got the candle. And the answers.

what can I expect to pay for layout services?

As with all of my services, I don’t take a one-size-fits all approach. Many factors are taken into consideration when determining the cost of layout. Whether your book is mostly text, or whether it incorporates images, how long your book is, and other variables all go into determining the fee. Layout fees can range anywhere from $500 - $2500.

Prefer to learn how to do your own formatting and layout? No problem. I can coach you through that process step-by-step.

Forget what you’ve heard; you can judge a book by its cover. Good book covers are beautifully designed, well-balanced, strategically conceived, and print ready! (Insider tip: You can sell books based on your cover alone. Why wouldn’t you want to make it the best it can be?)

From concept to final layout, I’ve got you "covered.”

The bottom line on covers

As with most elements of your book, there is a solution that meets your creative sensibilities and your budget. Accordingly, the cost for a cover design can range from $500 - $1500, with original artwork and illustrations being at the higher end.

If you already have a finished book, you know that, “if you build it, they will come” is not a successful marketing strategy; that’s just the price of entry into the book market. And if you’ve worked with me to get your book into print, you have no doubt heard me tell you that as challenging as it is to get a book into print, getting people to buy it is even more so. No matter how brilliant your idea, how polished your writing, how passionately you burn to be a bestselling author, people won’t know about your book until you learn to effectively tell the right people in the right way, and then convince them that they should part with their hard-earned money to buy a copy.

And also an extra one for a friend.

My co-author and I have marketed and sold more than 100,000 copies of the “Iris & Lily” novel series. I know that the universe of book promotion can be complicated and riddled with expensive trial-and-error initiatives. Marketing options include everything from blogging and posting photos to Instagram to producing your own podcast and getting into paid advertising through Amazon, Facebook, and Google - to name just a few. I have two decades of experience as a corporate marketing and communications strategist and more than 10 years in media production. So from mapping your strategy to creating images and videos that get attention, I have the skills and experience you need.

Don’t go out there confused, and don’t go out there thinking that you don’t have what it takes to get your book the attention it deserves. The self-publishing world is rife with self-proclaimed experts who are all too willing to take your money for things that I can teach you to do for yourself. No one knows your book like you do, and no one else can bring the passion to it that you can.

I can help you prepare yourself with the knowledge and strategic decision-making skills that are based on your audience, your sales goals, and your budget.

Promoting and advertising your books is an on-going process that must flow and move with the market. You learn, you assess, you modify. Over time, you’ll discover what works for you, but you need to start with a solid strategy and a means to assess the effectiveness of your tactics over time.

Let’s lock the pieces together and bring your vision for your book to life.

Because every book is unique and each author has a personal vision for what success looks like, marketing consulting is highly customized, and follows the coaching model. Costs for coaching vary based on the needs of your project and on the skills and experience you already have, but in general coaching is purchased in blocks of four one-hour weekly sessions for $400 per month.

Set your book free on the air! You are not confined to print and ebooks when it comes to getting your book out into the world. Sites and services such as Audible and iTunes make it possible for you to reach more “readers” than ever before. In our busy society, people seek ways to make good use of their daily commute, and to make the most of the small pockets of time available to them as they go about their lives.

Audio books meet that need. Your book should be among the choices they have.

As a vocalist, a professional voice over talent, and an audio editor, I can work with you to make your dream of having an audio book a reality. If you want to narrate and edit your own book, I can coach you through that process. (It’s easier than you think!) If you want to produce your own audio book but are looking for a professional narrator, I can help.

How much does audio book coaching cost?

As with my other coaching services, costs for audio book coaching may vary based on the needs of your project and on the skills and experience you already have, but your initial consultation with me is free.

Let’s talk

It doesn’t cost anything to have a conversation with me about your project. And I will never employ high-pressure sales tactics in my communications with you. I want you to have the best possible partner so that you end up with the best book you’re capable of producing. I hope that will be by partnering with me, but even if we don’t end up working together, wouldn’t it be fun to tell me about your book? I know I want to hear all about it.

Don’t be shy; I can’t wait to meet you!

Contact me today!