I work with Middle Grade, Young Adult, and select Adult. I love imaginative fiction in all its forms – fantasy, science fiction, myth and fairy tale, and all their hybrid combinations. And I love contemporary stories, especially coming-of-age stories.

Mostly, I love stories about becoming. Characters discovering, or rediscovering, who they really are, what they’re really meant to do in this world. Coming of age is something I believe we do again and again in our lives, not just once. If you have an adult book about becoming, I’d love to see it.

I’m not a good fit if you’re writing a book that would land specifically on a mystery, horror, or thriller shelf at the bookstore. But stories that contain elements of these are welcome.

I don’t work with AI-generated material. Why? Because I want to work with writers who are telling the stories of their heart and soul. The stories that burn so bright inside them they have no choice but to face the challenge of putting it on the page. Writing is, after all, an act of self-expression.

Writing a book is fun. It’s creative, engaging, fulfilling. It’s also a complex intellectual endeavor that requires you to carefully weave together character, plot, setting, and theme so it feels effortless to the reader.

But there’s nothing effortless about it.

As a book coach, I’m trained in the structure of stories. I understand how they’re put together. I can tease out the threads of character, plot, setting, and theme and see where they’re coming together and where there are holes.

But most importantly, I’m outside the story. You, as the writer, are immersed in your story. You know everything - every choice you’ve made, every scene you’ve kept or cut, every major and minor character’s backstory. It’s easy to lose perspective. To stop seeing the forest for the trees.

Having an outside reader come fresh to your story, with no prior knowledge or attachment, can help you see your story with new eyes. Having that outside reader be trained as a developmental editor and coach – like me – means you’ll get detailed, specific feedback on your work that will help you move forward with clarity and confidence.

As with anything, you get what you put into it. Stories take time to tell; there are no quick fixes. If you come with a growth mindset, are open to feedback and guidance, and prepared to devote the time and energy it takes to do the hard work of drafting and revision, your grasp of craft will deepen, your writing will improve, and your story will grow into the book it’s meant to be. And you will grow into the writer you’re meant to be.

I wish I could promise you a book deal! Or that you’ll land an agent. Or that your book will sail to the top of best seller lists. The publishing world just doesn’t work that way. Luck and timing play a huge role in whether a book gets picked up by a publisher. And I can’t promise that you’ll get to The End during our time together. Stories take the time that they take; there’ no rushing them.

What I can promise you is that I will work hard to help you bring the story in your heart onto the page. That I will respect your voice and authority as the storyteller. That I will deliver my feedback with clarity, honesty, and kindness. That I will be there for you as a resource and as an empathetic ear you draft and revise. That I will always leave you with a plan to keep moving forward. And that I will be cheering for you as you write your way to The End.

For established clients who have manuscripts I believe are ready to query, I do offer pitch package services. This includes writing the query letter, preparing the synopsis, and developing an agent list and pitch strategy.

At this time, I do not offer pitch package services to writers who are not established clients. Why? Because in order to be an effective coach, I need to have deeply read your manuscript and determined it was structurally sound and in good enough shape to query. Otherwise, I have no idea if you’re really ready to query, or if your query letter really reflects your story.

If you’re wondering if you’re ready to query, check out my Full Manuscript Evaluation package. You’ll get a full developmental edit of your story, which includes an editorial letter laying out what’s working and what needs development, in-line comments in your critical first three chapters, and a one-hour phone call to discuss feedback and next steps – including whether or not you’re ready to query

No. As a developmental editor, my focus is on the structure of your story – the underlying architecture of character, plot, setting, and theme.

A copyeditor generally focuses on line-by-line editing and polishing; they’re assuming the writer has done the work to make the story structurally sound before engaging them.

A proofreader is generally focused on grammar; they, too, are assuming the writer has done the work to make the story structurally sound before engaging them.