
SERVICES FOR AUTHORS WITH IMPACT
I help spiritual, vegan, and other authors with coaching, ghostwriting, editing, formatting, indexing, publishing platform administration, and marketing so they can impact people positively with their stories.
Since 2020, I’ve worked with nonfiction authors to publish their books. I can work with fiction authors too.
If you:
- Have had a profound life experience and thought about writing and publishing a book about it
- Have a compelling story that can be told in more than 30,000 words
- Have had a spiritual experience that profoundly changed your life and could be called a miracle
- Once had a health condition you alleviated through a plant-based diet or non-medical means
- Are vegan and have a new take on the benefits of the lifestyle
- Believe that your purpose is to inspire and impact the everyday person with your story
- Can visualize your book shelved in the Mind-Body-Spirit or Biography sections in a bookstore, or the relevant category for vegan authors
- Are mastering a craft and want to become known for it
- Like to see projects to completion, even if you are working on many things at once
- Are excited to continue telling your story in podcasts and media interviews after publishing your book
…I want to work with you!
Memoirs and other nonfiction books are incredible records of personal history, experience, and/or expertise. Books can increase your personal brand and credibility as a thought leader, positively influence people in a way you can’t do on your own, and open the door to offers with high-end publishers or opportunities to turn your book into a screenplay for film or TV.
See below for who I’ve worked with, my services, and FAQs, and contact me if you’re ready to begin.
RECENTLY PUBLISHED AUTHORS
TESTIMONIALS
Sandra has been everything I needed as a book editor with comprehensive services and skills! She definitely does her research and creates an easy stepwise plan that kept me on track to make my dream come true as an author. She kept me inspired and I gained great momentum with her guidance. I am truly grateful for her attention to detail and she answered my questions through the whole process. She definitely made this a reality for me despite my busy schedule. I highly recommend her!
For anyone looking for an incredible book editor who will work with you as a team, empower you to think about your book in a different perspective and go the extra mile to ensure that your book is positioned the right way, talk to Sandra. She is a warrior and I couldn’t have published the multi-award winning The Powerful Publicity Prescription without her.
I found Sandra through a list of vegan editors and I’d recommend her to any first time author and already have done so. I am super pleased with the editing and formatting process Sandra provides! I was worried my editor wouldn’t give me enough feedback, but I was given a great and helpful amount. I appreciate Sandra’s patience and kindness through editing/formatting which made it a great first time publishing experience. I look forward to working with her on my future projects!
I am very grateful for Sandra’s help with crafting my marketing emails. I was looking for someone to help me write emails that were captivating but not manipulative. She went above and beyond my expectations to understand my needs and to write emails that I’m very satisfied with. I look forward to using them to reach out to my email list.
Self-publishing a book is no easy task, but Sandra helped me every step of the way! Her editing, formatting, and coaching were tremendously helpful. She is very accessible, and very quick to return emails/phone calls. I could tell she puts a great deal of pride in timeliness and quality. She even met with me a few times on Skype when I was having difficulty with the software related to self-publishing. I would definitely give her 5 stars out of 5 and I plan on working with her again in the future!
I am so happy I found Sandra. What she has done for me is amazing. Know this, I am not a professional writer. So when I handed my manuscript to Sandra, it was a real mess. I’m not kidding. I cringe when I see what I originally started with. After Sandra did the magic that she does so well, I can proudly hand my book out, secure that all is as it needed to be. Sandra’s devotion continues long after the work is completed, with ongoing introductions to others in my industry and leads I would have missed. Sandra will be my first call on my next project for sure.
SIGNATURE PACKAGES
GHOSTWRITING
Starts at $3000
In as little as 6 recorded sessions, turn your story into a fully fledged manuscript without typing a single letter. Rate depends on final manuscript length.
EDITING
Starts at $1500
Get your manuscript proofread, copyedited, fact-checked, and referenced properly. Rate depends on manuscript length.
FORMATTING
Starts at $750 per format
Get your book and ebook interior layout designed so all you have to do is hit publish! Rate depends on manuscript length.
SERVICES
Ghostwriting
Copyediting & Proofreading
Print & Ebook Formatting (Layout/Interior Design/Typesetting)
Book Coaching
Publishing Platform Administration
Marketing Strategy, Content, and Publicity (vegan authors only)
I accept Bitcoin!
To those who successfully refer me clients, I give 5% of all projects to YOUR charity of choice or an animal sanctuary near me.
Watch the video below to learn the 3 types of publishing, followed by FAQs.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHY SHOULD YOU HELP ME PUBLISH MY BOOK?
I live and breathe writing and editing. I learned to read and write at three years old and have written and published poetry, short stories, blogs, and articles from elementary school through to university and beyond. Most of my professional career has been in the communications industry.
I compiled and co-wrote an heirloom biography of my grandfather in 2014, and self-published two business books in 2019 and 2022.
Self-publishing authors (myself included) commonly make errors in spelling and grammar (especially if English is not your first language), and/or formatting. Hiring an editor and someone with experience in formatting books resolves these errors. My goal is to be THE person that spiritual, vegan, or impact-driven authors go to if they’re looking for a book coach, ghostwriter, editor, or formatter.
I can also write a web page for your book. Check out my business client portfolio here.
In 2020, I completed courses on Book Editing (IAP College), Proofreading and Copyediting with The Chicago Manual of Style (Editorial Freelancers Association), and two online courses on professional formatting for books and e-books (Udemy).
In 2021, I completed an Indexing course from the National Association of Independent Writers and Editors (NAIWE).
See client testimonials on my LinkedIn profile.
DO YOU USE AI WITH YOUR CLIENTS? IS IT OKAY TO USE AI TO WRITE MY BOOK?
As an editor, I do not rely on AI.
If you are self-publishing and use AI to write your entire book, you’ll need to disclose that on your publishing platform.
As a ghostwriter, I use Otter.ai to convert audio sessions to text. Usually, this is the extent to which I use AI. If an author requires a major rewrite in style or changing to 1st/2nd/3rd person from the original manuscript, I may use AI to assist in that, but will discuss that with the author prior to starting the project.
WHAT DO YOU CHARGE AUTHORS?
Services range from $25 to $100 per thousand words. If you provide your manuscript’s word count and/or a sample chapter, I’ll have an idea of how much time it will take to complete the work.
When we sign an agreement, clients typically pay half the estimate of the project at the start, and the remaining fee upon delivery of the work.
Additional charges depend on:
- Whether you need to change style during/after ghostwriting
- Whether you need to approve all changes during editing
- The amount of fact checking required (for nonfiction books)
- The presence of images and footnotes/references
- Requests for changes after receiving your print proof
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR YOU TO DO BOOK SERVICES?
It depends on how long your document is, the quality of your writing, and how long it takes for you to approve revisions. With a service like formatting, additional elements like images or footnotes will add time to the project.
If I can take you on as a client, I will commit a minimum of six hours per week. If you want the project completed faster, please let me know prior to signing the agreement; additional fees may apply.
WHAT'S THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF PAGES A BOOK SHOULD BE?
As the amount of text on a page can vary according to the size of the text, font used, and other design elements, look at word count instead of page count. The minimum for a book that will have a proper spine is 30,000 words, which will equate to roughly 120 pages.
WHY SHOULD I HIRE A GHOSTWRITER?
If writing isn’t your strong suit or you simply can’t find time to sit down at your computer to type out your book, hiring a ghostwriter or scribe is a great option. Many people are better speakers than writers, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have a story within them. Bestselling author Gary Vaynerchuk’s a great example.
We’ll structure the work in a series of weekly audio or video calls so you can “tell” your story and turn it into a manuscript. I have plenty of experience turning spoken words into written content with corporate clients.
If you’re an influencer without writing experience, publishers may recommend you hire someone to co-author a book with you.
WHY SHOULD I HIRE A COPYEDITOR OR PROOFREADER?
If you’re pitching to publishers and spelling or grammar isn’t your strong suit, English is not your first language, or no one but you has read your manuscript, you will want to hire someone like me to spot (and fix) any glaring errors that might prevent you from getting selected by a literary agent or publisher.
For self-publishing authors, editing is even more helpful. You don’t want these types of errors spotted by readers and included in their online review of your book.
WHY SHOULD I HIRE A FORMATTER?
If you’re not a Microsoft Word nerd, don’t know code (html), or don’t care to learn new software, consider hiring a professional to format your eBook (Kindle), printed book, or both.
Working with someone who knows how to make your book look professional in both print and digital form can increase your credibility as an author, even if your writing’s already stellar.
For print, you should know the book specifications (measurements) you want once proofreading and editing are complete. If you aren’t sure what your specs are, you should at least know the publishing service you’re going to use; it will provide the options for you.
I do not do cover design, but can give pro book tips to your designer, recommend the right look and feel, and ensure consistency with the rest of your manuscript. I can also refer you to my book’s cover designer.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRADITIONAL, HYBRID, AND SELF-PUBLISHING?
Click here for a short video about the difference between the three types of publishing.
Check out Writer’s Beware’s list of publishing, marketing, and fake literary agency scams if you’re considering working with a service provider or agency as an alternative.
Other blog posts that may be helpful to you:
- Pros and cons of traditional book publishing
- Book publishing vs. distribution
- How to choose a hybrid publisher
- 11 elements of a book proposal
- What a year-long self-publishing journey looks like
- What you can pay for to promote your book
- The marketing strategy of a bestselling author
- How to publish a vegan book
HOW DO I GET PICKED UP BY A TRADITIONAL PUBLISHER?
There are two ways to sign a deal with a traditional publisher. First, you can pitch them yourself. You will need to prepare a book proposal (or version of one). Publishers expect fiction authors to already have written their book, while they expect nonfiction authors not to have written their book.
Click here for a book on publishers that accept submissions directly from authors or you can sign up to Authors Publish’s email newsletter to receive issues on publishers and small presses open to direct submissions without an agent.
Second, you can land a literary agent who will help find and negotiate a deal with a traditional publisher. The process of landing an agent is similar to landing a publisher. The top 5 publishers only take proposals from literary agents. See the question below for resources on landing an agent.
Note that traditional publishers may or may not pay an advance. Advances reflect the amount of book copies publishers expect your book to sell. Top publishers expect authors to sell 20-25,000 copies at the time of launch, so I usually suggest authors not expect a deal with a top publisher unless they have between 10-100,000 social media followers, email subscribers, or a similar audience. Publishers also hold the rights to your book for as long as your contract is in effect.
Hybrid publishers do not pay advances and are typically paid by authors to complete all services required to produce a book. You still need to prepare a proposal to pitch hybrid publishers with your book idea. Authors maintain the rights to their book, but some hybrid publishers take a percentage of sales.
Most publishers expect authors to do most of the marketing for their book, even if it’s expected to sell many copies.
DO I NEED A LITERARY AGENT?
No, but the top 5 publishers will only take inquiries from literary agents. Lit agents pitch your manuscript to potential publishers, who provide the entire suite of services to authors.
Literary agents are common for authors expected to sell a minimum of 25,000 books.
The process of landing an agent is similar to landing a publisher. Here are some resources for:
If we work together, I’m happy to send you a list of literary agents.
HOW MUCH SHOULD I INVEST IF I’M SELF-PUBLISHING?
Amounts will vary depending on where you live or who you choose to hire, but I suggest self-publishing authors invest US/C$10,000 to $15,000 for the following services:
- Editor(s)
- Formatter(s)
- Cover designer
- Narrator & sound engineer (for audiobook production)
- Marketing & publicity
- Inventory
Even if you can save money by doing a service yourself or having a friend do it for you for free or at a lower cost, I still suggest taking the amount you saved and investing it into marketing. It’s the most important facet of reaching readers.
WILL YOU HELP ME PROMOTE MY BOOK?
I only help vegan authors with book promotion, but by nature, I love to talk about my clients on my social media profiles and website.
If you’re a vegan author, I can develop a content marketing strategy for you to use for the 3 months surrounding your book launch date (1 month before launch, 2 months post-launch). If you need me to write and potentially publish the content, I can do that too.
I offer book publicity services to vegan authors in Vancouver, BC or who want to target global vegan media. If this does not apply to you, you must pitch your book to the media once it’s published. You can learn how to do publicity and media outreach through my first book, The Only Public Relations Guide You’ll Ever Need, or course, Be Your Own Public Relations Star in 90 Days.
Vegan author clients may have access to my FREE list of 400+ vegan/plant-based media, podcasts, and content creators.
I can also recommend a local publicist or agency who can help you with publicity where you live. Because of my past public relations experience, I can provide your publicist or PR agency with newsworthy angles they can use to promote you and your book.
Click here for a short video on the 6 elements of a book marketing strategy.
Other blog posts that may be helpful to you:
And click here for additional author resources, including my list of book marketing sites.
WILL WE GET ALONG?
I am an introvert. My personality is more cool than warm. I like clear communication. I dislike people from the global majority who talk too much. Small talk is great for the first few minutes of our meetings, but after that, I like to get to the point.
I stay quiet so I can listen. A lot. I have an unintentional resting bitch face (RBF), which means I listen intently to what you say. This is especially important if I’m writing in your voice—it translates into well-written content (if I’m ghostwriting your book).
I’ve been called “mysterious” and “really quiet” for someone who is in communications. My words—and editing skills—are my secret weapons.
People forget me, but I don’t forget anyone. I’m the small Asian woman who might stay quiet in a boardroom, but I listen to everything and respond when I need to. In the past, I’ve run a film festival with a team of a dozen people, so I’ve led groups when needed.
I’m down to earth and realistic, but I also believe in aliens and that the Divine is everything and everywhere. Everything I do in my life, including my business, is for the greater good of all living beings. I wouldn’t call myself an Intuitive, but when I write or edit for clients, I feel like I get “intuitive downloads” so if you’re into the woo, we’ll get along just fine!
Teaching and helping others to find solutions and progress is in my Human Design profile. After 20 years of professional work, I know that I work 3–5 times faster than most people without compromising quality.
Learn more on my About page and check out my interviews and talks on my YouTube channel.
Lack of emotional intelligence is a deal breaker and may cause a termination of services.
DO YOU KNOW ANY VEGAN PUBLISHERS OR PRINT-ON-DEMAND SERVICES?
Traditional vegan publishers include:
- Ashland Creek Press
- BenBella Vegan (vegan arm of BenBella)
- Lantern Publishing & Media
- Vegan Heritage Press
- Vegan Publishers
- Next Level (German)
If you are a publisher and would like to be added to this list, please contact me.
The Vegan Publisher has several publishing programs. Become a part of the Conscious Authors Academy (which I did!) to help you publish your non-fiction book.
Print-on-demand services that use vegan ink include Amazon KDP, Lulu, and Blurb.
IngramSpark does not use vegan ink, but is the largest global distributor of self-published books (and I know The Vegan Publisher is working on getting them to go vegan ASAP!).