The Strategic Author
Stop writing in circles. Start thinking like a Publisher.
The Strategic Author is a 3-month small-group coaching program for authors who need clear book positioning, audience definition, comparables, pitch, publishing path, and roadmap — before they query, self-publish, or spend another year second-guessing the book.
“Working with Linda clarified everything. I went from vague ideas to a clear roadmap for my book.”
The Problem: You’re writing … but are you writing the right book?
Whether your goal is to finish your manuscript, pitch agents, build your platform, or finally market your book effectively, this program gives you the clarity, structure, and expert support you need to move forward strategically.
Writing a book is hard.
Sometimes it feels like writing on water. Ideas swirl. The shape shifts. There’s nothing solid to hold onto. That’s where I come in.
This Program Helps You Think Like a Publisher.
In just 3 months, you’ll learn how to envision your book the way agents and editors do when deciding what to publish.
“I have worked with a couple of different book coaches, and this is the first time I’m exiting the book proposal process and feeling like I have a very solid proposal that I am truly excited about.”
How The Strategic Author Helps Writers
This Program Helps You Think Like a Publisher
Over 3 months, you’ll look at your book through the same lens agents and editors use to decide what to publish — and why.
This program is for you if…
You’re sitting on a half-draft or stuck in idea mode
You’re unsure how to position your book or pitch it
You want feedback that’s strategic, not just supportive
You’re ready to stop circling and start deciding
You’ll walk away with:
A proven framework to position your book for discoverability and resonance
A comparables matrix that sets your book apart in a crowded market
A sharp one-liner pitch for agents, media, and audiences
A format path (self, hybrid, or traditional) that aligns with your goals
A publishing roadmap tailored to your timeline and vision
“It was like having a publishing-savvy thought partner. I needed that kind of insight — and permission — to move forward.”
How It works
The Strategic Author is a guided program for authors who want to approach publishing with clarity, intention, and business awareness. The program focuses on helping participants develop a coherent publishing strategy while building a practical understanding of how the publishing industry works.
Through structured group sessions, shared resources, and ongoing discussion, authors learn how to make informed decisions about positioning, timing, opportunities, and trade-offs. The goal is not just to finish a book, but to understand how that book fits into a larger professional and creative context.
Continuous Support
The community is connected through a private platform that hosts all program resources, events, and group chats. It is a place to ask questions, share insights, troubleshoot challenges, and celebrate progress. Linda is actively present in the community, offering feedback, insight, and strategic guidance where helpful. Conversations take place both within your core group and across the broader network, creating continuity and perspective beyond any single session..
Live Group Sessions
A steady rhythm of live sessions designed to support focused progress and group connection:
Two 60-minute small group sessions
One monthly mastermind to explore a specific publishing topic
One office hours session to clarify questions, work through challenges, and connect
Monthly coworking sessions for focused work alongside the TSA community
Resources & Tools
Access session recordings, guides, and practical tools designed to support the development of your publishing strategy. Materials are focused on helping authors make informed decisions and move forward with clarity.
Receive curated overviews of relevant industry news, along with a calendar of publishing events and opportunities to engage with the publishing profession.
Personalized Support
From focused strategy sessions to manuscript and pitch review, members can access one-on-one support as needed. Guidance is available at key moments to help clarify direction, strengthen work in progress, and support next steps. These services are available at key moments as needed, with preferred pricing for The Strategic Author members.
Invest in your book — and your future
as an author
One-time payment
$1,750
Includes
Full access to all live group sessions, masterclasses, and masterminds
Three-month membership in The Strategic Author cohort and community
Exclusive member pricing on one-on-one support
Full access to program resources, recordings, and reference materials
3 monthly payments
$590
Includes
Full access to all live group sessions, masterclasses, and masterminds
Three-month membership in The Strategic Author cohort and community
Exclusive member pricing on one-on-one support
Full access to program resources, recordings, and reference materials
Meet your Coach
I’m Linda Secondari, founder of Studiolo Secondari and a publishing strategist with more than two decades of experience helping authors create books that resonate and find their audiences. I cut my teeth as an in-house Creative Director — most recently at Oxford University Press — where I partnered with editors, marketers, publishers, and authors to shape meaningful books and position them for real-world impact.
Those years taught me how books compete in a crowded marketplace: how they signal to readers, how they communicate value, and how they’re discovered. My work now centers on sharing that understanding with authors who want to produce books with clarity, intention, and a strong sense of where their place is.
I bring a blend of creative direction, editorial insight, and market strategy — all designed to help you approach your work with the mindset and confidence of a seasoned publishing professional.
Here’s what I’ve learned after shaping hundreds of books:
The most successful authors don’t just write well — they think like publishers.
“Finally, a book coach with the professional poise to create a productive environment for the members of the group, and the deep industry experience to inform their guidance. Spending three months in The Strategic Author program gave much-needed clarity to my writer’s journey.”
“You really believed in my book idea, and that was your starting point. When you added all of your publishing expertise, it was extremely helpful and made a significant difference.”
Linda collaborates with and is a member of these respected professional organizations and others
(I’m a joiner!)
IngramSpark Publishing Expert
Collaborator
Proud Member
Proud Member
Proud Member
Presenter
Publisher + Board Member
Workflow Committee Member
Certified WBE
Are you ready to get strategic and publish the right book?
Let’s build a roadmap together.
You don’t need more ideas — you need direction.
And the time to start is now.
The next cohort begins in Fall 2026.
Free Download — Book Positioning Guide for Strategic Authors
Position your book to stand out and sell.
Get instant access to The Strategic Author: Book Positioning, a practical 2-page guide to help you:
Define your genre and comparable titles
Clarify your unique selling proposition
Identify your ideal audience
Craft a marketing plan that resonates
This is your first step to writing a book that reaches the right readers and creates real impact.
Frequently Asked Questions
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The Strategic Author (TSA) is a group coaching program for authors who want to develop a publishing strategy program for their book. The program is useful for authors at any stage. Over three months, you develop a complete publishing roadmap using a four-question framework — WHY, WHAT, WHO, and HOW — that aligns your book with your goals, your audience, and the real publishing marketplace.
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TSA is for nonfiction and fiction authors who are serious about publishing but unclear on their path — whether you're still shaping an idea, mid-manuscript, or holding a finished book and not sure what to do next. It's not a writing workshop. It's a strategy program.
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No. TSA works at every stage — idea, draft, or finished manuscript. The earlier you engage with publishing strategy, the better your decisions will be about how to write, position, and publish your book.
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TSA is led by Linda Secondari, Creative Director and Principal of Studiolo Secondari, Inc. She spent 30 years in publishing, including as Creative Director at Oxford University Press overseeing 3,000 titles annually. TSA translates that insider knowledge directly for authors.
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A complete publishing roadmap: clarity on why you're writing this book, what it actually is, who your reader is, and how to bring it to market — whether through traditional publishing, hybrid, or independent routes.em description
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MFAs and writing workshops focus on craft. TSA focuses on strategy — the publishing landscape, how to position your book, who your reader is, and how to bring your book to market. Many TSA participants are already strong writers who need publishing clarity, not more writing instruction.
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TSA is a flat-rate program. Pricing is available on this page (see above). Payment plans are available.
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TSA runs over three months in small cohorts, with live sessions, structured exercises, and direct access to Linda Secondari, a publishing strategist with 30 years of experience including a decade as Creative Director at Oxford University Press.
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Cohorts run several times a year. Current dates and application details are listed above.
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Yes. TSA alumni have access to TSA Momentum, a post-cohort membership community for continued strategic support and accountability.