Linda, why are you coaching authors?

Why did I launch “The Strategic Author” coaching program?

After more than 25 years in publishing, I saw the same challenge over and over: talented writers passionate about their ideas, but unsure how to navigate the realities of publishing and get their books into readers' hands.

Publishing is a business, and decisions about what books get published depend on where a book fits in the market and its potential to reach readers. But "success" looks different for every author. That's why I created a process that helps writers define their own goals before choosing a publishing path

That’s where my background of more than 25 years working in-house at various publishing companies, and eight years running my own business, comes in.

What I’ve learned

Working in-house exposed me to how publishers evaluate manuscripts and use data, comparable titles, and instinct to decide whether to publish a book. My time sitting at the table in countless publication committee meetings, sales catalog planning, and book launches refined my perspective on what makes books "work" and how to reach an audience.

As the Creative Director, I wasn’t in charge of just making things pretty. I was translating strategy into visible form — the cover, the layout, the trim size, the text sizes, and legibility. Every detail was a signal, telling readers, booksellers, and librarians alike: this book belongs to you, on this shelf, at this price, for this audience.

This experience resulted in my “4 Questions” framework, which is the basis of my coaching program.

What success looks like

Working with authors through my company, Studiolo Secondari, I realized that to define what success truly means for each author, I needed to create a clear evaluation process because success means something different to each writer.

I've worked with authors whose dream was a six-figure publishing deal.

Others wanted to hold a finished book in their hands.

Some wanted to leave a legacy for their children.

Some wanted to grow their business.

Each one requires a different publishing strategy.

The publishing roadmap

That's why every author I work with begins with a Publishing Roadmap — a professional assessment that evaluates the manuscript, identifies comparable titles, clarifies the target audience, and maps out the smartest publishing strategy that reflects their goals for the project. This framework became the foundation for The Strategic Author: a 3-month group program where writers at any stage learn how to navigate the business of publishing — whether you’re writing fiction or nonfiction, starting with an outline, or polishing a finished draft.

The Strategic Author

Since launching last year, The Strategic Author community has grown and thrived.

Members get live coaching, expert Q&As, and the support of fellow authors — plus access to resources and ongoing conversations.

Many alumni continue as community members even after finishing the program, which speaks volumes about its value.

Let’s supersize!

This Fall, my goal is to expand the program to welcome up to 30 writers (that’s a 3x increase!).

If you want a results-driven, community-focused coaching experience that will give your book its best chance at success, I’d love for you to join us.

If you know someone who would benefit from this kind of support, please send them my way!

Let’s do this!

Every successful book begins long before publication.

It begins with understanding where your book fits, who it serves, and what success really looks like.

That's exactly what we'll work on together.