Book Development

Books are amazing and powerful social objects.

Like no other media form of media, they shape the discussions we have with each other through vocabulary, mental framework, and story.

This makes books the ideal medium to spread ideas, influence people, and create change.

I help people take advantage of the opportunity that writing and launching a book provides.

This starts with framing your idea in a way that creates the most impact. The output of this process in a book proposal, one that can be used to present the book to a publisher or as a document to begin your own process of writing a book.

The second phase is creating a manuscript that successfully communicates the idea. This is the hard work and, at the same time, is the part that every author looks back on with pride. Developing the right framework for the book is key.

Having written the book, you are only half way there. The launch of the book is the other half and the most important part of the whole process. Authors write books to bring about change, but that cannot happen if the book goes unread. Planning and coordinating every part of your network of friends and colleagues is critically important to the overall success of the book.

And the times are a-changin’. Ebooks, social media and print on demand are changing that economic and logistical constraints of publishing’s past. There is more opportunity than ever to publish your book and influence thousands or millions of people.

I work with business thought leaders and business book publishers in three ways.

• BizBookLab Live is a two day workshop for authors, those who support authors, and publishing professionals. We cover the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that you need to be successful in business book publishing. The next workshop is June 21st and 22nd, 2011 in Portland, Oregon.
• For authors and publishers with a specific issue, I offer coaching calls. These calls last between 60-90 minute and give the appropriate amount of time to dig into an issue whether it is develop a title and subtitle or determining the best use of limit marketing resources. The calls can be scheduled as needed and cost $500.
• For authors who have completed significant work on a proposal or are already signed with a publisher, I can be instrumental in optimizing the rest of your efforts. These efforts vary by project but often include structural editing of the manuscript or develop of a comprehensive marketing plan or evaluating options for additional products based around the book. These projects can last anywhere between three and nine months and range in cost from $5,000 to $10,000.
• For thought leaders who are at the very beginning, starting with a core idea, I offer a comprehensive service that runs the entire length of the project from proposal development to post-publication of the book. These project take 18 to 24 month and range in cost from $10,000 to $20,000.

Lastly, I will sometimes get asked if I ever act as an agent for business books proposal that I see and work on. The answer is yes, but in a very limited number of cases. When I find the right combination of author and idea, I will work as an agent and take my compensation through the sale of the book. I do not act in the capacity on a regular basis, nor would I be a good place to send a manuscript for consideration.

You can contact me at toddsattersten+bookdev2011@gmail.com.