From Scholarly Work to Trade Publishing Success
Personalized coaching packages designed for every stage of your publishing journey
Academics have brilliant ideas. Readers want brilliant books. We bridge the gap.
Whether you're exploring trade publishing possibilities or finalizing your book proposal, our expertly crafted coaching programs transform complex research into compelling narratives that maintain intellectual integrity while captivating general audiences.
Each package combines strategic guidance, professional editing, and exclusive agent connections—all tailored to your unique goals and budget. Not sure where to start? Our free consultation will identify your optimal path to publishing success.
Plus, join our vibrant community of scholars making this same journey—your built-in network for insight, encouragement and accountability from concept to bookstore.
PLATINUM PACKAGE
The complete transformation: from academic to public intellectual
6-12 month program combining full coaching with comprehensive brand development. For established academics ready for a comprehensive transformation of their public presence. This package is ideal for scholars who want to build a complete platform beyond a single book, establishing themselves as recognized public intellectuals across multiple channels.
Cost: Specific to your needs and circumstances
Institutional funding accepted
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The ultimate transformation: from academic to public intellectual
Our most comprehensive offering builds upon the complete Full Coaching experience with additional services designed to establish your broader platform as a recognized public voice.
You'll receive all elements of our popular Full Coaching package—from the Intro Video Course through The Great Reframing and Finding Your Voice sessions, to Hands-On Editing, Marketing Plan development, Agent Introductions, Group Coaching, and 90-Day Follow-Up Audit.
This transformative package doesn't just help you publish a book—it establishes your complete identity as a public intellectual with multiple channels for sharing your expertise with general audiences.
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Build your digital platform
Work for three months with a specialized coach who helps academics establish prominent online presences through four individualized sessions. You'll develop a content strategy tailored to your expertise, learn techniques for meaningful follower engagement, and create a posting schedule that fits your schedule and goals. Our social media coach brings extensive experience translating complex academic ideas into engaging digital content that builds genuine audience interest. Unlike generic social media advice, this coaching focuses specifically on establishing your credibility as a thought leader in your field.
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Command attention in television, radio and podcast appearances
Specialized training sessions prepare you for television, radio and podcast appearances—as well as the public lecture circuit—through mock interviews, feedback on presentation style and techniques for translating complex ideas into compelling soundbites. You'll learn strategies for redirecting conversations to your key messages and handling challenging questions with confidence and authority. Media appearances can significantly amplify your reach as a public intellectual, but they require different skills from classroom lectures or conference presentations. Our expert coach has prepared academics for appearances on major networks including CNN, NPR and BBC.
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Create your professional digital home
We'll develop a dynamic, professional website that balances academic credibility with public accessibility, showcasing your work and establishing your digital presence. The comprehensive development process includes strategic site architecture, content development for key pages and integration of multimedia elements that highlight your expertise. Your website serves as the foundation of your public intellectual presence—a place where media professionals, potential readers and event organizers can discover your work. Unlike academic department pages, this custom site positions you as an engaging expert whose ideas matter beyond university walls.
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Leverage emerging technologies to amplify your impact
Whether you're a beginner or looking to enhance your technical knowledge, our consultation provides strategies for using AI to amplify your impact while maintaining scholarly integrity. You'll receive guidance on using AI tools for research assistance, optimizing your content for AI-driven discovery, and evaluating which platforms align with your specific goals. As AI reshapes how information is consumed, academics who understand these technologies gain significant advantages in reaching broader audiences. Our specialist helps you navigate this complex landscape, identifying specific applications that enhance your expertise rather than diluting it.
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Share your expertise through opinion pieces
Three months of tailored advice from a coach specializing in helping academics place opinion pieces in major publications such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Atlantic. You'll learn to identify newsworthy hooks that connect your expertise to current events, structure opinion pieces for maximum impact and craft compelling openings that grab editors' attentions. Our coach provides both technical skills and strategic guidance for navigating the submission process and building relationships with opinion editors. Op-Eds remain one of the most powerful ways for academics to influence public discourse and build their platform.
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Five years of unlimited coaching sessions with John as you cultivate your career as a trade book author and public intellectual.
FULL COACHING
Popular
Our most popular offering: from concept to agent-ready proposal
3-9 month program with comprehensive support at every stage. For career academics who feel like complete newcomers to trade publishing and want comprehensive support through every stage of the process. This flagship package provides everything you need to go from concept to agent-ready proposal with expert guidance throughout.
Cost: Specific to your needs and circumstances
Institutional funding accepted
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Our most popular offering: transforming academic expertise into trade publishing success
The flagship Scholars to Storytellers experience takes you from initial concept to agent-ready proposal through our proven seven-step process. This comprehensive program includes everything academics need to navigate the unfamiliar terrain of commercial publishing:
Begin with our essential Intro Video Course that establishes the critical foundation for understanding trade publishing. Then dive into The Great Reframing and Finding Your Voice sessions with John, where your academic research transforms into a compelling narrative with mainstream appeal. Our team of publishing professionals provides Hands-On Editing to polish your proposal and writing sample, followed by expert guidance through the challenging Marketing Plan development process.
This complete package provides everything you need to successfully bridge the gap between scholarly expertise and commercial publishing success.
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Professional polish from publishing industry veterans
Once your concept and voice are established, you'll collaborate with an editor from our team of publishing professionals to develop all essential elements of your proposal and writing sample. Our editors bring years of experience from major trade presses, including Big 5 publishers, and specialize in helping academics transition to commercial publishing. Through multiple revision stages, you'll refine your book proposal, address specific questions from a publisher's perspective and ensure your material exceeds industry standards. This hands-on guidance provides the professional polish necessary for your work to stand out in a competitive marketplace.
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Navigate the section academics dread most
A one-hour consultation and draft feedback with a top New York publicist helps you craft the "marketing plan" and "comparable titles" sections that often challenge academic authors. You'll develop a compelling author platform strategy, identify your target audience, and position your work effectively within the commercial landscape. Though just a couple of pages, this critical component can make or break your proposal's success with agents and publishers. Our publicist brings specialized expertise in helping scholarly authors demonstrate their book's commercial viability without compromising intellectual integrity.
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Support beyond the proposal stage
We continue conversations for up to 90 days after your contract ends, helping you navigate your relationship with your agent/publisher or consider alternatives if you haven't secured representation. This extended support includes check-in conversations, guidance on responding to publisher interest or feedback, and strategic planning for next steps. The publishing journey doesn't end when your proposal is complete, and this follow-up ensures you have expert guidance during critical early stages of your commercial publishing career.
ESSENTIALS PACKAGE
Core coaching for confident academics
3-4 month program focused on concept development and storytelling. For scholars on a budget who want to work closely with John but feel confident in their ability to implement suggestions independently. This streamlined package focuses on the transformative coaching elements while allowing you to handle more of the execution yourself.
Cost: Specific to your needs and circumstances
Institutional funding accepted
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Your critical first step into commercial publishing
Begin with our essential one-hour video that guides you through the fundamentals of commercial publishing and illuminates how it differs from the academic world—a critical mindset shift that establishes the framework for your transformation. You'll learn what makes a winning book proposal, understand the publication timeline from concept to bookstore and discover the common pitfalls academics face when transitioning to trade publishing. This foundational knowledge ensures you approach the process with clarity and confidence, avoiding the confusion that derails many scholarly authors.
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Discover the compelling story within your scholarship
Through several hours of personalized, one-on-one coaching with John, you'll strategically reconceptualize your academic expertise into a narrative with broad public appeal. This intensive process helps you find your narrative arc, develop characters and plot elements, and discover the true heart and soul of your book. You'll learn to identify which aspects of your research will captivate general readers while maintaining intellectual integrity. The Great Reframing answers the critical question that defines successful crossover books: what is the story you really want to tell?
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Unleash the writer within
These transformative coaching sessions help you develop your authentic voice as an author and writer—not just a scholar. John works with you to see your subject through the lens of character, plot, narrative tension, climax, storytelling, anecdote, emotion and passion—elements academia often discourages. You'll break free from the constraints of academic writing while maintaining the substance that gives your work value. This process helps you craft prose that engages general readers without sacrificing depth, mastering the art of showing rather than telling.
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Direct access to literary representation
When your proposal is ready, we'll submit it to our network of literary agents, most of whom respond within days rather than months. Unlike the typical submission process where authors wait extended periods for generic rejections, you'll receive concrete feedback if your proposal isn't right for a particular agent. This invaluable service allows us to refine your approach strategically until we find the right match. Our direct connections bypass the usual querying process, saving you months or even years of frustration navigating the publishing world alone.
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Join a community of academic authors
Receive membership in our dynamic group coaching program where scholars meet twice monthly with John to share tips, challenges and strategies for writing to general audiences. This brilliant community provides both practical advice and emotional support throughout your publishing journey, creating connections that extend far beyond the coaching period. You'll benefit from diverse perspectives while building accountability partnerships that keep your project moving forward. This $127/month subscription program is included free with private coaching packages.
Explore at your own pace
Not ready for a full coaching package? Start your publishing journey with flexible options designed to introduce you to our unique approach.
$127/month | Cancel anytime | No minimum commitment
Join our dynamic community of scholars twice monthly for collaborative learning, accountability, and ongoing support. Experience our teaching methods and connect with fellow academics navigating the same transition.
$227/hour | Schedule as needed
Get direct access to John's decades of insight bridging academia and trade publishing through focused, one-hour sessions. Perfect for targeted guidance on specific challenges or exploring whether our approach aligns with your goals. The first session is COMPLETELY FREE— to give you the freedom to explore which path is right for you as you begin on your trade publishing journey.