Consulting Services for Authors: From Manuscript to Market

Turn your writing dreams into published success. I guide authors across four connected levels — branding, marketing, strategy, and promotion — because none of them work in isolation. Whether you choose our a la carte services or immersive coaching programs, we provide the tools and knowledge you need to share your story with the world.

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A la Carte Services

A la carte services are affordable book marketing services that can be purchased individually. Each service is customized to your book, your story, and your audience and powered by the latest digital technologies.

Services include:

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Coaching Programs

My role as a Book Coach is to help you understand who you are as an author, clarify your writing and publishing goals, examine your books and where they fit, and identify the readers most likely to connect with your work. From there, we bring those pieces together into a strategic author brand designed to help you shine in a crowded literary market.

I bring experience from both sides of the desk: as a working author who has navigated multiple publishing paths, and as an industry insider with expertise in marketing, communications, strategy, and publishing. I am not a publisher, editor, or literary agent. I work alongside you as a strategic partner, helping you understand your options, make informed decisions, and move forward with greater confidence.

I offer two coaching programs designed around different outcomes: Breakthrough builds the foundation for your publishing journey, while Mastery provides deeper strategic support to strengthen, expand, or reposition your author career. If you’re somewhere in between, contact me for a free consultation and we’ll create a customized plan for your publishing stage and budget.

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    Vision & Goals

    I’ll look at your book and genre, clarify your publishing vision, and define your core “why” to create a clear path forward.

  • Icon of a closed book with a bookmark.

    Author Brand

    Based on your book, genre, and goals, I’ll help you build an authentic author brand and platform that stands out and connects with the right readers.

  • Icon of a presentation board with pie chart and growth arrow, representing data analysis or business strategy.

    Strategic Plan

    You’ll get a customized, burnout-free strategy and plan for publishing, social media, and expansion of your brand and platform.

  • Icon of an open book with an upward arrow above it, representing knowledge or learning.

    Publishing Guidance

    Wherever you are on your publishing journey, I’ll help you understand your options, prepare for next steps, and navigate the path that’s right for you.

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Breakthrough Program

With my Breakthrough Program, we’ll work together to refine your goals, align them to a strategic vision, and establish a path forward. Our work together will focus on the what, why, and how, so you feel more confident about what you’re doing, clearer about where you’re going, and more empowered about how to get there. I’ll get you started with clear steps and templates to launch right now. The Breakthrough Program will put you and your book on the map and provide you with direction, a plan forward, and a basic author platform.

The Breakthrough Program typically includes the following services and can be customized according to what you need most:

Publishing Consultation – Based on where you are in your writing process, I’ll help you establish the best path for publishing and launching your book, including self, hybrid, or traditional publishing. I’ll help you query an agent or publisher if needed, and coach you on how to write a book pitch.

Understanding Your Market – Through a market analysis, we’ll identify your target market and uncover the audience for your book. Then we’ll go deeper to identify your book’s “hook” and use that to unlock the best channels for reaching your target readers.

Author Platform – This is the most in-depth work in the Breakthrough Program. Using what we learned through your market analysis, we’ll strengthen the essential pieces of your author platform and make sure they work together to reach the right readers.

  • Website Critique

  • Compelling Author Headshot

  • Author Bio in multiple lengths and formats

  • Social Media Profile Evaluation with recommendations for consistency, SEO, and engagement

  • Amazon Author Central and Goodreads optimization

  • Setup and strategy for two social platforms, if needed, including posting templates and guidance for building your audience

  • Editorial Reviews and testimonial guidance for completed books

The Breakthrough Program also includes coaching on how to promote your book through social media, booksellers, and community venues.

My goal is to keep you motivated, prevent burnout, and help you enjoy the journey!

Cost: $750

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An older woman with gray hair and glasses sitting at a desk, smiling while using a laptop in a bright room with a window and a bookshelf.
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Mastery Program

The Mastery Program is for experienced authors ready to go deeper. We’ll uncover the WHY behind your books, strengthen your connection with readers, and create a repeatable strategy for writing, marketing, publishing, and promotion.

Mastery includes everything in the Breakthrough Program, with deeper market intelligence, audience strategy, launch planning, and promotional tools designed to support an ongoing author career.

The result is a cohesive strategy that connects who you are as an author with how you position, promote, and grow your body of work.

The Mastery Program includes:

  • Detailed Audience Insights Analysis and Reader Personas

  • Book Launch Plan covering events, scheduling, press, and promotion

  • Targeted Outreach Plan to bookstores, libraries and book clubs

  • Book Club Resource Guide

  • Elevated Book Synopsis suite aligned with your audience

  • Amazon A+ Content

  • Professional Author Media Kit

  • Press Release

  • Short Book Trailer

  • Reusable social media templates and posting schedule

  • Repeatable Book Launch Playbook

Cost: $1200

  • "I share my treasures reluctantly. Lisa Towles vastly exceeds all expectations. I count her among the finest professionals to guide my literary path forward. She is incredibly skilled, knowledgeable, insightful and personable. Thank you, Lisa!"

    Avery Mann, Author of the Gobscheit Geopolitical Thriller Series

  • "Lisa Towles is an astute author-whisperer. She has a deep knowledge of what it takes to strengthen your author-brand and enable your books to gain awareness and recognition. She is completely devoted to her clients, personalizing and clarifying the precise strategies best suited to your own unique book writing, publishing and promoting goals. Lisa goes so far above and beyond that I can personally attest that her expertise, empathy and individualized wise counsel delivered for me a clear path forward with renewed energy and vital new knowledge for success."

    Maxine Rose Schur, Award-Winning Author of Children's, Young Adult, and Travel Literature

  • "Lisa amazed me with her breadth of knowledge and understanding about the ever changing world of marketing. Not only is she a delight to work with but she focuses on you and all your unique quirks and angles. No cookie-cutter consulting here. After working with Lisa I felt empowered to take on social media and branding in ways I hadn’t considered before. Plus, I came away with a clearer picture of how marketing works and how I can be successful advocating for my own creative needs."

    T.E. MacArthur, Author of the Praetorius Agency Files and storyteller of the unseen.

  • "Lisa, your guidance and expertise in marketing is amazing. You have given me a plan I could never have worked out. But more than that, your gentle manner has made me believe I can actually make something of my writing career. You've made me feel confident."

    — Ana Manwaring, author of the acclaimed JadeAnne Stone Mexico crime thriller series

  • “Working with Lisa was transformative at a stage where clarity mattered most. As a creator, I had a strong vision but struggled to translate it into clear messaging and a market-ready strategy without losing its emotional integrity. Lisa guided me through that process with exceptional sensitivity and precision. She helped me articulate what my work is really about, who it’s for, and how to communicate it. The strategy she created gave me confidence, direction, and a framework I can grow with.”

    — Natalie P.

  • "Working with Lisa was a transformative experience; her incredible attention to detail brought much-needed clarity to my audience insights, genres, and reader personas. She meticulously fine-tuned my Author A+ content, ensuring every element was polished to perfection and perfectly aligned with my brand. Lisa’s ability to sharpen the nuances of my marketing strategy has given me the confidence and professional edge I need to truly connect with my readers."

    Kristina Fox, Author of the Kelsey James Fitness Mystery series

  • "Working with Lisa Towles on reaching more readers has been a pleasure. Lisa has been truly brilliant in developing key insights regarding what's at the heart of my writing. She is thorough and organized in her approach. I would use her again in a heartbeat."

    Marie Judson, Author of memorable fantasy including Xentu Secret

  • "Lisa provides a most thorough and detailed service for her clients, tailoring a multitude of materials and information to the specific person and their marketing needs. Both professional and personable, she has the expertise to assist writers in each step of their career, helping with manuscript to queries to branding and everything in between. I’m utterly impressed with all she has done for me in such a brief time, and highly recommend her to anyone seeking help with their writing and publishing journey. "

    Jeanie Smith, Author

  • Lisa Towles is a remarkable teacher, coach, and accomplished thriller author with many books to her name. Her kindness, warmth, patience, availability, and consistent follow-up have been invaluable. Her knowledge and encouragement have given me the confidence and ability to move forward as an author.

    Patricia L. Morin, Author of Moloch and the Angel

  • "Lisa skillfully guided me through the Amazon matrix, prepared an excellent Author Media Kit to use with libraries, and bookstores and provided suggestions for using social media. She provided a market analysis, several versions of my synopsis and solidified my brand. Her knowledge, encouragement, and insights were invaluable. I look forward to working with Lisa on my next project."

    Billie Hanson-Dupree, Historical Literary Fiction Author of Still Kickin’