If you have a completed or partially completed manuscript you need an experienced and critical eye to read it through before you submit it to a publisher.  This would greatly reduce the possibility of a rejection slip landing on your doormat.

 You might want a written report with a full analysis of your work or you might prefer to have your first draft completely re-written for you in a format that is editor friendly.

This is how we can work with you:

RE-WRITE

If your work is submitted to us by email in a .doc format we can return an edited version to you that will include all the suggestions we would have made in a critical report. 

       Priced as for Critical Report plus 25%

ONE to ONE MENTORING

Do you have a skill or a passion that you would like to write about?

 Have you started a book but just can’t get it organised ?

Have you completed a book but don’t know how to sell it?

Let me help you to achieve your goals.

"Everyone has a book in them" -  but that book is not necessarily a novel.

 As the author of 26, internationally published, illustrated, non-fiction books  I can tell you with confidence that many of the most successful titles are not written by great writers but by those who simply have a real passion for the subject they are writing about. 

 The difference between success and failure often lies in the presentation and organisation of your work, good research skills, creative marketing and a broad understanding of the challenges and limitations of a highly competitive, international publishing market. 

 As a mentor I will work with you by email or ( face to face if you live in the Dordogne) and together we will address all of the following, important issues and we will apply them to your work.

I have been writing successful, illustrated books for over 25 years and below I list just some of the things that you need to think about.

• Identifying, researching and writing for your strongest target market.
• Thinking internationally.
• Planning promotional opportunities that will ensure sales ahead of the game.
• Finding unique approaches and gaps in the market
• Starting at the end – See your whole book before you write the first chapter.
• Breaking down the content into balanced sections
• Incorporating and commissioning visuals
• Creating a presentation
• Determining the best publishing option
• Presenting your idea ie. what editors and agents really want to see
• Negotiating a deal
• Co-editions, book fairs, sample spreads, options
• The publisher’s risk

• The nitty gritty

• Flat fee versus royalty
• Agents
• Timescales
• Stage payments
• Library and photocopy royalties
• Overseas editions
• Page proofs
• Marketing/ Remainders
• Your second book
• The power of experience

Email consultations:

 Full email discussions (up to ten emails each way) on any four of  the listed issues and how they apply to your personal project. £55.00 (82 Euros)

 Combine your work with a holiday at my Dordogne home (20 minutes from Bergerac airport).  Click here for full details.

If you have a partially written presentation or a completed manuscript I will need to read this before we begin.  There is a charge of  2 Euros per page for this service.  If you would like a written, critical assessment of your work go to Editorial for the table of rates.

Manuscripts can be sent by email to melinda.coss@wanadoo.fr in Word (.doc) or pdf format, or by snail mail (please be sure to keep a copy and to include an S.A.E) to:

Melinda Coss,

Chez Coss,

Larocal,

Ste Sabine Born

24440 - France