Hi! I'm Heather.
I believe everyone has a story to share, and the ability to grow and improve their writing.
My Book Coaching Tenets
Humans are natural-born storytellers.
We inherited the ability to tell stories because story is how we passed down information through generations. Story is how we make sense of the world around us. I believe this is the reason so many people dream of writing a book. However, capturing a story on the page, especially in the way you envision it, is as much as science as an art. Some writers have an innate talent for knowing the rhythms and patterns of story. But most writers need to learn these.
Skill can surpass natural talent in all things, including writing.
Skill is something we learn. We learn it by showing up and doing the work over and over again. We hone our skills by practicing foundational basics and exploring new-to-us techniques. Some new writers bristle at the idea of this; they think writing should just come naturally. But you’d never scoff at a musician whose talent comes from dedicated practice every day, or an athlete whose abilities are honed through daily training, right?
As in most endeavors, the most important thing you need to grow your writing is dedication.
Show up and be open to learning and you’re going to see progress.
Creativity is not always random; it can be a process.
I’ve had a lifelong fascination with creativity. I’ve consumed so much content on the creative process and I regularly practice incorporating creativity into my own life. One thing I’ve learned is that creativity is usually a process. Yes, we have lightning bolt ideas in the shower or on walks, but we can also take steps to nurture our creativity and this is something I adhere to in my book coaching. We don’t have to wait for lightning bolts of inspiration. We can, and should, court creativity.
My goal as a book coach and editor is to help you translate your story to the page as close to your vision as possible.
This is YOUR story. My role is supportive only.
I firmly believe stories have the power to change the world.
Stories provide new perspectives, give us windows into lives totally different than our own, validate lived experiences so we feel less alone, and inspire us. When I was 12 years old, I believed there was little in life that was more important than reading a book. I still believe that, which is why I’m excited to help you share yours with the world.
With 25+ years in communications and extensive experience in the publishing industry, I have a knack for helping writers translate their big ideas to the page, seeing the throughline in a runaway narrative, and helping writers deal with imposter syndrome and overcome their fears.
About Me
I’m a 25-year communications professional, a developmental editor and book coach, and, most recently, the director of a small regional press. I believe everyone has a story to share, and the ability to grow and improve their writing skills. My superpowers are helping writers translate their big ideas to the page, seeing the throughline in a runaway, meandering narrative, and helping writers deal with imposter syndrome and overcome their fears. I especially love working with women writers who are discovering or exploring their writing voices for the first time in midlife, either because they finally found the time to do so or finally realize they have something worthwhile to say.
In 1999 I had my first taste of the book publishing industry when I attended the University of Denver Publishing Institute. As a lifelong reader, I was sure book editor was a perfect role for me, and I wasn’t wrong. I loved my work in the small press publishing industry for years before life circumstances pulled me in another direction. But I eventually found my way back to book publishing (my first love!). And I find now that as an editor and book coach, I draw quite a bit on the experiences I gained from my time working in nonprofit, community development and sociology.
I’ve had experiences across a variety of positions in the publishing industry…as a copyeditor and proofreader, as an independent publicist and in-house marketing manager, as a freelance developmental editor and a small press acquiring editor. Yet my favorite part of this industry has always been working closely with the author on story development. That moment when everything clicks for the writer and the story finally takes on a life of its own is positively magical to see…it speaks to the 12-year-old inside me who would get lost in a book for hours. As a book coach, I get to experience that all the time, and it’s still my favorite thing!
I grew up just outside Detroit, Michigan, and spent 25 years living in Denver, Colorado, until I recently relocated with my husband and two sons to a small town near Chapel Hill, North Carolina. I have a BA in English literature from Michigan State University, an MA in sociology from University of Colorado at Denver, a master’s certificate in publishing from the University of Denver, and I’m a certified book coach through Author Accelerator. I’m also an active member of the Women’s Fiction Writers Association (WFWA), have served as a WFWA Rising Star judge, and am currently the co-chair of the 2025 WFWA Rising Star Awards.