Thrillers are the villain’s story, as told by the protagonist
HI! I’M SAM,
The book coach (& author) of all things twisty, dark, mysterious, and suspenseful.
I specialize in coaching mystery, thriller, and suspense authors from novel planning through revision and pitching.*
*and the secret to success is figuring out your villain.
Need some brutally honest & professional-level help?
If you’re serious about your path to publication, yet feel like you’re in revision hell, I’m your coach.
Although I coach and love novel planning, I focus specifically on writers who are stuck in the revision stage of their MTS (mystery, thriller, and suspense), horror, and romantic suspense manuscripts. If you’re blocked and know something isn’t working (and can’t figure out how to fix it), I’m the coach for you.
Brainstorming twists and unblocking scary stories is my coaching superpower.
Enter, book coaching.
I became a book coach through intensive training, driven by my passion for this work and a genuine desire to enhance not only my writing, but also yours.
I love this work.
I KNOW WHAT IT’S LIKE
If you’re in revision hell, I know you’re starving for real feedback…
Does this sound right? You’re…
Overwhelmed, and frustrated.
Don’t know how to fix this manuscript you’ve been working on for 6 months/10 years.
Receiving feedback from your queries to agents, that read “I like your writing, but the story isn’t there yet,”
Left wondering WTF you’re supposed to do to fix it.
I’ve been in the querying trenches and came out strong on the other side, and I know well what it feels like to be in that hellish revision hole and be starved for someone to tell you why your manuscript isn’t working.
I'm committed to giving you an accurate assessment of what needs improvement.
My goal is to assist you in sidestepping the pitfalls I once encountered and offering the support I wished I had when I dove into writing my first novel.
I understand what transforms a manuscript into something an agent would embrace, the elements that craft a compelling story, and how to guide fellow writers in optimizing their manuscripts.
You can expect not only my expertise but also…
kindness
a touch of dark humor
and, above all, brutally honest feedback
Click the button to get to know me better.
“Hire Sam immediately! Don't even think twice about it.
She will elevate your story in ways that you couldn't imagine. You will learn, you will get ideas, you will feel inspired, and you likely will gain an "I got this" confidence that you didn't feel before!”
Katie Payne, Writer
“She is worth every penny and then some.
Brainstorming together is at the top of the list of what I enjoy most about working with Sam. My favorite aspect of working together is the questions she asks about my story. She’s always getting me to think deeper and make connections between characters and plot elements.“
Ivy Layne, Author
Every serious writer needs a book coach.
In ye olde days of publishing, editors at publishing houses would hand-hold and nurture their new writers, using in-house developmental editing to get a novel where it needed to be.
Now, that’s not the case.
Publishers now expect agents to bring them near-perfect novels, ready to sell, which means…
Workshops, conferences, and craft advice can be helpful.
But when all you’re getting are “Sorry, this isn’t for me” emails from every submission, it’s hard to tell what’s wrong and how to fix it.
That’s where I come in. I give you 1:1 focus on you, your vision, and your words.
INVESTING IN ME AS YOUR BOOK COACH MEANS...
Every dollar you spend is focused directly on you.
You’ll get expertise like…
A professional editorial brain looking at your manuscript and brainstorming with you, in the trenches, as you write.
A mentor whose industry knowledge and personal experience as an author (who has been there and done that) is readily available and at your disposal.
An enthusiastic and optimistic coach who believes in you and your story, and who has yet to meet a logic problem in a thriller she can’t brainstorm her way out of.
I believe that excellent storytelling can be coached and that if you care enough to write a novel and you get stuck along the way, that’s okay. It’s normal. And I can help.
Which means you’ll benefit because you’re…
Saving time by writing a finished manuscript that will be tighter and need less revision.
Hearing the truth about whether or not what you’ve written is of agent-ready quality (and why),
And if it’s not, it means having a roadmap for exactly what’s wrong/missing/great and how to go about fixing it
THE TRUTH IS:
Coaching levels you
up as a writer,
and there’s nothing quite like having someone in your corner who cares about your work as much as you do. Ready for a professional eye and the feedback you’ve been starving for? Click the button below.
“I enjoyed the opportunity to discuss my pages with someone who knows them as well as I do,
but who also has a big-picture perspective. Sam’s approach is friendly and open. I appreciated her brainstorming suggestions and ideas on how to fix plot problems, as well as being pushed into articulating my characters' more nuanced emotions.
Emma Dhesi, Author & Book Coach
“Sam helped transform me from a dreaming writer to an author.
I enjoyed most her energy, insightful edits, strategic view of the storyboard, and wonderful encouragement, and I couldn't have finished the book without her. ”
Rashmi Jolly, Writer
What if you could get unblocked without having to rewrite the whole damn story?
You definitely can. Read on…
GET SWEET REVISION RELIEF WITH MY...
Find Your Final Twist - Mini Course
This mini-course is for blocked thriller writers who have full manuscripts and are stuck with wrapping up their stories and bringing the twists home.
With Find Your Final Twist, the aim is to avoid ground-up rewriting by focusing on your current manuscript from a different perspective, and brainstorming solutions.