THE BOOK WHISPERER’S SERVICES
FOR AUTHORS WITH IMPACT
Are you confused, frustrated, or just not informed about the book publishing process?
I get you. When I self-published my first book on Amazon KDP, I thought I knew everything. I’d learned how to throw a book up online, but that was just the tip of the iceberg.
Even when I’d received accolades for my second book, I still only knew a fraction of what was possible with self-publishing.
That’s why I’m here—to help you navigate the possibilities with more ease and relief.
Hi! 👋 I’m Sandra Nomoto, AKA the book whisperer. I help spiritual, vegan, and other authors with coaching, ghostwriting, editing, formatting, indexing, publishing platform administration, and marketing & publicity so they can impact people positively with their stories. (Yeah, I know it’s a lot!)
Who does the book whisperer work with?
Since 2020, I’ve worked with nonfiction authors to publish their books. I can work with fiction authors too, if your preference is working with a generalist.
If you:
- Have had a profound life or business experience and thought about writing and publishing a book about it
- Have a compelling story that can be told in more than 30,000 words
- Believe that your purpose is to inspire and impact the everyday person with your story
- Are mastering a craft and want to become known for it
- Once had a health condition you alleviated through a plant-based diet or non-medical means
- Are vegan and have a new take on the benefits of the lifestyle
- Have had a spiritual experience that profoundly changed your life and could be called a miracle
- Can visualize your book shelved in the Mind-Body-Spirit, Biography, or Business sections in a bookstore (or the relevant category for vegan authors)
- Like to see projects to completion, even if you are working on many things at once
- Are excited to tell your story in podcasts and media interviews after publishing your book
- Are ready to speak to audiences in a big way
…I want to work with you!
What are the benefits of becoming a published author?
When I published my second business book, I hoped that maybe I’d get a couple of clients. What I didn’t expect was appearing in over 80 media/podcasts, winning a Vegan Choice Award, and getting paid to speak at events with some of the top people in my industry.
Becoming a published author increases your personal brand (if you weren’t appearing on search engines/AI, you will be now), raises your authority and credibility as a thought leader in your industry, and makes people pay attention to you and what your story or expertise is.
It also helps you influence people in a way you can’t do on your own.
Memoirs and other nonfiction books are incredible records of personal history, experience, and/or expertise.
Anyone can be a published author, but being a bestselling author opens the door to offers with high-end publishers or opportunities to turn your book into a screenplay for film or TV.
See below for who I’ve worked with, my services, and FAQs, and contact me if you’re ready to begin.
RECENTLY PUBLISHED AUTHORS
TESTIMONIALS
I enlisted Sandra to help me with the publicity for my first book, Fabulous Health: A Simple Plan To Get Well And Stay Well. I knew she was in my space (plant-based nutrition) and I had seen the success she’d had with Dr. Angela Crawford. I couldn’t have wished for a better partner. Sandra is proactive and on the ball. She flooded me with media and put me on podcasts I never knew existed, significantly increasing my reach. Her reporting is top-notch, so you always know what’s going on. She is a pleasure to work with, and she gets the job done. HIRE HER!!!
I am so appreciative of Sandra Nomoto’s support as my publicist. When I prepared to launch my book, The Vegan Transformation, I initially was hesitant to hire publicity support (primarily for financial reasons). I decided to engage her services, and I am so grateful that I did. Sandra has greatly expanded my reach, reaching out to her extensive media contacts, and setting up podcast interviews and other media opportunities. She has been tireless in advocating for the book, including posting my podcast appearances and other book-related events on social media. She is extremely conscientious, with great attention to detail. Having her support has given me extra energy and motivation to show up for a big push during the height of the launch. I would highly recommend Sandra for publicity and media outreach for your book or vegan business.
Sandra has been everything I needed as a book editor with comprehensive services and skills! She definitely does her research and creates an easy stepwise plan that kept me on track to make my dream come true as an author. She kept me inspired and I gained great momentum with her guidance. I am truly grateful for her attention to detail and she answered my questions through the whole process. She definitely made this a reality for me despite my busy schedule. I highly recommend her!
For anyone looking for an incredible book editor who will work with you as a team, empower you to think about your book in a different perspective and go the extra mile to ensure that your book is positioned the right way, talk to Sandra. She is a warrior and I couldn’t have published the multi-award winning The Powerful Publicity Prescription without her.
I found Sandra through a list of vegan editors and I’d recommend her to any first time author and already have done so. I am super pleased with the editing and formatting process Sandra provides! I was worried my editor wouldn’t give me enough feedback, but I was given a great and helpful amount. I appreciate Sandra’s patience and kindness through editing/formatting which made it a great first time publishing experience. I look forward to working with her on my future projects!
I am so happy I found Sandra. What she has done for me is amazing. Know this, I am not a professional writer. So when I handed my manuscript to Sandra, it was a real mess. I’m not kidding. I cringe when I see what I originally started with. After Sandra did the magic that she does so well, I can proudly hand my book out, secure that all is as it needed to be. Sandra’s devotion continues long after the work is completed, with ongoing introductions to others in my industry and leads I would have missed. Sandra will be my first call on my next project for sure.
CLIENTS IN THE NEWS
What should I expect when working with the book whisperer?
Whether this is your first or tenth book, you can expect honesty, prompt responses (often within 24 hours on business days), and updates every step of the way. You’ll always know where we’re at with the process.
I typically ask for 50% of the estimated total service fee before we work together, and invoice for the rest upon project completion. Depending on the services you’re hiring me for, more instalments may make more sense.
I’ll never invoice you in full up front and ghost you, like many scam individuals or companies do. You can also ask for references from my previous clients.
I’ve published books with almost next to no support in the past, and let me tell you—it’s better (and much more fun!) when you have people you trust by your side and cheering you the entire way through the publishing journey.
SIGNATURE PACKAGES
GHOSTWRITING
Starts at $3000
In as little as 6 recorded sessions, turn your story into a fully fledged manuscript without typing a single letter. Rate depends on final manuscript length.
EDITING
Starts at $900
I provide structural and copyediting for your manuscript. Includes proofreading and, for nonfiction, fact-checking and proper references. Rate depends on manuscript length.
BOOK PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN
$3000
Reach your ideal readers through targeted podcast interviews with a three-month publicity campaign.
SERVICES
Ghostwriting
Structural Editing, Copyediting, and Proofreading
Print & Ebook Formatting (Layout/Interior Design/Typesetting)
Book Coaching
Publishing Platform Administration
Book Marketing Strategy, Content, and Publicity
I accept Bitcoin!
To those who successfully refer me clients, I give 5% of all projects to YOUR charity of choice or an animal sanctuary near me.
You can also take my self-paced course, How to Publish Your Bestselling Book.
Watch the video below to learn the 3 types of publishing, followed by FAQs.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHY SHOULD YOU HELP ME PUBLISH MY BOOK?
Even though I do not design covers, if you’ve got a limited budget, working with me as your coach and service provider is much more cost-effective compared to what hybrid publishers/agencies charge. You do not have the freedom to hire the team you want; some authors say they are disappointed in their experience with their hybrid publisher.
It’s common for self-publishing authors (myself included) to make errors in spelling, grammar, syntax, and formatting, especially if English is not your first language. Hiring a professional book editor and formatter resolves these errors.
I can also write a web page for your book—check out my business client portfolio here.
In 2020, I completed courses on Book Editing (IAP College), Proofreading and Copyediting with The Chicago Manual of Style (Editorial Freelancers Association), and two online courses on professional formatting for books and e-books (Udemy).
In 2021, I completed an Indexing course from the National Association of Independent Writers and Editors (NAIWE).
See client testimonials on my LinkedIn profile.
I live and breathe writing and editing. I learned to read and write at three years old and have written and published poetry, short stories, blogs, and articles from elementary school through to university and beyond.
Most of my professional career has been in the communications industry. From 2008 to 2018, I ran an award-winning virtual public relations agency, Conscious PR, in Vancouver. In 2012, I committed to working only with businesses that had a positive social or environmental impact. I certified my company as a B Corp and was a member of 1% For the Planet, so I’m all about corporate responsibility & impact-driven work.
In 2014, compiled and co-wrote an heirloom biography of my grandfather. I self-published two business books in 2019 and 2022.
My goal is to be THE person that spiritual, vegan, and impact-driven authors go to if they’re looking for a book coach, ghostwriter, editor, or formatter.
DO YOU USE AI WITH YOUR CLIENTS? IS IT OKAY TO USE AI TO WRITE MY BOOK?
Mostly, I do not use AI.
If you are self-publishing and use AI to write your entire book, you’ll need to disclose that on your publishing platform.
As a ghostwriter, I use Otter.ai to convert audio sessions to text. As an editor, I use ProWritingAid to spot and correct obvious spelling and grammar errors. Usually, this is the extent to which I use AI.
If an author requires a major rewrite in style or changing to 1st/2nd/3rd person from the original manuscript, I may use AI to assist in that, but will discuss that with the author prior to starting the project.
WHAT DO YOU CHARGE AUTHORS?
Services range from $25 to $100 per thousand words. If you provide your manuscript’s word count and/or a sample chapter, I’ll have an idea of how much time it will take to complete the work. I charge by the hour for coaching and publishing platform administration.
When we sign an agreement, clients typically pay half the estimate of the project at the start, and the remaining fee upon delivery of the work.
Additional charges depend on:
- Whether you need to change style during/after ghostwriting
- Whether you need to approve all changes during editing
- The amount of fact checking required (for nonfiction books)
- The presence of images and footnotes/references
- Requests for changes after receiving your print proof
CAN YOU GIVE ME A DISCOUNT?
No. We have to lift people of colour and work towards racial and gender equity. That includes paying me what I’m worth.
HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE FOR YOU TO DO BOOK SERVICES?
It depends on how long your document is, the quality of your writing, and how long it takes for you to approve revisions. With a service like formatting, additional elements like images or footnotes will add time to the project.
If I can take you on as a client, I will commit a minimum of six hours per week. If you want the project completed faster, please let me know prior to signing the agreement; additional fees may apply.
WHAT'S THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF PAGES A BOOK SHOULD BE?
As the amount of text on a page can vary according to the size of the text, font used, and other design elements, look at word count instead of page count. For young adult and adult books, the minimum is 20,000 words, which equates to roughly 80 pages. The minimum I suggest for a book with a proper spine is 30,000 words, which equates to roughly 120 pages.
WHY SHOULD I HIRE A GHOSTWRITER?
If writing isn’t your strong suit or you simply can’t find time to sit down at your computer to type out your book, hiring a ghostwriter or scribe is a great option. Many people are better speakers than writers, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have a story within them. Bestselling author Gary Vaynerchuk’s a great example.
We’ll structure the work in a series of weekly audio or video calls so you can “tell” your story and turn it into a manuscript. I have plenty of experience turning spoken words into written content with corporate clients.
If you’re an influencer without writing experience, publishers may recommend you hire someone to co-author a book with you.
WHY SHOULD I HIRE AN EDITOR OR PROOFREADER?
If you’re not sure whether your book’s structure flows in the best way, hiring a structural editor like me could be useful.
If you’re pitching to publishers and spelling or grammar isn’t your strong suit, English is not your first language, or no one but you has read your manuscript, you will want to hire a copyeditor like me to spot (and fix) any glaring errors that might prevent you from getting selected by a literary agent or publisher.
For self-publishing authors, editing is even more helpful. You don’t want these types of errors spotted by readers and included in their online review of your book.
Click here for a short video about copyediting.
Note: I am now taking in structural editing clients at a discount to get more experience with this type of editing.
WHY SHOULD I HIRE A FORMATTER?
If you’re not a Microsoft Word nerd, don’t know code (html), or don’t care to learn new software, consider hiring a professional to format your eBook (Kindle), printed book, or both.
Working with someone who knows how to make your book look professional in both print and digital form can increase your credibility as an author, even if your writing’s already stellar.
For print, you should know the book specifications (measurements) you want once proofreading and editing are complete. If you aren’t sure what your specs are, you should at least know the publishing service you’re going to use; it will provide the options for you.
I do not do cover design, but can give pro book tips to your designer, recommend the right look and feel, and ensure consistency with the rest of your manuscript. I can also refer you to my book’s cover designer.
CAN YOU BE MY BOOK MARKETER OR PUBLICIST?
By nature, I love to talk about my clients on my social media profiles and website. Here are a few ways I can work as your book marketer or support with your book publicity strategy.
I can develop a content marketing strategy for you to use for the 3 months surrounding your book launch date (1 month before launch, 2 months post-launch). If you need me to write and potentially publish the content, I can do that too.
I also offer book publicity services. I can support local authors in Vancouver, BC or vegan authors who want to target global vegan-friendly media. For everyone else, as your book publicist, I’ll develop a custom list for the campaign that depends on your story, expertise, or book genre.
Want to handle your own publicity but just need a list? I can help you with that too. You can learn how to do publicity and media outreach through my first book, The Only Public Relations Guide You’ll Ever Need, or course, Be Your Own Public Relations Star in 90 Days (which includes a digital copy of my book).
Vegan author clients may have access to my FREE list of 450+ vegan/plant-based media, podcasts, and content creators.
Click here for a short video on the 6 elements of a book marketing strategy.
Other blog posts that may be helpful to you:
- How to build your reader community
- What you can pay for to promote your book
- A bestselling author’s marketing strategy: James Clear’s Atomic Habits
And click here for additional author resources, including my list of book marketing sites.
I HEARD ABOUT YOUR FREE VEGAN MEDIA LIST. HOW CAN I ACCESS IT?
My list of over 450 vegan-friendly media, podcasts, and content creators is a document I’m always updating. You can get the latest version if you purchase one of my courses or hire me for a service. You must identify as vegan and you will need to request the list from me.
DO YOU ONLY WORK WITH VEGAN AUTHORS?
No. While vegan authors can benefit from my personal experience as a vegan and targeted publicity campaigns, so long as you intend to impact people positively with your book, we can work together!
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRADITIONAL, HYBRID/VANITY, AND INDEPENDENT/SELF-PUBLISHING?
Traditional publishing involves a publisher (also called a publishing house/company) securing the author’s rights to their work. The author either pitches their book idea directly to the publisher or lands an agent to represent them, who then facilitates a book deal. Publishers pay for all services required. The typical timeline from signed book deal to launch is one to two years, but can be sped up or delayed for various reasons. Publishers also facilitate the distribution of books both online and in physical bookstores. Authors typically receive between 5 to 15% royalties on each physical book copy sold (ebook and audio formats are higher).
In independent or self-publishing, the author maintains their book rights and has complete creative control over the entire publishing process. The author hires their own book team or may complete some steps themselves. While this path involves an upfront investment, the author keeps a higher royalty (typically 35 to 70%) per print/digital copy sold, and depending on the platform used, they could earn 100% net royalty minus printing and shipping.
Hybrid or vanity publishers operate similarly to traditional publishers, but the author maintains their book rights and pays the publisher for their services. These companies may provide some marketing and book distribution support to authors, who typically receive 50 to 75% royalty per print/digital copy sold.
Click here for a short video about the difference between the three types of publishing.
I explain more about each path in my course, How to Publish Your Bestselling Book.
Also check out Writer’s Beware’s list of publishing, marketing, and fake literary agency scams if you’re considering working with a service provider or agency as an alternative to traditional publishing.
Other blog posts that may be helpful to you:
HOW DO I LAND A DEAL WITH A TRADITIONAL PUBLISHER?
There are two ways to sign a deal with a traditional publisher. First, you can pitch them yourself. You will need to prepare a book proposal (or version of one). Publishers expect fiction authors to already have written their book, while they expect nonfiction authors not to have written their book.
Click here for a book on publishers that accept submissions directly from authors or you can sign up to Authors Publish’s email newsletter to receive issues on publishers and small presses open to direct submissions without an agent.
Second, you can land a literary agent who will help find and negotiate a deal with a traditional publisher. The process of landing an agent is similar to landing a publisher. The top 5 publishers only take proposals from literary agents. See the question below for resources on landing an agent.
Note that traditional publishers may or may not pay an advance. Advances reflect the amount of book copies publishers expect your book to sell. Top publishers expect authors to sell 20-25,000 copies at the time of launch, so I usually suggest authors not expect a deal with a top publisher unless they have between 10-100,000 social media followers, email subscribers, or a similar audience. Publishers also hold the rights to your book for as long as your contract is in effect.
Hybrid publishers do not pay advances and are typically paid by authors to complete all services required to produce a book. You still need to prepare a proposal to pitch hybrid publishers with your book idea. Authors maintain the rights to their book, but some hybrid publishers take a percentage of sales.
Most publishers expect authors to do most of the marketing for their book, even if it’s expected to sell many copies.
DO I NEED A LITERARY AGENT? HOW MUCH DO THEY CHARGE?
You do not need a literary agent, but the top 5 publishers will only take inquiries from literary agents who represent authors who can sell a minimum of 20,000 books. Lit agents pitch your manuscript to potential publishers, who provide the entire suite of services to authors.
While you do not pay for a lit agent to represent you, they usually take 15 to 20% of your advance (if you get one) and sales of book copies before you receive your share.
The process of landing an agent is similar to landing a publisher. Here are some resources for:
- Literary agents
- Literary agents in Canada
- How to find a literary agent
- Jericho Writers’ AgentMatch
- Manuscript Wish List
If we work together, I’m happy to send you a list of literary agents.
HOW MUCH SHOULD I INVEST IF I’M SELF-PUBLISHING?
Amounts will vary depending on where you live or who you choose to hire, but I suggest self-publishing authors invest US/C$10,000 to $15,000 for the following:
- Editor(s)
- Formatter(s)
- Cover designer
- Narrator & sound engineer (for audiobook production)
- Marketing & publicity
- Inventory
Even if you can save money by doing a service yourself or having a friend do it for you for free or at a lower cost, I still suggest taking the amount you saved and investing it into marketing. It’s the most important facet of reaching readers.
WILL WE GET ALONG?
I am an introvert. My personality is more cool than warm. I like clear communication. I dislike people from the global majority who talk too much. Small talk is great for the first few minutes of our meetings, but after that, I like to get to the point.
I stay quiet so I can listen. A lot. I have an unintentional resting bitch face (RBF), which means I listen intently to what you say. This is especially important if I’m writing in your voice—it translates into well-written content (if I’m ghostwriting your book).
I’ve been called “mysterious” and “really quiet” for someone who is in communications. My words—and editing skills—are my secret weapons.
People forget me, but I don’t forget anyone. I’m the small Asian woman who might stay quiet in a boardroom, but I listen to everything and respond when I need to. In the past, I’ve run a film festival with a team of a dozen people, so I’ve led groups when needed.
I’m down to earth and realistic, but I also believe in aliens and that the Divine is everything and everywhere. Everything I do in my life, including my business, is for the greater good of all living beings. I wouldn’t call myself an Intuitive, but when I write or edit for clients, I feel like I get “intuitive downloads” so if you’re into the woo, we’ll get along just fine!
Teaching and helping others to find solutions and progress is in my Human Design profile. After 20 years of professional work, I know that I work 3–5 times faster than most people without compromising quality.
Learn more on my About page and check out my interviews and talks on my YouTube channel.
Lack of emotional intelligence is a deal breaker and may cause a termination of services.
DO YOU KNOW ANY VEGAN PUBLISHERS OR PRINT-ON-DEMAND SERVICES?
Traditional vegan publishers include:
- Ashland Creek Press (US)
- BenBella Vegan (vegan arm of BenBella, US)
- Lantern Publishing & Media (US)
- Next Level (Germany)
- Vegan Publishers (US)
- Wildthought Books (UK)
If you are a publisher and would like to be added to this list, please contact me.
The Vegan Publisher has several publishing programs. Become a part of the Conscious Authors Academy (which I did!) to help you publish your non-fiction book.
Print-on-demand services that use vegan ink include Amazon KDP, Lulu, and Blurb.
IngramSpark does not use vegan ink, but is the largest global distributor of self-published books (and I know The Vegan Publisher is working on getting them to go vegan ASAP!).
DO YOU STILL DO REMOTE ASSISTANT, COPYWRITING, OR PUBLICITY WORK FOR COMPANIES?
Yes. Use my contact form to provide details on what you need, and we can book a call to discuss how I can help you or your business.
