Your story and experience can change the world.

Let’s grow your budding ideas into a powerful book.

Nice to meet you!

I’m September Vaudrey—a collaborative author, ghostwriter, and professional editor with more than 15 years of experience in the publishing industry.

I help new or busy authors turn their stories and ideas into bestselling books with traditional publishers like HarperCollins, Thomas Nelson, Zondervan, and Tyndale.

I specialize in memoir and self-help/personal growth. My own memoir, Colors of Goodbye, was a top-five finalist for ECPA Book of the Year: Biography/Memoir and received a coveted Starred Review from Publishers Weekly. Three of my book projects have reached bestseller status, including one that hit #1 on Amazon as a new release.

 

Which of my services might help you most?

Collaborative Author | Ghostwriter

I’ve partnered with numerous successful authors, helping their books reach bestseller status and hit #1 in their category on Amazon.

IDEA + SCRIBE. These are the two vital elements of every book.

You are the idea. In a memoir/narrative non-fiction book, the idea is your experience over a certain span of your life—and how it shaped and changed you. In an instructional non-fiction book, the idea might be original content, insights, research, or knowledge that you want to impart to readers because it will make their lives better.

But sometimes authors and thought leaders don’t have the time, interest, or skill to turn their ideas into a book. That’s where I come in.

Let me be your scribe. With more than fifteen years of experience in the publishing industry, it gives me great joy to help people create the book of their dreams. As your collaborative author or ghostwriter, I will:

  • Listen until I understand all the parts of your story or idea.

  • Strategize about how we can structure your book so it will maximally impact readers.

  • Write or co-write each chapter—in your voice.

  • Make revisions and provide professional editing.

  • Deliver a polished manuscript, ready for agents and publishers.

 

Professional Editing for Authors

Everyone needs an editor. We are simply too close to our own works to provide the objectivity and skill a professional editor delivers.

If you’ve captured a solid first draft—or even a wobbly one—your book is ready for a fresh set of eyes. Whether your pages need a thorough reworking or just a little clean-up, it’s time to bring in a professional editor.

I have decades of experience in both developmental (content) editing and line editing. We can discuss your project and I’ll make a recommendation for what level of editing might serve you best.

For first-time clients, I edit Chapter One for free.

 

Book Mapping

Let me walk you through my book-mapping process to capture your book’s essence and structure it in a way that engages readers and keeps them hooked.

Perhaps you have the margin and skill to write your own chapters, but you’re having a hard time seeing the big picture. You need an architect to help you build your book’s scaffolding.

As a trained book mapping and brand specialist, I can partner with you to get clear on your core values, message, target audience, and book construction.

Over a series of meetings or a working weekend together, I can set you up to launch boldly into creating the book you were meant to write.

 

Book Proposals

Book proposals aren’t the most glamorous part of the publishing process—but they’re vital to securing a deal or signing with an agent.

A well-crafted book proposal is the price of admission when it comes to getting your manuscript in front of literary agents and publishers. They want to know your vision for your book—and how you plan to reach the audience who will purchase it.

I’ve crafted professional book proposals that landed multi-book deals for authors with traditional publishing houses—including a Big Five publisher—and a high-profile agent.

First impressions matter. Let’s present your manuscript in the best possible light through a powerful proposal that attracts the right agent, publisher, and offer for your book.

 

Editing & Author Coaching for Literary Agents & Publishers

Are you a literary agent, acquisitions editor, or publisher in need of some strong, clean editing for a project? Let’s chat!

During my decade as lead writer and editor for a large non-profit, I honed the art of concise, impactful editing that captures the author’s voice and moves readers to action.

Got a manuscript that has great bones—but it’s a bit of a mess? Or an author with loads of potential who needs coaching? My specialties! I love reworking or cleaning up a promising manuscript and helping an author develop their craft.

I’m experienced in both developmental and line editing—and can edit for AP or Chicago Manual of Style. For first-time clients, I’ll edit Chapter One for free.

I work uninterrupted from my home office in Southern California, where I flex my schedule to fit the needs of my clients.