Elise Smith

Elise Smith – Editor

NEW to Reedsy! Helped 355 authors/founders turn dream books into reality. Including a NYTimes Bestseller and a book to film with 1.3M views

Overview

Publishing Bootcamp Co-Founder. New to Reedsy! 355+ authors mentored. Same coaching, new platform.


There’s no feeling like seeing your own book on the shelf.


I loved getting three emails from clients who have that amazing feeling. One author quit her corporate job to become a speaker and travel the country. The second started with no following and one of her books became a feature-length film, and the last author’s email made me cry: "This book is a wonderful legacy to leave my children, the proof of a dream that came true."


None of them were famous. None had published before. But they all have proof of a dream that came true.


I want that dream for you.


I have built a tiny house, sailed the SOC, and cycled across the USA, but my favorite journeys are the ones I have taken with my authors.


In teaching at my publishing bootcamp, co-founding a book editing agency with my wife, and consulting as an academic writing coach, I can see beyond the current manuscript to the driving vision underneath. We’ve worked with the largest online HR encyclopedia in the world and a book that was turned into a feature-length film with over 1,300,000 views.


Editing goes far beyond grammar. It’s about telling stories that are smooth, crisp, and compelling.


Recent projects:


⸺Led a publishing accelerator intro for 315 entrepreneurs and founders.


⸺Simon & Schuster book by Chip Heath whose books have been NYTimes bestsellers, sold 3,000,000 copies, and been translated into 35 languages.


⸺Co-produced National Endowment for the Arts BR memoir workshop.


It’s NOT just 1-on-1 coaching and editing. I’m a publishing mentor, supporting authors as they go from manuscript to publication. I provide:


⦿ Monthly group coaching calls to meet other authors.

⦿ Open office hours to get ideas off your chest.

⦿ Free access to our proprietary book launch kickstarter kit.


Your First Step: a complimentary 15-minute phone call. Here's to dreams that come true!


⸺⸺⸺


“Being a first-time author feels overwhelming. I needed a path to efficiency. To cut through the weeds. Elise walked me through the essence of what I needed to know, including mindset, actionable steps, and real examples in order to get the ball rolling. Her coaching made the process not just smooth but enjoyable.”

- Alessandra Veronesi, A New Banana



Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs Business & Management Career Guides Health & Wellbeing Inspirational Self-Help & Self-Improvement
Languages
English (AUS) English (UK) English (US)

Work experience

Publishing Cohort and Seminar

Nov, 2022 — Present

My wife and I work with authors on all publishing paths from Simon and Schuster to Amazon KDP. We started this course to teach PUBLISHING 101: how to launch your book without breaking the bank (or, more importantly, your soul).

Editing Agency For NYTimes Bestselling Authors

Sep, 2020 — Present

From NYTimes bestselling authors to Amazon #1 bestsellers, my wife and I have helped over 355 authors turn their dream book into a reality, including NYTimes bestselling author Chip Heath whose books have sold over 3 million copies and our workshop students at the National Endowment for the Arts Big Reads program.

How To Disappoint Your Mom

Feb, 2022 — Dec, 2023 (almost 2 years)

Hint: it’s not about your mom. It’s about not disappointing yourself. What happens when we transition from making someone else proud to making ourselves proud? This mini series interview podcast features conversations with culture catalysts and risk takers who gave up on fitting in. This is an honest and practical guide for living a life that is genuine, undaunted, and, most importantly, yours.

WxD

Jan, 2020 — Apr, 2021 (over 1 year)

Second-in-line to CEO and founder, led hiring and onboarding. Co-managed branding builds: project stages included creating a cohesive marketing strategy and completing competitor research.

Northern Illinois University

Nov, 2015 — Nov, 2017 (about 2 years)

Coached writers and authors on developing consistent and concise content.
Onboarding lead for new tutor interviewing and training process.

Portfolio

Developmental Editing Book Coaching
Making Numbers Count: The Art and Science of Communicating Numbers

Heath, Chip

Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster

Copy Editing
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing
Developmental Editing Copy Editing
Book Coaching
Developmental Editing Book Coaching
Book Coaching
The Professor

Johnson, Elia

Elia Johnson

Book Coaching
Book Coaching
Book Coaching
Book Coaching
Developmental Editing Book Coaching
Fortune Cookies For Law Students

Parikh-Chopra, Kashish

Independently published

Book Coaching
Book Coaching

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