Lara Asher

Lara Asher – Editor

25+ years experience in memoir, health, self-help/psychology, spirituality, and more. I believe books can empower people and change lives.

Overview

I'm an editor with 25 years of experience in the publishing industry, multiple New York Times bestsellers, and a National Book Award Finalist. My core categories include memoir/narrative non-fiction, health, self-help/psychology, spirituality, and parenting. I'm the editor of The Gospel According to Coco Chanel, The Boy Kings of Texas, and WILD Habits. I've worked with Dr. Jolene Brighten, Dr. Ramani Durvasula, and Lisa Moskovitz, RD, as well as many other doctors, nutritionists, and psychologists. After many years as an acquisitions editor for major publishing houses, I founded my own company so that I could focus on what I love most--working with authors on developing their manuscripts. I now work with publishers, authors, and literary agents as a developmental editor, content editor, book doctor, proposal writer, and ghostwriter. I enjoy working with first-time authors and can help navigate the publishing process with a compassionate mentoring approach. If we work together, I will be genuinely invested in your book and will not only offer skilled editorial feedback but also reassurance and guidance along the way. I graduated from Princeton University and received my MA in English Literature from Boston College.

Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits Health & Wellbeing Parenting & Families Psychology Religion & Spirituality Self-Help & Self-Improvement Sex & Relationships
Languages
English (US)
Certifications
  • MA in English Literature

Work experience

Self-employed

Apr, 2015 — Present

I founded my own company, which offers services in developmental editing, line editing, and ghostwriting manuscripts as well as writing book proposals.

Globe Pequot Press

Jul, 2007 — Jul, 2014 (about 7 years)

• Responsible for growing the skirt! and Lyon’s Press imprints, acquiring 15-20 books per year in the following core categories: health, self-help/psychology, parenting, cooking, and memoir.
• Cultivated relationships and negotiated deals with numerous literary agents.
• Developmentally edited all books, establishing meaningful connections with authors; wrote cover and catalogue copy.
• Presented titles to marketing, sales, and publicity departments at pub board and pre-sales meetings.
• Worked closely and collaboratively with colleagues in other departments, regarding the strategy for covers and interior designs, as well as book production schedules and budgets.
• Actively pursued forewords and endorsements for books.

Spier New York Advertising Agency

Jan, 2002 — Aug, 2005 (over 3 years)

• Handled advertising for major book publishing accounts, serving as liaison between clients and agency; attended regular meetings with clients to discuss ad status reports and season launches.
• Advised clients on appropriate media venues (print, radio, online) for each book title, according to client budgets, and created media schedules for client approval.
• Developed ad strategies with clients for each campaign and communicated those strategies to the agency creative team; ensured that campaigns met clients’ objectives and style sheets.
• Worked on high-profile campaigns, including bestselling authors Dean Koontz and Deepak Chopra.

St. Martin's Press

Apr, 1999 — Apr, 2001 (about 2 years)

• Supervised the transition of approximately 50 books from the Golden Books Adult Division to St. Martin’s Press during/after sale of imprint.
• Completed final edits on all books under contract; acquired new books in nonfiction parenting and self-help categories.
• Launched books to sales, marketing, and publicity for each publishing season, writing tip sheets, catalogue copy, and audio presentations.
• Trained and managed two editorial assistants who reported directly to me.

Golden Books Family Entertainment

Sep, 1996 — Apr, 1999 (over 2 years)

Portfolio

Out of the 100 million women—almost 11 million in the United States alone—who are on the pill, roughly 60 percent take it for non-contraceptive reasons like painful periods, endometriosis, PCOS, and acne. While the birth control pill is widely prescribed as a ... read more
9/11: The World Speaks

Tribute WTC Visitor Center

Almost two million people from across the United States and around the world have come through the museum galleries of the Tribute WTC Visitor Center since it opened in September 2006 right across the street from the World Trade Center site. Many of these visi... read more
Carter Oosterhouse knows how real people live and how intimidating home design can be. With his reassuring, “you can do it” attitude, he goes out of his way to show readers how to create realistic design elements that they can implement with basic tools and a ... read more
When someone says they live in a small house or apartment, the image that comes to mind is all too often negative—cramped, cluttered, or confining. But America’s leading small space designer, Libby Langdon, knows just how to counter that stereotype. In Libby L... read more
The Complete Allergy-Free Comfort Foods Cookbook outlines entrees, sides, and desserts that hark back to simpler times.This book brings such time-honored foods and flavors back into the lives of those with the most common food allergies and sensitivities--thos... read more
If you want to eat healthy without sacrificing flavor but are so busy that you often find yourself resorting to take-out or packaged convenience foods, this book is for you! Chef Jason Roberts shows how eating a rainbow of fruits and vegetables and other nutri... read more
Brian Boitano has traveled all over the world for skating competitions, and he is fascinated with other cultures and their cuisine. He now finds the same deep fulfillment in cooking and entertaining that he once found in skating. His adventures abroad influenc... read more
In 2000, Peach Friedman, a college senior freshly broken up from her boyfriend, set out to beat the blues by beating herself into shape. Running ten miles a day and taking in as little as 800 calories, she fell from 146 pounds to 100 in three months and was at... read more
Griefland. It’s a place no one wants to visit—a place without borders where language is inadequate and pain is constant. It’s a place where every morning one awakens to the stark reality that a loved one will never be seen, heard—or embraced—again. This is a p... read more
As a child, Patricia Velasquez watched her mother struggle to make ends meet and put food on the table for their large family. In her unprivileged community in Venezuela, food and water were scarce. It pained her to see her mother work so hard, often denying h... read more
Marquez provides a powerful portrait of Haiti—both its beauty and pathos—while also telling a tender, emotional story about the lifelong bond she created with an extraordinary young boy.
Breeding in Captivity takes us on Stacy Bolt’s journey to have a child at "advanced maternal age," first with the help of a Really Expensive fertility specialist, and then ultimately through a local adoption agency. But this isn’t your typical serious memoir a... read more
Even hardcore music fans don’t know the name Ron Weisner . . . but they should. A high-powered manager for over four decades, Ron worked alongside Madonna, Paul McCartney, Steve Winwood, Gladys Knight, Curtis Mayfield, Bill Withers, and, most notably, Michael ... read more
A New York Times Bestseller!Just weeks before her wedding, four of Rachelle Friedman's friends threw her a bachelorette party. At the end of a perfect evening of dancing and celebration, they decided to take a moonlight swim. One of her friends playfully pushe... read more
Stacy Keach is known for movie roles like Fat City and American History X and the television series Titus, and of course Mike Hammer, but he's also revered in the industry as a serious actor who's passionate about his craft. In his long, impressive career, he ... read more
These days it seems everyone has a youth sports horror story—whether it’s about a tyrant coach obsessed with his team record that only plays the best kids on the team, or a parent who publicly berates his kid for not making a goal. But should it really only be... read more
Pat Byrnes worked at home and made his own hours. His wife’s job (Illinois Attorney General) was not so flexible. So when the first baby came, he naively volunteered to go where few men have gone before and stay home with the kids. On one condition. He wouldn’... read more
In Life Tuneups, Loren Slocum empowers and reminds all women―single, married, working, with or without kids―to recognize their unique gifts, celebrate their inner beauty, and take care of themselves as they juggle the myriad facets of their lives. She insists ... read more
Most women who are dieting do not realize that PMS and weight gain are connected—and that to really lose weight, increase energy, and feel better they need to consider their monthly cycle. Now The 28 Days Lighter Diet teaches women how to embrace their monthly... read more
You Are WHY You Eat teaches readers to take back control in their lives. Dr. Ramani takes a fresh, brave, and edgy approach to self-help. She teaches you to unearth that inner voice, and let it be heard. She turns all of your childhood teachings upside down an... read more
Most people associate Georgia O’Keeffe with New Mexico, painted cow skulls, and her flower paintings. She was revered for so long—born in 1887, died at age ninety-eight in 1986—that we forget how young, restless, passionate, searching, striking, even fearful s... read more
Many of us have dog-eared copies of Mastering the Art of French Cooking in our kitchens or fondly remember watching episodes of The French Chef, but what was behind the enormous appeal of this ungainly, unlikely woman, who became a superstar in midlife and cha... read more
The 7 Secrets To A Happier Life provides valuable information based on Positive Psychology research showing that happiness is something that can be taught and learned by most people. The book has a full system based on the Positive Psychology findings investig... read more
“This book is a must-read for anyone struggling to heal.…” - Diane Sanfilippo, New York Times bestselling author of Practical PaleoHow can we make our life work for us instead of against us? Can the entire nature of disease actually be a gift? Can joy and abun... read more
In Heal Your Pain Now, Dr. Joe Tatta teaches you how to regain control of your life by breaking the cycle of persistent pain. Following Dr. Tatta's program, you learn the role of the brain in pain--and how to use your brain to STOP your pain; how nutrition can... read more
In the late 1970's, in a gritty N.J. town, an adolescent girl is unwittingly handed a one-way ticket by her mother to allegedly "visit" her estranged father in Florida. Young and vulnerable, Lockey Maisonnueve has no idea she is being abandoned and sent to liv... read more
Take Me with You

Scott Jackson

During the spring of my fourteenth year, I ran away from home. On a cold night in early February, I disappeared into a Kansas snowstorm. My family lived outside Kansas City. For much of our time together, Dad preached at Edwardsville Christian Church. We lived... read more
The Power of Pasta is a beautifully illustrated four-color book by celebrity chef Bruno Serato. It is part memoir, part cookbook, and, above all, a work of advocacy on behalf of children and families facing poverty and homelessness as the founder of Caterina’s... read more
Tara Mackey is a human behavior expert with a tribe of over 1 million readers of her blog, The Organic Life and her social media. In WILD Habits, this award-winning CEO and biologist brings you transformational healing techniques, showing you how to achieve co... read more
Narcissism is a modern epidemic, and it’s spreading rapidly. But how do you know if you are in a relationship with one—and, what can you do about it? We live in a world of romance and rescue, where many believe love will conquer all, and that the more we endur... read more
A modern look at the life of a legendary fashion icon―with practical life lessons for women of all ages Delving into the long, extraordinary life of renowned French fashion designer Coco Chanel, Karen Karbo has written a new kind of self-help book, exploring C... read more
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER AND NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALISTLyrical and gritty, this authentic coming-of-age story about a border-town family in Brownsville, Texas, insightfully illuminates a little-understood corner of America.Domingo Martinez lays bare his int... read more

Lara has 6 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Myka R.

Myka R.

Jun, 2022

Lara did a stellar job on the editorial assessment of my narrative nonfiction book. She brought her substantial experience, knowledge, perspective and pathos to the job of carefully reading the manuscript and offering constructive feedback. Lara zeroed in on key strengths and weaknesses of both my book and my commercial prospects, and she provided specific, detailed suggestions that I can't wai...
Read more
Lara A.
Thank you so much, Myka! I have really enjoyed working together!
Suzanne M.

Suzanne M.

Sep, 2021

As this is my first manuscript, I had no idea what to expect but really appreciated Lara's insightful, direct, and actionable comments.
christa A.

christa A.

Oct, 2020

Lara was amazing to work with! I love the developmental edit she did! It is organized and professional. She exceeded my expectations. I would definitely recommend her to anyone!
Lara A.
Thank you so much, Christa! I loved working with you! :-)
Jason D.

Jason D.

Nov, 2019

Lara was truly a pleasure to work with! Communication is very big for me and she met that on every level with professional and timely feedback. She goes above and beyond what is expected and goes to show she values what she does and how much she cares for each person she works with. I would highly recommend Lara!
Nina S.

Nina S.

Mar, 2019

Lara A. is an amazing editor. She turned my rough diamond of a manuscript into a sparkly multi-carat book. She gave great feedback, helped me smooth awkward transitions, and accurately captured my writing voice in her edits. I appreciated that besides pointing out mistakes or redundancies and suggesting other ways to convey my points, she was also kind enough to tell me what worked well and...
Read more
Lara A.
Thank you so much, Dr. Nina! I truly enjoyed working on your book (it was fascinating!) and with you. I hope you continue to write more books and that we have a chance to work together again.

Sign up to read more reviews

Create a free Reedsy account to connect with Lara and thousands of other publishing professionals on Reedsy.

Professionals similar to Lara

Get a range of offers by requesting quotes from multiple professionals.

Thea Newell

Thea N.

Big 5 publishing house editor specializing in fiction, mystery/thriller, cookbooks, self help, design and lifestyle.

Austin, TX, USA

85% reply rate

View profile
Eric Anderson

Eric A.

I offer editorial evaluations for fiction and non-fiction manuscripts, including advice on writing quality, structure, and marketability.

Guelph, ON, Canada

100% reply rate

View profile
Kevin C. Neece

Kevin C. N.

I work in non-fiction and fiction, but I specialize in broad-minded Christian non-fiction, particularly engaging the arts and pop culture.

Fort Worth, TX, USA

95% reply rate

View profile