Book Coach Spotlight: From Media Lawyer to Book Coach (in New Zealand!)

1. What did you do before becoming a book coach? 

I began my career as a media lawyer, initially working as a litigator and later as inhouse counsel for a major broadcaster helping journalists and programme makers (documentary, comedy, current affairs and radio) stay out of legal trouble. After hours I wrote travel and lifestyle articles, and always hoped to make a career out of words.

Once my kids were born I needed something more flexible, so I began working for myself as a writer and copywriter, doing policy work, websites and brand messaging. During this time I co-wrote a couple of books, and contributed to several more. Over the years, clients often asked me to help them write their own books, but I couldn’t figure out how to make it a commercially viable offering. In 2020 I gave in and helped two clients write books during lockdown (while juggling homeschooling and all the other things), almost burning myself out in the process. I decided there had to be a better way and that’s when I found Author Accelerator.

2. How did your background prepare you for book coaching? What skills/talents/experiences feel most relevant?

Whether I was writing a book, a travel story, persuasive copy for a commercial business, submissions for court, or supporting a journalist or documentary filmmaker to make a contentious programme, all of these roles involved weaving an engaging and persuasive narrative. I had to distill a lot of complex information, find the nub of the argument, build the case step-by-step, find the holes, know where I’m taking the customer/reader/judge, all while engaging and capturing the audience. These are all essential aspects of crafting a non-fiction book and my legally-honed ability to cut through to the essence of an idea has been really helpful.

3. What is your relationship to reading, writing, and/or creativity? What kinds of books do you read? What other creative work do you do?

I’ve always been a bookworm, but with kids and work it has got harder to find the time. When we lived in London in the early 2000s I had a 40 minute commute by Tube and got through SO many books. Now I live in the country in New Zealand and have to drive everywhere and I have to consciously remind myself to choose books over Netflix.

As for my other creative work, I’ve dabbled in children’s stories and am currently attempting the challenge of writing a novel for the first time. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do, but the ideas have only recently started to flow. I put that down to age and experience - much as I would have loved to have been a breakout novellist in my 20s, I think I needed to go through the wringer of life a bit, before I had something to say. Who knows where it will lead - watch this space. 

4. What is the last best book you read?

Just one?? I know I’m late to the party, but I recently enjoyed Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus and Tom Lake by Ann Patchett. In non-fiction I loved Maybe You Should Talk to Someone by Lori Gottlieb - a moving memoir about a therapist who finds herself going to therapy and struggling with the same life questions and challenges as her clients. 

 5. What is your favorite part about being a book coach?

The ideas, all the ideas. I often describe this work as a ‘thought partnership’. My clients are often very accomplished, but don’t know exactly which book to write, or how to pull it all together in an engaging way. I love working with them to develop a killer book concept that gets them excited, inspired and valuing their expertise in a whole new way. People often don’t appreciate how brilliant they are, so it’s a joy to see that switch flick and the possibilities open up. Plus the process of writing a book often leads to other breakthroughs in their work which can be very rewarding and exciting. 

 6. What is your biggest challenge around being a book coach and what are you doing to address it? 

When I’m working 1:1 with a client their projects take up space in my head, so I’ve had to learn how to manage my workload so that I can give everyone the right level of support. This means not having too many projects on the go at any one time and having clearly defined boundaries around my role. As a coach, my job is to support and guide the writer to write their best book, which is very different from other roles I have held, like ghostwriter, co-author and editor. I’ve had to learn to step back and keep a wider lens, so I can support my clients to bring their own voice to the page.

7. Who is your ideal client and what is the first service you offer them? 

I love working with coaches and experts of all kinds - leadership, business, life, health, parenting. People who have big ideas, who bring a fresh perspective, are committed to inspiring meaningful change, and share the kinds of stories that make us feel less alone and inspire us to do better. Whether they’ve written fifty thousand words or none, the place we always start is by honing their concept, with my Roadmap for a Book programme. It’s a combination of tailored lessons they can work through at their own pace, with wrap-around support and a writing community built in. You can find it here www.bookcoach.co.nz/roadmap