Let’s Work Together!
I’m a publishing professional with ten years of experience in the industry. In addition to being an author, I’ve worked as a bookseller, a field sales representative (selling the lists of dozens of publishers to bookstores, wholesalers, and more across the midwest), and as the North American sales & marketing manager at a major independent SF/F publisher (Angry Robot Books). I’ve worked with everyone from boutique publishers and family-owned independent bookstores to publishing juggernaut Penguin Random House. Books I’ve worked on have appeared on the USA Today, Nielsen, and Locus Bestseller lists. Other books I’ve worked on have won the YALSA Alex Award, the Philip K. Dick Award, The Gemmell Morningstar Award, the Kitchies Gold Tentacle.
I’ve learned to see the publishing industry from a variety of perspectives, and am ready to share that insight with you and your project!
Services Offered
Career Coaching
Maybe you’re re-evaluating your publishing goals and career and you want some help. Or maybe you just signed a deal with a publisher for a book, but you know that you want help or guidance through the process. Maybe your editor and/or agent aren’t in a position to walk you through the process at length or maybe you want an experienced confidant to help you get the most out of this ticket on the wild ride that is publishing. I’ve been around the publishing block a number of times with various publishers as well as coached numerous authors at various stages of their journeys.
De-Mystifying the Publishing Process
What even is a BISAC? Why does Amazon call it a royalty when they’re a marketplace rather than a publisher? Publishing can be a very confusing business, and if you’re looking for someone to provide answers, I can help, whether it’s explaining the traditional publishing workflow, how retailers operate, the basics of self-publishing, or something else.
Pitch Material Punch-Up
You’re getting ready to submit a manuscript to agents and/or editors but aren’t totally confident in your query, synopsis, and/or opening pages. I’ve pitched material directly and evaluated countless pitches during my time at Angry Robot, and can provide insight and guidance on how to best represent your work.
Marketing Plan Assistance
You’re an author and/or publisher getting ready to publish your work, traditional or indie, but looking for help with your marketing plan, from cover art to packaging to sales copy or beyond. I can give advice on how to most effectively align every part of your publishing plan to give your book the best chance of finding its readership.
Strategic Vision
In addition to the time spent supporting Angry Robot’s growth into a leading independent SF/F house, I’ve already helped several publishers evaluate their promotional and business plans to identify new opportunities and approaches. If you’re looking for a top-level audit of your publishing strategy, I’m game to help. We’ll talk about focusing your efforts on building your business toward your goals, how to prioritize what’s important to you and the smartest ways to pursue those goals.
Convention Sales
You’re an author and/or a publisher looking to make a big splash selling your books at a convention, conference, and/or festival, but you want help to get the most out of the experience. I can be your secret weapon. I ran the publisher booth for Angry Robot at ECCC, Phoenix Comic-Con, four different WorldCons, and more. I’ve also sold at conventions on my own and with author friends (including at NerdCon: Stories). I can handle as much of the logistical work as you want, including booking the booth space with the convention, arranging for fixtures/furnishings, ordering and shipping books, scheduling author and/or staff member’s shifts at the booth, staffing the booth, etc. and more.
How do I start?
If you’d like to discuss working together to help your publishing journey, you can reach me at munderwood@gmail.com – please include some information about what service(s) you’re interested in and the project/topic in mind.
Note: if you’re a person from/of a marginalized background/lived experience (including race/ethnicity, gender identity, orientation, religion, class, national origin, ability, etc.), I offer sliding scale rates with the intent to help balance the scales of publishing and build a better, more inclusive and diverse future for the industry.