Embark on a Journey with Me
From book idea to publication and beyond.
Have you ever wondered what it takes to get a small seed of an idea to grow into a plan and then a draft and, eventually, a fully formed book that readers can hold in their hands? Whether you are a reader or a writer, you may be curious about the writing, publishing, or marketing process. Spoiler alert: As much as I love the image of Jo writing by candlelight in her attic, writing is not a solitary journey.
When I started working on my first book, Surviving Stutthof: My Father’s Memories Behind the Death Gate, I was completely mystified about the entire process. Everything was new and daunting, and the only thing that kept me going was knowing I wanted to see my father hold his story in his hands.
My first novel, Sisu’s Winter War, was a little easier. I had some experience now, and a publisher who guided me through the process, and many writer friends who helped me along the way. Now, I’ve completed two more manuscripts, become an Author Accelerator certified book coach, and am drafting my fifth book. I’ve learned a few things over the years.
In this series, I will share my process and insights, focussing primarily on my second as yet unpublished novel (my third book). At the time of writing, the novel is in literary limbo. I’d like to imagine it as a neat stack of printed pages on my publisher’s desk, but in reality it’s a file buried in her inbox. It’s an exercise in patience for me, but also hope and fear. But more on that later.
This is not a how-to guide. Everyone’s experiences will be different. My hope is you will see how this sometimes chaotic, often frustrating, and always rewarding journey is navigable with a little help from your friendly book coach. If I can reassure you, give you hope, or a little guidance, I’ll be a happy writer and coach.
So where did the idea for my novel come from? Stay tuned for my upcoming newsletter. I hope you’ll join me on this journey as I reveal how this book coach writes a book.
Upcoming:
Registrations are now open for my Winter Group Book Coaching Sessions starting in January 2025. It’s a perfect time to plan for achieving your writing goals in the new year! These sessions are for individuals who have a story idea and want to plan, or for those who have a work-in-progress and need guidance to revise.
What can participants expect?
A small group supported by an Author Accelerator certified book coach
Weekly Zoom meetings with check-ins, mini-lessons, and discussions
Weekly individual goal setting
Weekly writing assignments with individualized feedback
Access to a platform to chat and share with peers
Accountability, support, and encouragement
Friendly and relaxed environment
We’ll meet on Sundays from 7:00-8:30 PM EST via Zoom for eight weeks, between January 5-February 23, 2025. The investment is $400 (+HST). Please contact me at liisabookcoach@gmail.com if you have any questions or to register. Please note spaces are limited.
Happy writing!
Women Writing is a weekly newsletter featuring women who are doing the difficult work of writing. Book Coach Writes a Book focusses on the journey of an idea to publication and beyond. If you enjoyed reading the newsletter, please share it with a fellow writer. Let’s inspire each other!
Liisa Kovala is an Author Accelerator certified book coach. She is the author of Sisu’s Winter War (Latitude 46, 2022) and Surviving Stutthof: My Father’s Memories Behind the Death Gate (Latitude 46, 2017). Her short stories and creative non-fiction have been published in a variety of anthologies and literary magazines. Liisa is a member of The Writers’ Union of Canada, Canadian Authors Association, and past-president of Sudbury Writers’ Guild. Visit liisakovala.com.
I look forward to this series!