Welcome

Welcome to The Book Doctor Is In -- a unique community where published and aspiring writers can get the advice they need to take their books from conception to completion.

But first, let me tell you a bit about me, and how I gained the experience I need to hand out that advice.

My name is Sandi Gelles-Cole. In the course of my career, I have acquired, edited and collaborated on many best-selling books in hardcover, mass market and trade paperback.

I have worked in book publishing as a corporate acquisitions editor for such companies as Dutton/NAL and Dell/Delacorte and Dell Trade Paperback(part of the Random House Group), where I acquired and edited major properties, including ten of Danielle Steel’s phenomenally successful titles. The list of books I have edited includes many classic titles such as Games Mother Never Taught You by Betty Lehan Harragan, which has celebrated its twenty-fifth year in print.

My editorial agency was founded in September of 1983. Since then, I have worked with authors and their projects such as Karen Siff Exkorn’s The Autism Sourcebook (Regan Books/Harper Collins); Governor Ann Richards’ I'm Not Slowing Down (Dutton); Christiane Northrup’s Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom: The Mind/Body Connection and its Effect on Women's Health Issues (Bantam Books); Letitia Baldrige’s Guide to the New New Manners (Scribner’s); The Gotham Diaries by Tonya Lewis-Lee and Crystal McCrary Anthony, and Family Trust by Amanda Brown, author of Legally Blonde.

I have spoken on the subject of authors working with independent editors/ghost writers before such groups as The ‘American society of Journalists and Authors; the Mid-Atlantic Association of American Booksellers; the Oklahoma Writers Federation; The Cape Cod Writers Conference; Avila College; The University of Houston; The Florida Writers Association; Pub Net of the Hudson Valley, and The Arts Center of the Capital Region. I am a charter member of the Consulting Editors Alliance of New York City.

Of course, you can learn a lot more about me at my website, www.literaryenterprises.com -- but you didn't come here to talk about me.

You came here because you want advice from a publishing professional about the issues that are getting in the way as you are writing your book, from plotting to characterization to story structure or even the nitty-gritty of working in the publishing world.

So, please send your question (be as specific as possible) so we can get started, because The Book Doctor Is In.