Blurb, synopsis, summary, description, back-cover copy - is anyone really sure what to call those all-important paragraphs on the back of your book (or in the description section of your ebook)? To be clear, I'm not talking about endorsements from famous authors (also called blurbs) or the part of a book proposal where you explain the whole plot in a couple of pages (also called a summary or synopsis).* I'm talking about that paragraph or two that is meant to draw a potential reader in, give them a feel for the story, and make them want to find out more.

Whatever you call those pesky things, does the thought of writing them make you go cold? Do you feel like it would be easier to sit down and write a new novel from scratch than to sum up the one you've just written in 200 words or less? If so, you're not alone. And I can help!

I love the challenge of taking a whole story and condensing it into a bite-sized morsel with enough flavor to catch a reader's interest and enough mystery to leave them wanting more! If your book fits my guidelines and you'd like to take advantage of my services, please fill out this form, and I'll be in touch.

*If you came looking for either of these things, feel free to contact me to chat about your needs.  I can write longer synopses (although the pricing will be higher), and if you think I'm famous enough to endorse you, I'd love to hear about it! ;)

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• Your book's title (if it has one), genre, and target audience
• A copy of your book in one of the following formats: mobi (Kindle), epub, or Word document. (I can work with PDFs if necessary, but please add two weeks to the turnaround time.)

• A synopsis of approximately 1-2 paragraphs (length will vary based on the story)
• A tag line of approximately 5-10 words (can be used separately or in conjunction with the synopsis)

• Up to 20,000 words - 2 weeks
• 20,000-60,000 words - 4 weeks
• Over 60,000 words - 6 weeks

Please wait for date confirmation before scheduling. I can fit more than one book into a given block, but I can't handle twenty books in the same two weeks. ;)

Because I'll be tailoring your synopsis to the book I'm given, it should be fairly close to its final form when you send it to me. If it's still going through final grammar edits, no problem! If it's ready for beta readers and you don't expect any major changes, that's probably okay. If it's still in the developmental or alpha reader stages, it's likely best to wait a while.  

In a nutshell, the more changes you make before publication, the greater the chance that the synopsis will have to change, too. And because it's so tightly written, anything more substantive than, say, a name change, may require a full rewrite. So I recommend waiting until the book is nearly ready for publication before submitting it for a synopsis.

I know some companies charge hundreds of dollars for similar services, but I also know how expensive publishing can be, especially for independent authors, and I don't want to add to that burden. If the prices below are out of your reach, send me an email, and we can work something out. :)

• Up to 8,000 words - $5
• 8,000-20,000 words - $10
• 20,000-40,000 words - $15
• 40,000-60,000 words - $20
• 60,000-80,000 words - $25
• 80,000+ words - contact for price

Payment is requested when the book is accepted. If extenuating circumstances cause me to miss a deadline, I will work with you to find an acceptable solution, up to and including a full refund. If I should need to decline your project for any reason after its initial acceptance, I will refund your payment in full.

If you are not satisfied with the synopsis as delivered, please contact me for assistance. I may be able to accommodate requests for small changes, or in extreme circumstances, requests for a full rewrite (for example, if you feel I have entirely misrepresented the theme and tone of your work). Requests for rewrites based on changes in the underlying work will be treated as new book submissions and require additional payment. In the event that you are still not satisfied after further discussion and/or rewrites, you are under no obligation to use the synopsis I provide. However, I would request that you allow me to keep the payment in consideration for my time and effort.

I agree to transfer the copyright of the synopsis to you for use in any way you choose, without the necessity of attribution. I reserve only the right to use the synopsis in my own portfolio and identify myself as its author for purposes of promotion. I claim no rights to the underlying work or any resulting royalties.  By using my services, you agree to allow me to use the synopsis as well as any identifying information about the book (such as title, author, and book cover) for the purposes of my portfolio and promotional materials only.  You also agree not to represent my connection with the book as a recommendation or endorsement without specific permission from me.

Because I will be giving a lot of personal attention to your book, I ask that you please not send me anything that does not meet the guidelines below. I realize that standards in fiction reading and writing are personal and subjective, and I don't judge those who hold to different standards than mine. However, I do ask that you respect my guidelines and not send me books containing any of the issues listed here.

If you think your book falls into a gray area or are not sure if it meets my criteria, feel free to contact me and discuss it. If I cannot finish your book (due to a reason listed below or any other reason), I will let you know as soon as I discover the issue and provide a full refund. I reserve the right to decline any project for any reason and at any time.

Please note, at this time, I am only accepting fiction submissions. Please do not send requests for nonfiction works.

Please do not send books containing:

• Profanity (even a few words)
• More than a few instances of coarse or rude language
• Any sexual scenes, nudity, or overt sexual innuendo
• Characters persisting in a lifestyle that contradicts biblical teaching
• Horror or paranormal themes
• Magic of any kind, including supernatural abilities not given a scientific explanation
• Extremely graphic violence or gore

The issues below will not necessarily stop me from reading your book, but they have a high potential to become too much for me very quickly.  Please contact me with details before sending books containing:

• Dark or heavy topics and themes
• References to sexual encounters/sexual abuse in a character's past
• References to adultery (even if handled in a biblical manner)
• Heavily descriptive kissing or touching between characters
• High amounts of tragedy
• Supernatural thrillers (even if based in a Christian worldview)
• Murder mysteries
• Suicide or suicidal thoughts

Again, if you have any doubts about whether your book fits one of my guidelines, please contact me to discuss the potential issues. Warning me about borderline content and letting me see how you handle it may result in my being able to work with you; sending me something that goes against my guidelines without alerting me certainly will not.

Why do you want a copy of my book?

Because I like free books... No, wait, that's not right! I mean, okay, it's true, but that's not the reason. ;)

I ask for a copy of your book because I need to know your story before I can write about it. Have you ever picked up a book that was supposed to be about an orphanage held hostage by terrorists, only to find out that the terrorists were captured in chapter three and the book was really about the widowed orphanage director falling for the cute janitor? Or vice versa? If so, you know how frustrating it can be to have a book promise one thing and deliver another. I don't want that happening to your book, which is why I want to see the big picture so I can know which parts to emphasize. 

Also, asking you to send me only the pieces I need to write the synopsis is like asking you to do half the work. Seriously, by the time you've distilled the story down to its key elements, you might as well write the synopsis yourself! And being a writer, coming up with snappy phrases to describe those skeleton bits would probably be the easiest part for you. The struggle to write a synopsis is at least as much figuring out what belongs in it as it is wording it nicely once it's there. I'm offering to take the whole process off your hands, but to do that, I'll need a copy of the book. :)

What else will you do with my book?

I will not make copies of your book beyond what is necessary for transferring it to my personal device(s). I will not distribute or loan it to any other person.

I may at my own discretion review, rate, and/or shelve your book on Goodreads. If your book is still in unfinished form when it comes to me, I will not give it a full review without reading the finished version. Any review I give will include a note stating my connection to the book, in accordance with FTC guidelines. 

I will not review your book on Amazon, as their terms of service prohibit anyone with a connection to the book's production from writing a review.

Ready to get started?  Fill out this form, and I'll be in touch!