Greenwoman Publishing's Author Services

Writing & Publishing Consultations, 
Manuscript Critiques, Ghost Writing, and More

Simply put, I love to work with writers. It's exciting for me to see them move to the next level, whether it's to polish an essay or short story or to get a book manuscript into a finally-publishable version (and then finally publish it!). With twenty-five years experience in journalism, creative nonfiction, fiction writing, and self-publishing, I can show you how to get to that next step. 

Why Choose Me?

Because writing and publishing are my passions, and my life's work.  Because I believe in turning writing dreams into realities. Because I've successfully done it myself, and you can too!

During my career, one of my biggest pleasures has been working with other writers. I'm experienced in fiction, creative nonfiction, essays, poetry, and even comics. I have extensive, firsthand experience in taking an incomplete idea and turning it into a finished, polished, publishable literary work. I feel that my experience makes me the ideal candidate for helping you realize your writing dreams.


In several areas, I partner with long-time trusted associates (two are featured in the sidebar) who I have worked with over the years on all my publishing projects. While my personal strengths are on the creative side of writing and storytelling, my associate Cheri Colburn is a genius in the book development and editing department. My daughter Zora is also an excellent editor. In addition, she has a special talent for book cover creation and interior layouts for publishing; she's also wonderful at building websites and adding a youthful perspective on many projects. 

Here's what I offer:

FREE Consultation:  Let’s discuss your project! 

I ask that we meet first on the phone. During our conversation (thirty minutes to an hour), we will determine where you are in the writing process and what help you need. Are you working to put together a new idea? Do you have a completed manuscript that needs to be evaluated by a professional? Maybe you're somewhere in between those stages, or perhaps you have the desire to publish a book but you need a ghostwriter.

Wherever you are in the process, by the end of this conversation, you will have gleaned some valuable information about how to move forward. You will know the ways that I and my associates can help you, and you will probably have a solid to-do list. So, let’s get started! Again, this service is free, so send me an email to make an appointment!

Coaching: I love helping writers develop their work and express themselves powerfully and authentically. It doesn't matter how much experience you have; it only matters that you want to grow and develop as a writer. This is a flexible service that will help you solidify your writing goals and improve your writing. My job is to listen for what you want to convey in your work, give feedback and support on your projects, and to nudge you a little out of your comfort zone. Let's talk! Email me to schedule a free 30-minute consultation. 

Manuscript Review: My favorite task is reading and critiquing a fiction or creative nonfiction manuscript. I feel that one of my biggest creative strengths is vision--I can give feedback that will take your work to a higher level. I can tell you if the structure works, if the pacing works, if fictional characters are believable (and what inconsistencies I find in their behavior), if dialogue rings true, if there are holes in the plot or needless repetition. I will look at the structure of your book and show you how it can be improved. If you have a complete draft, but know your book needs a professional in-depth evaluation, the manuscript review is for you. We will discuss your vision for your book, and then I will read your draft and make notes. The end result will be a detailed blueprint on what I think each page needs as to re-writing and editing. (Your actual content will not be changed.) With a manuscript review in hand, you can return to the editing process and will be able to take your manuscript to the next level. This service costs $35 per hour.

Book Plan: This service is perfect for any would-be author with a great idea, from those with only the idea to those with fragmented Word documents and notes on napkins. Following a two-hour conference with both myself and my associate Cheri Colburn, you will have a detailed map showing the route from where you are now to your finished project. The price for the book plan is $600.

Ghost Writing: If you have the makings of a compelling nonfiction book that you wish to publish, but lack the writing skills to develop it, I encourage you to consider ghostwriting as your next step. Using interviews and your ideas, information, and knowledge--and your Book Plan--we will write your book. Prices start at $14,500 for a one hundred page book (this includes a complete manuscript, proofreading services, book design, listing on Amazon's print-on-demand CreateSpace, 50 copies of your book, a website design, and some PR guidance).

Copy Editing: Does your book need polishing at the sentence level? If so, you need a copy editor. Compared with the developmental edit described above, copy editing involves more of a micro-level edit. A copy edit will result in a manuscript that is ready for design and typesetting. (That’s when your Word document begins to look like a “real” book.) This service would be conducted by my talented associate, Cheri Colburn.

Publishing Design and Typesetting: My daughter Zora will design the interior and the cover of your book. Because design and typesetting services and fees range from simple to complex, please contact me for pricing.

Zora will correctly format your pages and design your chapter headings and front pages for upload on CreateSpace, Amazon’s print-on-demand publishing platform. From then on, your book (in both print and digital formats) is just a click away. The fee for this service is included in the design and typesetting fees. Please contact me for details.

Final Proofreading: A proofreader on our team will review the pages of your book (in galley form), finding the final typos and design inconsistencies so they can be corrected before publishing. As with our other editorial services, the fee for proofreading is $35/hour, but a flat fee can sometimes be negotiated. 

Website/Blog: Every writer needs a professional-looking website. We have built several we're proud of for Greenwoman Publishing and we can set you up with one you'll love. We will help you with concept, create the structure (pages, headers, etc.), edit your text copy, and train you how to make minor editing changes yourself once the site is up and running (that part is actually pretty easy these days). Prices begin at $500.

I look forward to discussing your writing project!—Sandra Knauf

My Associates

For nearly a decade and a half, Cheri Colburn has been developing informational text for the adult audience. Most of her work has been in educational publishing, primarily editing and writing professional development books, curriculum for adults, and teacher guides.

In other words, for the past 14 years, she's been writing other people’s informative and how-to books. In the last several years she's been involved in the editing of Greenwoman Vols. 1-6 and Zera and the Green Man, and wrote a mini biography as a feature for Greenwoman #2 that became the digital book George Washington Carver: Grandfather of Sustainability.Cheri was also the editor of Greenwoman Publishing's latest book Fifty Shades of Green.In her own business, Cheri helped new author, Amy Gillespie, craft her memoir, Six Years in Mozambique: Things I Haven’t Told Mom. While gifted in many areas, Cheri has a special talent of polishing the work of writers until it shines.

Zora Knauf has been involved in writing and publishing since childhood, submitting her first manuscript to a writer's conference contest at age 10. While still in high school, she helped design and edit Greenwoman Zine which later turned into Greenwoman Magazine. Between graduating college and grad school (Zora recently completed her M.S. in psychology at Trinity College, Dublin) she worked for a time doing professional editing for a textbook company.

Zora has helped to develop, design, edit, and typeset six issues of Greenwoman. Using CreateSpace, Amazon’s free publishing platform, she designed and published the novel, Zera and the Green Man and Six Years in Mozambique: Things I Haven’t Told Mom. 

Zora’s favorite tasks are cover and interior design for print and digital publications. She has expertise in Adobe Photoshop and Adobe InDesign, has built several websites, and she will carry your book over the finish line and onto Amazon.