A paid strategy engagement with the editorial team behind 4x New York Times bestsellers. We pressure-test your book idea and the business case behind it, then give you a clear call on whether now is the time to build.
Most business books fail before a word is written. The author starts with the wrong book: too broad, too vague, too far from the reader, or too detached from the business outcome it exists to create.
A serious business book needs a bullseye reader, a sharp problem, a credible point of view, and a reason to exist now. The Intensive gives you a professional editorial read on whether your idea carries all of it.
The Intensive exists to reduce uncertainty before you invest in a full publishing engagement.
Four passes over the same idea, narrowing toward one recommendation.
The one reader the book is for, and what they must believe before they trust you.
The problem the book solves and the transformation it creates for the person reading it.
The expertise, stories, and proof that make the book unmistakably yours.
What the book can return: clients, speaking, partnerships, recruiting, media.
You share the idea, the audience, and what you want the book to make possible.
A working session with an Author.Inc editor to find the strongest direction.
The team pressure-tests the idea across all four lenses.
A custom PDF carrying the verdict and the reasoning behind it.
A concise strategic roadmap, delivered as a custom PDF. Choose a verdict to see what it means.
The Brief becomes the strategic foundation of the book, so none of the work is repeated when you move into Publish.
The Brief names the specific work: the reader to narrow, the promise to tighten, or the angle to earn.
The Brief names the conditions that would change the call, so you know what to build toward.
Your Brief is shaped in a working session with an Author.Inc editor trained to clarify serious nonfiction ideas for founders, CEOs, and experts. Mikey Mathews, our Head of Publishing, manages the engagement from intake to delivery.
You are a founder, CEO, operator, or expert with hard-earned expertise.
You believe there is a serious book in your work and want to find which one.
You want confidence before committing to a full publishing investment.
You see the book as a business asset.
Total game-changer for my book. A true partner in bringing my vision to life. If you’re serious about making your book a success, Charlie and his team are the real deal.
“Charlie has been my secret weapon of writing. He’s always reminded me to stay on my own path.”
“Charlie is one of the most talented marketers and entrepreneurs I’ve ever worked with. A true gem. I highly recommend him.”
Involvement has ranged from a few conversations to being in the trenches from start to finish. The success belongs to these authors.
Everything you need to know before you start. For anything else, write us at hello@author.inc.
A focused editorial sprint. You complete a short intake, then meet with an Author.Inc editor in a working strategy session, with our Head of Publishing managing the process end to end. The team pressure-tests your idea across four lenses: the reader, the promise, the authority, and the business case. Within 7 to 10 business days you receive a custom Book Strategy Brief with a clear verdict: proceed, refine, or wait.
That uncertainty is what the Intensive resolves. Most founders arrive with a topic. We look at your expertise, your audience, and your business goals to find the strongest version of the idea. If it is ready, you will know why. If it needs work, the Brief names what has to happen first, so you never spend a year writing the wrong book.
Then the Intensive just saved you a six-figure mistake. A refine verdict comes with the specific positioning work the idea needs. A wait verdict comes with a strategic reason and the conditions that would change the call. Either way, you leave with a roadmap.
If you move forward with Author.Inc Publish within 6 months of receiving your Brief, the full $3,500 is credited toward your engagement. The Brief becomes the strategic foundation of the book, so none of the work is repeated.
Most book consultations focus on writing craft or traditional publishing metrics, like landing an agent or chasing bestseller lists. We focus on business outcomes. The question we answer is whether this book can realistically generate ROI through high-ticket clients, speaking opportunities, strategic partnerships, or new revenue streams.
Time-starved founders, CEOs, and experts who want to share their expertise, build authority, and make an impact. We built our process from the ground up for people who hold a high quality bar, value their time, and have zero patience for the cumbersome experience of traditional publishing.
Our clients have used their books to win high-profile speaking engagements, attract new clients, and create multi-million dollar opportunities. Positioned as a strategic asset, the book opens additional revenue streams: consulting, coaching, workshops, courses, and partnerships that compound over time.
Yes. You own the IP and the copyright, registered in your name. You keep 100% of royalties, and you approve everything from the content to the cover to the final manuscript, with expert guidance and access to top creatives along the way.
Start with a focused editorial Intensive before you commit to a full publishing engagement. You leave with a Book Strategy Brief and a clear verdict either way.
If you would rather talk it through first, book a call with a co-founder.
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