
NATIONAL BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF FUN, FASHIONABLE MYSTERIES. WEEKLY DIVA. WORK IN PROGRESS.
consulting packages
Do you have questions about whether you should self-publish your book or look for an agent?
Are you overwhelmed with the options on how to self-publish your book?
Are you having a hard time figuring out what to do first?
Do you want a fresh set of eyes on your book pages?
I know how you feel.
I'm a national bestselling author with books published by a Big 5 Traditional publisher, a small press, and myself. But before any of that happened, I was a woman with a manuscript and a dream. And a lot of determination.
I spent five years researching the publishing industry before deciding to self-publish, and that research informed how I designed my path to publication. (Get the whole story here.) That's the beauty and the curse of publishing: there's no one way. So, yay for choices! Also, damn. There are a lot of choices to make.
I currently have over thirty books out. Twenty-one of them are self-published. They are available in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audio. When I started out with my first book, I knew nothing.
I figured it out through sheer determination and an ongoing belief that I could learn what I didn't know.
That first book represented a steep learning curve. I wanted to learn it all. I taught myself what I didn't know, I read blogs, I asked questions, and I made mistakes. These days I hire a few things out, but I know what it is I want.
I'm here to help you do it right.
When I think about how to best support writers, I always return to one question: what do I wish I'd had? And it always comes back to this: someone to ask. Someone who knows things. Someone who could brainstorm or bounce ideas around with me. Someone who could point me in a direction. Someone to help me cut through the noise.
I may know some things, but it's not all about me.
My driving force is to inspire you to recognize how much control you have over your world. And in this case, your world is your book. I'll help you figure out what you should do based on informed options and answers to questions you have. And when questions come up along the way? I'll help you determine the best options them too.
The thing is, you might have questions about how to convert your word document to an ebook file, or about how to upload to multiple retailers. You might have questions about book discounts on Ingram, or extended distribution options on Amazon. You might wonder if your money is better spent on covers or edits or proofreading or file conversion or a publicist or copyright filing or metadata or back cover copy or market research or advance reviews or ARCs or setting up your publishing company or ISBNs or promotions or a newsletter provider or how to optimize your book description or any number of things that you hear about on your journey, and depending on what your ultimate goals are, the answer will vary.
I want you to know what I know.
My coaching packages are designed to be flexible and accommodate what you need. Whether you're just starting out or you've been publishing for awhile, I want to help you get to your next level. Bring your questions, and we'll talk through your options so you can make informed decisions. Stuck on a decision? We'll bat around all options to see which one works best for you.
Here's how it works. Pick the option that's best for you. One hour, five hours, or eleven hours. Once you pay, you'll have access to my calendar. Sign up for an available time slot and we'll plan a video chat. And then, bring your questions and we'll go from there. And that pink paragraph above? That's a good place to start.
What we can accomplish:
--> Determine a pricing strategy for your book or series
--> Brainstorm a launch plan
--> Set up a publishing budget
--> Discuss publicity vs. marketing vs. social media
--> Punch up back cover copy
--> Review keywords and how to use them
--> Compare wide vs. exclusive strategies
--> Find comp titles for positioning
--> Find comp authors for ads
--> Discuss promotional strategies
--> Review formatting options
--> Establish a timeline for publishing
--> Identify review channels
--> Set up a newsletter automation sequence
--> Talk about selling direct from your website
--> Review audiobook production options
--> Set up how you'll track sales
--> Recommended time saving tips
--> How to acquire and assign ISBNs (and discuss reasons for and against)
--> How to file copyright (and discuss reasons for and against)
--> Identify key stats to indicate a book's performance
--> How to use promotional pricing to maximize sales
--> How to leverage free books to gain readers
--> What you should write next
+ more!
Packages:

1 HOUR
Want to start with a consultation? This is great for writers who are at the very beginning, or those who have a few targeted questions.
$150
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4 HOURS
Have lots of questions? Want to workshop aspects of your book along the way? Great for writers who want to tackle multiple aspects of the book publication journey.
$560
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10 HOURS
BEST VALUE Save 10%! Have you retained rights from a publisher? Do you have a series? Do you need help figuring out where to start? Great for writers with multiple projects and/or series.
$1350
What you get when you sign up:
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Access to my calendar so you can schedule your call(s).
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10% Discount on premade covers on my sister site waxingcrescentmooncovers.
Plus, if you book at the 1- or 5-hour level and decide you'd like more, I'll roll your initial payment toward the next level so you'll always get the best price.
Legal disclaimer: I can't guarantee sales. If I could, I'd be a gazillionaire writing this webpage from Paris (or, possibly, paying someone else to write it while I sip champagne by the Eiffel Tower.) But I can help you navigate all the questions, be a sounding board for your ideas, inform you of your options, and be your wingman on your path to publishing success. And yes, I want you to succeed beyond your wildest dreams!

I'm Diane Vallere.
I'm a national bestselling author and three-time award nominee. I'm a past president of Sisters in Crime, both the Los Angeles chapter and Sisters in Crime National, and have contributed articles for writers to several industry publications.
I'm also the owner of Polyester Press, a publishing imprint for my fashionable fiction, which I set up knowing I might someday want to expand to publish other authors' work.
In addition to writing, I have over 20 years of business experience including planning, analyzing, strategizing, completing sales projections, writing ad campaigns, identifying sales opportunities, merchandising and marketing both good and poor sellers.
I'm a book lover at heart and spend hours in bookstores each week to identify cover and genre trends. I read most genres depending on my mood, I believe books can change people's lives, and I believe if you're not happy, it's never too late to change yours.
xo, Diane
Questions?
Email me at diane@dianevallere.com.
Last thoughts...
If you made it all the way down here, there's a good chance you're not sure if this is the right investment for you. I can't tell you how to spend your money--I can only help you see the options and be a sounding board for what you're considering and why, and play devil's advocate so you don't go into anything blindly.
Publishing a book is a lot of work, yes, but it's fulfilling. I love it. From the first moment I get a spark of an idea to the first draft that feels like it's publish-ready, to the re-read that sends me back to hide under my covers, to the final polish where I discover bits I'd forgotten I wrote. I love finding the perfect cover, fine-tuning the back cover copy to perfection, signing up for promotions, checking daily sales, creating social media campaigns for new releases. I love analyzing poor sellers and finding out what to tweak to get them to perform.
I love ad campaigns. Sending newsletters. Writing automation sequences. Testing cover designs. Designing ads. Trying things I've never done before and hoping for the best. I love being a part of the book world.
Publishing can feel scary at times. There's a lot to learn, but you don't have to learn it all on your own. If the support I'm offering sounds like something you'd like to consider, bookmark this page and come back to it when you're ready. :)