FROM FIRST PAGE TO FINAL DRAFT
Your book, published & promoted your way
Write your book with the support of Big 5 bestselling authors and editors, then launch it as an indie or take it to literary agents.
Three paths to publishing, and one partner beside you the whole way.
Trusted by debut writers and NYT bestselling authors
THREE PATHS TO PUBLISHING → CHOOSE YOURS!
Write the whole book with us, finish the book with us, or bring us your completed manuscript for final edits, a query package, or indie publishing. However you arrive, here’s where we can take it.
open to every author
1. Indie Publishing
Editing, cover design, formatting, and upload to your own Amazon KDP and IngramSpark accounts. Your rights, your royalties, your book.
open to every author
2. Querying Traditional
Editing aimed at agent marketability, plus a polished query letter, synopsis, or proposal, a targeted agent list, and submission coaching.
open to every author
3. ICONIC Mentorship
A year of individual mentorship building a book that’s sellable, plus your choice of a major edit or author website and a pitch or branding package.
by invitation only
Agent Introductions
When we believe a manuscript is ready and see a real fit with one of the agencies within our network, we take it to them ourselves. No fee and no commission.
START HERE
Where are you today?
Every book starts somewhere different. Pick the stage that sounds like you, and we’ll show you where to begin.
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Got an idea that won't leave you alone?
Maybe it’s a spark, a character, or a “what if” you keep coming back to. We’ll help you shape it into a story that’s marketable, with real momentum and a solid outline before you write a word.
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Started writing, but stalled halfway?
You’ve started (maybe more than once), but the finish line just keeps slipping away. Individual coaching keeps you moving, chapter by chapter, to a complete draft.
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You've finished your manuscript? Now what?
You have a full draft and want it ready for readers. We’ll edit it into a professional standard, then help you choose between indie publishing and pursuing a traditional literary agent.
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Your book deserves more than a launch day.
A great book nobody hears about is sadly becoming the norm in publishing. Our publicity campaigns run two months or longer, pitching your story to the readers, reviewers, podcasts, and media most likely to love it.
From publishing to publicity, we’ve got you.
THE JOURNEY
One partner from first spark to final page
IDEA
Pin down the heart of your story.
OUTLINE
Build a plot you can trust before drafting.
DRAFT
Write with a coach in your corner.
EDIT
Polish to a professional standard.
CHOOSE YOUR PATH
Publish independently, query agents yourself, or be introduced by us.
PLATFORM / PUBLICITY
Website, Substack, or a podcast, we can build it. Or let us do your book publicity.
What it looks like to have support at every stage of your book
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Individual Coaching
Personal sessions that keep your story on track from outline to finished draft. This results in less rewrites, less editing, and a stronger, sellable story.
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Professional Editing
Developmental, line, and copy editing (plus proofreading) focused on protecting your author voice and elevating your story to stand out in today’s market.
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Publishing Support
Cover design, formatting, upload and distribution setup for your own indie author accounts, or submission packages for querying agents (or small presses).
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Book Publicity
Two ways to get your book seen. We can promote it for you by pitching outlets, creating your ads, or coaching you through launch week. Or we can build the platform that keeps selling it long after launch, including your website, newsletter, or podcast, plus the social media to go with it.
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Writing Contests
Enter your first page, first chapter, query, or synopsis for feedback from industry professionals. No finished manuscript required.
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Career Consulting
Strategy for the business side of being an author, so you can build a long-term sustainable career.
A FEW OF OUR CLIENT TESTIMONIALS…
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Ruth Nguyen
7+ Literary Agent Offers
Six-figure Book Deal Landed
“Mary and C.J. helped me synthesize my strengths, passions, and voice as an author to find my sweet spot in the publishing industry—including signing with a dream agent. I'm so thankful for them!"
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Cassie & Megan Siechert
1 Year Coaching with Us
Landed Their Literary Agent
“With Mary and C.J.’s help, our manuscript KILL HER STORY was the book that finally got us a literary agent! We can say with certainty that none of it would have happened without them."
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Ovsanna Bogosian
Indie Author of The Fallen Angel Series
“A true editor with mad skills for perfecting your manuscript! Mary’s attention to detail regarding your characters, story and plot are amazing! So helpful and so thorough with explaining what the reader will see and want more or less of.”
WRITE. WORK. THRIVE.
Meet your partners:
C.J. Redwine & Mary Weber
The Writer’s Sanctuary was founded in 2015 by New York Times bestselling author C.J. Redwine and award-winning author Mary Weber. They write for Balzer & Bray, HarperCollins, Hachette, Union Square & Co., and Rizzoli New York.
Together, they’ve edited, coached, and taught beginning writers, NYT bestselling authors, Hollywood actors, and multi-million-dollar entrepreneurs, helping each to develop and sharpen their story to find it a home.
They bring to every client 25+ years of combined experience in education, industry guidance, book marketing, and publishing connections, plus a top-notch team focused on each client’s goals, story, and path—whether that leads to indie publishing or landing a literary agent.
“Above and beyond expectations. Top-notch professional service at every turn.”
~Julie Cantrell, NYT & USA Today bestselling author
“Working with Mary was amazing. All of her notes were helpful and insightful, and it opened up new avenues for my book that I hadn't thought of before. I would 100% work with her again and am thankful for everything she has helped with.”
~Calvin Naraghi, Indie Author of The House Rules
“CJ and Mary are amazing mentors. The feedback I've received … has been invaluable, from helping me improve my craft to offering guidance on how to achieve my goal of getting published. From their experience and industry knowledge, they're able to offer direct, implementable comments that have immediately made my project better. Plus, they're a pleasure to work with and I am always so excited for our sessions.”
~Alex L.
