Author Mentoring Sessions - Tanya Carroll Richardson

Hello, fellow writer & book lover!

I am passionate about creativity and helping other authors.

I’ve written nine nonfiction books, a yearly self-love calendar, and two oracle decks (a third deck is forthcoming in summer of 2025).
I’ve been published with big publishing houses like Hachette and Simon & Schuster, and well-respected independent publishers like Llewellyn and Ulysses Press. I’ve also published books with the publishing arm of Barnes & Noble, Sterling/Union Square & Co.
I’ve been a working writer and editor for over 25 years, and a book author for over a decade. I’m honored to be a regular MindBodyGreen.com contributor since 2016 and am grateful to have the same literary agent since 2014.
As you might already know, I’m also a professional intuitive who has given psychic readings to thousands of people all over the world. I bring not only my lived-experience wisdom as a bestselling author but my renowned intuitive ability to our author mentoring session.

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What We Can Discuss in a Session

I hope to teach you some lessons I learned the hard way so you don’t have to! The hour we spend on a call together is completely your own, so we can discuss anything you’d like, including:

Your Current Project: what you’re working on now or planning to work on soon, and any place you feel stuck or confused.
Your Writing Practice: when and for how long it’s ideal for you to write or edit each day, week, or month.
Your Goals as an Author: what you’re wanting to accomplish today, in the near future, and long-term.
Any Aspect of the Publishing Process: including literary agents, editors, art departments, submissions, revisions, proofing, and finally publishing your writing.
Marketing and Branding: this includes marketing and branding for a single product as well as for yourself as a writer and/or expert.

Social Media, Newsletters, and Video Content: there’s so much to talk about here, and while it should not be your entire focus, it’s important to have a strategy in place.
The Pros and Cons of Self-Publishing vs. Traditional Publishing: I have a huge amount of experience with traditional publishing, both with giant companies and small houses. While I have personally never (yet) self-published, I know many colleagues and clients who have.

Your Author Platform: or how many people you reach writing for blogs/websites and the size of your audience right now…plus how you can grow that audience.

Publishers’ Wants and Expectations: this is evolving, so we can discuss trends as well as what’s always true.

Ups and Downs of the Creative Process: there are certainly ups and downs, including rejection, acceptance, success, and disappointment…and it really helps to get advice and comfort from someone who’s been there.

Putting Yourself Out There as a Writer: the vulnerability of visibility and its many rewards.

Your Creative Process: common guidelines or tried-and-true techniques and developing your own style and rhythm.

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Who Might Consider a Session?

Anyone who’d like advice, perspectives, and lived-experience wisdom from a seasoned author with exceptional intuition. As a professional intuitive who has given thousands of readings to people all over the world, I’ll also offer intuitive insights about your creativity, projects, and unique author journey too!

Folks of all experience levels. Whether you’ve been writing for two months or 20 years, whether you have yet to publish a book or you’ve sold 1 million copies, I’d love to help.

Writers with any type of goal. I can help you strategize, problem solve, and brainstorm, whether you’re goal is to self-publish a bucket-list memoir for family, friends, and your own sense of accomplishment—or you dream of partnering with a giant company and being an international bestseller.

Authors with general and pragmatic issues or very personal ones. You might need guidance regarding the nuts and bolts of writing and publishing, or your issue could be more emotional, psychological, or even spiritual in nature, like writer’s block, fear of “failure”, imposter syndrome, or a creative wound.

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What to Send Me Before the Session:

I’d love to know a little about your background as a person and a writer (one or two short paragraphs). Please also send at least two to three issues you’d like to discuss in the call.

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Session Structure & Pricing:

I’ll review the information you send about your background and the issues you’d like to discuss before our call.
We’ll connect on Zoom for an hour, where I’ll share my thoughts, ask you some questions, and you can ask me some questions!
One week after the call, I’ll send you a Zoom audio recording of our call, which you can download and keep forever.
Sessions are $160 for a one-hour mentoring.
Email tanyacarrollrichardson@gmail.com to schedule!

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Other Authors on Working with Me…

Even Established Authors Get the Blues

Tanya was instrumental in helping me navigate the specifics of the traditional publishing process on my latest book project. Even though I’ve been published many times before, this was a particularly challenging experience working through the editing and design process with an indie publisher. I’d been worried for months that the project wasn’t looking or sounding anything like I’d hoped, and by the time I reached out to Tanya I was really emotional and stressed. It was very useful to talk through issues with someone who has been through the publishing machine so many times, and with Tanya’s guidance and comfort I could put problems in perspective. As creatives we can get super close to our projects and have trouble seeing them, and ourselves, compassionately and objectively. The finished product turned out to be one of my best books, and that same publisher and I are already working on another. Touching in with Tanya a few times during the journey made all the difference in seeing it through to the pub date—and maintaining my mental and emotional well-being along the way! Overall, Tanya helped remind me why I became an author—I love to write—and connect back with what fuels my passion—helping others.

G. P., Bristol, UK

Getting in the Weeds with Ideas and Structure

I’ve always loved writing and for years have had a strong idea for a book. But I didn’t expect hitting some creative blocks when putting the outline together. Adding exercises and activities for readers was important to me yet I truly struggled coming up with them. While Tanya does not offer to look over manuscripts or line edit, she did talk through sections of the book with me on our call and suggested exercises and activities for each chapter that I absolutely loved! As soon as she would come up with another, I’d say, “Yes! Perfect! Now why didn’t I think of that?” It was amazing she was able to brainstorm these with me in real time, but then again she’s written several books on intuition so…maybe not so surprising. She’s a gem.

Hilary, Brooklyn, NY

New Authors with Many Questions that Need Informed Answers…

I was just shocked at how much knowledge Tanya imparted in our one session together. We covered my questions on anything and everything: self-publishing vs. traditional, structuring a nonfiction book proposal, what mindset to use when approaching social media and platform goals, what traditional publishers are looking for, how much money authors actually make and how that money is disbursed, the different types of editors who might make helpful changes to the manuscript during the process, and what to expect once your book is out there in the world.

Some of the answers Tanya gave me were not at all what I would have guessed, so getting under the hood with someone who knows the business made me realize I know even less than I assumed! As intimidating as following my dream of being an author can feel in these moments, Tanya helped enormously by arming me with a lot of practical advice but also so much encouragement. Some of her suggestions were tailored specifically to me, based not only on my background but also on her intuitive sense of my situation. Afterward I came away with so many inspiring notes, and the feeling I’d spent time with a wise, caring advisor. I’ll definitely get another session several months from now once I’ve implemented some of her feedback and gotten further along with my book proposal.

R., Austin, TX