The Book Engineer works with established artists, actors, journalists, athletes, musicians, scientists, and other influencers to conceptualize and create stories that only they could tell. This may involve exploring your platform and your passions to figure out the best direction for your book (is it a memoir? a graphic novel? a lifestyle book?); crafting a book proposal; and working with an agent to place your book with the right publishing house.
Leila is a fantastic editor. She’s great with the biggest big picture stuff and she’s great with the tiniest details. Her creative vision has been invaluable. And, maybe most importantly, Leila is kind, patient, and always enjoyable to work with.
Max Brallier, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Kids on Earth series
We work selectively with authors seeking individualized editorial feedback on their manuscripts. When working directly with authors, we specialize in books for children and young adults, and commercial fiction and nonfiction for all ages. We very rarely take on memoir, business books, poetry, or textbooks. For writers seeking to learn more broadly about navigating the world of publishing and developing their craft, we’ve provided additional resources here.
Working with Leila was a dream. She understands the writing process from both a writer’s and an editor’s perspective, and that really comes through in her work. She’s intuitive, smart, insightful, and always gave guidance that was clear, actionable, and deeply grounded from a character and story perspective. Leila was also delightful to work with on a personal level—generous, funny, a great (and prompt!) communicator, and the consummate professional.
Danielle Younge-Ullman, author of Everything Beautiful Is Not Ruined
My favorite thing about working with Leila is that she was always interested in helping me to make my books the way I wanted to make them. She would ask big questions and push and prod when I needed her to—and always in service to making something smart, artful, and honest. I consider myself lucky to have worked with her.
Greg Pizzoli, Geisel Award-winning author and illustrator
As an author and editor, Leila Sales knows the book industry inside and out. Author Leila can make a good story great. And editor Leila can take that great story to the next level you never knew was possible.
Josh Funk, author of Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast