Cristen Iris

WriteNow, LLC

I am an award-winning developmental editor, query and book proposal consultant, and ghostwriter who specializes in working with high achievers on commercially viable nonfiction and upmarket fiction projects.

My clients have contracts with Big 5, academic, and respected independent publishers.

My clients have earned more than 60 book and writing awards; bestseller rankings, including New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and Amazon Charts; and media placements, including Parade Magazine, Rolling Stone, Billboard, and New York Post.

My experience working with neurotypical and neurodivergent clients and with traditional, hybrid, and self-publishing authors gives me a deep understanding of my clients’ needs, fears, and experiences. I use my industry knowledge and experience to help authors determine which publishing model is right for them and teach them how to stand out in a crowded marketplace.

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CLIENT RESULTS

Arturo E. Hernandez, PhD’s book acquired by Prometheus Books

Amazon Top 100 Bestseller in Dance Music (#2), Music Business Books (#24), Performing Arts Industry (#13)

Amazon #1 New Release Dance Music

Amazon Canada Top 100 Bestseller in Divorce Books (#53) and Divorce in Relationships (#53)

Amazon #1 New Release Psychology Education & Training

Amazon #1 New Release Consciousness & Thought

Amazon #1 New Release in Humanism Philosophy

[Name withheld] signed with literary agent Joseph Perry

Rediscovered Books Top 10 Bestsellers

NYC Big Book Award winner, African-American Nonfiction

Writer’s League of Texas General Nonfiction Winner

Stephen M. Sagar, MD’s book acquired by Prometheus Books

Independent Publishers Silver Medal Health/Medicine/Nutrition

IPPY Gold Award Autobiography/Memoir

Amazon #1 New Release in Job Hunting

Amazon #1 Best Seller Audiology and Speech Pathology

Amazon #1 New Release Audiology and Speech Pathology

Steve Adelman signs with traditional indie publisher Santa Monica Press

Reader Views Reviewers Choice Award, Silver

Maxy Awards nonfiction winner

Eric Hoffer Nonfiction/Self-Help winner

Montaige Medal finalist

Parade Magazine list of “24 Best Memoirs to Read in 2020”

Brit + Co. “12 Must-Read Memoirs for Fall”

Shelf Unbound 2020 Top Notable Indie

Warwick’s bookstore San Diego, CA Nonfiction Favorites 2020

NYC Big Book Award winner

Reader’s Favorite Five-Star Review

UpJourney Magazine’s “40 Best Self-Help Books for Women”

Rediscovered Books Bestseller

Amazon #1 New Release in Pharmacy

Publishers Weekly Booklife Prize quarter finalist

New York Times Bestseller

Publishers Weekly Bestseller

TODAY SHOW Read with Jenna pick (May 2019)

#9 Amazon Overall Bestseller (#1 in Cultural Heritage Fiction, #5 in Family Life Fiction, #5 in Women’s Domestic Life Fiction)

Amazon Editors’ Pick Best Literature & Fiction

ABA IndieBound Bestseller #16

New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice

USA Today Best Book of the Week

Washington Book Review Difficult-To-Put-Down Novel

Washington Post 10 Books to Read in March

Refinery 29 Best Books of the Month

The Millions Most Anticipated Books of 2019

Electric Lit 20 Best Debuts of the First Half of 2019

Popsugar Best Books of the Year All Written by Females

Bookbrower’s Best Book of the Year

Newsweek Best Book of the Summer

Buzzfeed News “4 Books We Couldn’t Put Down Last Month”

New Arab Best Books by Arab Authors

Goodreads Choice Awards 2019 Finalist (Fiction and Debut Novel categories)

Amazon Charts 10 Essential Reads March 2019

Marie Claire Best Women’s Fiction of 2019

Real Simple Best Book of the Year

Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY) Bronze Medal

IndieReader Discovery Award Best First Book, Nonfiction

New England Book Festival Winner: Best How-To Book

Readers’ Favorite Book Award Winner: Nonfiction/Food

The Janey Loves 2018 Platinum Awards Highly Recommended

BuzzFeed one of “5 Books to Feed Your Soul”

Nonfiction Book Awards Bronze Winner

Top 12 Spirited Woman Book Pick List

six-figure, world-rights debut novel deal, HarperCollins

First Novel Prize Short List (international contest)

Maxy Awards Best Fiction Winner

Faulkner-Wisdom Competition Semifinalist

Nonfiction Book Awards Gold Winner

The Wishing Shelf Book Awards Finalist

Readers’ Favorite Bronze Medal Winner

Best Book Awards Finalist

International Book Awards Finalist

Reader’s Favorite Book Awards Finalist

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TESTIMONIALS

“After 15+ years in publishing, I can say that Cristen sets the gold standard for freelance editing. She recently worked with us on a client’s memoir proposal, including an extensive amount of co-writing of sample chapters. From the start of the process, I was highly impressed with her writing, her ideas, and just how much organization and inspiration she brought to the project. Her writing was beautiful, clear, and very true to the author’s unique voice. Collaborating with her has been a joy for both author and agent. She had tremendous impact on this project, and we will look forward to working with her on many more, given our experience.” –Lilly Ghahremani, JD, MBA, literary agent and co-founder of Full Circle Literary

“Cristen is a true professional on every level. As a leader for the Nonfiction Authors Association, she provided support, training and encouragement for her team. Her enthusiasm is contagious and she never hesitates to go above and beyond to exceed expectations. She has been a valued asset to our organization and will no doubt continue to dazzle all those she works with in the future.” –Stephanie Chandler, CEO and founder, Nonfiction Authors Association

“When I came to Cristen as a first-time author, I had what could best be described as a book outline with a few chapters written. She was quickly able to develop a structure behind my work, directing my efforts down a clear, constructive path. Just as important, she provided what I imagine all authors need: an experienced industry professional to discuss ideas with and guide one through the often challenging process of not only completing the book you have the potential to write, but a proposal as well. As the first major acquisition editor who saw my book proposal commented, ‘For a first time author, this certainly is not a first time proposal.’ Simply put, without Cristen as my editor I would never have the opportunities in front of me that I do today.” –Steve Adelman, co-founder of the Avalon Nightlife brand worldwide

“I was extremely fortunate to be referred by my literary agent to Developmental Editor, Cristen Iris, last year. She took the first draft of my memoir and turned the stories I’d written into a manuscript with an actual story arc. She created intriguing chapter titles and improved my dialogue when needed. In addition to manuscript work, she sent videos via email explaining things to me as if we were sitting together. Probably most importantly, she understood the message of my book and made sure that it stayed uppermost as the story unfolded. Her upbeat, but realistic, attitude made her a real pleasure to work with. She is outstanding.” –Linda K. Olson, retired physician, motivational speaker, and triple amputee with a Get Out and Go message

“Cristen is the most BRILLIANT editor I have ever worked with. Her editorial comments on my novel … helped me recognize several patterns in my writing style, both good and bad. She has an eye for what good writing should read like, and every single comment she made was 100% accurate. That kind of editing is a gift that few people possess. She will always be my go-to editor.” –Etaf Rum, debut novelist, New York Times Bestseller & Today Show Read with Jenna Book of the Month pick

“I cannot speak highly enough about Cristen Iris as a developmental editor. Six months before my manuscript was due to my publisher, I started working with her. I gave Cristen a monstrosity of a draft that was refusing to yield into the meaningful book that I knew it could be. I had been working on the draft for a year. It was over 30% longer than I had promised my publisher and had major problems with redundancy and presenting complex concepts. The feedback Cristen provided gave me a clear vision on how to restructure the manuscript and to simplify my presentation of information. She provided a detailed letter addressing specific questions I had posed to her as well other insights she had about the manuscript. Cristen also shared notes on each of the chapters and the manuscript that was marked up with comments. Perhaps the most valuable feedback was several hours of videos that Cristen provided about my manuscript. Watching them was like taking a master class that tailored for me. I have learned so much through working with Cristen, and my manuscript is turning into the meaningful book I had envisioned.” –Lisa Schelbe, PhD; Associate Professor Florida State University

“Through a series of phone calls, well, more like countless times of me bugging Cristen, she always greeted me with grace, kindness, and at times mercy…. Anyone who, whether a professional or a novice like me, is looking for some help and assistance with writing, your one stop is Cristen Iris. It’s an over-stated cliche, but I literally could not have done this without her. I had a beat and a concept, but she helped make it solid.” –Billy Kilson, GRAMMY Award (R) winning drummer

“It was a privilege to work with Cristen. She is a highly knowledgeable editor and a wonderfully precise thinker. Her skill, commitment to excellence, and ability to understand my intent, inhabit it, and articulate it improved my manuscript tremendously. Our editing process was a fun partnership and I highly recommend her!” –Heather Sears, entrepreneur and former marketing executive

“I can’t begin to tell you what a significant difference your thoughts made on my ability to tweak the writing and take it to a new level. All this time I’ve been sending to agents and editors and hearing, ‘I like it but I’m not connecting,’ with no thoughts on what they’re not connecting with or how to fix it. Your’s was the first real advice I’ve been given and I’m just beside myself.” –C.H. Armstrong, novelist (YA)

BOISE, ID
US

Email: cristen@cristeniris.com

https://cristeniris.com/

Years in the field: 8
Years freelancing: 8