About Jennifer Holder, Mpub

I have been having a love affair with books since 2001—most people would simply call it a career. Creating books is a true calling because I believe they are the most empowering, humanistic, and life-changing communication method in existence. 

What prepared me for this work?

My undergraduate degrees are in writing and psychology, which many consider to be at the heart of my offerings as a craftsperson who supports clients in a collaborative and creative journey. After an engrossing year at Bryn Mawr College, I decided that instead of learning the Latin names for plants, I should learn to plant a garden. While absorbing Naropa University's contemplative education, I did indeed learn to dig in the dirt, water my writing dreams, and live in full bloom. 

I began my career editing and writing for a Buddhist meditation teacher who I studied with for eighteen years. To increase my skills and industry knowledge, I received a master of publishing degree (MPub) from Simon Fraser University in Vancouver. Then I completed my degree working in London at Penguin Books, which fulfilled my goal of understanding how industries work and readers engage books in the United States, Canada, and England.   

How did I gain experience?

During two decades in the world of professional bookmaking, I have worked primarily with self-help books. 

• As a literary agent at Dupree/Miller and Associates, I worked among authors like Maria Shriver, Dr. Phil McGraw, Tony Robbins, Joel Osteen, and Stephen Covey. 

• At AMACOM Books, I supported acquisitions and edited books on everything from parenting to marketing on eBay, the science of creation to running a business on SecondLife.

• My time at Sounds True doing production and content-development editing gave me the opportunity to engage books by spiritual luminaries like Ram Das, Adyashanti, Pema Chödrön, Jeff Foster, and Sandra Ingerman.

• As an employee-owner at New Harbinger Publications, I have coached, encouraged, and edited many authors who are dedicated to helping people in pain, like Michael Singer, Tara Cousineau, Matt McKay, and Rheeda Walker. 

• With Full Bloom Publications I support authors such as Steven Saitzyk, Erika Berland, Navi Radjou, Dr. Frank Lawlis, and Justin Bean in the process of creating a book, whether through coaching, ghostwriting, editing, or production.

What are the effects of this experience? 

To start, I mastered the A-to-Z process of creating a book and I can take an idea all the way to the printer. A lot happens along the way and many roles are necessary. I know how the gears turn in publishing and have the perspective and skills to navigate the moving parts. 

At heart, the magic of publishing lies in the fact that every book project is unique. Its topic, audience, and author all have unique needs. This is one of many reasons I love what I do, because it turns every challenge into a path-breaking art. Because we are not in the business of making identical widgets, I get to creatively rely on a base of experience to customize solutions.   

I have worked with hundreds of authors during this love affair, and I would enjoy applying all I have learned to support your book writing and publishing journey.