Susan Shankin

Precocity Press

I’m Susan Shankin, a publisher, creative director, and book designer. I created Precocity Press for clients seeking full-service independent publishing solutions. We offer a range of high-quality New York-style publishing services, including project management, editing, cover and interior design, research, development, PR, and marketing. Precocity Press is a one-stop-shop to shepherd your project from idea to completion. 

I’ve been a publisher for over a decade and worked in the industry three times as long. Clients know me for my exceptional creative ability, my unrelenting commitment to excellence, and my expertise in all aspects of publishing. 

I began my career as a graphic designer, specializing in book design for one of the few publishers in Los Angeles, Jeremy P. Tarcher, Inc. (now part of Penguin Random House). During my seven-year tenure with Tarcher, I became the art director and designed hundreds of books, including Susan Wittig Albert’s Writing From Life and Esalen founder Michael Murphy’s The Future of the Body. Most notably I was the art director for Julia Cameron’s best-selling book The Artist’s Way.

I have designed books for Harcourt/Brace, Beyond Words Publishing, Renaissance Media, and many other publishers. More recently I have worked with authors who have chosen to independently publish or self-publish their books in genres such as business, self-improvement, spirituality, and memoir. I am passionate about transforming an author’s idea into a high-quality, creative, and distinctive cover that connects their message to a targeted audience.

I work with writers, authors, and corporate clients to develop their ideas, design their covers and interiors, and publish their books. I have collaborated with authors who have been entrepreneurs, artists, thought leaders, and business professionals. My skills, specialties, and services include: 

• Book promotion
• Business, Finance, Education, and Leadership books
• Design/layout and formatting 
• Developmental editing 
• Editorial coaching 
• Literary coaching
• Manuscript evaluation
• Marketing
• Project management
• Self-publishing

One of the biggest areas I can help authors with is that of understanding the marketplace for their book within a specific genre. I take great care to guarantee that the book covers I design truly stand out in the marketplace. As a result, titles and interiors pop and get noticed due to my strong sense of design and expertise in typography. Likewise, my comprehensive research process includes an exploration of other books in the same genre and extensive communication with the author regarding their goals and vision for the project. My keen eye and creative spirit truly set my books apart from the competition amid the clutter of the marketplace.

I work with a talented team of professional editors to offer comprehensive personalized support for your project, including copywriting, editing, and writing coaching services. Our passion is helping writers become published authors. We would love to have a free 30-minute conversation with you about your project and how we can help you get your book published with the least amount of anguish and frustration, and the most satisfaction and joy. Reach out to us! We are here to assist you in translating your passion, whatever it is, into the reality of a book.

Testimonials

“Working with Susan was an extraordinary experience—and I have worked with her twice. Susan’s expertise in helping authors develop a rough first draft manuscript into an award-winning book was evident right from our first meeting. Her exceptional design work went far beyond my expectations. I highly recommend Susan to any writer with a dream to publish a book.” —James E. Demmert, author of The Journey to Wealth and The Sustainable Endowment

“I had no idea of the complexity of effort necessary to take the content of the book I had written and turn it into a finished published product.  I am so grateful that I contracted with Susan Shankin to provide the design services and production of my eBook.  Susan had the combination of expertise, skill and personality to help me avoid a variety of problems.  Her cover design of the book is powerful and effective.  More importantly, Susan paid attention to my vision for how I wanted the pages laid out.  She balanced the reality of publishing constraints and my sometimes, outrageous ideas! The end result is a book that is striking both inside and out. Susan’s hard work and final touches have produced a book for which I am very proud.” —Bill Blokker, Ed.D., author of Achieve Beyond Expectations

“I enthusiastically endorse Susan Shankin’s creative talents! Her cover art for my book and interior layout were striking and unique, enhanced interest in it, and stimulated many admiring comments from readers.Her imaginative artistry and design inventions are exceeded only by her caring interest in seeing that her clients succeed.” —Jack Schramm, author of Passionate Purpose: A Global Governance Journey

“I knew I wanted to write a book to promote my company, Lead with Purpose. I wrote a first draft and it became clear I needed professional assistance from an experienced editor and book designer. What a relief when I found Susan, whose knowledge of all aspects of book publishing was impressive. She was an incredible partner throughout the entire experience—attentive to my needs, available when I needed to talk, and committed to producing a quality book.” —Marc Koehler, author of Leading with Purpose

From start to finish, Susan was highly professional and a joy to work with. She helped us with the design, co-edited the manuscript with her editor, Sara Volle.  —Margie Gayle, co-author of The Secret to Loving Yourself: Profound Little Messages to Change Your Life

“Launching your book into the world is like birthing a baby. I would not trust that precious task to just anyone! Susan is experienced, connected, kind, honest and brings a unique eye to book design, marketing, and sales. My book wouldn’t be what it is without her guidance and support, I can’t recommend her highly enough!” —Lauren Polly, author of The Other Side of Bipolar: Revealing Your Strengths to Move Beyond the Diagnosis

“On my book project, Susan was an inspiration, wise counsel, and talented designer. I feel blessed by all of it. Thank you for your support!” —Sakada, author of Save Our Democracy

“Susan is amazing to work with. She completed her design and publishing tasks within schedule and patiently guided me through the publishing process with encouragement and inspiration. Song of a Lotus Leaf is my first book of poetry. I was nervous at first but then absolutely thrilled when Susan showed me the final draft via Zoom. My Word document had become the beautiful book I had dreamed about for a long time!  I highly recommend Susan and Precocity Press. You will not be disappointed! “—Rehni (Dawn Li), author of Song of a Lotus Leaf

“Publishing a book means expressing your thoughts related to ideas you care about for the benefit of others. Visual qualities, readability and understandability are what a book reader enjoys. I am about to publish my fourth book with Susan. Her creative talents regarding design and illustration have helped me publish three beautiful books. If you are an author, she is an exceptional professional who can help you get your message out effectively.” —John M. Poothullil, MD, FRCP, author of Eat, Chew, Live: 4 Revolutionary Ideas to Prevent Diabetes, Lose Weight and Enjoy Food and When Your Child Has Cancer: Insights and Information to Empower Parents

“Susan Shankin was a great partner all along the process of making my novel One Woman Three Men reach the US market. She understood me as a writer, and carefully took me through the different steps in the process with great competence and kindness. Her focus is to advise you how to make the manuscript become the best book. And once you agree on the different elements, she makes it happen. Susan even found me a Hollywood agent. All in all, she is very professional and great to work with.” —Pouline Middleton, author of One Woman Three Men: A Novel About Modern Love and Sex

“A friend recommended Susan Shankin to help me finish and publish my first book, “The Making of Mr. Mac,” a memoir. I was unfamiliar with the publishing world. I will always be grateful for her sound and steady advice because she listened carefully to understand my original concept of the book and was ultimately creative with her own outstanding contributions to the look and its overall feel from cover to cover. She possessed a positive, cheerful, optimism—a part of her nature which is so helpful to the creative process which can be daunting. Whether this is your first time or you a seasoned author, Susan Shankin of Precocity Press will be professional and highly effective in making the publishing process easier and more successful. I couldn’t be happier with this highly skilled professional.”  —Jim Maechling, author of The Making of Mr. Mac

Venice, CA
US

Email: sunnedae@gmail.com

http://www.precocitypress.com/

Years in the field: 25
Years freelancing: 25