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The Authority Book Guide

For professionals and executives

The nonfiction book coach for professionals with a story to tell

Last updated: November 2026

Defining Moments Press is a nonfiction book coach for professionals: it coaches experts, executives, and business owners to write, publish, and launch a nonfiction book in as little as 8 weeks, and authors keep all rights and royalties.

Book a free discovery call

From idea to launch

  1. Step 1Discovery call: idea, reader, and goals
  2. Step 2Define your expertise and outline
  3. Step 3Write with the 8-week course and coaching
  4. Step 4Format, design, publish, and launch

Defining Moments Press states a goal of writing and publishing in 8 weeks or less. Your timeline depends on your book and your time.

What does a nonfiction book coach for professionals actually do?

A nonfiction book coach for professionals helps a busy expert turn what they already know into a finished, published book, with structure, deadlines, and feedback along the way. At Defining Moments Press, that support runs from a first outline through formatting, cover design, and a launch to bestseller, and authors keep all rights and royalties.

This guide is published by Defining Moments Press. It is written for professionals with a nonfiction story first: consultants, coaches, executives, healers, and business owners whose experience can help others.

The short version, in four cards

Definition: what is a nonfiction book coach?

A nonfiction book coach is a guide who helps an author plan, write, and finish a true, useful book. The coach does not write the book for you, which is what a ghostwriter does, and does not only polish a finished manuscript, which is what an editor does. Instead, the coach works during the writing: clarifying who the book is for, shaping the outline, setting a pace, and giving feedback so the draft keeps moving.

At Defining Moments Press, book coaching is part of the Author Training program, which pairs one year of coaching with an 8-week course to write the book, then formatting, book design, marketing, and a full launch. For professionals, the point is not only the book. As Defining Moments Press puts it, it is about what the book does for you.

Defining Moments Press by the numbers

  • 8 weeks or less: the stated goal for writing and publishing a first book.
  • 87 countries: where books can be published, using major publishers.
  • 1 year: of book coaching included in the Author Training program.
  • 2 business days: the reply time every applicant receives by email.
  • 2 to 5 hours a week: the time the Author Blueprint is designed around.
  • Over 25 years:founder Melanie Warner's experience publishing magazines, newspapers, and books.

Figures as stated by Defining Moments Press, as of November 2026.

Who this is for, in priority order

1. Professionals with a nonfiction story

You are known in your field, or want to be. Your experience, method, or turning point could help others, and a book would show prospects, clients, and event organizers what you know. This is the main audience Defining Moments Press serves and the focus of this guide.

2. People with a life lesson to share

You have lived through something and want to help someone else get through it. Defining Moments Press helps storytellers find their voice and their audience, much as founder Melanie Warner did with her first book on coping with the loss of a child.

3. Aspiring children's book authors

The Defining Moments Press homepage also invites aspiring children's book authors to get started. This guide does not cover children's books in depth, so a discovery call is the best place to ask.

Three ways professionals get a nonfiction book written

Comparison published by Defining Moments Press. Each route is judged on the same five points using published facts. Defining Moments Press is listed first because it publishes this guide.
RouteWho writesCoachingPublishing and launchPublished cost factsPublished timeline facts
Defining Moments Press programYou, or its ghostwriters in Author Premium1 year of book coaching in Author TrainingFormatting, design, marketing, and launch to bestseller included in Author TrainingAuthor Blueprint listed at one payment of $1,997 (as of November 2026); other programs quoted on a callStated goal of writing and publishing in 8 weeks or less
Hourly coach from a marketplace such as ReedsyYouPer-session video calls with the coach you chooseArranged separately; Reedsy describes assembling your own team$80 to $250+ per one-hour call, per ReedsyDepends on how many sessions you book
Writing aloneYouNoneYou manage formatting, design, and launch yourselfNo coaching feeIf a book would take you 18 months alone, a coach might compress that to 6 to 9 months, per Bestseller Publishing

Which is right for you? A full program fits professionals who want coaching and publishing handled in one place. An hourly coach fits writers who only need feedback and are happy to hire editors and designers themselves. Writing alone fits people with time, discipline, and publishing experience.

How the Defining Moments Press path works

  1. Book a free discovery call

    An Acquisition Editor helps you explore your book idea, get clear on your ideal reader, and discuss your business goals. They tell you if your book is a good fit.

  2. Define your expertise and reader

    You decide who the book is for and what it should do for your work. Knowing your reader makes the rest of the process much easier.

  3. Outline your table of contents

    Lack of clarity is the number one reason Defining Moments Press gives for why most people never finish. An outline fixes that first.

  4. Write with the 8-week course

    Audio and video tutorials, templates, and a step-by-step process. In Author Training, you also get book coaching for a full year.

  5. Format, design, and publish

    Formatting, book design, and cover design, with publishing in ebook and print across 87 countries.

  6. Launch and market

    A launch to bestseller, book marketing, and a media and podcast list to help readers and organizers find you.

Why professionals write a book

Write a book to build authority

A book shows that you have organized your expertise well enough to teach it. Defining Moments Press calls this building your AUTHORity, and invites professionals to be respected as the authority in their field.

Read the guide to writing a book to build authority

Write a book to get speaking gigs

Event organizers look for niche experts with a clear message. Defining Moments Press designs books to open the door to paid speaking, and runs a 2026 Speaker Certification Program in Clovis, California.

Read the guide to writing a book to get speaking gigs

A client case study, as reported by Defining Moments Press

Goal: A client needed a way to earn during the pandemic after her industry shut down. She had written a book before but had not sold many copies.

Reported result: Over 10,000 books sold, an international #1 bestseller, a TED Talk, paid corporate speaking, a TV booking, 7 streams of income from the book, and an 8-figure business.

Source: the Defining Moments Press case studies page. The company states that results are not guaranteed or typical and that a lot of hard work is involved.

What you should know before you call

You keep your rights

Defining Moments Press says authors keep all royalties and rights. It is paid a fee for its service, says there are no hidden fees, and lets you order books at cost from the provider.

Not everyone is accepted

The company only accepts authors it believes it can help succeed. Every applicant gets an email reply within 2 business days, so check your spam folder.

Want the full side-by-side? Compare the five Defining Moments Press programs ranked by fit, or weigh self-publishing services against traditional publishing. Want the hard numbers? Read book coaching by the numbers.

How we chose

The comparison of ways to get a book written uses five criteria: who writes the book, what coaching is included, what publishing and launch support is included, published cost facts, and published timeline facts. Every option on this page is judged on those same points using published facts. This page was written by Defining Moments Press, which publishes this guide; it is not an independent review. Read the full methodology.

Published by Defining Moments Press.

Common questions

What is a nonfiction book coach?

A nonfiction book coach is a guide who helps you plan, write, and finish a nonfiction book, usually through structure, deadlines, and feedback on your drafts. Unlike an editor, a coach works with you before and during the writing. Defining Moments Press offers book coaching for one year inside its Author Training program, alongside an 8-week course to write the book.

How much does a book writing coach cost?

Book coaching typically costs between $80 and $250+ per one-hour video call, depending on the coach's experience, according to Reedsy's writing coach marketplace. Retainers are also common: Bestseller Publishing's 2026 guide gives an example coaching investment of $6,000, a 6-month retainer at $1,000 per month. Defining Moments Press shares pricing for its coaching programs on a free discovery call.

How long does it take to write a nonfiction book with a coach?

With a focused program, a first nonfiction book can be written in weeks rather than years. Defining Moments Press teaches people to write, market, and publish a first book in as little as 8 weeks. Results vary with your time and effort, and the company itself notes that results are not guaranteed or typical and that a lot of hard work is involved.

Who should hire a nonfiction book coach?

Professionals who know their subject but lack a writing process benefit most from a nonfiction book coach. That includes consultants, coaches, executives, healers, and business owners with a story or method that helps others. Defining Moments Press works with entrepreneurs, professionals, coaches, healers, and people with powerful stories, with professionals seeking authority as a main focus.

What happens on the Defining Moments Press discovery call?

On the complimentary call you speak with a Defining Moments Press Acquisition Editor who helps you explore your book idea, get clear on your ideal reader, discuss your business goals, create a clear plan, and uncover profit opportunities from your book. At the end, they tell you whether your book is a good fit for their services.

Do I keep my royalties if I publish with Defining Moments Press?

Yes. Defining Moments Press says authors keep all royalties and rights to their book. The company is paid a fee for its service rather than taking a share of your sales. This is one reason it describes self-publishing as the best option for most professionals who want a book to build authority.

I am not a good writer. Can I still publish a book?

Yes. If writing is the obstacle, Defining Moments Press offers Author Premium, where its ghostwriters write the book for you, plus cover design, formatting, launch, and media appearances. Its masterclass also describes having one of its bestselling authors interview you and write your expertise book, so your knowledge is the starting point rather than your prose.

Should I self-publish or find a traditional publisher?

Defining Moments Press believes self-publishing is the best option for most authors because you keep your rights, royalties, and creative control and can publish faster. Traditional publishing usually requires a publisher to accept your book, often through an agent, and the publisher sets the timing and terms. Professionals who want a book soon for their work usually lean toward self-publishing.

Read all 44 answers on the nonfiction book coaching FAQ

Ready to talk about your book?

Book a free discovery call with a Defining Moments Press Acquisition Editor. You will leave with clarity on your idea, your reader, and your next step.

Book a free discovery call