Bring Your Book to Life

You have a message that matters but shaping it into a book can feel overwhelming, disjointed or paralyzing. That’s where I come in.

I help entrepreneurs, thought leaders and authors outline and develop nonfiction books that are clear, compelling and aligned with their voice, vision and purpose.

Key Focus Areas:

  • Clarify your core message, and why you’re the one to tell it

  • Map your book’s structure, throughlines and transformation arc

  • Develop your authentic voice and story craft

  • Clear creative resistance and perfectionism blocks

  • Create a sustainable writing rhythm and path to completion

Clients’ Books

Book cover for 'The YES Code: Transforming Sabotage Into Success' by Carol Look featuring a blue and black background, the title in bold letters, and a silhouette of a person jumping with arms outstretched.
Book cover with large text saying 'YES, THANK YOU,' a butterfly illustration, and the subtitle 'Tapping Into the Superpower of Gratitude' by Carol Look.
Book cover titled 'The Fearless Female Leader' by Sheryl H. Kline, with a small gold chess queen piece between the words 'Fearless' and 'Female' on a blue background.
Cover of the book "Saved by Hope" by Jenny Lowe featuring a close-up of a child's face with eyes closed.
A colorful sunset sky with clouds reflected in water and the quote 'Who you are is how you lead' by Rachel L. Rider
Book cover titled 'Living Life Full Throttle: Surviving, Serving, and Summiting' by Sheryl Ramstad. The cover features a landscape of snowy mountains at sunset or sunrise with a clear sky.
Book cover titled 'Swaddled' by Elizabeth Sarah Cassidy with a blue background and gold and white lights illuminated over the top, and the subtitle 'Sage Stories to Wrap Mothers in Love' in yellow text.
Book cover titled "Midlife Upgrade" featuring large pink peony flowers on a black background. Subtitle reads "A Girlfriend's Guide to Finding Your Power in the Pause" by Julie Fedeli & Pamela DeRose.
Book cover titled 'Practical' by McKinley Aspen, with fiery orange and red abstract background, a black bird silhouette in a circle at the top left, and text indicating 'Shadows in the Wind, Book One'.
Book cover titled 'Brain Dance' by Diane Grimard Wilson, featuring a woman's head with a flower bouquet for a hairdo and butterflies flying around.
Book cover titled "Root RISE Roar" by Dawn King, featuring a lion's face with a colorful background and the words "Transforming Trauma into Your Brave and Beautiful Life."
Book cover of 'Sex, Drugs, & Soul: Finding Grace in the Shadow' by Kristin Birdwell featuring black and white photos of two women, one with long blonde hair and the other with long dark hair, partly covered with torn paper and purple coloring.
Book cover with the title 'Trust Your Intuition' by Robin Pollak, featuring a hand holding a glowing crystal ball against a blue background.
Book cover titled 'Breaking Boxes' by Betsy Pepine, featuring a partially opened cardboard box with a hand punching through and a red label that says 'Dismantling the Metaphorical Boxes That Bind Us'.
Book cover titled 'How To Survive Your Child's Addiction' by Patty Stanek Fallone, featuring an illustration of a tree with colorful flowers, butterflies, and birds, with a gold 'Best Seller' badge.
Book cover titled 'College Admissions: The Essential Guide for Busy Parents' by Beth Pickett, featuring a yellow graduation cap with a tassel on a dark blue background.
Book cover titled 'How to Become a Financial Powerhouse: She Grows Rich' by Audrey Faust, featuring a dark blue background with gold and light blue text.
Book cover titled '48th Street: prose poems and paintings' by Ann Feck. The cover features an illustration of a woman in a pink dress standing in an open window, with a yellow background behind her and purple flooring.
Book cover for 'Warm Transfer' by Laura Holtz, featuring a light blue illustration of a house, a white fence, and a white bicycle in the foreground.
Book cover titled "The North Star Method" by Jessica Perez-Beebe, with subtitle "How vision can save you when goals fail you"
Book cover titled 'When Wisdom Arrives' by Rosalyn Rourke, MSW, featuring a tropical plant background with white orchids and green leaves.
Book cover titled 'Political Introverts: How Empathetic Voters Can Help Save American Politics' by Arthur Lieber, featuring a stylized Capitol building with words like 'caring', 'quiet', 'modest', 'reasonable', and 'empathetic' around the dome.
Book cover featuring a smiling woman with dark curly hair, wearing a black top, sitting outdoors with greenery in the background. Title reads "The Soulful Abundance System" with subtitle "A 6-step guide to growing a prosperous 6-figure holistic busin

Whether you’re at the idea stage or revising a full manuscript, we’ll outline and build your book with emotional clarity and editorial precision.

Let’s write a book that transforms you as much as it transforms your readers.

“Mary Nelligan, my editor, got it done. Incredible, brilliant, brilliant woman.”

Carol L, Book Coaching Client

“Mary Nelligan isn’t just a top-notch writing coach. She’s a shaman of the written word. As a Pulitzer finalist, career journalist, and coach myself, Mary helped me make the leap to author and peel back the layers of doubt and disorganization. I brought Mary my vagueness, and she gifted me with clarity.”

Lou C, Book Coaching Client

“Thank you, Mary, from the bottom of my heart for all the love, talent and amazing coaching you put into my book.”

Katherine B, Book Coaching Client

“Thank you for your generosity! Your feedback was so generous and delivered with such care. You really took time and care with me and my words.”

Connie L, Book Coaching Client