AVAILABLE NOW!
BOOKBOUND
A TRIED-AND-TRUE METHOD FOR TURNING YOUR GREAT IDEA INTO A STANDOUT NONFICTION BOOK PROPOSAL
Reviews
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"Don’t waste your time wondering how to get a book deal. Don’t waste your energy guessing what steps to take and in what order. There are rules to the book industry and Bethany and Fran know them from the inside out. If you want to not only write a book, but secure a book deal, then let Bethany and Fran guide you in the step-by-step process that leads you to a stand-out proposal but also a more excellent book in the process."
Kimberly Ann Johnson, author of The Fourth Trimester, Call of the Wild, and Reckoning
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"I started working with the BOOKBOUND method in 2023 as an unpublished writer with virtually no platform. By 2024 I had published nine articles, completed my book proposal and secured an agent. Bethany and Fran’s BOOKBOUND is the perfect balance of brass tacks and expert level support."
— Christine Carrig, M.S.Ed, Writer in Residence at the Khora: Maternal and Reproductive Psychology Lab at Teachers College, Columbia University, Founding Director of Carrig Montessori
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"Writing book proposals can be frustrating, especially since agents and editors often describe what they want in different ways. Enter the BOOKBOUND method by Bethany and Fran, which is so deep but also filled with concrete tools that it will guide any nonfiction writer on their path of writing a winning proposal. It certainly worked for me!"
—Todd Baratz, psychotherapist and author of How to Love Someone Without Losing Your Mind
In nonfiction publishing, authors don't sell full manuscripts; they sell proposals. A proposal is essentially a business plan for your book, helping agents and editors visualize it on shelves and bestseller lists.
Our BOOKBOUND method has helped hundreds of writers just like you sharpen their idea, develop a publishing strategy, and, ultimately, write the proposal that agents and editors can’t say no to. In this e-book, you will find everything from how to make your book stand out in a crowded market to unlocking your book idea with the perfect guiding image, metaphor, or trope.
We’ve structured the book to be readable by chapter and actionable as a self-guided course. In other words, you can go through the book chapter by chapter at your leisure or use it as a workbook with weekly prompts, mirroring our accelerator and proposal-writing workshop.
We’re critically acclaimed authors and bestselling book coaches who are on a mission to help women achieve their publishing dreams. By following our method, you’ll write, revise, and iterate until your proposal shines.
If you’re ready to take the plunge, stop writing your book and start writing your proposal. Your book is waiting, and we're here to guide you every step of the way.
Table of Contents
Meet Bethany & Fran
Bethany Saltman
Bethany Saltman still can’t believe she gets to write and work with books for a living. Her critically acclaimed first book, Strange Situation: A Mother’s Journey Into the Science of Attachment (2020, Random House) was named one of the Top Science Books of 2020 by New Scientist, has been published in five countries, and is included in psychology syllabi around the world. As a bestselling book coach and co-host of the Bookbound podcast, Bethany is obsessed with the art of the non-fiction book proposal and with helping women claim their author-ity. She is also a Brown-University certified leadership coach, and lives in the Catskills of New York with her husband, teenage daughter, and their two standard poodles.
Fran Hauser
Fran Hauser knows books. A bestselling author, speaker, bookstore owner, and former media executive, her expertise runs deep. Fran is the author of two books for professional women who are looking to create careers they love while staying true to themselves: The Myth of the Nice Girl (2018, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) and Embrace the Work, Love Your Career (2022, Collective Book Studio). The Myth of the Nice Girl has been translated into eight languages and earned the prestigious title of "Best Business Book of the Year, 2018" by Audible. Fran is also the owner of Bedford Books, the first-ever bookstore in Bedford, NY, where she resides with her husband, two sons, and beloved mini Goldendoodle.
More Rave Reviews
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"With wit and flair, Bookbound demystifies the art of proposal-writing, making an often-daunting and opaque challenge into a process that’s clear, inspiring, and even fun. Belongs on every non-fiction writer’s bookshelf!"
—Maggie Jackson, author of the National Book Award-nominated Uncertain: The Wisdom and Wonder of Being Unsure
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"I consider myself lucky to have gone through the BOOKBOUND method, not once but three times, which led to landing a top agent, selling three proposals, and writing three bestselling books. Now everyone else has access to this incredibly inspiring and practical tool for turning great ideas into amazing books!"
—Erica Keswin, workplace strategist and bestselling author of Bring Your Human to Work, Rituals Roadmap and Retention Revolution
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"As someone who's been through this method, I can say that Bethany Saltman and Fran Hauser have done more than write a book about writing—they've given aspiring authors a roadmap to transform bold ideas into books that matter. BOOKBOUND is equal parts practical and inspiring—a clear, compassionate roadmap to claim your authority, sharpen your story, and connect with the readers who need it most. If you've ever dreamt of writing a book, start here."
—Daisy Auger-Dominiguez, author of Burnt Out to Lit Up and Inclusion Revolution
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"Wow! This is the guide I wish I had when I first started my writing career. I could have saved hours researching the publishing industry, learning how to write a killer book proposal, crafting a query letter that breaks through, and more. Because it's ALL here. An investment you won't regret!"
—Mita Mallick, Wall Street Journal & USA Today Best Selling Author, Reimagine Inclusion
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"What a well thought-out guide written for anyone new to publishing or as a refresher for an already savvy author. Bethany and Fran have captured what all of us who have a “book in us” need to accomplish as their first step: a compelling proposal for your book. Applause for this much needed book in a concise format to help many of us with doing what we love as writers—telling our story! "
—Francine Parham, author of Please Sit Over There and Founder and CEO, Francine Parham and Co.
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"Going through the BOOKBOUND method, I transformed a story I couldn’t stop telling into a polished proposal I’m incredibly proud of—and landed an agent who enthusiastically believes in my book! But even more importantly, following the BOOKBOUND process helped me to get crystal clear on who I was writing this book for, exactly how to help them move from where they are now to where they are longing to be, and how to write a book that will make an impact. For anyone serious about transforming their book idea into a reality, this self-paced ebook is an invaluable resource. "
—Dr. Sarah Bren, clinical psychologist, parenting specialist, and host of the podcast Securely Attached
