We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Alee Anderson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Alee, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
In 2018 I had the privilege of working with a client who had recently experienced the tragic death of his husband. When we came together, he was understandably overcome by grief, battling the painful effects of the acute trauma he sustained when he witnessed his husband’s passing. Over the next six months, we worked on his manuscript, digging into all aspects of his relationship with his late husband, unpacking every experience, good and bad. The process was grueling, but I was able to shepherd my client through moments when building a cohesive narrative felt impossible. By the end of the project, not only did we have a stunning book in our hands, but my client was utterly transformed. The pain had eased, his burden was lifted. It was such an honor to watch him come back to life, thanks in part to the work we did together. Because of the joy I gained from this project, I restructured my business, dedicating my career to writing for those processing acute trauma and journeying through grief. I get to stand beside people who are hurting and help them reshape their relationship to the pain. I am so grateful for the immeasurable blessings this project brought to my life.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I started working in publishing in 2005 at a small press in Boston. There, I spent my days surrounded by books, digging through the slush pile hoping to find a gem. The thrill of the hunt never left me as I continued my career at Thomas Nelson Publishers in Nashville. There, my love for great content evolved into a passion for discovering new authors, helping them tell their stories, and working to shape their careers. When Thomas Nelson was purchased by HarperCollins, I got to see a different side of the publishing industry—working for one of the Big 5.
Now, as a ghostwriter, I focus on writing non-fiction books and proposals that sell. My clients have been published by Thomas Nelson Publishers, HarperCollins, Hachette, BenBella Books, Simon & Schuster, and more, and are represented by some of the top literary agents in the industry. I love visceral storytelling and live for books that can’t help but change you.
I am especially passionate about working with individuals who are processing grief and trauma. Following my own experience with traumatic loss, I joined The Dinner Party, a worldwide community of 20- and 30-somethings who have each suffered the loss of a parent, partner, child, or close friend. I spent three years as a leader with the organization, which taught me to gently conduct triggering conversations and to carefully extract universal truths from my clients’ struggles. Not only does this elevate the narrative, it simultaneously reshapes the individual’s relationship to the pain associated with trauma and loss. In the recent past, I have partnered with clients unpacking sexual abuse, death of a loved one, violent attacks, spiritual warfare, rape, and chronic illness, and near catastrophic injuries. I am especially moved by clients looking to use their experiences to catalyze systemic change or add to cultural conversation.
I do all this from my lovely, yet wild home in Nashville, Tennessee. My husband, Jimi, and I have three young children, Madeline, Lucas, and Amelia, and two giant black dogs named George and Kevin. I am a genuinely happy person who strives to build safe creative relationships free of judgment. I have found that my overlapping abilities to talk through trauma, write creatively, and meticulously manage processes make me a highly-effective, sought-after partner.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
We are at a pivotal point in the publishing industry where story has taken a backseat to bloated sales goals. Sadly, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find a publisher who will take a chance on a memoir from a first-time author, especially if they don’t have a following of 100k+. My goal as a ghostwriter and publisher is to find a way back to the golden age of publishing where stories were treated with reverence and authors were honored by their teams. I treat every client like gold, regardless of their reach, and work tirelessly to bring their story to life on the page beautifully . My ultimate goal is to become the anti-publisher, giving my clients the keys to success without taking 75%+ of their royalties.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
I am obsessive about customer service and client satisfaction. My reputation has been bolstered by the fact that I keep my client load low so I am able to give everyone who partners with me the attention they deserve. My response time is typically within 2 hours and I make sure to check in every couple of days if I haven’t heard from someone. When clients finish working with me, the first thing they typically mention is how available and attentive I am.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://aleeandersoneditorial.com
- Instagram: @heyyoungwriter
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alee-anderson-5186903b/
Image Credits
Photo credit Jimi Anderson Photography