Coming Soon
April 6, 2027
Deep Story Design: A Writer's Guide to Crafting Novels, Screenplays, and Memoirs
For writers who want to create novels, screenplays, and memoirs that matter, an accessible guide to mastering essential storytelling principles—without sacrificing the mystery, joy, and magic of the creative process.
Books
A selection of books I’ve worked on as story-coach and/or developmental editor:
When Paris Whispers
Marianne C. Bohr, Brother Mockingbird, 2026
NOVEL
“April has a rare gift for envisioning the structure of a novel as a whole: where threads need weaving together, where plot holes are hiding in plain sight, and where tension needs to be built rather than explained away. Her insights into character development pushed me to dig deeper into who my characters really were, not simply what they did. Having now worked with April twice, I’ve come to trust her instincts completely. She edits with both rigor and generosity, always in service of the story the author is trying to tell.”
~ Marianne C. Bohr
Encounter The Light
Andrea Michal, Balboa Press, 2026
SPIRITUAL SELF-HELP/MEMOIR
Looking for Her
Carolyn Marie Souaid, Baraka Books, 2024
NOVEL
“For months, I had three characters and the bare bones of a story, but I couldn’t find a way in. With April's guidance, I understood my characters’ motivations and couldn’t wait to keep writing. April has an exceptional ability to pinpoint exactly what is needed to move the story—and the writer—forward. Within two years, I had a completed manuscript that was accepted for publication.”
~ Carolyn Marie Souaid
The Twenty
Marianne C. Bohr, She Writes Press, 2023
TRAVEL MEMOIR
“Working with April on my travel memoir was an absolute pleasure. April is a creative, sensitive reader, and gives very specific but gracious feedback. She is a pro when it comes to building an engaging story and I totally trust her advice. I’m not sure I ever would have finished by manuscript without her counsel.”
~ Marianne C. Bohr
Flying Through Rosedale
Albert Brecht, 2022
NOVEL
Grant of Immunity
Garret Holms, 2014
THRILLER
“Were it not for April’s instruction, guidance and insight, this novel would not exist. After I’d written the first draft of my novel I was at an impasse, realizing my story wasn’t working, but not knowing what to do to improve it. April read my manuscript. Her comments and analysis helped me craft my words into a credible and cohesive story. She has an extraordinary ability to spot structural flaws and suggest ways to correct and improve plot points. Through April’s guidance and examples, I learned much about adding emotional depth to my scenes, deepening character development and avoiding back-story pitfalls.”
~ Garret Holms
A selection of books I’ve contributed to as an author:
The Great Book of Journaling
Eric Maisel PhD (Editor), Lynda Monk (Editor), 2022
Transformational Journaling
for Coaches, Therapists, and Clients
Lynda Monk (Editor), Eric Maisel PhD (Editor), 2021
The Creativity Workbook for Coaches and Creatives
Eric Maisel PhD (Editor), 2020
Inside Creativity Coaching
Eric Maisel PhD (Editor), 2019
Sweet Taffy and Murder Series
Dana Moss, Mossy Stone Books, 2016, 2017, 2019
COZY MYSTERY
