Author Services

I am available to provide feedback on picture book manuscripts and pitches for authors.

Picture Book Assessments

If you need a fresh set of eyes on your story – to nut it out or polish it up – I can help! My feedback will consider structure, pace, character and voice, as well as your target market, grammar, and formatting.

Pitch Assessments

If it’s a pitch you’re working on, I can help whip it into shape. Not a square. Maybe a dodecahedron – something that stands out! Let’s talk hooks, themes, comparative titles, and the dreaded submission criteria.

What people are saying:

  • Jess' assessment was detailed and insightful. Her feedback was clear and actionable, and she gave me practical steps to strengthen my writing. Such a great experience, Jess will definitely be my go-to person for manuscript assessments in the future.

    Kathleen Wallace

  • Jess is amazing at what she does. She connected with the feeling and flow of my story, offering detailed encouragement as to what was working. I felt seen. Her very specific and actionable suggestions were so helpful.

    Barbara Cook

  • I honestly feel like Jess gives the best feedback of everyone (and I've had a LOT of assessments over the past year!).

    Anonymous

  • Jess' assessment was the most comprehensive, considered and encouraging feedback I've received so far. Jess has an uncanny ability to understand exactly what you're trying to achieve and provide inspired suggestions to help get you there. Her industry knowledge is also a huge asset in ensuring your manuscript is publisher ready.

    Zoe Crowest

  • Jess' assistance with my pitch was nothing short of amazing. With her editing and restructuring, it felt perfectly tailored for the publisher. With Jess' attention to detail, I now feel confident and excited to present my book to publishers.

    Fiona Smyth

  • Jess is SO generous with her time and knowledge. She has critiqued picture books for me which has helped make the story stronger. Her pitches are also amazing. After some previous guidance, I submitted a pitch to a competition and was long listed! I would highly recommend Jess for feedback.

    Sandy Summons

  • Jess' feedback on my picture book manuscript helped me think more deeply about structure, character growth and page turns. She also provided detailed suggestions on word choice, grammar and metre. Her feedback was a perfect combination of a wide lens and a zoomed-in critique. I'm excited to send my revised manuscript out to publishers!

    Seetha Dodd

  • Jess is my go-to for manuscript feedback. She has a special knack for finding plot holes, unnecessary words, and silly typos. Jess has great tips on how to catch publisher attention and her feedback is open and honest.

    Bec Nanayakkara

  • I highly recommend booking Jess for feedback on your picture book manuscript. Her detailed, well-thought-out comments are comprehensive, honest, but kind. Now I can polish my manuscript to its highest shine and be ready to pitch to publishers.

    Joanna Watts

  • Jess' feedback has been integral in helping polish many of my picture book stories. Her critiques are thoughtful and uplifting, which has given me the confidence to send my stories out into the world.

    Sarah Tyrrell

  • Writing a successful pitch is something that Jess is extremely capable of doing. Jess has an exceptional grasp of the KidLit industry. She balanced constructive critique with positive feedback to help my pitch sparkle!

    Alysia Kelly

  • Jess has a way with words. She writes my bio updates, artist statements and emails at ridiculously short notice and I hope she doesn’t start charging me!

    Jess’ Mum

    (Disclaimer: Appraisal also written by Jess)

School Visits

I am available to visit schools, preschools and libraries for book readings, activities, and story-writing workshops for kids. If you’d like an author visit, please get in touch with me to discuss what you’ve got in mind!

“Jess was fantastic during her author visit to our school. She was incredibly engaging, hands-on and wonderful with the children. Jess created a fun and interactive experience that kept the students excited and involved throughout the visit.

She was extremely organised and professional, making the whole process easy from start to finish. The children loved meeting Jess and learning about her books. We would highly recommend Jess for school visits and would love to have her back again.”
— Australia Street Infants School
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