An editing and coaching home for BRINGING YOUR BOOK to life.
I offer book editing and coaching services that are…
01
values-driven
I believe that ideas, books, and stories have the potential to change the world. And our world needs our stories. I am committed to supporting books that serve to make the world become a better place—whether that be through memoir, transformational nonfiction, poetry, or a children’s picture book.
I believe in honoring the inherent worth of every person—regardless of race, gender, age, religion, or ability—and I am dedicated to working on books that respect that value. I also believe in giving back. At the end of every calendar year, I donate a percentage of my income from editing your good work to Moms Demand Action and the We Need Diverse Books.
02
relationship-focused
I believe the author-editor relationship is key to helping you identify, write, and structure the very best book that lives inside of you. Writing a book is a huge lift—but with the right editor, clear communication, and trust between author and editor, the process can become one of wonder, magic, and flow. When trust and connection are present, you can fully drop into your book’s creation so that it is fruitful—and far more playful and adventurous.
I believe that it is possible to be both direct and kind—and my editing is built on a foundation of kindness. One of the main reasons I left my position at a major publishing house was I yearned for the time to partner more deeply with my authors—to get to know them, their stories, their voices, and support them in writing a book that is truly unique and loved by its audience.
03
fun!
I believe there are many ways to get your book from your mind and heart onto the page. The process can be tremendously different from one author to the next. Over the course of my editing career, I’ve worked with authors with a wide range of talents and habits, and in that time I’ve learned lots of tips and tricks to bring your book to life.
But one thing I’ve learned is that to get the best book out, you should be having fun! There is blood and sweat and tears in writing a book—but the creative life can also bring joy. When the process becomes too laborious or lacks any sense of flow and magic, I’ll work with you to change things up so we can help you find the fun and flow again.
Hello, I'm Haven!
I'm Haven Iverson. I am a true book industry insider with over two decades of professional success and I love working with authors.
After serving as the Editorial Director of Sounds True for over 10 years, I have insight into how your book will be evaluated when in front of an agent or editorial team. I’ve edited and collaborated on books in relationships, self-help, psychology, business, poetry, cookbooks, spirituality, health and wellness, women’s studies, and children’s picture books. I’ve worked with New York Times bestselling authors Pema Chodron, William Ury, Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Jon Kabat-Zinn, Mark Nepo, and more. And books I’ve worked on have been acquired by HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, Hay House, and Sounds True. I am also a children’s book author — with a special place in my heart for children’s books that feature monsters, dogs, and rabbits.
I offer a number of book editing and coaching packages.
My services can be amended and combined to suit your needs.
WELLNESS
How to Meditate
Pema Chodron
kind words from my authors
"Haven strikes a perfect balance between positive feedback, constructive suggestion, and being in your project just enough so you don't feel alone while not feeling like someone's hovering. And she's open to the collaborative processes that support your writing. Her partnership was critical to the success and completion of Start Finishing. She lives up to her name as a haven for your ideas and writing."
— Charlie Gilkey, author of Start Finishing
“Working with Haven was an author’s dream from start to finish. From our first meeting, I felt held, seen, and respected as an author and a person, and that never wavered throughout our time of working together.”
— Sheryl Paul
Author of The Wisdom of Anxiety
“Haven’s editorial talents are phenomenal as is her judgment and thoughtfulness. I would work with her again in a heartbeat.”
— Stan Tatkin, PhD
Author of We Do and Wired for Love
“Haven Iverson, savvy and insightful, brought her talented editorial eye and ear to every page and helped the stories come alive.”
— William Ury
Author of Possible and Getting to Yes
“Haven listens deeply and sees truly, lifting and protecting our most cherished book babies so that we may bring them from the darkness of our private creativity and into the light of a waiting world.”
— Mirabai Starr
Author of Wild Mercy and Caravan of No Despair