About Burton’s Work
The best memoirs and crisis narratives work because they're lighthouses, guiding readers through something the author has already lived.
Lighthouse, Not Spotlight
When I talk with authors about the stories they want to tell, I start with one question: why do you want to do this book?
It sounds straightforward. It usually isn't.
A useful way to approach your book comes from author Jess Ekstrom: do you want to be a lighthouse, or a spotlight? A spotlight book is about the author. A lighthouse book helps readers see something new.
I work with authors on lighthouse books, and I'm especially drawn to the ones built around crisis, personal or organizational. In our culture, most people are taught to get through a crisis, compartmentalize it, and move on. The insight gets buried. If you've lived through something significant and you want to shape it into a book that actually helps someone else, that's where I can help you shine.
Where This Comes From
I spent 15 years in crisis communication and another 20 in higher education, teaching, researching, and writing about crises. One of my books in that field was a finalist for a national award from a major academic association. I also served on the board of a trauma-informed nonprofit.
Across that work, I've helped authors tell stories of organizational crises — terrorism, workplace violence, mass flooding, cross-cultural breakdowns, the U.S. healthcare practitioner shortage — and personal crises, including divorce, abuse, and the pressure of navigating the court system.
Every book proposal I've developed has been accepted by a major publisher. I’ve helped authors get dozens of manuscripts completed, with clients across corporate, academic, and public sectors.
I measure success by one thing: whether the book gets finished, and where it goes next.
Ready to move yours forward?
Start with my questionnaire and a phone call. We'll look at what you have, where it stands, and whether it's ready to become a book.
Writing Portfolio
Published
Works:
Ghostwriting & Other Books
Substack:
Chronicles of Crisis
