For working authors and author-led businesses
Keep the business around your books moving while you write. An assistant can organize reader correspondence, launch commitments and speaking requests. Knows The Drill recruits and prepares your assistant for your author business and agreed responsibilities before handoff.
Find your assistantA bookstore needs the correct cover image. A podcast host needs a bio. A reader received the wrong download link. These are separate conversations, but they compete for the same writing time.
Give an assistant a current book-information folder, your communication rules and a list of commitments. They can bring you the questions that need your voice, with the background already assembled.
The work to hand off
Sort messages by request, send the responses you have agreed and track questions that need the author. Keep private correspondence separate from material cleared for newsletters or public use.
What you get back: A reader-request list with response status and questions for you
Maintain the launch checklist, confirm which edition and assets are approved, and track advance-copy delivery to your chosen recipients. An invitation to read is not an obligation to post a favorable review.
What you get back: A launch register showing materials, recipients and outstanding confirmations
Collect interview topics, recording details, bookstore requirements and event contacts. Prepare a concise brief so you can decide which opportunities fit before dates are confirmed.
What you get back: An event brief with the requested commitment and missing details
Organize the latest bios, covers, book descriptions and links. Track corrections reported by readers or partners and route changes to the person who manages the relevant edition or listing.
What you get back: A current asset index and correction queue
Illustrative workflow
This example follows an invitation through the information an author needs before confirming it.
Assistant preparesRecord the store, proposed format, date and contact; mark the date as proposed.
Your team decidesWhether the event suits the book and your schedule.
Assistant preparesGather the current bio, cover and description from your approved folder.
Your team decidesWhich edition, image and description may be used.
Assistant preparesCompare the requested book format with your available editions and flag the difference.
Your team decidesWhether to offer another format or change the arrangement.
Assistant preparesRecord your decision, send the agreed information and update the event checklist.
Your team decidesAny fee, travel commitment or contract term.
Assistant preparesPrepare one brief with confirmed timing, contact and remaining questions.
Your team decidesWhether unresolved details require a change.
Illustrative example — not a client record
Use this record to bring one unresolved format question to the author before confirming an appearance.
Ready to hand over when: The author can see the proposed commitment, the edition mismatch and the exact response that needs approval.
Download the blank template (CSV)No email required. The file includes field names and guidance, with blank spaces for your own inputs. Use it to describe the work during matching; keep private client information out of an initial inquiry.
Shape the role around the workload
Managed support provides a dedicated, full-time assistant. Direct-hire responsibilities, hours and employment terms are agreed during matching.
The role organizes commitments and correspondence around your work. Agree the messages an assistant may send and the decisions that come back to you.
Recruit. Prepare. Hand over.
First, we discuss your niche and the work you want your assistant to own. Then we recruit and prepare them in depth for the industry and responsibilities agreed with you before handoff. The matching conversation defines the skills, tools and preparation time your role needs.
We assess English fluency, practical problem-solving and independent judgment, so your assistant can work through the next step and recognize when to bring you in.
A dedicated, full-time assistant through our service, with ongoing support from our team. One monthly fee.
Explore managed supportWe recruit and train an assistant for you to hire directly into your team. You manage the day-to-day. One placement fee.
Explore direct hiringThe examples on these pages are a starting point. Bring the broader range of work you want covered to the matching call. We agree responsibilities, preparation time, working hours, fees and terms before you start.
Show us the correspondence and commitments around your books. We will help define the role and preparation your assistant needs.
Explore other ways to organize the work around your team.
