Tomas Blazo

Former publisher. Book mentor.

I rejected books for a living.

Now I show writers exactly why a manuscript gets rejected, and how to fix it before a publisher ever sees it. Straight, written feedback from someone who sat on the other side of the desk.

Worked with authors including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jordan Belfort, Mitch Albom, Bronnie Ware and Randy Gage.

Open now
3programs
Full this year
2programs
Format
Writtenin English
Portrait of Tomas Blazo, author and former publisher
Old school

I do everything myself. Every report, every call, every word of feedback comes from me, a human with 15 years in publishing. No AI.

  • 100% professionalClear standards, real deadlines, straight feedback.
  • 100% confidentialA confidentiality agreement comes with every program. Your book stays between us.
  • 30 day money backNot happy within 30 days of your order? You get every cent back.
  • 15 yearsinside book publishing
  • 8 bookswritten by me
  • Directorof an international publishing house
  • 1,800+subscribers on Substack

Work with me

Pick how deep you want to go.

Three programs are open. Two are full for this year. Every open program is written feedback: no vague encouragement, just a clear list of what to fix and why. Every program comes with a confidentiality agreement and a 30 day money back guarantee.

Open now

Open

Query Letter and First 15 Pages Review

€147

The two things a publisher reads before deciding to read anything else.

Written · Query letter + 15 pages · 7 days

Confidentiality agreement included

Open

How to Sell Your Book

€387

A complete marketing audit of your book: cover, back cover copy, market, readers and social networks, then a verdict on which publishing road fits you.

Written · Includes an interview · 10 days

Confidentiality agreement included

Prices are in euros. If you pay in USD, the price is converted at the current exchange rate, so the amount in dollars may differ slightly.

After you order, I contact you within 24 hours with the details of how we work together.

Full for this year

Sold out

The Book Mentorship

$6,290per year

Only 5 writers per yearI do all of this work myself, one to one, with no assistants and no AI. That is why I can only take 5 writers a year. More clients would mean less of me for each of you.

A quiet, confidential collaboration on your book, from the first plan to the finished manuscript.

12 months · 5 writers per year · Confidential

Confidentiality agreement included

Pay in 2 parts: $3,500 to start, $2,790 within 60 days.

Free. One email when a place opens. Nothing else.

Sold out

The Book Marketing Partnership

$3,890per year

Only 10 authors per yearI do all of this work myself, with no assistants and no AI. That is why I can only take 10 authors a year. More clients would mean less of me for each of you.

I build the complete marketing plan for your book, then I work it with you for a year as your personal marketing and PR manager.

12 months · 10 authors per year

Confidentiality agreement included

Pay in 2 parts: $2,000 to start, $1,890 within 60 days.

Free. One email when a place opens. Nothing else.

Not sure yet?

Have not picked one? Write to me.

If you have questions, or you do not know which program fits your book, tell me about it. I answer personally and honestly, even if the honest answer is that you do not need me yet.

How it works

From order to result. Five steps.

  1. Choose and pay

    Pay by card on a secure payment page. Prices are in euros. If you pay in USD, the price is converted at the current exchange rate. The yearly programs can be paid in 2 parts.

  2. I contact you

    Within 24 hours of your order I write to you personally with the specifics of how we work together.

  3. We sign confidentiality

    Before you send me anything, we sign the confidentiality agreement. Your book stays between us.

  4. You send, we start

    Written programs: send your pages as Word or PDF. Yearly programs: we set the plan and book the first call.

  5. You get the result

    Written programs arrive by the agreed delivery date. Yearly programs run with a weekly chat and a plan we review together.

Tomas Blazo, author and former publisher

About Tomas Blazo

Publishing and Writing Expert

I did not take the traditional path to becoming a writer.

My first book sold well enough that I decided to build something bigger. I founded a publishing house that brought authors like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jordan Belfort to Central European readers. For 15 years I ran that company, worked with global names and published titles that sold hundreds of thousands of copies. Authors I worked with include New York Times bestsellers such as Mitch Albom, Bronnie Ware and Randy Gage.

Then it all fell apart.

Four years behind bars with nothing but a pen, notebook pages and time taught me more about the raw truth of storytelling than any boardroom ever could. I have seen the view from the top. I have lived at rock bottom. Between those two worlds I held onto the only constant that kept me sane: writing.

I read manuscripts for a living, so I know the exact page where a reader quits. I will not tell you your book is great when it isn't. Flattery is the most expensive thing a writer can buy.

On Substack I write:

  • The Other Side of the Desk: my main series, including The Writer's Blueprint, a framework on how to outline, write, finish and publish books that sell, built on 15 years of industry experience.
  • Behind the Purple Door: my true prison story.
  • Short stories and serialized novels.
Read The Other Side of the Desk

My books

8 books of my own.

I write what I teach. I know what a finished book costs.

Goodpoint, a novel by Roberto Canducci
GoodpointA novel
Curio, A Tree from Adirondack, a Christmas story
Curio: A Tree from AdirondackA Christmas story
The Harmony of Living
The Harmony of Living10 simple steps
How You Can Start Writing Your Book Successfully
How You Can Start Writing Your Book SuccessfullyOn writing a book
6 Routines of Successful Persons
6 Routines of Successful PersonsPersonal development

Some of my books were published under the pen name Roberto F. Canducci.

Also published in Slovak

3 kroky k pokojnému životu
3 kroky k pokojnému životu
Ako žiť jednoduchšie pomocou afirmácií
Ako žiť jednoduchšie pomocou afirmáciíwith Vladimíra Šebová
100 pozitívnych afirmácií
100 pozitívnych afirmáciíwith Vladimíra Šebová

Not ready to buy? Start free.

Every subscriber gets two free downloads: the Publishing Survival Kit and the Query Page Template. Paid members also get one Personal Review a year included.

Join on Substack

Questions

FAQ

Who is this for?

Writers working on a book in English, fiction or nonfiction, from first draft to submission. If you want honest feedback instead of applause, you are in the right place.

Do you guarantee a publishing deal?

No. Nobody honest can. I guarantee a clear, specific diagnosis of your pages and a list of what to fix. What you do with it is up to you.

How long does it take?

Query Letter and First 15 Pages Review: 7 days. How to Sell Your Book: 10 days. Written Manuscript Edit: the delivery date is agreed with you before you pay, based on your word count. The clock starts when I receive your material.

What if I am not happy?

You are covered by a 100% money back guarantee for 30 days. If you are not happy within 30 days of your order, write to me and you get every cent back.

Is my book kept confidential?

100%. A confidentiality agreement comes automatically with every program. I tell nobody anything about your book.

Do you use AI?

No. I do everything myself. Your manuscript and your feedback never go through AI. It is old school work, done by one human who has read thousands of manuscripts.

Can I pay in installments?

Yes, for the two yearly programs. The Book Mentorship: $3,500 to start and $2,790 within 60 days. The Book Marketing Partnership: $2,000 to start and $1,890 within 60 days. The three open programs are paid in full at checkout.

Why are some programs limited to 5 or 10 people a year?

Because I do all the work myself, one to one. I cannot give you my full attention if I take on more clients, so I do not.

Who owns my work?

You do. Your manuscript stays yours and stays private. I never share it or use it anywhere.

How do payments work?

You pay by card on a secure payment page. Prices are in euros. If you pay in USD, the price is converted at the current exchange rate, so the amount in dollars may differ slightly.

How does the waitlist work?

Joining is free. When a place opens in a full program, you get one email. Nothing else, and you can ignore it.