Cory Hott

I’m Cory Hott, a ghostwriter, book editor, and storyteller who believes one thing deeply: storytelling belongs at the heart of every form of writing. Humans don’t just enjoy stories — we’re wired to respond to them. And when a book gets that right, it doesn’t just inform or inspire — it sells.

I’m the cofounder of Hott + Hadley Writing Consultancy, a boutique literary consultancy focused on book proposals, ghostwriting, and editing. I work primarily with memoir and prescriptive nonfiction authors, helping them turn lived experience and expertise into books publishers actually want — and readers actually finish.

What I Bring to Uptales

• Extensive publishing experience, having edited more than 200 books across memoir, nonfiction, and narrative-driven works.
• Deep proposal and positioning expertise, helping authors shape ideas that resonate with agents, publishers, and audiences.
• Ghostwriting and developmental insight that preserves voice while strengthening structure, clarity, and narrative momentum.
• Industry leadership experience as former Director of Book Strategy at Difference Press, guiding manuscripts from concept to publication.
• Editorial rigor shaped by my time as Managing Editor of South Magazine, where story quality and reader engagement were paramount.

Focus Areas

• Memoir and prescriptive nonfiction development
• Book proposals that sell (concept, positioning, structure, market fit)
• Ghostwriting and voice-driven collaboration
• Developmental editing and manuscript shaping
• Storytelling frameworks for experts, founders, and thought leaders

My Guiding Philosophy

“If your book doesn’t tell a compelling story, it doesn’t matter how smart the ideas are — readers won’t stay.”

Why Authors Choose Me

• I understand both story craft and the publishing business — and how to bridge them.
• I help authors clarify not just what they’re writing, but why it matters to readers.
• My approach balances narrative depth with commercial viability, so your book works creatively and in the market.