You wrote the book. We bring it to print
Developmental editing, structural rewriting, and publishing direction for authors who wrote their own manuscripts. 114 titles since 2000.
Most of the people who hire Adducent have already written their book.
Two four-star officers did. So did a former Acting Under Secretary of the Navy, the chair of a Washington firm’s maritime practice, and a professor emerita who had already published eight books with university and commercial presses. They wrote their own manuscripts — their words, their judgment, their reputations — and engaged us to bring them to a professional standard and into print.
That is 114 titles’ worth of work. It is the larger part of this firm, and it is the harder half of the job.
Will it still be your book?
It is the question that stops most first-time authors before any question about craft, and it deserves an answer rather than a reassurance.
Yes. We have answered it 114 times.
The work is structural. Where a chapter sits in the wrong place, we move it and tell you why. Where the book’s real subject is buried in chapter nine, we say so. Where the prose is yours, and it is working, we leave it alone. Nothing goes to production that you have not approved.
The judgment on the page stays yours because it was yours to begin with. What changes is whether a reader can reach it.
What the work is
Four stages. Every title we publish goes through them, under Dennis Lowery’s direct editorial direction.
Developmental editing and structural reconstruction. Evaluating what the book is actually about, what order it belongs in, what is missing, and what is doing no work. This is the stage that decides whether a manuscript becomes a book, and it is the one most authors have never had done to their material. Then doing any necessary work to improve the manuscript.
Rewriting. Evaluating the writing and improving as needed. Line-level and passage-level reconstruction in the author’s own voice — scene where there was summary, sequence where there was chronology, interiority where there was report. Not a polish. Not copyediting, which comes later and is a different job.
Publishing direction and production. Title, cover, interior design, front and back matter, ISBN and imprint assignment, print specification, proofing. Decisions that are easy to get wrong once and expensive to correct afterward.
Distribution. Print and digital, domestic and international. Our authors’ titles have reached readers in twelve countries.
When a book needs to be rebuilt, not edited
Fourteen of our 114 titles arrived as standard nonfiction and were rebuilt as creative nonfiction — narrative structure, scene, voice, and interiority applied to material originally written as exposition.
This is the firm’s highest-craft editorial work. It is also the least understood, because most authors do not know it is a choice they are making. A memoir written as a record of what happened and a memoir written to put a reader inside it are different books built from the same material, and the decision between them is the author’s, not ours. We will tell you which one you have.
General Richard “Butch” Neal’s What Now, Lieutenant? is the worked example. A four-star Marine’s account of Vietnam and command, rebuilt as creative nonfiction, and subsequently selected for the Commandant of the Marine Corps Professional Reading List.
Another client, after reading his full rewrite, said it was the first time he had been able to read his own manuscript in a single sitting.
Standard Nonfiction or Creative Nonfiction? The Decision Most Authors Never Know They Are Making.
Two of these books are on U.S. military professional reading lists
Fortune Favors Boldness, by Vice Admiral Barry M. Costello, USN (Ret.), was named one of twelve titles on the Chief of Naval Operations Professional Reading List. The manuscript had been declined by Naval Institute Press before we worked with VADM Costello and published it.
What Now, Lieutenant?, General Richard “Butch” Neal’s memoir (mentioned above), was rewritten as creative nonfiction and selected for the Commandant of the Marine Corps Professional Reading List.
A reading-list selection is not a review a client can arrange, a prize an author can enter, or a placement a publisher can buy. It is a service deciding its own officers should read the book.
Two books. Two services. Each chosen by that service’s senior officer.
Who has done this with us?
Among many, there are ten flag and general officers across the Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force, including two four-star officers:
- Admiral William J. Fallon, USN (Ret.) — former Commander, U.S. Central Command, Vice Chief of Naval Operations, and Commander, U.S. Pacific Command
- General Richard “Butch” Neal, USMC (Ret.) — former Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps
- Vice Admiral Barry M. Costello, USN (Ret.) — former Commander U.S. Third Fleet
- Vice Admiral William D. Sullivan, USN (Ret.) — former U.S. military representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Vice Director for Strategic Plans and Policy on the Joint Staff, and as Director to the U.S. Pacific Command for Strategy and Plans
- Vice Admiral Tom Church, USN (Ret.) — former Commanding Officer of the U.S. Navy’s largest shore installation, Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, and the longest-serving budget director of the Navy. Church also served as the Naval Inspector General
- Rear Admiral Greg Slavonic, USN (Ret.) — former Acting Under Secretary of the Navy
- Rear Admiral Henry C. McKinney, USN (Ret.) — Former Commander, U.S. Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet.
- Major General Harry W. Jenkins, USMC (Ret.) — Former Director, Expeditionary Warfare, in the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations
- Major General Irene Trowell-Harris, USAF (Ret.) — Former Director of the Center for Women Veterans for the Department of Veterans Affairs
- Major General Arnold L. Punaro, USMC (Ret.) — Former Commanding General of the 4th Marine Division, former Deputy Commanding General (Mobilization) of the Marine Corps Combat Development Command, and former Staff Director, Senate Armed Services Committee
Alongside them: law firm chairs and senior partners, national-security officials, technology presidents and chief executives, professors and Ph.Ds, and authors across twelve countries.
Several arrived on the recommendation of others on this list.
In their words (just a handful below from clients/authors, dozens more with thousands of words are on the From Readers and Clients comments and reviews page)
Vice Admiral Barry M. Costello, USN (Ret.): After being turned down by Naval Institute Press, I followed a recommendation from my trusted friends VADM(Ret) Bill Sullivan and VADM(Ret) Tom Church (who have both published books about their experiences on active duty) and contacted Dennis Lowery at Adducent. He is a former Sailor who owns his publishing company. Simply put – he was prompt, professional, and perfect to help bring “Fortune Favors Boldness” to life … one of only 12 books currently on the CNO Professional Reading List. His belief in the story and confidence in the product ensured generations of Sailors, Marines, and Coastguardsmen will know the tale of heroic activities at the beginning of OIF. I recommend him to all of you future authors to tell your stories such that they can be preserved for those who follow!
General Richard ‘Butch’ Neal, USMC (Ret.): Dennis Lowery is a consummate professional who has a unique talent for being able to help you help yourself in developing your story, whether fiction or nonfiction. Blessed with great patience, he is a good listener who gently leads you as your project progresses, while at the same time making sage and valued comments for consideration. Responsive and diligent, he is a master at bringing out that elusive idea or thought, presenting it to you in a thoughtful yet persuasive manner. He introduced me to creative nonfiction and effortlessly guided me along a path that led to my first book. If you are considering writing a book, the ‘go-to man’ is Dennis; he will aid and assist you throughout the effort and will make the journey enjoyable.
Admiral William J. Fallon, USN (Ret.): Dennis was my publisher for DECISIONS DISCORD & DIPLOMACY, From Cairo to Kabul. He has been terrific! Savvy, fair and effective. He got the job done speedily, accurately, and with zero drama. Pays particular attention to detail and is immediately responsive. Thoroughly pleased with his work, I most highly recommend him.
Vice Admiral William D. Sullivan, USN (Ret.): I am also indebted to Dennis Lowery, president of Adducent, without whose guidance, support, and encouragement this book could not have been published. An accomplished author in his own right, Dennis was invaluable in suggesting improvements, catching mistakes, and shepherding me through the process of taking my story from concept to completion. Dennis is a real pro and a pleasure to work with.
Rear Admiral Greg Slavonic, USN (Ret.): I’ve had the good fortune for the past five years to work closely with Dennis on several different book projects. He is a highly skilled writer and editor and showed unequaled patience when answering the mountain of questions I presented him on a regular basis. I know I was not his only client, and I was impressed by his management ability to work with other clients while ensuring my projects kept moving forward so as to meet the agreed-upon deadline and deliverable date. He is the consummate professional whose attention to detail and work ethic is beyond reproach. I continue to work with Dennis on other projects and highly recommend him!
Dr. Irene Trowell—Harris, Major General, USAF (Ret.): I could not have written this book without the advice and support of Dennis. I was consistently amazed by his advice, writing creativity, and ability to describe situations with clarity and simplicity. I have great respect and admiration for him. He is a Superstar!”
Dr. Daryl Cumber Dance, Professor Emerita, Virginia Commonwealth University and University of Richmond: After successfully publishing eight books with university and commercial presses, I discovered Dennis Lowery and his company, Adducent. Through this remarkable company, I found that in addition to the expert professionalism of the businesses with whom I had previously published, I could also enjoy time-saving production with unique personal attention, quick access, patient guidance, creative design, and remarkable order and organization. If ever I’m inclined to lament that I did not meet Dennis Lowery earlier in my career, I celebrate rather that I have been blessed to work with him on my three recent books. I have found my publishing home.
Charlie Papavizas, Partner and Chair, Maritime Practice, Winston & Strawn LLP, author of Journey to the Jones Act: U.S. Merchant Marine Policy 1776–1920: Working with Dennis made publishing about as easy as it could be. He was helpful, accessible, and free with guidance and advice. The projected schedule held up, and the final product is something I’m proud of. I would not hesitate to work with Adducent again for my next work and any after that.
How it begins
Send the manuscript, or tell us about it if it is not finished.
We read it. Then we tell you what we think it is, what is standing between it and a reader, and what the work would involve. That conversation costs nothing and commits you to nothing, and a fair number of them end with us saying the book does not need us yet.
Dennis Lowery personally directs every project. Adducent is a studio, not a marketplace — one editorial sensibility from first read through distribution.
What Editorial and Publishing Work Costs
Contact Us for a Free No-Obligation Consultation Call
One more thing, so you are not wondering
We also ghostwrite. Forty-two books to date, most of them commissioned by other publishers and by authors publishing elsewhere. It is a real part of the practice and a smaller one, and it is not what this page is about. See our ghostwriting services here.