Editorial and publishing guidance for authors and scholars
Publishing consulting is a specialized practice within Duke City Consulting, led by John Byram, Senior Consultant and Humanities Lead.
John works with authors, scholars, and writers on book development, editorial strategy, manuscript assessment, and publishing guidance. His work is well suited to fiction and nonfiction writers, academic authors, trade authors, and writers developing book projects that require both editorial judgment and an understanding of the publishing process.
John’s background includes senior editorial and publishing roles with university and trade presses, as well as extensive work with authors preparing manuscripts, proposals, and book projects for publication.
Selected Publishing Engagement
Representing Dean Falk’s
The Botanic Age
John has worked with evolutionary anthropologist Dean Falk for more than 20 years as her editor and publishing adviser. For The Botanic Age: Planting the Seeds of Human Evolution, he served as Dean’s agent through Duke City Consulting, representing the project through the publication process.
Published by University of Toronto Press, The Botanic Age has received major scholarly recognition, including the 2026 Mary W. Klinger Book Award from the Society for Ethnobotany and selection as a Choice Reviews 2025 Outstanding Academic Title in Anthropology.
This engagement reflects the kind of publishing work DCC undertakes with selected authors: strategic editorial judgment, long-term intellectual trust, and representation for serious scholarly work that requires more than routine manuscript editing.
DCC works with selected scholars, authors, and subject-matter experts on book development, editorial strategy, proposal review, publishing guidance, and author representation when the fit is right.
The Botanic Age: Planting the Seeds of Human Evolution | Dean Falk
University of Toronto Press
Winner, 2026 Mary W. Klinger Book Award
Choice Reviews 2025 Outstanding Academic Title, Anthropology
John’s publishing consulting includes selected engagements in:
- Manuscript assessment
- Developmental editing
- Editorial strategy
- Book proposal review
- Query letter review
- Publishing guidance
- Author coaching
- Indexing and project support for selected books
Work With John
John works with authors and scholars at different stages of the writing and publishing process, from early manuscript development to revision, positioning, proposal preparation, and final project support.
For book consulting, editorial assessment, developmental editing, author coaching, or publishing guidance, contact Duke City Consulting.