Strategic Publishing Advisor
Amanda Bray Hinton
For nearly 20 years, I've worked through every level of publishing and editorial — from production environments at small presses to building my own publishing operation, serving as communications and editorial lead inside businesses, navigating major industry shifts from print to digital and evolving into the strategic advisory role where I now blend operational expertise with human-centered guidance.
When established authors and creative leaders need a publishing strategist who understands both the creative process and business fundamentals, they work with me to build sustainable revenue strategies that honor their voice while driving meaningful growth.
Trusted by NYT bestselling authors, meditation leaders and editorial voices at major publications
Who I Work With
NYT Bestselling Authors & Published Thought Leaders including PBS program hosts, meditation teachers and methodology experts who need strategic guidance on audience development, content direction and revenue optimization.
Editorial Leaders & Media Teams including senior staff at major lifestyle publications and data strategic advisory for teams behind bestselling meditation platforms and wellness media properties.
Established Business Leaders & Entrepreneurs including CEOs of seven-figure firms who rely on me for strategic business guidance, creative problem-solving and authentic growth frameworks.
Recent Strategic Work
Publishing & Editorial Leadership
Developmental editing and creative direction for a NYT bestselling Christian author partnered with the marketing strategist behind The Purpose Driven Life (30+ million copies sold), building custom creative teams for departure from traditional publishing processes
Lead editor and strategic content advisor for a risk management expert who had previously won international safety awards and advised NASA and federal aviation authorities
Developmental editing team leadership for two Harvard MBAs, transforming academic research into market-ready publication, subsequently picked up by traditional publisher
Strategic Business Advisory
10+ year strategic advisor to CEO of financial planning firm, providing ongoing guidance on business growth strategy, operational systems and decision-making frameworks. Firm surpassed $1M annual revenue in 2024
Built and led content management department at specialized marketing agency serving luxury home builders (2011-2014), bringing print publishing principles and journalistic standards to digital marketing environment, contributing to hundreds of thousands in custom home sales
Current Advisory Clients
Publishing advisory clients and Cave of the Heart conversation partners include NYT bestselling authors, top Substack publishers (including #1 and #10 ranked publications), PBS program hosts, senior editorial staff at major lifestyle publications, published meditation teachers and data strategic advisory work for teams behind major wellness media platforms. My work focuses on translating Substack data insights, publishing trends and monetization strategies into actionable guidance for sustainable growth.
My Approach
Publishing isn't just about content creation — it's about building intelligent systems that connect your authentic voice with sustainable business growth. I bring an intuitive, human-centered awareness to strategic work, recognizing that creative and business blocks often live within the person, not just the strategy. As a trained meditation instructor (Open Heart Project), I integrate somatic awareness tools when appropriate to help clients untangle internal obstacles and move into self-possessed decision-making.
Whether you're navigating complex editorial decisions, optimizing audience development strategies, or building publishing frameworks for larger organizations, I bring two decades of experience in strategic pattern recognition, systems thinking and the intersection of creative authenticity with measurable business results.
I work with clients who are already established and successful but need a strategic partner who can see opportunities others miss, build sustainable systems that scale and navigate the complexity of growth without losing what makes their work meaningful.
How We Work Together
Strategic substack Publishing Partnerships
3-6 month engagements | Custom pricing | Application required
Deep strategic partnerships where I embed with your team as a strategic pattern tracker, immersing myself in your business ecosystems to lead publishing and audience development strategies. This is comprehensive strategic guidance for complex publishing challenges, particularly focused right now on Substack publishing environments.
Monthly Strategic substack Advisory
Starting at $2000/month
Ongoing strategic partnership where I serve as your publishing strategist and business advisor. We navigate content direction, audience intelligence, monetization strategies, operational decisions and the data insights that inform your strategic moves.
Ready to Work Together?
If you're an established author, creative leader or business owner looking for strategic publishing and business guidance that goes beyond tactics, let's explore how we can build something sustainable together.
What Others Have To Say About My Work …
“Amanda’s advice about writing, Substack, growth, and keeping it real is soulful and pragmatic at the same time.”
“Amanda helped me dive into my well, unlock my ideas and direction around my newsletter publishing dreams, and re-anchor in my hope and excitement… My time with her continues to be one of the smartest decisions I’ve made for myself and my work.”
“She can effectively look with these magical eyes at the data… She could literally pull all the data … and say this is the price your audience is happy to pay.”