Mastermind Program

Created by Lucinda Halpern, the Mastermind is your gateway to publishing success.

Our next in-person NYC in-person event is happening April 2026! Hosted by bestselling memoirist and novelist JillElynn Riley, and Lucinda Halpern, who will lead our self-help and business cohort. This hybrid experience kicks off in January 2026! Spots are limited, so reserve yours now to join us on the path to getting signed.

Who It’s For

The Lucinda Literary Mastermind will welcome up to 15 writers by invitation only. The writers are primarily writing in the genres of nonfiction, memoir, business or self-help; several are working on fiction. Each will possess some level of publishing education or experience, but are in the process of completing books, querying agents, or choosing which path to publish and how to launch their books successfully. We seek writers who are ambitious about their goals and dedicated to the work, and those who are fundamentally lovers of books and collaboration.

Live Coaching

As part of our six-month program, a curated group of writers will meet and coach regularly with a leading expert on our team every two weeks throughout the year. (There is no problem or penalty for missing a session.) These sessions are comprised of personalized coaching, structured topics, breakout room workshopping, and guest experts.

In-Person Events

The Mastermind also offers an exciting weekend of exclusive events to be held on October 9-11, 2025, in New York City, at the heart of publishing. For these events, Lucinda Literary coordinates a panel of industry experts (from editors, agents, publicists, and more) who will speak at our gatherings and stay on for cocktails and mingling with writers. This gathering also includes a “Pub Crawl” (where we’ll visit legendary houses and get behind-the-scenes access and meet and greets with editors), in-depth workshopping of your material, and two meals Lucinda will personally host, allowing for us all to talk all about books and craft over food, drink, and more.

Private VIP Channel

All Mastermind participants will have access to our VIP online private chat channel where they can chat at any time to share and collaborate on their work, encourage and support each other’s progress.
This channel is offered via Lucinda Literary’s Community Hub—an online forum space hosted by Circle.so
Open 24/7 online

Benefits

Take your idea to the next level and get support at every stage of the process, from ideating to pitching or finishing to launching your book in an intimate and consistent coaching experience with regular access to Lucinda
Connect with industry leaders, publishing gatekeepers, literary agents, editors, book collaborators, writers, and other publishing pros
Keep up with the latest insights and cutting-edge approaches in the publishing world–stay ahead of the game by learning about what readers want today
Get 24/7 accountability, productivity, more workshopping and support, and share best practices on our private VIP channel

Bi-Monthly Group Coaching

Meetings take place every other week on Thursdays at 1:30pm ET via Zoom
Meetings are 90 minutes long
Begins September 6th – February 6th
No problem if you need to miss a session!

In-Person Weekend Event

Held in midtown Manhattan
Meet with industry experts (from editors, agents, authors and more) who will speak at our gatherings.
Our next in-person event with a roster of publishers, agents and more to learn from and mingle with, takes place in midtown Manhattan October 9-11!
Program costs do not cover travel or accommodation for In-Person Events.

Bonuses

Further surprise guests, perks, and special resources will be revealed to the Mastermind group throughout the year.

Save Your Spot!

“Lucinda is consistently present for each individual participant, cheering them on, encouraging them, and giving profound and thoughtful advice to each person that is specific to where they are in their book project. She has a wealth of experience and knowledge in how we can uplevel our material–and not only get signed but get launched into the world of book publishing. I highly recommend you work with Lucinda!”

Patricia Lynn Mann RN, MSN, Mind Body Spirit Writer

“Lucinda and her entire team are professionals with not only expertise but hearts. They know the industry, they know writers, they know content and strategy. This course was informative, supportive, and I left with a clear path forward to get signed. It was all worth every cent.”

Gretel Patch, Memoirist

“Lucinda reinforces her contagious enthusiasm with practical advice for authors who want to publish the best possible book for a target audience. Generous with her expertise, Lucinda demystifies the publishing industry and offers a wealth of resources to equip us for the pitch-query process. I’m not there yet with my memoir manuscript, but one day soon I will be able to say, ‘I Got Signed!’”

Andi Penner, PhD, Memoirist

“I really do love our Mastermind group, and am enjoying learning about other people’s projects and processes. I think it’s lit a fire for me to not just finish Inventing Mademoiselle, but motivating me to invest as much as I can in it. In seeing how others are putting together their proposals, I realize the deficit I have in knowing how to package the book and myself as the writer. It’s been incredibly instructive.”

Renée K. Nicholson, MFA, Novelist

Meet Your Instructors

JillEllyn Riley
Writer, Collaborator, & NYT #1 Bestselling Author

Narrative nonfiction, memoir, fiction, YA & middle grade

JillEllyn is a #1 New York Times bestselling writer, ghostwriter, and editor known for helping authors craft powerful, authentic voices. She specializes in memoir, narrative nonfiction, cultural history, women’s issues, politics, psychology, and middle grade/YA fiction. Her work with authors like Amy Cuddy, Judith Newman, and ALS activist Brian Wallach has led to major deals and six-figure advances.

Lucinda Halpern
President

Fiction & Nonfiction

Lucinda is the author of Get Signed (Hay House, 2024) and brings decades of experience in publishing and marketing. She helps writers uncover their strongest ideas, craft standout pitches, and build the platforms to support them. Her consulting spans genres including business, thought leadership, health and lifestyle, self-help, popular science, memoir, narrative nonfiction, upmarket, and literary fiction.