Rachel Allen on Developmental Editing, Writing Through Grief, and Bringing Books to Life

In this episode of Wisdom on the Front Porch, LS Kirkpatrick talks with Rachel Allen about writing, marketing, and developmental editing, and how those pieces work together to shape a book. Rachel shares memoir work centered on identity and healing, along with lessons from ghostwriting, business books, and helping authors finish projects. They discuss Baxter’s Heart, grief and pet loss, editing as support rather than correction, and why voice matters. The conversation also covers self-publishing mistakes, AI as a brainstorming tool, reader feedback, and the value of finishing and sharing the story you were meant to tell.