About Sean Cranbury

A working life spent around books.

Sean Cranbury in a black hoodie, standing against a blue wall with white graffiti.

I’m a writer and web designer in Vancouver, and I’ve spent more than 30 years in and around the book business. I came up as an independent bookseller before Amazon, then spent decades organizing readings, running literary organizations and getting writers in front of readers.

I started Author Advisory for the questions that fall between other people’s jobs. An editor looks after the manuscript and a publicist looks after the launch, but who helps you decide whether to take the offer, or why your website still lists your first book as forthcoming?

The work behind the advice

I’ve seen the business from several sides.

I started working with books before the internet turned publishing and bookselling upside down. Since then I’ve been a bookseller, writer, editor, event producer, executive director, teacher and web designer.

Writers rarely bring me one tidy problem. A question about the manuscript turns into a question about agents. A launch shows that nobody has agreed how to describe the book. A website has to handle teaching, events and press requests as well as the new book.

Having done most of these jobs myself, I can help you see how the pieces connect, and then do the research, planning, design or building if you want me to.

Selected experience

Some of what I’ve done.

2010 to 2025
Real Vancouver Writers’ Series
Founder, artistic director, host, and organizer
I started it as a volunteer reading series and writing school. Over fifteen years we put on more than 75 events with over 300 writers, from first-timers to well-known names.
2019 to 2021
BC and Yukon Book Prizes
First Executive Director
I took the prizes from an outside-administered program to an independent society. I ran the annual prizes and public events, wrote the grants, and moved everything online when the pandemic hit.
2009 onward
Books on the Radio
Creator and executive editor
I created this radio show, podcast and website about books, writers and the publishing business.
Ongoing
Literary teaching and mentorship
Instructor, speaker, and workshop leader
I teach close reading, craft, digital publishing and how to stay visible without burning out, including sessions every October at the Surrey International Writers’ Conference, an epic weekend I look forward to all year.
Current practice
Web design and digital systems
Designer
I design websites and the systems behind them for writers, arts groups and nonprofits.

Current practice

How it fits together.

Author Advisory is where all of that gets put to use on your book.

Some clients want an hour of conversation. Others hand me the agent research, the publicity plan or the website. Plenty do both over the life of a book.

See services and prices