Ever Heard of a “Book Doula?” Meet Rea Frey
Ever heard of a book doula? Meet Nashville author Rea Frey, a bestselling novelist who helps writers bring their stories into the world. Image: Kate Gallaher
Rea Frey has lived a few lifetimes. The Nashville native has boxed competitively, survived brain surgery, and is a bestselling author. Today, she’s known not only for her emotionally charged novels, but she’s also earned the title of “book doula,” helping other writers bring their stories into the world. We spoke with her about motherhood, reinvention, and what it really takes to make it as an author.
Can you tell us a bit about your journey thus far?
Believe it or not, I’m a Nashville native. (We’re a rare breed!) I moved to Chicago to attend Columbia to study creative writing. At the time, I was a personal trainer and became a competitive boxer. Right before my first competition, I began getting headaches and went to get checked out. Turns out, I had a three-and-a-half-inch mass on the left parietal lobe of my brain that was on the verge of hemorrhaging. If I’d gotten hit just one more time, I would’ve died. So, essentially, boxing saved my life.
The mass was benign and turned out to be an arachnoid cyst. During spring break of my freshman year in college, I had brain surgery. I still have four titanium plates, 16 screws, and a gnarly scar as a reminder. That was a terrifying experience, but it led me to write my first book, A Woman’s Ring, right afterward.
Shockingly, I was offered a book deal at 22. What should’ve been exciting was anything but. I was in such a rush to get published that I signed a book deal without a literary agent or any clue what that contract contained. Suffice it to say, it wasn’t a good deal. I never got paid, and despite the fact that I was published, I realized I had a lot to learn.
From that moment on, I decided to do a deep dive into the publishing industry. I learned about the business, not just the craft. I became an editor, worked at literary agencies, became a ghostwriter, and had four nonfiction books traditionally published in the health and wellness space. It wasn’t until 2016 that I returned to fiction and finally understood the business and what it entails. Since 2018, I’ve had nine novels traditionally published.
During that time, I got married, moved back to Nashville, got divorced, moved back to Chicago, swore off men and dating forever, then swiftly fell in love, got remarried, unexpectedly pregnant, had my daughter Sophie, and moved back to Nashville, where my hubby, daughter, and I have been for the past 12 years. (My family is here too.) All the while, I’ve been an author and helping other authors accomplish their dreams. It’s been a wild ride, to say the least.
You’re known as a “book doula,” which might be the coolest job title we’ve heard in a while. How did that role come to life?
When that first book got published, I realized I didn’t know anything about the publishing business. As I learned more, I started sharing my experiences with other authors.
I realized very quickly that I had a set of skills others could find helpful: I could edit, write query letters and nonfiction book proposals, and ghostwrite. Over time, I created relationships with agents and even pitched clients to the people I knew.
Through word of mouth, people started coming to me for help (whether for traditional publishing or to put out a book themselves). To date, I’ve helped hundreds of first-time authors land top literary agents, multiple six-figure book deals, and become New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors. I’ve helped indie-published authors get their books into the world, too.
It’s wildly rewarding, but because I’m only one person, I have to be selective about what I take on. Every day is different. Because I’m referral only, I only say yes to aligned projects. One day, I might edit a romantasy novel or thriller; the next day, I’m ghostwriting a self-development book or pitching clients to literary agents. No two days are the same.
Your newest book, Dear Mother, dives into motherhood, identity, and the secrets families keep. What inspired the story?
It wasn’t until I became a mother that I wrote what I consider my true debut novel, Not Her Daughter. I have always been obsessed with familial relationships, particularly mother-daughter relationships. In my 20s, I worked as a journalist on a death row case about a mother accused of drowning her three children. I was fascinated and terrified that a mother could be driven to take her own children’s lives. But as I dug deeper, I realized nothing is as simple as it seems.
I write from that place: what mothers are driven to, what they’ll do to protect their children, all the sacrifices they make, and the infinite ways they can be judged. For Dear Mother, I wanted to create a situation where the protagonist thinks one thing about her mother, but as the story progresses, she learns something completely different.
What has surprised you most about your career as an author?
Oh, so many surprises! In today’s social media landscape, it’s almost impossible not to compare your career to someone else’s. We usually only see the highlight reel online, but publishing is tough. Being an author is tough. I’ve had extreme highs and massive disappointments. What’s surprised me most is that no matter how much I’ve achieved, there’s absolutely no comfort zone in publishing. You’re never safe.
Publishers drop you if your books don’t perform. It’s all about platform. It’s all about metrics. It’s all about numbers. You can put so much time, money, and effort into a book, but you have no clue how it will sell. I’ve been shocked to find out that being an author today is less about creating a compelling book than it is about being a marketing genius, a salesperson, or a social media influencer. And for most of us, that’s not what we signed up for!
When you aren’t writing or helping others “birth” their books, what does your ideal day look like?
I try to make every day my ideal day! I wake up without an alarm. I meditate, do breathwork, make coffee, read, and journal. I go outside, put my feet in the earth, watch the sunrise, then take my dog on a three- to five-mile walk or hike (or do a workout in my home gym). As it heats up, I swim in our saltwater pool, lie out and read, or sit in our infrared sauna. It’s the simple things for me.
What’s something about you that people might find surprising?
I have been married twice. I was salutatorian of my high school and valedictorian of my college. I had brain surgery when I was 19. I never wanted children or to get married (and I’ve been married twice and have an almost 14-year-old daughter).
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
The only thing you can control is how you feel.
LIGHTNING ROUND
Favorite recently discovered book or podcast? Podcast: Pretty Messy Human by Whitney Miller. Book: Cheers to Monday by Amy Leneker
Favorite hidden gem in Nashville? It used to be High Garden Tea! It was my favorite place on earth (but was destroyed in the tornado). Now I love Troll House Cottage. They sell High Garden Tea, and it’s such a cute shop. I also love Beaman Park. It’s the best place to hike because it’s never crowded.
Self-care ritual or item you can’t live without? I’m insane about skincare. At 44, I don’t do Botox, fillers, or put anything toxic on my skin (even makeup). I use a line called KPS Essentials, which has become a wonderful ritual to start and end the day with.
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Jenna von Oy Bratcher
Jenna von Oy Bratcher is StyleBlueprint's Associate Editor and Lead Nashville Writer. The East Coast native moved to Nashville almost two decades years ago, by way of Los Angeles. She is a lover of dogs, strong coffee, traveling, and exploring the local restaurant scene bite by bite.