Books

“Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life.”
—Mark Twain

I have a simple mission: to help you create an exceptional book

Many people dream of writing a book. You may want to share your big idea with the world, to tell your story, or simply to check a big item off your bucket list..

It’s not an easy challenge and for many people it remains an unfulfilled ambition. But once you decide that writing a book is something you have to do—that now is the time—a little bit of help can make a huge difference. Having a collaborator at your side can turn the anxiety of the empty page into a rewarding journey you can complete in months.

I offer a few different ways to help you write an amazing book. You can book a free 30-minute call to find out what best suits your needs.

How I can help

Manuscript assessment

You’ve written a book (or part of one) and need an honest, clear-eyed assessment from someone who’s looked at hundreds of proposals. (That’s Gene, for the record.) What’s working? What’s not? What can I do to take my book to the next level? A professional manuscript evaluation will give you a written roadmap for what you need to do to take your book from good to great. 

Cost: US$1,000-$1,500 (depending on word count)

Book coaching

Writing is lonely business. It can be easy to lose steam once your initial enthusiasm fades. You’ll inevitably face doubts and questions: What should you be focusing on? What needs fixing? Will anyone want to read this?

As a book coach, I will read your book as you develop it and give you feedback on your writing and book strategy. I’ll also be there throughout the process to offer support and accountability. Much like a fitness trainer will show you the proper technique, and make sure you follow through on a well-designed program, I help you maximize your potential and get your book to the finish line. With regular meetings and feedback, you have a partner who will help you write the best book possible and put it in the right hands when it’s done.

Cost: Starting at US$500/month for twice-monthly half-hour sessions and two hours of manuscript reading, assessment and editing. (Note: We require a three-month minimum commitment to best guarantee success. After that, a month-to-month engagement is fine.)

Ghostwriting

It’s well-known that most books written by athletes, politicians, celebrities and business leaders are ghostwritten. Very few of these high achievers can dedicate hundreds of hours to writing and even fewer have the specialized skills to create an excellent book.

I can produce a high-quality book for you without taking large chunks of time out of your busy life. You still retain full creative control, have your story told in your own authentic voice and see your name on the cover. The process is also fully confidential—you can reveal as much (or as little) as you want about the process behind the product. 

Here’s how I’ve helped some of my recent authors:

  • I partnered with a rising speaker to develop and refine her signature idea. Her book has sold thousands of copies and become a #1 Amazon bestseller in multiple categories in just its first few months.

  • I worked with a national-level athlete on the harrowing story he’d been hiding for more than 30 years, bringing him peace, satisfaction and recognition in his community.

  • I traveled to record three days of interviews with an 80-year-old entrepreneur who wanted to capture two remarkable and intertwined stories: how he built his company from scratch over half a century, and his parents' inspirational escape from Nazi Germany. The book is a treasured momento that he distributed to hundreds of friends, family and employees.

  • I collaborated with two entrepreneurs on why being co-founders has been so crucial to the success of their business and to create a blueprint that others can use to follow in their footsteps. The book was accepted by their first choice of publisher.

Cost: Starting at US$30,000 for a full-length manuscript. Reach out for a custom quote for your project.

My expertise

  • Business (particularly related to leadership and personal finance)

  • Coaching (business, life and otherwise)

  • Memoir

  • Travel

  • Sports (particularly tennis and hockey)

  • Climate and the environment

  • Public policy

  • Design and technology

  • “Explainers” of all sorts

I love to learn, so I’m always open to other non-fiction genres. If your book has a big idea, a refreshing solution to a problem or a lesson to teach, I’d love to hear about it.

My approach

A great book happens when your unique stories and insights are matched with what your audience wants to know.

I spent 5 years as an editor at a large publishing company, editing dozens of books a year. I was part of twice-weekly meetings where decision-makers got into heated debates about which books to publish: what different editors loved about each one, the potential that the sales and marketing teams saw in each, and why some proposals made it and others didn’t. This taught me that everything begins with what readers need from a book.

My audience-focused approach ensures that your book answers questions like:

  • Why is a reader opening your book?

  • What questions do they expect you to answer?

  • How can you surprise them—in other words, tell them things that they didn’t know they wanted to know?

  • What are the most important things you want your readers to remember from your book?

I also believe the process should be fun! Writing your book should feel like a great adventure, overcoming obstacles one-by-one to get you to your destination. Having a trusted collaborator gives you a partner who’s working towards a common goal and someone to share the journey with.

What people say about working with me

“Working with Gene was one of the best decisions I made for my book. I was under a tight deadline and Gene jumped on board with a positive attitude. I was looking for someone who wouldn't just be a ghost but who could also provide input and ideas. Gene was collaborative through and through, patient when I sent him countless ideas and thoughts, and very organized (we needed to include quotes from 3 dozen interviewees). 

One thing I really appreciated about Gene was his insights structuring the book. I have tons of content out in the world and Gene was able to help decide what was actually important to include and how it would have a natural flow.“

— Author in Career and Professional Development (70 5-star ratings on Amazon)

“Working with Gene was an absolute pleasure from start to finish. As someone who had never worked with a ghostwriter before, I wasn't sure what to expect—but Gene immediately put me at ease with his collaborative and straightforward approach. He took the time to truly understand my vision and made what I thought would be an intimidating writing process feel natural and stress-free.

What truly sets Gene apart is his exceptional ability to take the chaos in my head and transform it into something clear and compelling. I came to him with years of research notes scattered across my computer, old presentation materials, and various content pieces that I couldn't figure out how to weave together coherently. Honestly, I was worried it was all just a jumbled mess. But Gene not only helped me see the logical structure hiding within all that material—he also found creative ways to breathe new life into content I'd written years ago, ensuring nothing valuable was lost while making it all flow seamlessly together.

Despite having only four months to complete the project—a timeline that initially had me losing sleep—Gene delivered a polished manuscript right on schedule that required minimal edits from my publisher before moving to production. I couldn't believe how smooth the final stretch turned out to be.

I would wholeheartedly recommend Gene to anyone looking for a skilled ghostwriter who doesn't just write for you, but truly partners with you in bringing your book to life. He made me feel heard, understood, and confident throughout the entire journey.”

— Business book author and Happiness Expert