Your story

deserves more than AI

Ghostwriting

& book collaboration services

Brittany O'Grady and Sydney Sweeney enjoying the words of Freud and Nietzsche by the pool in HBO's The White Lotus, season 1.

I'll help make your book an equally riveting read.

You've lived and learned.

Now you want the world to benefit from your experience—but when you sit down to write, the blank page wins.


Maybe you're carrying institutional knowledge that deserves to be documented before it disappears. Or you've built expertise that could transform how others work. Perhaps you've overcome something profound and your story could light the way for others. You know your message matters. The problem? You don't have the time, energy, or frankly the patience to craft a manuscript while managing everything else in your life.


This is where I come in. As your ghostwriter or book collaborator, I become your thinking partner and creative translator. I capture your voice, not mine, and bring your vision to life while handling the research, structure, writing, and revisions. You bring the expertise and lived experience. I bring the craft.

Who I am & what I bring.

I'm the author of six books featuring my research published by HarperCollins, Bloomsbury, and Farrar, Straus & Giroux. My writing has appeared in The New York Times, Teen Vogue, Seventeen, Cosmopolitan, New York Daily News, The Nation, and U.S. News & World Report. I've been a guest on Oprah, The Today Show, Nightline, Bill Maher, Fox News, MSNBC, and National Public Radio, and I'm a frequent commentator for USA Today.


I'm a subject-matter expert on issues related to discrimination against girls and women, but I'm also a generalist. I've ghostwritten and collaborated on an astonishingly wide range of topics—from cancer care to furniture design to corporate hiring practices to the New York City avant-garde art scene. I'm not an expert in these fields, but I know how to shape stories, regardless of content.


Think of it this way: you need an architect who designs a stable house whether you want it to resemble the Palace of Versailles or Philip Johnson's Glass House. Likewise, you need a writer who shapes your narrative—whether it's an intimate story of trauma or an explainer of complex legal issues—so that your ideas and words flow in a logical and compelling manner.

What makes me different.

I'm not going to lie: I get a thrill seeing my name in print. But there's another part of me that's deeply satisfied when I recede to the shadows and help others step into the light. I believe everyone has a story, and everyone deserves the opportunity to share it with others.


My superpower? Channeling your voice so authentically that readers will think you wrote every word yourself.


I've collaborated with people whose identities, backgrounds, and areas of knowledge are vastly different from my own. Yet I successfully capture their voices. How? By listening carefully, asking questions, and being genuinely curious. I'm gratified when clients praise the quality of my writing, but I'm proudest when they tell me that I gave voice to their experiences and that my writing "sounds" like them.


I also understand how well-written nonfiction works are structured. The manner and order in which information is presented makes or breaks a nonfiction work. I help you determine the most strategic and logical structure so that the final product is cohesive and pleasurable to read.

What we can create together.

I partner with clients on these genres:

  • Family history — An account of your family's ancestry, stories, migrations, and experiences across generations. Preserve your heritage for those who come after you.
  • Memoir — A narrative based on your life experiences that explores a theme and focuses on your transformation, growth, and reflections. This is your story told through your eyes, with novelistic depth.
  • Story of your organization or institution — A documented account of your organization's origins, evolution, key decisions, and significant events. Control your narrative and create a legacy piece for stakeholders, donors, and community members.
  • Thought leadership or subject-matter expertise — A nonfiction work that presents your original ideas, perspectives, or research to influence thinking and establish you as an authority in your field.

Successful authors, thought leaders, and entrepreneurs have long relied on ghostwriters and book collaborators. Your ideas deserve to reach the world in their best form. Together, we'll make that happen.

An account of your family's ancestry, stories, migrations, and experiences across generations. Preserve your heritage for those who come after you.

LEARN MORE.



A narrative based on your life experiences that explores a theme and focuses on your transformation, growth, and reflections. This is your story told through your eyes, with novelistic depth.

LEARN MORE.


A documented account of your organization's or instiution's origins, evolution, key decisions, and significant events. Control your narrative and create a legacy piece for stakeholders, donors, and community members.

LEARN MORE.

A nonfiction work that presents your original ideas, perspectives, or research to influence thinking and establish you as an authority in your field.

LEARN MORE.


Why not just use AI?

You absolutely could tell ChatGPT or Claude your story and prompt it to write your book. The result will be serviceable—like a B+ homework assignment. If that meets your needs, I genuinely encourage you to use AI.


But here's what AI can't do: understand context, make assessments, exercise judgment, or take accountability. AI hasn't lived. It doesn't have wisdom or empathy. It can't hold your story as the precious thing it is.


Over three decades, I've spoken with over a thousand young women who experienced gender-based trauma and trusted me with their stories. I collaborated with each of them to raise awareness and motivate action. Your story may be trauma-free, but you still deserve a partner who listens with empathy, treats you with dignity, and understands that your story has a soul.


For writing that possesses a pulse and creates genuine emotion or inspiration, you need a human being.

What working together looks like.

Every collaboration is different, but here's what you can expect:

  • We start with conversation. I interview you (and sometimes others who can shed light on your story). These conversations are where I learn your voice, your perspective, your quirks of speech. If you're in New York City, we can meet in person. Otherwise, we'll connect via Zoom.
  • I do the research and heavy lifting. You hand over your notes, documents, recordings, or whatever materials you have. I dig in, organize, and begin drafting. You stay focused on your life and work.
  • We collaborate on structure. How should your story unfold? What belongs in Chapter 3 versus Chapter 7? I propose a roadmap, we discuss, and we refine until it feels right.
  • I write, you review, we revise. You'll see drafts and provide feedback. This is an iterative process—I'm not precious about my words. If something doesn't sound like you or doesn't capture what you meant, we fix it. This is your book, and it needs to feel that way.
  • We finish together. Whether you're publishing traditionally, self-publishing, or creating a private family document, I stay with you until the manuscript is exactly what you envisioned.

What clients say.

I had a client with a manuscript on the New York City avant-garde art scene in the 1960s and '70s. The story was fascinating, and I was eager to get the author a book deal. But the writing was a mess. Leora took apart the manuscript and put it back together again—vastly improved. The chapter structure made more sense and the writing was tighter and significantly more interesting to read. She saved the book. After Leora's rewrite, I was able to get a book deal for the author. I wouldn't have been able to do it without her.

Jennifer Lyons, Owner and President, Jennifer Lyons Literary Agency

Leora drafted the initial manuscript on my second leadership book and operated as an ongoing thought partner and collaborator throughout the entire process. I conducted executive interviews and then handed off the transcripts to Leora, who wove in their stories with existing research to make the data come alive. My editor was thrilled with the structure, writing, and pacing. Leora also ensured that all the research was correct and up-to-date and managed the citations. Not only was the final product excellent, but I also appreciated Leora's positive engagement at every stage. It is my sincere hope to work with her again in the future on any subsequent writing project.

Jennifer McCollum, President & CEO, Catalyst

I worked closely with Leora at Planned Parenthood. She was responsible for writing op-eds, speeches, and video scripts for the president of the organization, members of the board, and celebrities. Leora also collaborated with patient spokespeople to draft their speeches and op-eds. Everyone trusted her, even when they had something very private to say. Leora is able to connect human to human, which is a special skill that most writers don't have. People tell her intimate things because they know she will share their stories with respect and integrity, and the stories she shapes grab people's attention.

Vivian Siu, nonprofit leader

I have a CEO client who needed a ghostwriter for her business book. Leora wrote the proposal, and my client was able to get a contract with a traditional publisher. Leora held my client's hand and got the book done. She sifted through a lot of research, figuring out which pieces to include and which to leave out. She synthesized the input of multiple stakeholders to create a tight, cohesive book that served both the CEO and the organization. AI can't do this! I think the fact that Leora is an author herself is an asset—she has a good handle on the process and knows how to efficiently manage road blocks. Also, Leora worked quickly! She wrote the entire first draft in six months. And then, when my client decided that the second half of the book should be reframed, Leora cheerfully made significant revisions until my client was completely satisfied. I enthusiastically recommend Leora for your thought leadership, writing, and editing needs.

Dottie DeHart, Principal, DeHart & Company Public Relations

Leora reviewed my book proposal and observed that I had buried the most exciting part of the story instead of leading with it. She asked if it would be okay if she could radically revise it. I wouldn't have trusted anyone else, but since it was Leora, I said yes. Her rewrite made the project sound far more exciting. I'm grateful for her edits.

Jean Halley, PhD, sociologist and professor at CUNY, psychotherapist, author

Leora interviewed me about my experiences as a sponsor throughout my career and transformed our discussion into a first-person essay authored by me. We had an enjoyable and dynamic back-and-forth on the draft, which felt empowering and resulted in a piece that truly captured my voice. I shared it on my company blog and LinkedIn, urging senior leaders to step up and proactively support colleagues in need of mentorship or sponsorship which promoted the meaningful conversation we had envisioned.

Stacey Bain, Chief Operating Officer, Catalyst

As a senior leader of an institution with deep historical roots, I knew our 75th anniversary required more than a celebration; it required a legacy project. We decided to create a hardcover book that would capture the Ramaz story and gift it to donors, alumni, parents, and our broader community. Leora made that vision real. She immersed herself in the project from the first conversation, researching deeply and interviewing dozens of people across generations. She quickly understood our voice, our values, and our history, and wrote with a combination of accuracy, nuance, and beauty that honored all three. Beyond the excellence of the final product, Leora made the process itself a pleasure. She worked with thoughtfulness, curiosity, and care, making every stakeholder feel heard. She handled complexity with ease and brought out stories that made people proud to be part of our community. By the time the book was published and distributed at our annual gala, it was clear she had created something that would stand as both a historical record and an advancement piece. If you want the story of your organization told with intelligence, heart, and professionalism, and if you want the journey to be as enjoyable and impactful as the final result, I enthusiastically recommend working with Leora.

Kenny Rochlin, Head of Institutional Advancement, Ramaz School, New York City

What most people wonder about but don't always ask.

What if we don't click?

That's why we start with a free consultation. You'll get a sense of how I work, and I'll learn about your project. If it doesn't feel right, no hard feelings.

What if you don't understand my industry or field?

I've written on myriad topics about which I knew nothing at first. My job isn't to be a subject-matter expert. It's to learn from you, be curious, ask smart questions, and translate your expertise into compelling prose.

What if I hate the first draft?

Then we'll talk about what's not working, and I'll revise. I build a minimum of two rounds of review into every project, and will add as many extra reviews as you'd like. Getting it right matters more than getting it done quickly. I want you to love what we create together.

How involved do I need to be?

As involved as you want. Some clients prefer regular check-ins and frequent drafts. Others trust me to run with it and weigh in at milestones. We'll figure out what works for you.

Let's talk about your project.


Email me to schedule a free consultation. We can have an old-fashioned phone conversation or a Zoom video call, whichever you prefer. This is an opportunity for me to learn what you're looking for and for you to ask about the best path forward. We'll also discuss the scope of work, which will determine pricing. No pressure, no obligation—just a conversation about your story and whether we're a good fit.