Overview
Is there anything more nostalgic than opening a long-forgotten trunk of childhood papers?When my aging parents (sorry, Mom, better than calling you "elderly") recently brought such a collection to my home in the suburban DC area, it forced a sentimental reflection on the adolescent passion that eventually turned into my career.My first novel, banged out on an actual type writer, was in that stack of papers: "The Adventures of Ricky and Jimmy.""Damn," I thought, reading through it. "Ten-year-old me really understood how to develop plot. And what character arcs!"I never stopped writing after that first experience bringing two fictional best friends to the printed page. I started with short stories and poetry as a kid, eventually becoming the EIC of my high school paper. I graduated from the University of Maryland with a journalism degree, and immediately took a job as a beat reporter job for a daily newspaper. I've since published two of my own novels, have a third one in the can, and am nearing completion on two wonderful ghostwriting projects, not to mention dozens of amazing books I've acquired and edited as a publisher.I specialize in both military fiction and non-fiction, with a special emphasis on Special Operations, though I dp work on a lot of business books. Both my novels are about and were written with Navy SEALs, and the aforementioned ghostwriting projects are with the wife of a SEAL Team 6 sniper and a Green Beret, respectively. I write with the same passion that these warriors operate under, and it's an honor to work with them.I'm a hiker, runner and still play men's league hockey. As the head of acquisitions for Mascot Books/Amplify Publishing (a large hybrid publisher) I'm always looking for authors and book ideas across all genres. As a ghostwriter, I have a variety of interests that I enjoy writing about. My goal is always to maintain the voice of my author, keeping their story theirs.I look forward to hearing about your book projects, no matter what they are.
Services
Fiction
Action & Adventure
Historical Fiction
Mystery & Crime
Thriller & Suspense
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs
Business & Management
History
Writing & Publishing
Languages
English (US)
Work experience
Self-employed
Jul, 2019 —
Present
I am the president and publisher at Ballast Books, a hybrid publishing company who specializes in editing/ghostwriting, designing, publishing, marketing, and distributing high quality books for top performers. I am also an accomplished author, ghostwriter and editor, and love talking with authors about their work no matter what stage they are in.
Mascot Books
May, 2015 —
Jul, 2019
(about 4 years)
I am both an author who published with Mascot Books and the former head of acquisitions. Having been on both sides of the author/publisher relationship gives me a unique perspective, and I love helping my authors find the type of publishing that best fits their goals.
Portfolio
Twelve decorated combat veterans take you firsthand through the intense, traumatic battles they fought and won, sharing lessons learned from those incredible challenges. Green Beret Jason Van Camp and a cadre of scientists further break down those experiences,... read more
Welcome to A Young Adult’s Guide to Personal Finance (or, It’s Time to Move Out of Your Parents’ Basement). No, this book won’t magically make you a millionaire overnight. But it will give you the tools to understand many finance topics, allowing you to ask sm... read more
No matter how old you are, where you come from or what you do for a living, the desire to have satisfying and meaningful relationships is one we all share. Relationships are key to everything we do, and the bonds and connections we make with others is what giv... read more
Jason Khalipa's actions and accomplishments speak for themselves: devoted father, world champion, global businessman. After years of rigorous training, Jason earned the title of Fittest Man on Earth and finished first in the 2008 CrossFit Games. Hard work and ... read more
Matt Brown was flying across the ice, just as his coach wanted. He gained speed as he chased the puck toward his defensive zone. The entire bench had their eyes trained on him, knowing something big was about to happen. And something big did happen--this play ... read more
Diagnosed with cerebral palsy as a child, Kyle Pease had grown up supporting his athlete brothers Brent and Evan from the sidelines. While his condition limited his ability to play sports, it didn't dampen Kyle's passion for them, nor did it stop the Pease fam... read more
Digital Transformation has changed the modern marketing playbook. As the landscape shifts, global marketers have to balance advancing unique organizational initiatives with the transformation of their entire sector. Many CMOs are spending more on technology th... read more
JFK: The Last Speech explores the dramatic relationship between two seminal AmericansPresident John F. Kennedy and the poet Robert Frostwhich reached its tragic climax in a surprising encounter with Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev at the height of the Cold Wa... read more
When Nathan's father, a decorated Navy SEAL, is killed in combat, he must rely on his father's teammates for direction while learning to become a man. The normal struggles of adolescence are amplified while growing up in the shadow of a war hero, and a young m... read more
A riveting thriller giving the reader an up-close, behind-the-scenes look into the SpecOps brotherhood in the vein of American Sniper or Lone Survivor, with heart-racing action sequences that could only be relayed by a real Navy SEAL. Enemy in the Wire is a fo... read more
