Overview
I have ghostwritten 18 books during the last decade – everything from business books on strategic thinking and employee engagement to the rags-to-riches memoir of a Greek immigrant. Whatever the topic, I want your book to sing, with crisp, compelling prose that makes it impossible to put down. That song will be in the key of your choice. I work hard to ensure that each book reflects the author’s voice, tone, style, and ideas. It’s your name on the cover. My writing is simply the vehicle for your personality and expertise. I absorb that expertise and your voice through a series of friendly phone interviews. Together, we’ll refine ideas and create an outline. I’ll write chapters, sending them to you for feedback, and when we’re happy with a full draft of your book, I’ll do the final editing and proofing.
I have a bachelor’s degree from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University and before focusing on ghostwriting, worked for 20 years as a journalist and editor at a variety of publications, covering real estate, urban planning, financial news, architecture, and more. I also have an MFA in creative writing and write fiction. I won the Nelson Algren Award, the top honor for a short story in the U.S., and my story collection, "The Plan of Chicago," will be released by Cornerstone Press in 2025. My creative writing background helps me to make even the driest material colorful and engaging.
"Barry had to deal with multiple co-authors, very industry-specific material, many outside sources, and unrealistically ambitious timelines. He was thoughtful and responsive, did a ton of research on his own and brought new ideas to the table. The output was an Amazon best seller. I can’t recommend Barry enough."
--Aaron Block, author of PropTech 101
“Barry’s writing is fantastic. My latest book has been crushing it, a real a gamechanger for me. Having him ghostwrite it was the best decision I ever made.”
--Scott Jelinek, author of The Art of the Slow Flip
Services
Non-Fiction
Languages
Awards
- Nelson Algren Award
- Mercedes Jacobs Book Prize
- Keith Wilson Poetry Prize
- Illinois Arts Council Award
Work experience
Self-employed
Ghostwrite a wide variety of books on business, real estate, self-help, memoir, education, demographics, etc.
New Homes Magazine
Generated story ideas, edited copy, wrote features, and oversaw layout, printing, and editorial budget for magazine focused on housing and architecture.
The Real Estate Profile
Generated story ideas, edited copy, wrote news and feature stories, and supervised staff writers, freelancers, and photographers for weekly consumer newspaper covering real estate and neighborhood news in Chicago.