James Buchanan – Ghostwriter

James is an award-winning ghostwriter, developmental editor, writing coach, and screenwriter whose manuscripts have influenced how we perceive medical research, introduced novel business concepts to the world, told incredible personal stories, and changed the lives of the authors he has collaborated with.

The NDAs that James signs prevent identifying most of his authors. Nevertheless, collaborators include:

1. A Nobel Laureate.

2. Leader of a research institute at MIT.

3. Prominent innovator in the medical research field.

4. Budding character actor.

5. Survivors of trauma.

6. Leading business innovators in the US and Europe (companies include SAP, Capgemini, Cisco, and numerous consultancies).

7. Holocaust survivors (Goodreads said of one project: This book was a masterpiece).

8. Lead researcher at the foremost scientific research institute in Europe.

9. Talented novelist and psychologist based in Jerusalem.

10. Well-respect Broadway choreographer and director.

senior executive at Warner Brothers Studios who now represents major motion picture studios in the US and UK.

11. A childhood survivor of The First Congo War (1996 to 1997) who founded a successful leadership consultancy in the US.

And many, many others.

In his work as a journalist and then writer, James has interviewed two US presidents, three Vice Presidents, multiple cabinet officials, US senators, Holocaust survivors, members of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade, trauma survivors, business leaders in the US and Europe, medical research innovators, artists, musicians, and other notables. Publishers include McGraw Hill, The MIT Press, Wiley, C&R Press, Evolved Technologist, Jossey-Bass (imprint of Wiley), HCI Books, Morgan James Publishing, and numerous other mainstream and hybrid publishers.

James specializes in narratives—be they creative nonfiction, memoir, thought leadership, research innovation, general nonfiction, fiction, screenplays, or treatments—that inspire, inform, entertain, and lead to positive change. He has the skills and experience to help every author identify that aspect of their story that is unique, compelling, and that creates a narrative arc to capture readers. In short, James helps authors create, tell, and sell their stories to the world.

One of James’ authors has noted: "Aside from his skill as a coach, developmental editor, and writer, he’s a delight to work with. Together, we create, refine, and connect. I have the deepest regard for James as a professional and a dear friend. I would recommend him in a heartbeat."

(As a side note, James helped this author receive representation for his latest novel by the grandson of Marlene Dietrich.)

To see how James builds these kinds of relationships and crafts the manuscripts that flow from them, please visit the Creative Mornings website where you can view his talk on creativity and his process.

You can find examples of James’ own writing—narrative nonfiction and fiction—in NPR's This I Believe: On Fatherhood (NPR interviewed James upon the book’s publication) on Amazon and his short story Hillary and Walt Sachs at The Nomadic Journal.

James is also the cofounder and cohost with Vancouver-based editor Pat Dobie of the (often humorous) podcast: Gifted Underachievers: The podcast for midlevel creatives with delusional ambitions at: giftedunderachievers.substack.com.