Gregory Newton Brown - Editor
Editor for several New York Times, regional, and Amazon.com best-selling authors. What beats a well-told story? I'd love to hear yours.
Request a quote
Verified identity
Overview
For my first organized foray into writing, I smashed out a vampire romance novel where the protagonist-lovers constantly bared their fangs at each other. I was eleven years old. It was summer. I was reading lots of Bram Stoker. I was madly in love with a sixth-grade crush I won't slander here by naming.
My understanding of storytelling has come a long way since then. I promise.
I'm the founder and owner of Yellow Barn Creative, a boutique, full-service book editing company that primarily handles non-fiction for trade publishers and independent authors. Some of our past and current clients include BenBella Books, HarperCollins, Random House, Mike Diamond, Alex Hormozi, Christine Kane, John Mann, Ryan Moran, Byron Reese, and Ashley Stahl. Among those clients are several New York Times-bestselling authors, regional best-selling authors, and Amazon.com best-selling authors. I'd love to better help you tell your story, too. As an editor, I love a book that helps people (or companies) find a path towards something more, chooses human value over pure profit, and seeks to disrupt highly-entrenched trends in desperate need of change.
I'm an author as well. My debut novel, The Lowering Days, is available from Harper in the U.S., HarperCollins in the U.K., and Editions Gallmeister in France. My short stories have appeared in several publications, including Tin House, Alaska Quarterly Review, Shenandoah, Epoch, and Narrative Magazine, where I was a winner of the 30Below Prize. I also write reviews for the NYTimes Review of Books.
I hold an MS in Journalism from Columbia University, where I honed my editing skills, and an MFA in English from the Iowa Writers' Workshop, where I studied fiction writing and the nuances of storytelling with some of America's finest writers, including Marilynne Robinson, Lan Samantha Chang, Kevin Brockmeier, Alexander Chee, and Michelle Huneven. I started as storyteller, became a journalist for a while, realized I was fiction writer at heart, and developed into an editor as I came to understand the importance of great editing in crafting great storytelling.
So, while my middle school vampire fiction never took off, I have had the good fortune of being on both sides of the publishing equation as an editor and author for the past fifteen years. My goal is always to help authors tell their stories in their voices as artfully and effectively as possible. Writing isn't just the act of composition; it's the act of connecting at both the head and heart level.
My understanding of storytelling has come a long way since then. I promise.
I'm the founder and owner of Yellow Barn Creative, a boutique, full-service book editing company that primarily handles non-fiction for trade publishers and independent authors. Some of our past and current clients include BenBella Books, HarperCollins, Random House, Mike Diamond, Alex Hormozi, Christine Kane, John Mann, Ryan Moran, Byron Reese, and Ashley Stahl. Among those clients are several New York Times-bestselling authors, regional best-selling authors, and Amazon.com best-selling authors. I'd love to better help you tell your story, too. As an editor, I love a book that helps people (or companies) find a path towards something more, chooses human value over pure profit, and seeks to disrupt highly-entrenched trends in desperate need of change.
I'm an author as well. My debut novel, The Lowering Days, is available from Harper in the U.S., HarperCollins in the U.K., and Editions Gallmeister in France. My short stories have appeared in several publications, including Tin House, Alaska Quarterly Review, Shenandoah, Epoch, and Narrative Magazine, where I was a winner of the 30Below Prize. I also write reviews for the NYTimes Review of Books.
I hold an MS in Journalism from Columbia University, where I honed my editing skills, and an MFA in English from the Iowa Writers' Workshop, where I studied fiction writing and the nuances of storytelling with some of America's finest writers, including Marilynne Robinson, Lan Samantha Chang, Kevin Brockmeier, Alexander Chee, and Michelle Huneven. I started as storyteller, became a journalist for a while, realized I was fiction writer at heart, and developed into an editor as I came to understand the importance of great editing in crafting great storytelling.
So, while my middle school vampire fiction never took off, I have had the good fortune of being on both sides of the publishing equation as an editor and author for the past fifteen years. My goal is always to help authors tell their stories in their voices as artfully and effectively as possible. Writing isn't just the act of composition; it's the act of connecting at both the head and heart level.
Testimonials
Ryan Moran, author of 12 Months To $1 Million, BenBella Books
"My name is Ryan Moran, and Greg Brown was my editor for my first book, 12 Months To $1 Million.
I was nervous about being traditionally published, because I feared that a publisher would edit my words or water down my message. However, my publisher tabbed Greg Brown as my editor, and he single-handedly made the deal worth it. I was shocked at how he was able to preserve my voice while making me sound better than I could on my own.
When I write my next book, I'm not sure that I will allow anyone to edit my words except for Greg. I would enthusiastically recommend working with him."
John and Ana Mann, New York Times-bestselling authors of The Go-Giver Marriage, BenBella Books
"Having Greg as our editor has been an absolutely wonderful experience. It made us both feel enormously solid to have such a thoughtful and perceptive pair of eyes on our work, and Greg’s edits and suggestions were spot on, all the way from slight sentence restructurings to several more major issues of content. It would be hard to imagine a more perfect editor for our little book."
Christine Kane, author of Soul-Sourced, BenBella Books
"Greg was one the highlight of the experience of publishing my first book. From the very start, he 'got' me. And throughout the editing process, he honored my voice, while also skillfully helping me through some of the structural issues he saw in my writing. With his keen awareness and writing expertise, he helped make it a book that has done remarkably well—and most importantly, a book that I'm proud of. (I asked him to ignore the fact that I ended this with a preposition.)"
Richard Heimann, author of Doing AI, BenBella Books
"Doing AI is a vastly better book because Greg was involved. As the developmental editor, Greg helped me identify the areas of my book that were strong and other weak areas. It is so hard to evaluate your own book. Still, Greg carefully helped me shape my book into a superior version of itself. The book is better because of Greg. The truth is, I am a better writer because of Greg."
Ashley Stahl, author of You Turn, BenBella Books
"Greg totally understood my book, my vision and my intention. His work was important in me feeling proud of the book I got out into the world!"
Greg Graves, author of Create Amazing, BenBella Books
“Greg isn't just a great editor, he made my entire book product and experience to becoming a published author better. His advice, comments, and edits were technically superior, gave me terrific ideas and, best, made me incredibly confident when my book arrived into the world."
Neal Schaffer, author of The Business of Influence, HarperCollins
"I worked with Greg on a special project to edit my manuscript while reducing word count by approximately 30 percent on a tight schedule. Not only did Greg help me realize what content was and wasn't necessary for my manuscript, but he went above and beyond the duty by strengthening my content as he reduced unnecessary words.
Greg was professional with every communication and over-delivered in terms of his final product and the quick turnaround.
I highly recommend Greg to anyone looking for a developmental editor or someone for an editing project similar to mine, and I do hope to have a chance to work together with Greg in the future."
Pat Musick, author of Trajectories: the Artist and the Astronaut
"Greg and I made an easy connection. I was looking for an editor who was communicative, thoughtful, non-combative, and an educator. Writing is a very personal experience, and, for me, an editor must almost be an extension of the author.
As a result of our collaboration my book is tighter, less reductive, and more informative. I learned a lot from my work with Greg, and he prepared me for the next step--finding a publisher who has the same approach.
In addition, for a reasonable supplemental fee, he drafted a query letter, a synopsis, and formatted the manuscript. This was above and beyond!
It was a meaningful experience and chapter in my life."
Tabitha Laser, author of Organization Culture Killers
"Greg is a star! He joined me on a project that was heading south quickly. Greg jumped in when others wouldn’t. He helped me avert disaster and exceeded my expectations. He’s great at his trade and a true pleasure to work with!"
Languages
English (CAN)
English (UK)
English (US)
Non-Fiction
Art
Business & Management
Earth, Space, & Environmental Sciences
Health & Wellbeing
Nature
Self-Help & Self-Improvement
Sociology
Technology
Work experience
Freelance Book Editor
Self-employed
August, 2006
–
Present
(over 16 years)
Portfolio (33 selected works)
If today’s brands want to succeed, they have to be in the conversation, and influencers make that happen. The Age of Influence is an essential guide for marketing professionals and business owners who want to create and implement a highly effective and sustainable influencer marketing plan.We are in the midst of an unprecedented digital transformation and tapping into this change is vital to a... read more
This is the road map to a seven-figure business . . . in one year or less The word “entrepreneur” is today’s favorite buzzword, and any aspiring business owner has likely encountered an overwhelming number of so-called “easy paths to success.” The truth is that building a real, profitable, sustainable business requires thousands of hours of commitment, grit, and hard work. It’s no wonder why m... read more
The AFib Cure: Get Off Your Medications, Take Control of Your Health, and Add Years to Your Life
Day, John D., Bunch, T. Jared, LaPlante, Matthew
Healing Your Child's Brain: A Proven Approach to Helping Your Child Thrive
Newell, Matthew, Newell, Carol
Connecting with Life: Finding Nature in an Urban World
Summer, Martin
The Go-Giver Marriage: A Little Story About the Five Secrets to Lasting Love
Mann, John David, Mann, Ana Gabriel
G1RL C0D3: Hack the World of STEM
mullen, rebekah
How to Break Writer's Block Today & Where To Get Ideas
N. M. Beguesse
As the sole author, illustrator and publisher of my own indie manga series, people often ask me how I achieve my prodigious productivity and motivation. I outlined my process in this new book. Every other book on writer's block gives you the same old techniques, such as "just start writing". But what they don't tell you is how those techniques work--that is, if they work at all. In How To Brea... read more
WHAT IS STOPPING YOU FROM FULFILLING YOUR DREAM OF BECOMING AN AUTHOR? Do you feel a deep longing to write a book but struggle to find the time, energy, focus, or know how to do so? Have you postponed your dream because you're striving for the perfect manuscript or because you've been searching for an agent or a publisher for a while? This book will help you break through the obstacles, better... read more
Pattern for Excellence: Engage Your Team to WOW More Customers
Brigham Dickinson
When was the last time you received WOW worthy customer service from a business? Have you ever been curious how some companies consistently deliver this WOW factor? Pattern for Excellence is designed to help business owners create WOW Experiences on a daily basis…not one customer at a time, but by building relationships and uniting employees behind a greater cause. This amazing phenomenon begi... read more
It's like an IKEA guide for building your next startup. Based on global research of 1,447 startups and highly recommended by more than 30 international experts. It's not a book you read in a day, but like a manual you take with you and consult from time to time. Every startup founder should have it on the desk!Shows The WayDonatas Jonikas (PhD) provides clear and actionable guidelines for what... read more
The Foot & Ankle Pain Bible: A Self-Care Guide to Eliminating the Source of Your Foot Pain
Christopher J. Kidawski
ELIMINATE YOUR PLANTAR FASCIITIS AND ACHILLES TENDINOPATHY WITHOUT DOCTORS, DRUGS, OR PHYSICAL THERAPISTS! Do any of these statements sound like you? “My first ten steps in the morning are killing me!” “I’ve had to stop all of my activity because of my foot/heel pain, and now I’ve gained 20 pounds and I’m miserable.” “I can be as active as I want, but an hour after I’m crawling around the hous... read more
COMPLETELY RID YOUR KNEES FROM THE PAIN OF TENDINITIS, OR DISCOMFORT WITHOUT PAINFUL INJECTIONS, DRUGS, OR SURGERY!Do any of these statements sound like you?“I would be able to lose the weight, and exercise if only my knees didn’t hurt so bad.”“If my knees didn’t hurt I would be able to run faster for a longer period of time.”“I love basketball, but playing will leave my knees in pain for days... read more
The Head, Neck & Shoulder Pain Bible: A Self-Care Guide To Eliminating Upper Body Pain
Christopher J. Kidawski
ELIMINATE YOUR HEADACHES WITHOUT PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION, INJECTIONS, OR SURGERY!Do any of these statements sound like you?“My neck is always stiff upon rising.”“I can’t concentrate due to my headaches/migraines.”“I can’t sleep on one side because my shoulder hurts.”“I get car sick, or motion sickness when I travel.”“There’s a constant pain going down my arm.”Today’s world is filled with const... read more
Create and maintain a successful social media strategy for your business Today, a large number of companies still don't have a strategic approach to social media. Others fail to calculate how effective they are at social media, one of the critical components of implementing any social media strategy. When companies start spending time and money on their social media efforts, they need to creat... read more
From Doing to Leading: Your Guide for Inspiring People on the Frontlines
John M Stuef, Amy D Bradshaw PhD
Are you making the jump from doing to leading?? John Stuef has been there, he was a successful doer who made the transition to leading. The thing about leadership is that it forces you to grow personally and to appreciate that inspiring people to do a job well requires a whole different skill set than doing that job yourself.nbsp; In “From Doing To Leading,” authors John Stuef and Amy Bradshaw... read more
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over & over and expecting different results. We have fallen into a pattern where we repeat the mistakes others made in the past, but have we asked ourselves, why are we making the same mistakes? The answer is lack of leadership development. Much like a strong foundation is critical to the stability of any physical structure, organizations must... read more
Get into creative hosting with Airbnb and make some real additional income. Forget driving other people around for peanuts or getting that minimum wage “gig”. I gained significant additional income on Airbnb and attained Superhost status in 3 months. I also list my small space for higher fees and get higher occupancy rates than listings in my area through my design and hosting focus. I want to... read more
"A modern-day 'How to Win Friends and Influence People' that will help you sell the right way." - Ryan Zimmer"Finally a sales book for medical sales!!"-Aaron Wozniak "It's 170 pages of all the best ideas wrapped up in 'story' with messages for life and business!!- Nick Fasulo Ever notice how no one likes to be sold, but most of us enjoy buying stuff? Where is the disconnect? In a business worl... read more
Imagine having a good friend with years of experience in the music industry and being able to pick his brain about all that he knows. Imagine walking away from that conversation with a better understanding of topics like Contracts Digital Marketing Record Labels Distributors CopyrightsWorking With Your Artist TeamWell now you have that friend and he’s sick of artists like you getting screwed o... read more
Has your career stalled?Are you struggling to get your abilities recognised? Do you feel under-valued and unfulfilled at work? Are you concerned about job stability in a rapidly transforming digital century?For over a century, workers were set up for their employer's success, not their own.The Michelangelo Project provides a frank assessment of our faulty employer/employee relationship dynamic... read more
Seventy percent of business leaders believe that AI will provide significant business value in the future. However, they also think that AI and automation will have a negative impact on stakeholder’s trust over the next five years. They feel the pressure of using AI to stay relevant, while being concerned of facing the unintended consequences of a largely unproven technology that they don't un... read more
Gregory has 22 reviews
Professionalism
Professionalism
Quality
Quality
Value
Value
Communication & Punctuality
Communication & Punctuality
Greg was amazing. I was working on my first book and I felt so comfortable with Greg. He was so transparent with the process and was very patient with all my questions and back and forth. He was able to help give me direction and guidance, not just the editing. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND using Greg and i'm sure I will again also. He was always on time with deadlines and available if I ever needed him.
Bennett Schwartz, September 2022
Reply from Gregory Newton Brown
Greg is amazing. He was so helpful throughout the process, that I truly feel this book would never have made it to the final stages without his professional help. This was first time doing this and his willingness to answer questions and offer amazing suggestions - was a game changer. I would look no further than Greg for your needs, as he will make sure your book is exactly what you hope it to...
Read more
Adrian Speyer, August 2022
Reply from Gregory Newton Brown
Outstanding partner and collaborator
Tim Traudt, July 2022
I would highly recommend working with Gregory Newton Brown. He is a skilled and experienced editor covering all facets of the editing process from developmental to copy editing. As a first-time author, Greg was an invaluable asset. He guided me through the process and provided support and encouragement. Greg's eye for detail and technical knowledge helped me ensure a smooth transition to th...
Read more
Kathy Sharp, June 2022
Unlike any other editor!
Greg has the ability to read and edit your work through YOUR VOICE. His suggestions and edits compliment your work and it is all done so through open and easy communication.
Thank you, Greg!!! :-)
TheLegendOf MarenHollow, October 2021
Explore the Reedsy Community
Reedsy is a community of top publishing professionals. Join Reedsy today to browse 1000+ profiles.
Susan Cahill
Children's author and experienced editor specialising in literary fiction, children's fiction, non-fiction. Former English Literature prof
London, UK
Delia Berrigan
Offering the unique perspective of having been a writer, agent, and publisher, Delia discovers, develops, and delivers quality content.
Olathe, KS, USA
