Hy Bender

Hy Bender – Ghostwriter

Author of 20+ books, incl. 2 New York Times bestsellers—one's sold over 500,000 copies—and top proposal expert who landed client $1M advance

Overview

I'm a ghostwriter and author who's published over 20 books, and has helped hundreds of writers improve their books or screenplays.

Two of the books I crafted as a ghostwriter became New York Times bestsellers; and a book proposal I meticulously developed from scratch for a first-time, non-celebrity client garnered a $1 million advance, which is almost unheard of. (Plus it sold without the help of an agent...) The resulting book, which I wrote cover to cover working exclusively from phone interviews, went on to hit #16 on Amazon.com (i.e., Stephen R. Covey or Oprah territory), and to date has sold over 500,000 copies in hardcover alone.

I'm also the author or co-author of 19 books under my own name, including five books in the popular "Dummies" series and a "Complete Idiot's Guide," which demonstrate my ability to explain even complex concepts in an accessible, entertaining manner that anyone can understand.

In addition, I wrote an interview book with legendary author Neil Gaiman that hit #240 on Amazon.com. I'd use those same interview skills to draw out the key details of your book.

Plus I've sold humor to The New York Times, Ad Age, Mad Magazine, etc. My ear for comedy enlivens anything I write or edit.

My most frequent clients are professionals with tremendously valuable knowledge and insights—doctors/health experts, business execs, entertainers, tech experts, attorneys, politicians, scientists, spiritual gurus, life coaches, etc.—but who lack the experience and time to communicate them effectively in book form. I can create a book that powerfully delivers your key messages to a potential audience of millions; legitimizes you as a top expert in your field; helps you achieve national fame; and/or becomes the foundation of your personal brand.

I mostly work with very busy people, so have a process that minimizes your time and effort. You don't have to write a word, and you also don't have to make major changes to your usual routine. As long as you can chat with me by phone for two hours a week, over time we can craft a compelling book proposal and/or a great book.

Location is irrelevant. I work entirely by phone and email, both ideal tools for conveying words--which are what books are made of.

You're unlikely to find anyone else matching my level of diverse skills and achievements who's focused on helping professionals create books that burnish their brands and raise their careers to new heights.

If you feel I might be of help, I'd love to hear from you.
Services
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs Business & Management Entertainment Medicine, Nursing, & Dentistry Political Science & Current Affairs Religion & Spirituality Self-Help & Self-Improvement Technology
Languages
English (AUS) English (CAN) English (NZ) English (SA) English (UK) English (US)
Awards
  • New York Times bestselling ghostwriter

Work experience

Self-employed

Jan, 1989 — Present

I'm one of the top ghostwriters in the country, and probably the only book proposal writer you can hire who helped a first-time, non-celebrity author land a $1 million advance. I've helped hundreds of clients, ranging from New York Times bestselling authors to Hollywood screenwriters. Two of the books I ghostwrote, both for first-time authors, reached The New York Times Bestseller list, and one hit #16 on Amazon.com (i.e., Oprah or James Patterson territory).

In addition, I'm the author or co-author of 18 books under my own name that have sold hundreds of thousands of copies. The latter include five books in the popular Dummies series and a Complete Idiot's Guide, which demonstrate my ability to explain even complex concepts in an accessible, entertaining manner that anyone can understand.

And they further include a nationally bestselling interview book with superstar novelist and screenwriter Neil Gaiman that reached #240 on Amazon.com. I'd use those same interview skills to draw out the critical details of your book.

I've performed business and tech writing for such renowned organizations as Morgan Stanley, Reuters, AIG, New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX), Northern Telecom, and Juno Online Services.

And for a business podcast I co-hosted, I've interviewed executives from dozens of corporations including Microsoft, AT&T, 3M, Dow Jones/The Wall Street Journal, Deloitte, Pricewaterhousecoopers, Siemens, Eli Lilly, The Mayo Clinic, Salk Institute, Genentech, State Farm, Allstate,, and Tumblr.

In addition, I've sold humor articles to such diverse national newspapers & magazines as The New York Times, American Film, Advertising Age, Spy, and Mad Magazine. My ear for comedy helps me both ghostwrite and edit with wit and an easy-going style.

I work with exceptionally busy people (doctors, attorneys, CEOs), so have a creative process that minimizes your time and effort. You don't have to write a word, and you also don't have to make major changes to your usual routine. As long as you can chat with me by phone for two hours a week, over time we can craft a persuasive book proposal and/or a great book.

That said, if you prefer a different arrangement, I'm happy to provide whatever help you need. For example, if you want to grow your skills as an author but need advice and guidance, I'm a stellar writing coach and editor.

Location is irrelevant. I work entirely by phone and email, both ideal tools for conveying words--which are what books are made of.

You're unlikely to find anyone else matching my level of diverse skills and achievements who's focused on helping professionals create books that burnish their brands and raise their careers to new heights.

If you feel I might be of help, I'd love to hear from you.

Portfolio

This book is divided into six sections which correspond to the major components of the software package. The author starts with concentrating on the most commonly used aspects of the package, the backup and recovery utilities. He provides the reader with quick... read more
Covers versions 7.0 and 7.1 for all users, beginners to pros. Teaches data protection and recovery techniques as well as how to do general purpose tasks: managing files and directories, composing and editing documents, organizing information in dBASE-compatibl... read more
Provides quick access to the essential commands and functions of Excel IBM Version 2.2. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.
The Mad Bathroom Companion

The Usual Gang of Idiots

This compilation contains all the books of The MAD Bathroom Reader, The MAD Bathroom Companion Number Two, and The MAD Bathroom Companion Turd in a Series.
Dummies 101: Netscape Navigator (For Dummies) by Young, Margaret Levine, Bender, Hy (1996) Paperback [Paperback] [Jan 01, 1709] Young, Margaret Levine, Bender, Hy ... B011YTKIPM
An easy-to-use tutorial on Netscape Communicator, this text covers all of its new features, as well as tried and true Navigator basics. The book explores Communicator's e-mail facility and discusses its new audio technology that allows users to conduct audio c... read more
Offers a tutorial and exercises for exploring the Internet, browsing the Web, and sending e-mail with Microsoft Windows 95
Includes Step-by-Step Instructions on Using Internet Explorer and Outlook Express — the Web and E-Mail Software from Microsoft Designed for Windows 98! If you've been itching to explore the Internet, now is the time to start! Dummies 101®: The Internet For Win... read more
Boot up, log on, and start surfing the Internet like a seasoned Webhead with all the tips and tricks you'll need in one convenient reference book. Packed inside The Internet For Dummies, 5th Edition Starter Kit, you'll find sound advice on making your online s... read more
softcover book
The Sandman was a groundbreaking and award-winning series that told the dark and tragic tale of Morpheus, the King of Dreams. A fascinating mythology of horror and consequence, this epic masterfully combined intriguing literature with captivating art. THE SAND... read more
Controlling health when metabolism is out-of-control. The thyroid is the body's energy center, working to set the metabolism. It can be underactive or work too fast. It is susceptible to cancer and other health issues, more often in women than men. And its sym... read more

Hy has 7 reviews

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Matthias D.

Matthias D.

May, 2024

This was my first experience with a ghostwriter/editor/writing assistant and this was everything that I didn't want asking for help writing a manuscript. The writer was insulting, berating, and to be honest low value. I understand this person may have done some work in the past but they're beyond their time and experience.
Hy B.
How ungracious. I actually did stellar work for this client, but instead of appreciating it when I showed him a better way to do something, he'd take it as a personal criticism and keep doing thing...
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Mary F.

Mary F.

Aug, 2023

Hy provoked deeper thinking about the concepts I'm writing about, which has proven to be extraordinarily helpful as I work toward a completed manuscript. His insights and suggestions come directly from "the" reader's point of view--an obvious yet paradoxically elusive target that I needed, and I suspect even the best authors need to develop a crystal clear manuscript. Hy was absolutely professi...
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Darren M.

Darren M.

May, 2023

Disappointed with overuse of quotations and structure.
jerome P.

jerome P.

Jul, 2022

Very good resource. Very knowledgeable about the industry.
Dina F.

Dina F.

Mar, 2022

Dear Hy! Thank you for your attention to the details and your overall professionalism! Very happy with the result!

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