Keir Graff

Keir Graff – Ghostwriter

Ghostwriter specializing in fiction, mystery, memoir, and middle-grade. I've authored 11 books for 7 publishers using 3 different names!

Overview

Let me ghostwrite your fiction or memoir!

I've had a lot of success as a novelist. I've published general fiction, mystery, and suspense for adults with publishers ranging from Amazon/Lake Union to Severn House to Five Star Mystery. I've also written middle-grade novels for Penguin Random House and Macmillan (the most recent of which was a Chicago Tribune Book of the Year).

I am also a veteran editor, having worked most recently as Executive Editor of the American Library Association's Booklist Publications. I have two anthologies to my credit, books for which I selected authors, developed their stories and memoirs, and mentored them through the publishing process.

Now, I am working with authors like you and helping them tell their own stories, whether the stories are expressions of creativity or records of a life well lived. My current ghostwriting project is for a successful Midwestern business executive who has overcome intense family conflict to discover a new sense of self. His unique perspective and hard-earned wisdom is shared in vivid, novelistic scenes.

I've written many different stories--and I can help you with yours. Listening and versatility are my superpowers, so after we agree on your objective, I won't rest until we discover a written voice that is authentically yours.

I am very selective about the projects I accept . . . so let's talk and see if we're a match!

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Testimonial:

"It's rare to find an editor who can both hear a writer's voice and feel out the heart of their story. Keir does both. His editing is scalpel-careful, paring away what is unnecessary or what detracts from the narrative threads I'm trying to pull together. At the same time, he works to highlight my voice throughout an essay, bringing me in closer connection with readers. Having worked with many editors over the decades, I know how valuable those skills are."
--Antonia Malchik, author of A Walking Life (Hachette/Da Capo)

Services
Fiction
Anthologies Contemporary Fiction Middle Grade Mystery & Crime Thriller & Suspense
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs
Languages
English (US)

Work experience

Self-Employed

Jan, 1993 — Present

For nearly three decades, I have developed my publishing craft as:

• An author of novels for both adult and young readers, including Drowning with Others (Amazon Publishing) and The Phantom Tower (Penguin Random House)
• An editor of anthologies, such as A Million Acres (Riverbend Publishing)
• A writer of short stories, including “Cosmo’s Wild Ride” (Boys’ Life)
• A freelance writer with cover stories in the Chicago Tribune Magazine and other publications
• A copywriter for the Chicago Children’s Museum and other clients

American Library Association, Booklist Publications

Jan, 2016 — May, 2019 (over 3 years)

As second-in-command of a publishing imprint with $4.6 million in annual revenue, my key responsibilities included:

• Developing and launching new editorial products
• Overseeing complex editorial packages spanning print and online platforms
• Creating content marketing products: white papers, advertorials, surveys, etc.
• Maintaining editorial quality of all e-products, including a suite of e-newsletters
• Writing and editing book reviews, e-newsletters, blog posts, marketing copy, and more
• Supervising a robust social media program

American Library Association, Booklist Publications

Jan, 2005 — Dec, 2016 (almost 12 years)

As the first-ever Booklist editor with responsibilities for digital content, my key accomplishments included:

• Designing, project managing, and launching Booklist Online
• Writing, commissioning, and editing online content to daily, weekly, and monthly deadlines
• Creating targeted e-newsletters and editing 33 issues annually
• Directing a comprehensive social media program
• Launching and acquiring new blogs

Portfolio

They have the perfect marriage. Did one of them kill to get it?Prep school sweethearts Ian and Andi Copeland are envied by everyone they know. They have successful businesses, a beautiful house in St. Louis, and their eldest daughter, Cassidy, is following in ... read more
The Tiny Mansion

Graff, Keir

Felix has nightmares. Every night when he falls asleep he goes to the land of monsters, and when he wakes up he's back in his bed with mud on his feet and torn pajamas. One night Felix meets a boy who knows how to fight the monsters, a boy who looks just like ... read more
It's a new day in America--but old contracts must still be paid.Jack McEnroe is a construction worker with an unusual job: building a prison for terrorists. Like his neighbors in Red Rock, Wyoming, Jack isn't particularly concerned about politics. In a depress... read more
Eric Heidle's "Ace in the Hole" nominated for a 2018 Edgar Award for Best Short Story!A Parade magazine pick, included in "Books We Love" section"What could be a more unlikely breeding ground for noir fiction than Montana, whose wide-open landscapes seem the p... read more
A wild and whimsical adventure story, perfect for fans of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s LibraryBrian can think of a few places he'd rather spend his summer than with his aunt and uncle in Boring, Illinois. Jail, for example. Or an earplug factory. Anything woul... read more
Twin brothers discover their new home is also a portal--for an hour a day--to a parallel dimension in this rollicking middle-grade adventure, perfect for fans of The Mysterious Benedict Society Colm and Mal are twins so identical their own mom can't tell them ... read more
Montana's stunning landscape shapes all who live here and all who visit. In twenty powerful pieces of writing―essays, memoirs, short stories―the state's finest contemporary writers explore the plains, rivers, and mountains of Big Sky Country. They show us how ... read more
“Somewhere between Tom Perrotta and Erica Jong lies The Swing of Things, a charming, sexy, and surprisingly tender romp through the dark side of wish fulfillment. I’ll never look at the other playground parents the same way again.” —Marcus SakeyTold from the d... read more

Keir has 1 review

Professionalism

Quality

Value

Responsiveness

Clyde J.

Clyde J.

Apr, 2023

Keir has worked on numerous editing and writing projects with me over the years—including several books—and his extensive work has elevated each project to a new level. He edits with a precise and polished touch and his clear, graceful writing has a beautiful flow that draws you in and keeps you there. Not only is he a gifted editor/writer, he is fast, responsive, and an absolute pleasure to wo...
Read more

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