Maureen OHagan

Maureen OHagan – Ghostwriter

Author with 100K downloads. Ghostwriter/editor of books with major national press. Executive thought leadership. Rigorous journalism.

Overview

I'm a former journalist turned ghostwriter, and my specialty is taking complicated subjects — true crime, legal affairs, food science, philanthropy — and turning them into stories people can't put down.

Here's the track record:

• Author of The Woman in the Strongbox, a true crime mystery with roughly 5,000 ratings on Amazon/Goodreads and over 100,000 downloads.

• Lead writer on three culinary history and science books — the Modernist series — with Nathan Myhrvold (former CTO of Microsoft) and Francisco Migoya (former executive pastry chef at The French Laundry, CIA professor). These aren't recipe collections; they use food as a lens on science, history, policy, and economics. The books received favorable coverage from The New York Times, Vice, Physics World, and Martha Stewart Living. Most importantly, they're fun to read.

• Extensive work for major philanthropies and other nonprofits, from ghostwriting personal op-eds to translating dense science for lay audiences, for clients including the Gates Foundation, PATH, and IHME.

• The reason I can move between such different subjects without missing a beat? I spent years as a full-time journalist covering courts, legal affairs, social policy, food, health, science, and features.

• I was finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Public Service, and won numerous other national journalism awards.

Here's what all this gets you: proven writing chops, sharp interviewing and research skills, reliable deadline management, and the ability to turn a pile of raw material into a story people actually want to read.

Services
Non-Fiction
Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits History Political Science & Current Affairs Sports & Outdoors True Crime
Awards
  • James Beard Foundation, Health and Wellness Reporting Award, Feeling the Weight, 2012
  • Included in the anthology “Best Food Writing in America 2012
  • Pulitzer Prize Finalist, Public Service, 2004
  • Education Writers Association, Investigative Reporting award, 2004
  • Scripps Howard Foundation, Public Service Reporting award, 2004
  • Association of Food Journalists, Best Magazine Food Feature, 2011
  • Associated Press Sports Editors, Investigative Reporting award, 2004
  • Eugene S. Pulliam National Writing Award, 2009
  • USC Annenberg Health Journalism Fellow

Work experience

Self-employed

Apr, 2014 — Present
Global health and science communications projects for some of the world's best known philanthropies and other nonprofits. Ghostwriting work includes executive-authored blogs and op-eds, web content, articles, social media content, research, long- and short-form writing.

Self-employed

Jun, 2017 — Jun, 2018 (about 1 year)
Author of The Woman in the Strongbox, a true crime mystery for Kindle/Audible with an estimated 100,000+ downloads and nearly 5,000 ratings on Amazon and Goodreads.

Modernist Cuisine (contract)

Jun, 2015 — Jun, 2022 (about 7 years)
Contracted writer on three culinary science- and history books by Modernist Cuisine. History, science, and other fun and interesting stories, all told through the lens of food. Worked directly with author Nathan Myhrvold, a well-known mathematician, scientist, and first CTO at Microsoft, and Francisco Migoya, a former French Laundry pastry chef now at Noma, to translate their research and ideas into highly readable prose.

The Seattle Times

Sep, 2002 — Sep, 2013 (about 11 years)
Specialized in investigative reporting, courts and legal affairs, social services, and magazine-style storytelling.

Portfolio

In this tantalizing true mystery of a stolen life, an acclaimed reporter and an identity theft investigator follow a series of incredible revelations about the actual identity of a wife, mothe... read more
Book Ghostwriting
Modernist Bread

Nathan Myhrvold

Modernist Bread is a revolutionary new understanding of one of the most important staples of the human diet. Created by the team that published the award-winning Modernist Cuisine: The Art and... read more
Book Ghostwriting
Modernist Bread at Home

Myhrvold, Nathan

The Cooking Lab

Book Ghostwriting
Modernist Pizza

Myhrvold, Nathan

The Cooking Lab

Book Ghostwriting

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