Tom McCarthy

Tom McCarthy - Ghostwriter

Guilford, CT, USA

Award-winning and critically praised ghostwriter, author, and editor whose writing includes a new edition of a New York Times best-seller.

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Overview


I am a longtime book-publishing executive with industry connections.

Ghost-written titles to be published in 2023-2024 include a no-holds-barred look at a murder case that caught the world’s attention; an insider's look at U.S. Presidential summit meetings with the world's iconic leaders; a wrenching and undiscovered history of an American trench-runner in World War I; a moving account of an American businessman who returns to his native North Korea to help; and a chilling look at early polar exploration.

My recent work also includes a new edition of The New York Times best-selling From Baghdad, With Love.

Jay Kopelman, a Marine colonel in besieged Fallujah, Iraq, whose struggle to adopt a young puppy amid the chaos and carnage of war is recounted in the book, said this about working with me.

“As a New York Times and international best-selling author, I’ve had the opportunity to work with a number a of co-authors. Only when I worked with Tom McCarthy on my best-selling book, From Baghdad, With Love, did I understand how truly fortunate I was to have a professional writer/editor like Tom on my team. He is thoughtful, creative, witty, and possessing of a keen eye and ear for true story telling. I will only work with Tom McCarthy as a co-writer/editor on all future projects.”

My projects have won have won a Harvard University Book of the Year, a Readers Digest Top Summer Book, an Esquire Year's Five Best Reads, a Sports Illustrated Top Book of the Year, an American Library Association, Best Non-Fiction, and a Runner's World Best Book of the Year, among others.

More than 50 published books in nonfiction genres including: memoir, sports, health and fitness, business, adventure, and true crime.

Harvest of Innocence, my true crime narrative, has already sparked a rave review.

“The book is absolutely extraordinary. You’ve very nimbly and masterfully wove through three decades of litigation while making it interesting, readable, and relatable," the reviewer wrote.

Some other praise from clients and critics for just a few writing and editing projects:

"The interviews crackle with immediacy." --The New York Times, on Embedded, Harvard Book of the Year

"Your sensitive writing illuminated the entire story." --Rick Starr, Archivist, Rye Country Day School

​“Thanks to Tom McCarthy, for being a great human being, a brilliant editor, and for making me look far better than I actually am.” --Sprague Theobald, Emmy Award Winner

"McCarthy shows a good sense for the interesting and gory detail, offering up plenty of blood-soaked action while keeping it appropriate. A breezy offering . . . " --Kirkus Reviews, on Pirates and Shipwrecks

“The book offers not only an arresting remembrance, but also an inspirational one that’s filled with wisdom gained through difficult experience.” –Kirkus Reviews, on Swimming Upstream



Languages
English (SA)
English (US)
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs
History
Political Science & Current Affairs
Sports & Outdoors

Awards

  • Harvard University’s Goldsmith Award, Book of the Year: Embedded, The Media at War in Iraq
  • Readers Digest, Top Five Summer Books, King of Heists
  • Sports Illustrated Top Books of the Year: Facing Ali
  • Esquire magazine’s Year’s Five Best Reads: Far Afield, A Sportswriting Odyssey
  • Runner’s World Best Books of the Year: Everyone’s Guide to Running and Be Iron Fit
  • Foreword, Best Sports Books: Cohn-Head
  • American Library Association, Best Non-Fiction, In the Margins Book Award for America's Massacre: The Audacity of Despair and a Message of Hope
  • Silver Medal: Independent Publishers: Best Regional Non-Fiction, For Sale: American Paradise: How Our Nation was Sold an Impossible Dream in Florida
  • E-Captain: Best Books of the Year: Crossing the Bar, The Adventures of a San Francisco Bay Bar Pilot
  • BookSense Notable Pick: Patriots Act: Voices of Dissent
  • BookSense Notable Pick : The Color of Love
  • Ben Franklin Award Finalist: Hell Is Over, Voices of the Kurds After Saddam
  • Ben Franklin Award, Sports: Duty, Honor, Victory, America’s Athletes in World War II
  • CASEY Award Finalist for Spitball, The Literary Baseball Magazine: A Tale of Two Cities

Work experience

Owner

Self-employed
January, 2009 – Present (about 14 years)

Providing ghostwriting, editing, and consultation for more than 10 years.

Work includes:

• Editorial Director:
The McBooks/Sheridan House Initiative. Organized, proposed, and signed four lists through Fall 2021 for this emerging imprint of fiction and non-fiction maritime books.

• Senior Acquisitions Editor:
The Lyons Press, specializing in history, military history, sports, and boating

• Writer, Grandin Hood Publishers
Recent work includes anniversary histories for Rye Country Day School, Agnes Irwin School, and the National Parks Conservation Association

• Writing/Editing

More than 20 titles published in 2017-2020.
With clients in the United Arab Emirates, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, I went global in 2013. Specializing in editing and ghost-writing nonfiction titles including health, history, current events, sports, fitness, and travel. Writing samples and review comments available.

Ghost-Writing Works in Progress:

• Harvest of Innocence, an attorney’s account of his 25-year involvement in the West Memphis 3 murders: to be completed in September 2018
• No Remorse Divorce, a how-to guide on collaborative mediation: to be completed August 2018

Past Work:

Imprint Head: Seahorse Press, a Division of Skyhorse Publishing
November 2016 to January 2017
Direct new imprint of sailing and boating titles, with eight new books signed and edited for our premier list in Fall 2016; another twelve titles developed and signed for Spring and Fall 2017.

Executive Editor
The Lyons Press, Guilford, CT
(A Division of Globe-Pequot Press)
December 2005 to January 2009

Acting Editorial Director
The Lyons Press, Guilford CT
(A Division of Globe-Pequot Press)
June 2005 to December 2005

Education
Bachelor of Arts, English/Creative Writing
The Pennsylvania State University

Portfolio (16 selected works)

From Baghdad, With Love: A Dog, A Marine, and the Love That Saved Them

Jay Kopelman, Melinda Roth, Tom McCarthy

An ultimately uplifting lesson on life and love that only a special bond can bring.What happens when the indelible bond between a man and a dog formed in the harshest of conditions is put the test? Moving and uplifting, here is the long-awaited updated edition of The New York Times best-selling From Baghdad with Love.Lt. Col. Jay Kopelman went to extraordinary lengths to bring back to America ... read more

An ultimately uplifting lesson on life and love that only a special bond can bring.What happens when the indelible bond between a man and a dog formed in the harshest of conditions is put the test? Moving and uplifting, here is the long-awaited updated edition of The New York Times best-selling From Baghdad with Love.Lt. Col. Jay Kopelman went to extraordinary lengths to bring back to America ... read more

Lead Now, Manage Later: The Straight Shooter's Guide to Business Success

R Paul Vuolle

You expect clarity and simplicity from a leader; you expect their words to count. But such is not always the case. A leadership vacuum is occurring globally in government politics, with corporate CEOs, entrepreneurs, and in struggling companies. This is not a good foundation to build a transformational process, which demands direction, simplicity, clarity and--of course--has consequences. Usin... read more

You expect clarity and simplicity from a leader; you expect their words to count. But such is not always the case. A leadership vacuum is occurring globally in government politics, with corporate CEOs, entrepreneurs, and in struggling companies. This is not a good foundation to build a transformational process, which demands direction, simplicity, clarity and--of course--has consequences. Usin... read more

National Parks Conservation Association: A Century of Impact

Tom McCarthy, Whit Stiles

A Century of Impact celebrates the first 100 years of the National Parks Conservation Association, tracing its history and vision through stunning photography and tales of victory in a beautifully designed keepsake book. From its founding by the same visionaries who helped to create the National Park Service to present-day battles to protect our public lands, the National Parks Conservation As... read more

A Century of Impact celebrates the first 100 years of the National Parks Conservation Association, tracing its history and vision through stunning photography and tales of victory in a beautifully designed keepsake book. From its founding by the same visionaries who helped to create the National Park Service to present-day battles to protect our public lands, the National Parks Conservation As... read more

Square One: Returning to Life and Competitive Running after My Devastating Stroke

Dirk Vlieks

Dirk Vlieks was at the top of his game. At the age of thirty-two he was a top-ranked triathlete with numerous Ironman finishes under his belt. That all changed in an instant one day in June of 2006 when he stepped groggily from his bike in Honu, Hawaii, and collapsed. He had suffered a stroke so devastating that by the time he reached the hospital, a doctor told his wife to prepare to turn off... read more

Dirk Vlieks was at the top of his game. At the age of thirty-two he was a top-ranked triathlete with numerous Ironman finishes under his belt. That all changed in an instant one day in June of 2006 when he stepped groggily from his bike in Honu, Hawaii, and collapsed. He had suffered a stroke so devastating that by the time he reached the hospital, a doctor told his wife to prepare to turn off... read more

Swimming Upstream: My Struggle and Triumph Over Cancer and the Medical Establishment: New Hope in Cancer Treatment

Sajjad Iqbal M.D.

As an experienced pediatrician, Sajjad Iqbal, MD, had long enjoyed using his medical expertise to treat children’s illnesses and alleviate their parents’ concerns. Suddenly, however, he was on the other side of the divide. As Iqbal began to battle severe facial paralysis, misguided and obstinate doctors became an obstacle to finding a correct diagnosis and treatment. Iqbal’s doctors believed t... read more

As an experienced pediatrician, Sajjad Iqbal, MD, had long enjoyed using his medical expertise to treat children’s illnesses and alleviate their parents’ concerns. Suddenly, however, he was on the other side of the divide. As Iqbal began to battle severe facial paralysis, misguided and obstinate doctors became an obstacle to finding a correct diagnosis and treatment. Iqbal’s doctors believed t... read more

Stories of the Old West

Price, Steven, McCarthy, Tom

Tom has 2 reviews

Professionalism
Professionalism
Quality
Quality
Value
Value
Communication & Punctuality
Communication & Punctuality

Judd Swift
Tom, is doing a great job in understanding me and delivering good content…very happy with his work. Judd

Judd Swift, January 2023


Jason Baer
Great working with Tom, very responsive, adaptable, creative and professional.

Jason Baer, September 2021

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