“I’ve known Maria since she was a junior editor at Penguin and I regularly refer my authors to her now for help with their manuscripts. When it comes to getting professional writing or editing help on your book, there is no replacement for working with someone who understands the inner workings of the book publishing industry.”
—Adrian Zackheim, President and Publisher, Portfolio Books, Penguin Random House
I’m an editor and bestselling ghostwriter specializing in nonfiction. As an entrepreneur at heart, I especially love working on business books with a focus on small business/entrepreneurship, careers, personal finance, investing, self-improvement, leadership, and communication. I spent eleven years as an editor at Random House and Penguin, where I helped launch the careers of several first-time nonfiction authors. My time as an in-house editor helped me understand exactly what publishers look for in a book and I help my clients develop their project with that unique perspective in mind.
Some of my bestselling titles as an editor include #GIRLBOSS by Sophia Amoruso, Do Over by Jon Acuff, and Leaders Eat Last by Simon Sinek. My recent ghostwriting projects include titles for Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, and HarperCollins. Visit my Select Titles page for a snapshot of my work.
In 2007, I co-founded SLICE Literary with fellow editor Celia Johnson. SLICE was a nonprofit organization that published 27 issues of SLICE literary magazine and, for nine years, brought together a community of 400+ writers, editors, literary agents, and book publishing professionals for the annual SLICE Literary Writers’ Conference in Brooklyn. These days, in addition to my independent editing and writing work, I’m a co-founder of The Pub Pros, a book services firm that connects writers and publishers with the book industry’s top freelance editors.
I’m based in New Jersey, where my husband, our three boys, and I love throwing footballs on the beach, going to rock shows, and touring the state to find the best pizza and ice cream south of New York City.