About:
Marianne has ghostwritten and collaborated on nine top-selling books including the NYT bestsellers The 100 and Happy Hormones, Slim Belly by Jorge Cruise and Superwoman Rx by Dr. Taz Bhatia. She currently focuses on research writing for the Salk Institute’s Dr. Satchin Panda, circadian rhythm expert.
Marianne is also an accomplished editor, writer, and researcher. Whether a book is too dense, too light, or just plain indecipherable, agents and editors who’ve worked with her will tell you that she’ll save your project. You’ll also appreciate her ability to digest and present dense scientific research in a clear, concise and fascinating fashion that anyone can comprehend.
Authors love her because she swiftly taps into their voices and quickly transforms their messages into words that speak compellingly and effectively to the masses. Clients, authors, editors, and agents will tell you that Marianne always stays calm in the midst of a storm, easily accommodates challenging schedules, and is a joy to work with.
Specialties
Nailing deadlines
Creating bestselling books
Transforming mind-numbing science into language everyone can understand and enjoy
Crafting brand-friendly proposals and books from an author's insights, knowledge, and ideas that publishers and consumers love
Chameleon-like ability to write in the voice, tone, and language of any author
Doctoring manuscripts, articles, blog posts, proposals, even dissertations, into polished, marketable works of art
Deeply wanting authors to succeed, and helping them to write books that will change peoples lives
BIO
I began my career in publishing as a factchecker for Prevention Magazine in 1999. A friend at the magazine was leaving and volunteered me to take her place. At the time I was working as a case manager for women struggling with substance abuse issues. I had no idea what I was in for, but I fell in love with writing immediately. I've always had a mind for detail and facts, so I was right at home chatting with Harvard expert sources and scientific researchers from all over the globe. I quickly moved up to Researcher and from there found myself writing articles for overwhelmed and too-busy-to-write editors on staff. "She can write!" said one senior editor at the magazine, who quickly found me my own cubicle and dubbed me assistant editor. A year later, I was graced with a coveted window office and bumped up to associate editor. I admit that I was as happy with the former (the view was fabulous) as I was with the latter. While I'd done my undergraduate work in Psychology, working at Prevention magazine was my graduate school training in writing, editing, and publishing.
I wrote and edited thousands of articles in my years at the magazine. I became a certified personal trainer through the American Council on Exercise to help with designing complex fitness routines for articles about yoga, strength training, walking, running, kettlebells, and more. I attended several conferences at the American Academy of Pediatrics to fill my head with ideas for a parenting and pregnancy column's articles and features. I ghost-wrote for editors and celebrity columnists for the magazine and their website. I stayed happily with Prevention Magazine until 2005 when I decided that it was time to leave the east coast and to return home to my native San Diego. I dove into the freelance life and have never looked back. I spent many years writing for various magazines including Prevention, Better Homes and Gardens, Fitness, Fit Pregnancy, Bicycling, Self, Parenting, and Natural Health. Then, in 2011, the fitness and health guru Jorge Cruise and I reconnected and thus began my ghostwriting career. Currently, I spend most my time researching and writing about circadian rhythms for Dr. Satchin Panda at the Salk Institute in San Diego.
Above is a picture of Albee Creek Campground in the redwoods. I'm a bit of a nature nut, and thankfully I married someone who shares my passion. My husband always takes one picture of me doing my morning writing. I am lucky enough to live 10 minutes away from a hiking spot that I visit most mornings at 5am (I'm a shameless morning person). While I did a fair bit of backpacking and hiking as a child and in college, it all got put on hold while I was raising my two boys. Now, at 50, I'm back at it with a passion. I try to hike, camp, and backpack as much as my schedule will allow. I live in San Diego with my husband, and between us we have six young adult children, three dogs, and two cats (obviously parenting, blended families, and animals are also subjects that are close to my heart).