Testimonials for John DeSimone Ghostwriter

John’s insights and polishing…took my work to a level recognized as professional and worthy. Without hesitation, I give, and have, the highest regard for John DeSimone’s ability as an editor and writer.

An emotional and sweeping memoir of love and survival—and of a committed and desperate family uprooted and divided by the violent, changing landscape of Afghanistan in the early 1980s.

Before the Soviet invasion of 1980, Enjeela Ahmadi remembers her home—Kabul, Afghanistan—as peaceful, prosperous, and filled with people from all walks of life. But after her mother, unsettled by growing political unrest, leaves for medical treatment in India, the civil war intensifies, changing young Enjeela’s life forever. Amid the rumble of invading Soviet tanks, Enjeela and her family are thrust into chaos and fear when it becomes clear that her mother will not be coming home. Thus begins an epic, reckless, and terrifying five-year journey of escape for Enjeela, her siblings, and their father to reconnect with her mother. In navigating the dangers ahead of them, and in looking back at the wilderness of her homeland, Enjeela discovers the spiritual and physical strength to find hope in the most desperate of circumstances. A heart-stopping memoir of a girl shaken by the brutalities of war and empowered by the will to survive, The Broken Circle brilliantly illustrates that family is not defined by the borders of a country but by the bonds of the heart.

I brought a broken manuscript to John. I’d spent years writing my memoir that meandered all over the place. He patiently and expertly worked with me to rewrite the entire book, ferreting out the deeper story to create a story with an arc and a satisfying ending. The process proved therapeutic as well as producing a tight narrative that truly explored all the elements of my story. After completion of the project, I was able to secure a top New York agent who is helping me sell the book. John is not only a great writer, but also a great guy to know and work with. I highly recommend him.

John, you are a poet. Thank you for your help.

He took my hundreds of pages of notes and citations and fashioned them into a readable book that readers can use to enhance their health. He’s a strong writer, a solid editor, and a good guy.

When I handed off a partial draft of my military-thriller novel to John, it was a mess. I had a fairly good story outlined, but I really didn’t know how to tell it. And I didn’t have a clue about what it took to craft thriller fiction. John patiently went through several chapters, line by line, and in a firm but cordial manner told me how I had missed the boat with unnecessary backstory, too much technical detail, etc. And he taught me how to set up the essential components of thriller fiction to resonate with a reader. By the time I finished adopting his critiques and rewriting a good portion of my work, I finally had a book that was ready to show to publishers. Even my agent thought it was much better. Thanks John!

John captured our voices and the spirit of what we were trying to accomplish and delivered a book we use in our ministry. His help was invaluable to the success of the book. I don’t hesitate to recommend him.

John not only took the time to understand my addiction therapy, but wrote a book I use every day in my recovery program working with teens and adults. It has been an invaluable tool.   The book has saved me countless hours of teaching, and increased the reach of my programs. John’s a gifted writer, and I look forward to working with him again.