Portfolio
A selection of books I've worked on
The Purposeful Decision Maker - Pádraig Ó Céidigh - Amplify 2024
Pádraig Ó Céidigh has had multiple careers. He’s been a teacher, an accountant, a lawyer, and an entrepreneur. In 1993, he bought a tiny, failing airline and turned it into a thriving regional carrier with revenues in excess of $150 million. He went on to found and develop businesses across a range of sectors, including property, publishing, printing and healthcare. Pádraig has also found time to serve on various state and non-state boards and was a senator in the Dáil from 2016 to 2020.
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I worked with Pádraig to realise his vision of creating a book which captured his unique approach to decision making. Begun during the COVID lockdown, we traveled a fascinating road together, and delivered what has proven to be a ground-breaking book.
Simple Scaling - 10 Proven Principles to 10x Your Business - Brendan McGurgan & Claire Colvin - Houndstooth Press 2022
The authors approached me with a partially written manuscript, and needed help to bring it to a point where it was good enough to capture the essence of the venture they were about to launch. The fact that the book remains the handbook of what has become a thriving business is testament to how well we worked together. This project was all about collaboration. I guided Brendan and Clare on their authors’ journey, cutting what needed to be cut and expanding what needed to be expanded. Check out the comments on Amazon to see just how influential this book has been since it landed in 2022.
A Full Life - The Memoirs of Paddy McKillen Snr - Paddy Mckillen - Whitefox 2018
Interviewing 96 year old Paddy to document his extraordinary life was a wonderful experience. As part of his legacy, he wanted to leave a unique and lasting gift to his many children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren scattered around the world. The book we created together is much more than that however. It is a gripping account of a struggle against poverty and bigotry in Belfast in the 1930s, culminating in Paddy's eventual success as a businessman and philanthropist.
Commit! Make Your Mind and Body Stronger and Unlock Your Full Potential - Enda McNulty - Penguin Random House 2017
As word of mouth began to do its magic, 'Commit!' moved steadily up the bestsellers chart, reaching the number one slot in February 2017.
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This marked the culmination of an extensive collaboration with Enda – honing his vision for the book, developing a template, interviewing him, watching him in action, interviewing his clients, then drafting and redrafting the book until it was everything it needed to be. I worked closely not alone with Enda but with a wide variety of his clients, and of course the publishing team, to produce a work that we are all very proud of.
The Blind Man Game - A memoir of Art, Activism and Adaptation - Paul Boskind - Amplify 2025
Dr. Paul Boskind, a successful psychologist, businessman and LGBTQ+ advocate, thought he had everything under control. Diagnosed with a blinding retinal disorder at twenty-one, he defied the odds, building a fulfilling life. But years earlier than expected, his vision began to fade.
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Paul recorded his story onto his iPhone, had those recordings transcribed and sent the transcripts to me. The material was as insightful as it was fascinating. Together we documented Paul’s poignant journey of self-discovery as he navigated the emotional turmoil of losing his sight and sense of self. With his future uncertain, Paul draws on his expertise and inner strength to confront grief, fear and a world no longer designed for him.
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Would the Real Gerry Ryan Please Stand Up - Gerry Ryan - Penguin Ireland 2008
This was one of my earliest books. I had the privilege of sitting with the late, great Gerry Ryan and downloading his story shortly before his untimely death.
This is Gerry on life, the world, the universe - and a few things besides. Here are his experiences, stories and opinions drawn from nearly thirty years of talking to the nation. It's a sharp, punchy read all told in his no-nonsense, irreverent, straight to the bone style. It's the best, the worst, the funniest, the most outrageous. It's the story of Gerry's coming of age as a broadcaster as Ireland became a truly modern country. A smart, sassy and wildly entertaining read.