John J. Geoghegan

Editor, Author, Journalist, Professor

 
 
_DSC5430.jpg
 
 

Journalist and Author

I specialize in reporting on unusual inventions that fail in the marketplace despite their innovative nature. I call these inventions, “White Elephant Technology,” or WETech for short, a phrase I’ve helped popularize. I’ve written numerous newspaper and magazine articles on this and a variety of subjects as well as authored four, non-fiction books including a memoir, HEAR TODAY, GONE TOMORROW. Additionally, I helped shepherd into production, co-wrote, and served as technical consultant on a PBS documentary which was based in part on research for my first book, OPERATION STORM: JAPAN’S TOP SECRET SUBMARINES AND ITS PLAN TO CHANGE THE COURSE OF WORLD WAR II. I also served as an on camera expert for a Smithsonian Channel documentary based in part on research for my third book, WHEN GIANTS RULED THE SKY: THE BRIEF REIGN AND TRAGIC DEMISE OF THE AMERICAN RIGID AIRSHIP. My latest book, WHITE ELEPHANT TECHNOLOGY: 50 CRAZY INVENTIONS THAT SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN BUILT AND WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM THEM, was published by The History Press in April 2024. In short, I enjoy working across a variety of genres including non-fiction, fiction, reportage, humor and documentary films. To learn more about me, click here. To learn more about the books I've written, click here. To see a sampling of my magazine and newspaper articles, click here. Finally, I also enjoy teaching history at UC, Berkeley’s Osher Institute, and the Fromm Institute at the University of San Francisco.

Editorial Services

Whether you need a commercial assessment of your novel, memoir or non-fiction work; an editor to polish your manuscript; or a ghostwriter to help tell your story, I bring nearly 30 years of professional writing experience to your editorial project.  With four non-fiction books to my name and a fifth under contract, hundreds of newspaper and magazine articles in print, years working in the book publishing, newspaper, and magazine industries (not to mention my experience as a university writing instructor), my personal, hands-on approach can help you to achieve your writing goals. Click here for more information about editorial services and pricing. Finally, I also teach writing classes, and a twice annual Zoom class, HOW TO GET YOUR BOOK PUBLISHED, sponsored by Book Passage, Northern California’s leading independent bookstore

 
 

I first met John through his Book Passage class, HOW TO GET YOUR BOOK PUBLISHED. I was so impressed, I hired him to do a commercial assessment of my manuscript as well as help with the development of my book proposal, query letter and agent/publisher target list. John was not only a pleasure to work with, but his guidance helped me to get a book contract . Now, I’m a published author!

G.T., author of a self-help memoir

“There are a good number of unpublished charlatans offering editorial services in this space, but you, Sir, are the real deal.”
— R.T., aspiring thriller author
“As a writer, I’ve benefited from John’s wisdom through four books. A master at understanding how to meet reader expectations, John zeroes in on a writer’s intention, applauds what’s going right, and nails that unnecessary bit of exposition or missed opportunity to drive the story forward.”
— K. M., author of more than 8 commercially published novels
“THANK YOU, John! I feel very grateful to have met you when I did. I sincerely believe…my proposal would’ve been rejected. I feel like I’m back in the game, thanks to you.”
— S.O., Memoirist
“Worth every penny.”
— J.M., aspiring novelist
 

© 2023. All rights reserved.