Rob Petersen
Ghostwriter, editor, author coach
From an early age, I was captivated by the possibilities of language.
As I grew, I became one of those kids whose parents used to chastise them for staying up late, reading under the bed covers. Compulsory texts at school and even university were a distraction from exploring the world through the stories and perspectives that sparked my curiosity.
Nonetheless, I managed to secure a BA in English literature (minor in creative writing) and an MA in culture and communication from the University of East Anglia in Norwich, UK. Unsure what to do with that, I embarked on an itinerant decade exploring Asia, picking up bits-and-pieces employment and getting way too into yoga.
I began ghostwriting in 2016, honing my interviewing abilities by spending hours on the phone with authors, drawing out their best stories and guiding them as we pieced those stories together into a coherent narrative structure.
I learned how to coach nervous authors through moments of doubt, and talk hard-charging executives out of hurtling down paths that would have damaged their book and their credibility.
Most of all, I wrote. Hundreds of thousands of words, in a broad range of different tones and styles.
Over the course of more than eight years in the industry, I've supported dozens of authors to turn their dreams of writing their own book into a reality, working on manuscripts across subjects as varied as affiliate marketing, aviation in Africa, and the evolution of e-sports.
In one particularly satisfying recent project, I joined forces with Jack Delosa and Tim Morris of Australia’s The Entourage, to compile Elevate: How to Accelerate Growth and Scale Your Business Beyond You. Elevate is the definitive tome on taking a business from the chaotic start-up stage to becoming a fully-functioning ‘scale-up’ organization. This is a challenge every fledgling business encounters, but there’s hardly any literature aimed at founders attempting to make the transition.
I’ve also worked on memoirs, most memorably Chris Duffin’s The Eagle and The Dragon: A Story of Strength and Reinvention. Chris emerged from an extraordinary childhood, living almost wild in Oregon and California, to become one of the strongest people in the world and a co-founder of Kabuki Strength, an innovative purveyor of specialty gym equipment.
For the past several years I have lived in Bali, Indonesia. Bali, the only Hindu-majority island in Indonesia, is rich in culture and mythology—ideal for a writer. The nature is also spectacular; I never get tired of the glorious sunsets, and I’ve developed a soft spot for the monitor lizards that can be found in most of the island’s many rice fields (although I’ve never managed to transfer that affection to the ubiquitous mosquitoes).
I mostly live a simple life: reading, writing, training in the gym, sitting for meditation, enjoying the incredible culinary scene, and becoming slightly obsessed with the sport of padel. My family still lives in the UK, where I visit them most years and have the tremendous privilege of playing uncle to my brother’s three young child.
What authors say about working with me
"My collaboration with Rob Wolf Petersen on two books was an incredibly positive experience. His ability to understand and articulate my ideas with precision cultivated a deep trust and efficient partnership. Rob's attention to detail, allied with his empathetic listening, enriched my voice and helped hone the effectiveness of my message. Rob's expertise allowed my ideas to resonate deeply with readers. He is an invaluable asset for any author seeking to leave a lasting imprint with their work."
– Bob Glazer, author of Performance Partnerships
and Elevate:
“Rob is awesome to work with. He helped me organize my thoughts, anecdotes and notes into a manuscript that hooks the reader. As my writing coach, Rob took the time to get to know me and my family, listen to my stories, and worked hard to get inside my head. A true professional, Rob was a super coach for me."
– P. Scott Bening, author of Formulating Solutions
“Rob's contributions to our book, Elevate, were exceptional. Throughout the entire project he displayed an impressive talent for understanding our message and transforming it into a well-structured and seamlessly flowing narrative. He was persistent, adaptable, and willing to challenge ideas when needed—all essential qualities for writing a book over many, many months. He exceeded expectations and demonstrated unwavering commitment that is rare and deeply appreciated. On top of all this, Rob is damn funny and a real pleasure to work with. I couldn't recommend him more for future projects requiring a talented writer, editor, and collaborator."
—Tim Morris, co-author of Elevate