We recently connected with Barbara B. Richter and have shared our conversation below.

Barbara, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

Given my upbringing, it would have been surprising if I ventured into any field other than writing. I grew up in a small town in central Massachusetts, where my home was filled with books. I’m not talking about a shelf or two; I’m talking about thousands of books—books in the bathroom, books in the garage, under the sink, and on industrial-grade library racks in the basement. CSPAN even recorded a house tour in 2008 to showcase the magnitude of these archives. These weren’t random assortments of books; each had a purpose and a place. They were either review books or books pressed into service as research aides. At the time, my father, Nicholas Basbanes, was reviewing books for his syndicated column while also writing what would become the authoritative sources on the history of books and book culture.

I remember the excitement of books arriving regularly at the door, turning our home into a bibliophile’s paradise. With my parents and sister, Nicole, I developed a profound love for literature – every delivery day felt like Christmas, and at the height of my dad’s syndicate, review books arrived daily. As a child with an overactive imagination, I occasionally worried the house might collapse under the weight of our cherished volumes. But, I reasoned, surrounded by the books I had read and loved would be an OK way to go.

My love of languages began early, too, when I was fortunate enough to be introduced to French in elementary school. The beauty and elegance of the language won me over completely. It felt like a language I could make my own, much like the act of writing can be a personal and transformative undertaking. French won my heart, and I earned a BA and an MA in French Literature from Smith College and Tufts University. As a public school teacher for nearly a decade, I shaped language curriculum and revived French and Latin programs as part of my commitment to linguistic and cultural education.

As my career evolved, so did my writing journey. Eventually, I left teaching and began writing and editing full-time, interviewing authors, illustrators, and literary influencers. I founded In Ink Ghostwriting to help craft bestselling books for authors from Fortune 500 CEOs to Grammy Award-winning musicians and pro athletes. Our work drew nationwide acclaim, with several titles becoming bestsellers and securing film options.

For every client who worked with In Ink, I turned away dozens of potential authors because they could not afford to hire my company. I hated turning people away—there had to be a way to serve authors with stories in their hearts but limited resources in their pockets. Ghostwriting offers a way to help people write their books, but good ghostwriting is expensive, and there are plenty of fly-by-night scammers out there who promise the moon for a nickel and give you nothing but moonshine.

The answer was right in front of me—I had to disassemble the ghostwriting process into a series of discrete steps that anyone could follow and end up with a book. Their book. I spent over a year developing and refining the patent-pending program that became DIYBook. Now, authors have access to the storytelling tools, techniques, and writing prompts used by professionals and a secure platform on which to write their stories. Then, DIYBook will print and ship completed books to the author’s door. We priced the base service at an affordable $89, and a complimentary 7-day free trial is automatically included.

I also wanted authors to work with a professional writer or graphic designer if they wanted extra help. I built the platform so authors can book blocks of time with one of our pros right in their DIYBook account. This is a middle option for authors who aren’t ready or interested in hiring a ghostwriter to do an entire book but are looking for expert assistance on things like narrative structure, editing, and tone. Now, dreamers are becoming authors and writing their books with DIYBook. I’ve heard from customers who told me how pleased and they were to finally get their stories on paper after years of waiting and stalled attempts.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My journey has been guided by a belief in the transformative power of storytelling. Everyone has a story to share. I am honored to support authors with their writing adventures. I started my writing assistance companies for two reasons: I love good stories and want to help people tell their stories without intimidation. Removing those barriers (financial and psychological) democratizes the writing process, and I am proud to be able to do that.

The DIYBook website is full of writing tips, free to anyone whether they use the service or not, because I want to equip authors with the tools to help them succeed. For example, a new tool I recently launched is a podcast called Writing for Immortality, where I discuss the writing process and interview authors about their books.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

Yes! Atomic Habits by James Clear. Small changes can lead to major results, but nothing changes unless the mindset shifts. The techniques in this book help me center my thoughts and prioritize what needs to get done during my day without overwhelming me.

Another great book is The One Minute Manager, by the OG business fable storyteller, Kenneth Blanchard. Key takeaways? Never underestimate the power of positive leadership, and achieving results means ensuring everyone on your team understands the company’s goals and how you will achieve them. Clear and concise communication helps make all that happen.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

By far, so far, Google Ads. We can target our messaging directly to our target audience and see in real-time whether those efforts are working or not.

Contact Info:

• Website: In Ink Ghostwriting: www.ininkghostwriting.com and DIYBook: www.diybook.us
• Instagram: In Ink: https://www.instagram.com/in.ink.ghostwriting/ | DIYBook: https://www.instagram.com/diybookhq/ | Writing For Immortality: https://www.instagram.com/writing4immortality/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bbasbanes | https://www.linkedin.com/company/diybookus/
• Other: Explore my podcast – Writing for Immortality: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/writing-for-immortality/id1726828796 (also available on Spotify, iHeart Radio, and Amazon Music)

Image Credits
Nicholas Basbanes