Case Study

Ken Rusk

First-Time Author Nets Six-Figure Book Deal and hits the Wall Street Journal Bestseller List.

Ken's Story

Ghostwriting Services, Ka-writing.com Book Writing Help, Professional Ghostwriter, Hire Editing ServicesAspiring author Ken Rusk approached Kevin Anderson & Associates with a rough draft of his book in hand. He wanted it professionally reviewed and edited in order to target traditional publishers. Lacking a significant following and a publishing track record, his odds of becoming a traditionally published author were slim.

Ken, a successful entrepreneur in the construction industry, had launched multiple blue-collar enterprises during his 30-year career. He’d worked all kinds of jobs to get there, from digging ditches to fixing leaky basements. And he wanted to share the path he took to success in the hopes of educating others.

Nancy Rusk, Kevin Anderson, Ken Rusk, and John Maas of Park & Fine.

Nancy Rusk, Kevin, Ken, and agent John Maas

After receiving directive feedback from his KAA editorial team, Ken decided he would be better served by starting from scratch and hiring a professional ghostwriter to work with him and  develop the manuscript. Using that initial draft as background research, Ken and the writer crafted a strong book and an equally strong proposal.

Once finished, Kevin Anderson took the proposal to Celeste Fine and John Maas at Park & Fine, who offered to agent the book to publishers. Kevin also introduced Ken to a company of award-winning and talented marketers, publicists, and podcast hosts to help him launch the book and ensure it was a success.

The manuscript was sold at auction to Dey Street, a HarperCollins imprint, in a mid-six-figure deal. Ken’s publishing team at KAA advised him at every step throughout the process.

In addition, KAA handled all revisions to the manuscript requested by the publisher and developed various op-eds and other articles for the general promotion of the book.

As the July 2020 publication date drew closer, Ken appeared on Fox News, Fox Business, Fox & Friends, BOLD-TV, and the Adam Corolla podcast, and was quoted or featured on Forbes.com and in The Philadelphia Tribune, Industry Today, and Porchlight.

All Ken’s work paid off when the book hit the Wall Street Journal bestseller list and was met with rave reviews, including this from Tony Robbins: “I love Ken’s perspective on our life’s purpose; to share our unique gift with the world. He shows you how to grasp the unmatched power of giving back while providing you with great tools to help you achieve the life you truly desire.”

Selected Media

Bestseller List, Wall Street Journal:
https://www.wsj.com/articles/bestselling-books-week-ended-august-21-11630001230

Interview, Fox News:
https://video.foxnews.com/v/6177284751001

Interview, Fox Business:
https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/blue-call-jobs-entrepreneur-money-staying-home

Interview, Fox & Friends:
https://www.foxnews.com/video/6318454130112

Interview, BOLD-TV:
https://boldtv.com/hannahbuczek/2020/08/10/are-you-more-suited-for-a-blue-collar-job/

Interview, The Adam Corolla Podcast:
http://theadamcarollashow.libsyn.com/podcast/tak-290-ken-rusk

Feature, Forbes:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/kathycaprino/2020/08/19/banishing-our-nations-blind-spot-about-blue-collar-economic-potential/?sh=5de768ee218d

Feature, The Philadelphia Tribune:
https://www.phillytrib.com/lifestyle/blue-collar-cash-speaks-to-new-grads-out-of-work-people/article_812722e1-d07e-5a83-8858-8fc903df3103.html

Feature, Industry Today:
https://www.google.com/url?q=https://industrytoday.com/opportunity-now-for-blue-collar-skilled-labor/&sa=D&source=editors&ust=1619473718154000&usg=AOvVaw13lzryxncvTkHa3x4T_o30

Feature, Porchlight:
https://www.porchlightbooks.com/blog/new-releases/july-28-2020

 Interview, Entrepreneurs on Fire with John Lee Dumas Podcast:
https://www.eofire.com/podcast/kenrusk/

Interview, The Woodpreneur Podcast:
https://pod.co/the-woodpreneur-podcast-1/we-re-back-and-talking-to-ken-rusk-author-of-blue-collar-cash

Interview, Thrivetime Podcast:
https://www.thrivetimeshow.com/business-podcasts/ken-rusk-blue-collar-cash-love-your-ken-work-secure-your-future-and-find-happiness-for-life/

Review, Small Business Trends:
https://smallbiztrends.com/2020/07/blue-collar-cash-book-review.html

Q&A, The Book Pal:
https://blog.book-pal.com/author-spotlight/author-qa-ken-rusk-discusses-blue-collar-cash

Interview, Construction Brothers podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/episode-bite-with-ken-rusk/id1480305024?i=1000512642991

Interview, Love in Action Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-blue-collar-boom-with-ken-rusk/id1456073489?i=1000512551340

Interview, Everyday Business Solutions Podcast:
https://anchor.fm/everyday-business/episodes/Grow-Hiring-and-Retention-in-the-Blue-Collar-Market-with-Ken-Rusk-eqeu2q

Interview, Bookthinkers Podcast:
https://anchor.fm/lifechangingbooks/episodes/40–Ken-Rusk-Author-of-Blue-Collar-Cash-eov9vm

Interview, High School Hamster Wheel Podcast
https://highschoolhamsterwheel.com/62/

Interview, Your Media Podcast:
https://yourmediapeople.com/podcast/

Interview, Good Money with Derrick Kinney Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-money-good-hands-good-work/id1531522259?i=1000496069834

Interview, Finding Brave Podcast:
https://findingbrave.org/episode-146-how-to-experience-financial-freedom-comfort-and-peace-in-the-blue-collar-world-ken-rusk/

Interview, Alain Guillot Podcast:
https://www.alainguillot.com/ken-rusk/

Interview, Eventual Millionaire Podcast:
https://eventualmillionaire.com/big-opportunities-in-blue-collar-industries-with-ken-rusk/

Interview, Crazy Money with Paul Ollinger Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crazy-money-with-paul-ollinger/id1452395408

Interview, Off the Shelf Podcast
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ken-rusk-on-his-latest-book-blue-collar-cash/id1455390420?i=1000487783524

Interview, The Chris Voss Show Podcast
https://thechrisvossshow.com/the-chris-voss-show-podcast-blue-collar-cash-love-your-work-secure-your-future-and-find-happiness-for-life-by-ken-rusk/

Interview, Stacking Benjamins Podcast:
https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/ken-rusk/

Interview, Blue Collar Culture Podcast:
https://bluecollarculture.com/podcast-episode/make-a-wish-to-change-blue-collar/

Interview, Toledo Blade:
https://www.toledoblade.com/business/development/2020/09/02/everdry-owner-authors-book-on-blue-collar-jobs/stories/20200902128

Interview, C-Suite:
https://c-suitenetwork.com/tv/video/rusk-are-you-more-suited-for-a-blue-collar-job/

Interview, KathyCaprino:
https://kathycaprino.com/2020/08/banishing-our-nations-blind-spot-about-blue-collar-economic-potential/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kathycaprino/2020/08/19/banishing-our-nations-blind-spot-about-blue-collar-economic-potential/?sh=671bdb36218d 

Interview, Work Alchemy Podcast:
https://www.workalchemy.com/podcast/episode-207-ken-rusk

Interview, Marriage Kids and Money Podcast:
https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/podcast/high-paying-jobs-without-a-college-degree/

Interview, Yahoo News:
https://news.yahoo.com/entrepreneur-ken-rusk-reforming-americas-143501458.html

Review, Lead Entrepreneur:
https://leadentrepreneurs.com/blue-collar-work-built-america-says-ken-rusk/

Review, NJ Urban News:
https://www.njurbannews.com/articles/book-review-blue-collar-cash-love-your-work-secure-your-future-and-find-happiness-for-life-by-ken-rusk/

Review, The Philadelphia Tribune:
https://www.phillytrib.com/lifestyle/blue-collar-cash-speaks-to-new-grads-out-of-work-people/article_812722e1-d07e-5a83-8858-8fc903df3103.html

Interview, How to Money Podcast:
https://www.howtomoney.com/blue-collar-work-can-generate-more-wealth-with-ken-rusk/

Feature, Industry Today:
https://industrytoday.com/opportunity-now-for-blue-collar-skilled-labor/