Born and raised in Baltimore, MD, I earned my Bachelor of Arts in dance from Oberlin College and my Master of Arts in journalism from New York University where I studied with Emmy award-winning faculty. After interning with the PBS station THIRTEEN in New York City, I went to work at the local ABC stations KVUE in Austin, TX and WMAR in Baltimore, MD as a video editor for reporters and photojournalists.
Feedback from Clients:
I was a line editor for Tasha Hunter MSW, LSCW, author of What Children Remember. Tasha Hunter is an Air Force veteran with a Master's degree in Public Administration and Social Work. She's a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who specializes in PTSD, depression, and anxiety.
“To Sonny: You took my manuscript, rearranged it, and inserted elegance and beauty. You collaborated with me in ways I didn’t know I needed. Thank you for your weeks of hard work you put into helping me find my voice. Thank you for listening to my needs and meeting every request. Most importantly, you didn’t leave me alone to figure things out on my own. Your professionalism, calmness, and honesty made me feel safe with you. The communication you provided weekly let me know that you cared about my story and would be with me long after it’s published. You are amazing, and I look forward to future collaborations.”
I was the ghostwriter for Michelle Barry’s memoir, We Stay In Our Own Tree, dedicated to all survivors. You matter!
Newcomer author Michelle Barry sheds light on the shroud of secrecy that often accompanies the shame of incest. She continues to advocate for herself and others on fearless survivorship. Her goal is to create a non-profit organization connecting incest survivors nationwide. She wants to help survivors navigate through the sensitive period following disclosure of their abuse to family and friends. Support is unpredictable, and the impact on family dynamics is significant. Often, the best support comes from other survivors. She resides in Minnesota with her supportive husband, her five adult children, and her three grandchildren. Her devotion to her family ensures that every branch of her family tree is nurtured by unwavering love for many generations to come.
“To Sonny: For pulling me out of my shell and for helping me to shoot for the stars. You kept at me, making me dig deeper than I had ever done before. You put words to my feelings in a way that conveyed what I meant to say. Together, we got the most honest portrayal of my experiences. You’re now in my circle and know me better than I know myself.”
I was the ghostwriter for Matilda Wand’s book Freedom Is Within. She is the Founder of two successful companies Freedom is Within and Coaching Corporate. She is accredited at a master level in neuro linguistic programming, multiple brain integration techniques, behavioral analysis, and life and leadership coaching. She has been featured as ambassador in the global motorbiking community and has competed in the 2017 Women’s World Cup for American Football in British Columbia.
“To Sonny: Without your skilled guidance, this book wouldn’t have gotten off the ground. Your ability to distill my knowledge into relatable prose has enabled me to develop my author’s voice so that I can share key insights with my readers and new clients. Your investment of time, your belief in this book, and your willingness to write with me in real-time as we composed sentences, paragraphs, and chapters together was invaluable. The intense ten week period of writing the book from start to finish realized an aspiration that was many years in the making.”
I was the ghostwriter for Gwendolyn J. Dennis-Mack's autobiography about a socially conscious high school student growing up in the state of Georgia who, inspired by the courage of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Little Rock Nine, joined six other African-American students in desegregating her all-White high school in September of 1965.
“Even though Brown v. the Board of Education became law in 1954, its effects remained unfelt in Laurens County—along with most of the state of Georgia and the South for more than a decade. Finally, in the fall of 1965, officials with Dublin City Schools announced that their doors would be open to all students.” —Courier Herald, The Laurens County, Georgia, 1807-2007 A Pictorial History, vol. 1
Gwendolyn graduated from Dublin High School in 1967 and opened the door for twenty more Black students who voluntarily enrolled before a mandatory integration law went into effect statewide in 1970. Gwen is a retired educator from the Prince George’s County Public Schools District, a member of the Civil Rights Veterans Movement Archive, and a life member of the NAACP and the National Council of Negro Women.
“Sonny lived up to 100% and above, which was true to her contractual agreement. Her application of soft skills to communicate and collaborate is practical. She rises to the challenge of being competent and knowledgeable. Then, she demonstrates her talent in a creative writing style while maintaining the tone and voice of the client. I place high confidence in Sonny’s research and fact-checking of information. From start to finish, she was always prompt, organized, prepared for our scheduled phone interviews, and responsive to unscheduled requests for assistance. It is with pleasure that I offer this recommendation. I am thankful for our lifelong partnership. I am confident you will be, too.”
I contributed as an editor and ghostwriter for the final two chapters of the Second Edition of Troy Roberts' memoir, Next Move: My Terrible, Wonderful, Bipolar Life, published through Apprentice House Press, the country’s only campus-based, student-staffed book publishing company. Directed by professors and industry professionals, this nonprofit activity of the Communication Department at Loyola University Maryland uses state-of-the-art technology and an experiential learning model of education, publishing books in untraditional ways in a collaborative environment.
Troy’s memoir is his first book. Raised in a Baltimore family with mob ties, he grew up in a tumultuous household, surrounded by crime, prostitution, violence, and drugs, often escaping with his mother and sister to his grandparents’ home near Savannah, Georgia. As an early teen, he fell under the thrall of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, but by the time he was in his mid-teens, he found another, far more powerful obsession: chess.
Despite an almost crippling affliction of bipolar disorder inherited from both sides of his family, he managed to rise from his circumstances and become a top-rated U.S. chess player, achieving the rank of Life Master. Troy Roberts is ranked 13th in Maryland and 45th nationally among players aged 65 and over, according to the latest United States Chess Federation ratings as of February 2025.
“Sonny Marion captured my voice authentically while showing a deep understanding of my book’s subject matter. Sonny is the very finest collaborator, meeting all deadlines and completing my project under budget.”
Peruse additional Client Testimonials regarding a working collaboration with Sonny via her Upwork profile.