David Ridd
about.
The best books come from the best stories: stories that don’t just share a past but show how that past applies to our future. Stories that inspire, challenge, and push readers to think differently, or to be better than they were yesterday. Whether that’s personal growth, resilience, or mental toughness, my specialty is helping people craft narratives that speak directly to the reader, like a trusted friend sharing advice.
I’ve been writing professionally since 2017, working with entrepreneurs, athletes, veterans, and thought leaders to turn what they know into books people want to read. That includes In Your Corner with Javier Mendez of American Kickboxing Academy, Legacy Mindset with Korey Shaffer of Til Valhalla Project, and You’re Going to Be a Dad! for DaddiLife. Every one of them started with deep research and long interviews, then outlining, writing, and shaping a voice that sounded like the author and not like me.
I first came into writing by way of sport. I ran NCAA Division I track, studied creative writing at Appalachian State, and earned a personal-training certification before writing became my full-time job. It’s why athletes, coaches, and fighters find me easy to work with, and why a long project doesn’t scare me. Along the way I’ve been mentored by New York Times bestselling author Carine McCandless.
I live in Raleigh, North Carolina, and work with clients everywhere. When I’m not writing someone else’s book, I’m writing my own. Rideshare, a collection of short stories, is coming soon from Bipedal Press.
- Based in
- Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
- Education
- B.A. English, Creative Writing, Appalachian State University
- Languages
- English and Spanish
- Business
- David Ridd Writing LLC, est. 2017
- Elsewhere
- Fiverr Pro, Top Rated Seller · LinkedIn
Press, podcasts, and event bios
short bio.
David Ridd is a writer and ghostwriter with professional experience since 2017 across memoir, narrative nonfiction, brand storytelling, and fiction. His co-authored memoir In Your Corner (with Javier Mendez, head coach of UFC champions Khabib Nurmagomedov and Islam Makhachev) will be published by Orbita Media in October 2026 with worldwide distribution. He has ghostwritten books for major platforms including DaddiLife and the Til Valhalla Project, created content for figures such as Steven Bartlett, and has been mentored by New York Times bestselling author Carine McCandless. His short-story collection Rideshare is forthcoming from Bipedal Press. He lives in Raleigh, North Carolina.
For book cover art, interview requests about In Your Corner, or review copies, use the publisher’s press page. For everything else, get in touch.
Let’s talk
Every book starts with a conversation.
Tell me about your project. Whether just starting out or late in the game, I’m here to help.