Sonia Yoshioka Braid
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Sonia
A ghost writer and editor based in Aotearoa New Zealand who specialises in telling stories that matter.
About
About Sonia
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Sonia Yoshioka Braid was born in Hawke’s Bay, Aotearoa New Zealand. She is the youngest in her family born to a Japanese mother and a father of Scottish/European New Zealand heritage who met during the Korean War. World War II, the dropping of the Atomic Bomb in Hiroshima, and the Korean War were all formative moments in her family’s history.
An avid reader, Sonia was always interested in writing, but it wasn’t until she turned 40 that she decided to go back to university and study a communications degree, majoring in communications management and journalism, followed by a postgraduate diploma in arts. She started a Master of communications, but that fell by the wayside as life events took over.
Sonia has worked with several publishers in all manner of roles, starting with Geoff Blackwell’s Photogenique Publishers and the global M.I.L.K. photographic competition. His entrepreneurship in book publishing and packaging was a masterclass in what is possible to create from a small country at the bottom of the world. She went on to provide background research for the Rose Tinted series, and Paintalicious, by renowned make-up artist Joanne Gair.
Sonia’s ghost-writing career started with a book for The Aunties charity, who had a three-month deadline to get a manuscript completed, and no writer. After sixteen interviews, and an intense bout of writing, re-writing, and collaborating with her editor, Her Say by Jackie Clark and The Aunties (Penguin Random House) was ready to go. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and the publication schedule was moved to March 2021.
Since then, Sonia has ghost-written two more books, No Excuses by Dave Letele (Penguin Random House), and Beyond Hope by Bariz Shah (HarperCollins). She edited She Is Not Your Rehab by Matt and Sarah Brown, and Tools for the Top Paddock by Kane Brisco. She has also updated and edited the Huse Hill series of business books, Revolutionise the Way You Work and Achieve Better Job Satisfaction, Revolutionise the Way You Sell and Influence People, and Revolutionise Your EQ.
Sonia is proud of her dual Japanese/New Zealand heritage and has been working towards writing a memoir on her mother’s life for the past twenty years. She is currently serving as the President of the New Zealand Japan Society of Auckland Inc., carrying on a family tradition of sharing Japanese culture with the people of Aotearoa New Zealand.
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Books
Ghost Writer:
![](https://www.eloquent.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/her-say-jackie-clark-and-the-aunties.jpg)
Her Say by Jackie Clark and The Aunties (Penguin Random House), published March 2021.
![](https://www.eloquent.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/no-excuses-dave-letele.jpg)
No Excuses by Dave Letele (Penguin Random House), published July 2022.
![](https://www.eloquent.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/beyond-hope-bariz-shah.jpg)
Beyond Hope by Bariz Shah (HarperCollins), published in March 2024.
Editor:
![](https://www.eloquent.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/she-is-not-your-rehab-matt-brown.jpg)
She Is Not Your Rehab by Matt and Sarah Brown (Penguin Random House), published in July 2021.
![](https://www.eloquent.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/tools-for-the-top-paddock-dave-brisco.jpg)
Tools for the Top Paddock by Kane Brisco (HarperCollins), published in August 2022.
![](https://www.eloquent.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Huse-Hill-series.jpg)
The Huse Hill Business Book Series.
![freelance-writer-07](https://www.eloquent.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/freelance-writer-07.png)
Services
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Writing
Ghost writing is a deeply personal process that requires empathy, mutual respect, and trust. Sonia will work with you to ensure your authentic voice is seen and heard, saving you the time and agony of writing.
If you have a book or a project you would like to bring to life, please contact Sonia.
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Editing
Sonia has experience in editing non-fiction books, reports, and copy, focusing on style, flow, grammar, and readability. She’ll pare back any copy until only the essential ideas remain.
Sonia is happy to collaborate with authors, publishers, and organisations to ensure that the book or project is readable and makes sense.
![](https://www.eloquent.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/check.png)
Book/Publication Project Management
Sonia can work with individuals and organisations to create projects that sing off the printed page or digital screen. She can also provide support on long-term freelance projects.
![freelance-writer-05](https://www.eloquent.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/freelance-writer-05.png)
Contact
Get in touch today
If you have a book or writing project you would like to discuss, please contact Sonia using the form below.
![freelance-writer-07](https://www.eloquent.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/freelance-writer-07.png)