Like any good book, ONE is the product of many influences. ONE’s founder, Cole Gustafson, emerged from his Oklahoma-based cocoon as an early bookworm, well versed in Encyclopedia Brown, the comedic stylings of the Marx Brothers, and the world-building stories of C.S. Lewis. This confluence of factors made for awkward (i.e. nerdy) school experiences, albeit still, ones that led him to landing in the middle of Missouri at Westminster College (famed for being the site of Winston Churchill’s “Iron Curtain” speech in 1946).
There, challenged and nourished by passionate professors and peers, Cole was introduced to the idea that bigger ideas were possible, including a full-ride scholarship to Harvard University for a Masters degree. At Harvard, Cole not only found his fascination with writing, literary theory, and good beer, piqued, but more importantly, also met and befriended the people who would change his life.
ONE such person was Kevin Anderson, the Founder/CEO and Editor-in-Chief of KAA, the industry’s leading ghostwriting, editing, and publishing-consultation firm. With a clear vision in mind, Kevin invited Cole to help build something that would innovate and change the ghostwriting industry as it was known.
For the next 11 years, Cole’s participation rocketed KAA to incredible heights—from a tiny, virtual office in NYC to physical offices in LA, Nashville, and London; from an internal team of 3 employees to close to 30 full-time employees, and hundreds of freelancers; to being part of hundreds of published books, many of which would go on to be NY Times, Wall Street Journal, or USA Today bestsellers.
But as KAA started its meteoric growth, Cole saw an important space being evacuated; namely, the space including the many impassioned entrepreneurs, professionals, experts, executives, speakers, coaches, and storytellers who needed a quality ghostwriting service to create and share their ideas but lacked the various resources (time, funds, know-how) to achieve their books.
Inspired to cater to this burgeoning need, Cole departed KAA and created ONE which focuses on stories and ideas from aspiring authors who need to be heard, published, and read while also requiring the support of a veteran team and proven creative process.
At ONE, your story, your book, is treated with careful attention and vibrant collaboration. From first thoughts to having your book in your hands, ONE guides you through every step of the book writing and publishing process.
When he’s not helping authors create their books, Cole resides in Nashville, TN with his awe-inspiring wife and three beautiful-in-their-own-way children (the first initial of each of their names serving as the muse for ONE). In addition to various activities and adventures with them, Cole is an avid fan of college basketball (Rock Chalk, IYKYK), the Dave Matthews Band, and pretty much any body of water.
ONE provides candid consultation, frank feedback, and a clarity of process and results for all parties. Everyone succeeds when expectations are shared, set, and met.
ONE operates under the premise that when ONE person succeeds, everyone should succeed. A generous spirit never wants.
From your first consultation, ONE is singularly focused on you and your project and seeing it through to your desired result. ONE accomplishes this value by curating a first-class, customer-service experience and reinforcing that outcome with expert knowledge of the book writing and publishing world.
