Frequently asked questions

Writing a book requires a certain set of skills. Fluency and an excellent, instinctive command of language are key, but there's much more to it. A good writer knows how to structure a piece of long-form writing; how to achieve clarity and concision; how to ensure the constant forward momentum of a narrative; how to render character and place with originality and colour. An experienced writer has the patience to put in the hours, days, weeks and months that writing a book demands. They will have learned how to collaborate with editors, agents and other publishing professionals. They know the craft and the business of book-writing inside out. Many people have an amazing story to tell, but there's no earthly reason why they should have this very particular set of skills. That's why they need a ghostwriter.

It rather depends on the project. A full-length memoir or novel normally takes in the region of four to six months, which might include 20-30 hours' of interviews with a client. Shorter projects take less time, but if more time is needed to get a manuscript just right, that's what we do.

It's a very long list! However, my clients have the right to expect discretion, even in those instances when I have not signed a non-disclosure agreement. That's why you won't find me publicising my association with any particular book. Suffice to say that my published titles have sold millions of copies all around the world, been translated into more than twenty languages and received rave reviews from readers and critics alike.

Not at all! In fact, I encourage my clients to ensure that theirs is the only name on the cover. It's their story, after all. It's a ghostwriter's job to remain in the background, and that's where most of us prefer to be.

I love writing both. Every genre presents its own challenges and rewards. I feel very lucky that I can work on a wide variety of books.

Probably not. It takes months of solid work to write a book. It's not feasible to do this with no guarantee of payment at the end.

I can certainly help you write a manuscript to the level of professionalism any reputable publisher would expect. Whether that's enough to get you published is another question. Publishing is a commercial enterprise. Traditional publishers only want to publish books that they consider commercially viable, and the market changes constantly. If your book is not of interest to a traditional publisher, the world of self-publishing has evolved massively in recent years, and can be a better choice for some authors.