Book Projects
I work with non-fiction authors to help bring their ideas to life. As a desk editor, editorial consultant and ghostwriter with twenty years’ writing experience, I work alongside my clients to turn the ideas in their heads into prose on the page. I have worked with publishers including Penguin Random House, Harper Collins and Hay House to help take books from ideation through to the final draft. Working with an author, I use the raw material of their experience and the essence of their ideas to co-create working models and compelling non-fiction narratives. The process is collaborative, creative, and fun.
I’ve worked with executive coaches, scientists, influencers, entrepreneurs, thought leaders, CEOs and memoirists to co-create a wide range of books. Sometimes I’m commissioned directly by a publisher, sometimes by an intermediary agency and sometimes by the individual themselves.
I’ve also helped many authors create ‘pitch documents’ for their books. Sometimes publishers commission me to create pitches to sell an idea direct to a thought leader or author on their behalf. In a pitch document, we will work together to generate a chapter plan, synopsis, author biography and sample chapters. This gives an author something to share with agents and publishers when they are hoping to negotiate a book deal.
What is ghostwriting?
Ghostwriting involves capturing the tone of voice, expertise, ideas and experience of another person and creating a manuscript on the author’s behalf, or alongside them. The ghostwriting process varies with every project. Some of the books I have ghosted have involved minimal interviews with the authors, whilst others have been the result of long-term collaborative and co-creative processes. Some authors come to me with a lot of existing collateral in the form of blog material, presentations or drafted chapters, whilst with others, we start with a blank page. I’m flexible, working in a way that suits the authors and publishers who commission me. Many of the authors I have worked with have become long-term clients who commission me to support them with thought leadership and content ongoing.
My ghostwriting experience
I’ve co-authored and ghostwritten ten books. Some have become bestsellers. I consider ghostwriting a huge privilege as it is my job to think creatively with fascinating and inspiring people about how best to tell their story, or communicate their expertise. As well as writing full manuscripts for clients, I also create pitches for publishers with sample chapters and a synopsis. As well as major publishers (listed below) I also work with individuals wanting to self-publish. Much of this work has come via the agency Whitefox.
Book projects include popular neuroscience (Penguin 2019), mindfulness (Penguin 2016) and nutrition (Hay House 2020). I have also acted as a desk editor and editorial consultant to authors writing about fitness, nutrition, career confidence and coaching.
I’ve worked for a range of other publishers including Hodder & Stoughton, Collins & Brown and Hachette.
