When the subject of his memoirs came up, former U.S. President Ronald Reagan wryly remarked, “I hear it’s a terrific book. One of these days I am going to read it myself.”
Of course the statesman had not written it but he was hardly alone in employing a ghost-writer whose name never appears on the book’s cover. Interviewed by Vanity Fair about her autobiography, Ivana Trump warbled: “I find I have a great imagination. I don’t say I am the Shakespeare, but it’s not just about the beautiful people and the gorgeous yachts and the fabulous homes and lots of sex. I tried to put in more the feelings.”
It was great sales spin but she reportedly paid ghost writer Camille Marchetta $350,000 to write For Love Alone. Whatever the ethics involved in ghost writing, Michael Walsh, who co-writes for those who lack writing flair is matter-of-fact and asks. “Does anyone really believe that barely literate celebrities have the time or the skills needed to set down their life story?”
A ghost is a professional writer who collects first hand information about the subject and writes the book. Embarrassing mishaps occur when the supposed author, during an interview reveals they have not even read their book. Big Brother personality, Pete Bennett, was pulled up sharp when, during an interview, he expressed surprise at the contents of ‘his own book.’ His publicist tartly commented: “You really should have read it, Pete.”
John Blake, of Blake Publishing estimates that as many as 80 percent of celebrity books are ghosted. Walter Winchell was America’s top newspaper columnist but it was Herman Klurfield who for twenty-nine years served as his ghost writer.
For many in government and show business having one’s own co-writer is regarded as a status symbol. Lucie Cave who penned Jade Goody’s My Autobiography says; “It is a must-have accessory for anyone who has reached a certain level of fame. Obviously these people cannot write their books themselves, so they need someone else to do it for them.”
The list of names adorning the spines of books is often impressive but their true authors are rarely known. Earl Conrad ghosted Errol Flynn’s My Wicked, Wicked Ways. It would seem that Dorothy J. Mills penned much of the output of sports historian Harold Seymour. The hapless Arthur Porrit who lamented ghosted W. G. Grace the cricketer legend: “Getting material from Grace was heartbreaking.”
One would need to wade through 529 pages of Hilary Clinton’s autobiography to discover that her speechwriter was responsible for most of it. In 1957, John F. Kennedy was accused of using a ghost for his Profiles of Courage and Why England Slept. Fay Faurote wrote Henry Ford’s My Philosophy of Industry (New York Coward McCann 1929).
Many famous authors are heads of writers’ syndicates that churn out novels on an industrial scale. These include Edward Stratemayer (1862 – 1930) series Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, The Over Boys, and The Bobsey Twins, a total of 1,600 volumes.
Many others lend their names to the work of lesser-known authors. These include Andrew Neiderman, Tom Clancy, Robert Ludlum, Naomi Campbell, and Clive Cussler. Clancy’s publishers say, “Tom Clancy creates the ideas for these series and the writers execute Clancy’s ideas. All are subject to his supervision.”
It is thought that 40 percent of books are ghosted but is it ethical. Michael Walsh says, “If there were no co-writers there would be few books. We take advice in fixing our cars, having our photographs taken; why stop there? “There are hundreds of fascinating people with interesting stories to tell or experiences to pass on, but few who can bring life to them. If a co-writer achieves that then everyone benefits from the partnership.” ©
* A published author and professional writer-journalist, Michael Walsh may be Mediterranean Spain’s best known ghost-writer. Titles completed include Still Running, Mickey Finn’s memoirs of a child convict. The Sins of the Father, Cynthia Paddick. Dieter Rudolph’s Farewell To Hamburg. Swedish author Britt Arenander chose Michael Walsh for her great fiction Lux Divina. Chris Nand’s Return to Devil Island is likely to be filmed. Other titles completed include A Matter of Trust, Swinging Doors, Rutter’s Raj, The Perfect Murder, Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing, The Golden Triangle. To contact Michael quite_write@yahoo.co.uk