Image licensed under CC-BY-3.0. Attributed to Romina Espinosa
Celebrity ghostwriters lie behind the captivating stories of many famous actors, politicians, entertainers and even other writers. Some ghostwriters stay hidden for their entire careers, others are openly credited as ‘co-writers’ and some decide to step forward and reveal themselves (often if they feel mistreated in some way!)
Among the many examples of celebrity/ghostwriter collaborations, a few stand out due to the names involved, the controversy behind their work or simply the fascinating back story.
Here are 10 stars and the stories behind their celebrity ghostwriter partnerships.
1. Gwyneth Paltrow
Did she or didn’t she? The New York Times revealed that specialist cookbook ghostwriter Julia Turshen helped Paltrow with her book, My Father’s Daughter: Delicious, Easy Recipes Celebrating Family & Togetherness. In response, Paltrow Tweeted that she actually wrote every word of it herself. I guess only two people know the truth behind that collaboration.
2. Hilary Duff
Hilary Erhard Duff won teen hearts back in the Noughties as Lizzie McGuire, but when she turned to writing YA fiction, she knew that her spelling would let her down. So she enlisted the services of ghostwriter Elise Allen to help her break into the book market. While Duff came up with the characters and plot, Allen took care of the grammar.
3. John F. Kennedy
One of the most famous celebrity ghostwriter reveals was when well-known speechwriter and aide Ted Sorensen announced that he had written much of JFK’s Pullitzer Prize winning bestseller Profiles in Courage. There is no doubt that the book, which detailed selfless acts by US senators, helped to increase Kennedy’s popularity with a public that would eventually elect him as president.
4. Hillary Clinton
The former presidential candidate worked with at least two ghostwriters: Barbara Feinman Todd was revealed – by reporter Bob Woodward – as the pen behind Clinton’s bestselling It Takes a Village. As First Lady, Clinton drew on the expertise of speechwriter Lissa Muscatine.
5. V.C. Andrews
One of the most fascinating ghostwriting collaborations is that between novelist and former English teacher Andrew Neiderman and Cleo Virginia Andrews. Andrews passed away due to breast cancer in 1986, prompting her family to reach out to Neiderman to complete her two remaining manuscripts which were to become the novels Garden of Shadows and Fallen Hearts. Neiderman didn’t stop there though, continuing to write under the V.C. Andrews name. He has written over 120 books to date (including those penned as Andrews), with the most famous being The Devil’s Advocate.
6. Barak Obama
Speechwriter Jonathan Favreau (not to be confused with the Star Wars and Marvel legend), was so important to the success of Barak Obama that the president promoted him to White House staff member after his victory. Obama called Favreau his ‘mind reader’ – definitely a useful skill for a ghostwriter!
7. Harry Houdini
A popular escape artist and writer of metaphysical horror might not seem the likeliest pairing, but H.P. Lovecraft wrote several short stories on behalf of Houdini, the first appearing in the magazine Weird Tales and titled Imprisoned with the Pharaoahs. But perhaps the weirdest tale of all was how the partnership ended. In 1926, Houdini had commissioned Lovecraft to write a treatise debunking religious miracles, The Cancer of Superstition. However, Houdini died later that year (on Hallowe’en, in fact) after a bizarre incident in his dressing room whereby a religious ‘oddball’ punched him in the gut. Whether the blow led to the appendicitis that ultimately killed him or merely masked the pain is still debated.
8. Prince Harry
Celebrity ghostwriter J.R. Moehringer is the man behind Prince Harry’s controversial tell-all Spare, and he certainly isn’t afraid to control the narrative. In one example, he got into an argument with the Prince over a clever put-down. Harry wanted to include it, but J.R. dug in his heels because he felt it wouldn’t resonate with the audience. The ghostwriter came out on top – no wonder he is reputed to be the highest paid writer in the trade!
9. Laura Bush
And here’s another example from the world of politics. The former first lady may have spoken From The Heart in her memoir, but the written words – at least partly – flowed from the pen of her celebrity ghostwriter Lyric Winik.
10. Demi Moore
Demi Moore is no stranger to working with ghosts, so it seems fitting that she would hire a ghostwriter for her memoir Inside Out. Journalist Ariel Levy was given the honour of co-writing Moore’s powerful and heart-rending life story – which was also a journey of self-discovery for the actress. The two became friends.
Are you a celebrity looking for a ghostwriter?
If you are happy to look outside of an agency for a celebrity ghostwriter, please email me or call me on 07762 906818; I have ghostwritten several books for specialists in their field, one of which has been a No.1 Amazon Bestseller in its category. Although I am yet to write a book for a celebrity, I can offer the following:
- Strict adherence to a non-disclosure agreement (NDA), if required
- Flexible pricing arrangement (flat fee, percentage of royalty advance, etc.)
- Flexible schedule to fit your lifestyle
- Dedication to working with you to ensure your authentic voice is heard
For an initial, confidential chat, please email me or call me on 07762 906818