We're back! In a brand new bonus special episode of Giving Up the Ghostcast, our hosts Teena and Shannon chat with founder of the biggest ghostwriting agency in the States, Dan Gerstein of Gotham Ghostwriters live from New York.

Dan chats all things ghostwriting, what unusual skills every ghost needs, why AI is not a threat... (yet!) and he also tells us all about a very special event taking place on 22nd January 2023 - the very first Gathering of the Ghosts. This is the world's first conference for ghostwriters and includes the inaugural 'Andy' awards, where for the first time, ghostwriters will be publicly awarded for their important work. Excitingly, a ghostwriter from The Ghostwriters Agency is also shortlisted for this award.

 The gang also discusses the different attitudes towards ghost writing on both sides of the Atlantic, why ghostwriters will always be needed and what unusual skills every good ghost writer needs.

For all information including registration, go to  Gathering of the Ghosts - Gotham Ghostwriters -  Gathering of the Ghosts - Gotham Ghostwriters

In the last episode of this series, Shannon and Teena reflect on the series and take the time to interview each other about their own careers and some of the incredible people they have ghosted for. 

The hosts also put each other well and truly on the spot and we hear their biggest secrets about being a ghost, and who is on their wish list to write for. 

We also find out what to do if you discover your author might not have the kind of past you want to hear about due to their criminal connections, and, in the final 'Digging up the Ghost Past’, we delve into the most fascinating autobiography which was never written. 

Our thanks to you all for listening to the first series of Giving Up the Ghost Cast. It's been an incredible journey and any support you can give us in spreading the word would be much appreciated and means we get to come back for another series sooner!

Goodbye for now and see you next time!

In the penultimate episode of the series, we go on location and visit the office of one of the UK’s top literary agencies to find out about how the process of matching an author and ghost works, how to get a life story in front of a publisher, and what the legal implications could be.

Shannon popped in to speaks to Eve White, who founded the Eve White Literary Agency over 20 years ago and managing director Ludo Cinelli. She asks about what they do to help authors and ghosts in the long and sometimes complicated process of bringing a book into the world.

Teena and Shannon also discuss the controversy around the new ghosted novel by Millie Bobby Brown, as well as ghost hunting who was behind Richard Branson's bestselling autobiography.

In today's episode, Teena and Shannon speak to leading ghost writer Katy Weitz about what happens when the dreaded word 'libel’ comes up, and why it shouldn't necessarily stop people from sharing their stories with the world. 

Katy also tells us how ghost writers support their authors when they need to relive their traumas and how important it is to keep them informed about every step of the publishing process. 

As always, our hosts take a look at the world of ghosts and tell us what happened at the very first ghost writers’ social event - or haunting - set up by their agency.

And we also get to contemplate how Barack Obama has some VERY specific conditions for his writing environment, which would probably not be so easy for the average writer to adhere to! 

Today's episode is a fantastic chat with prolific ghost, Tom Henry. 

 With no less than 25 books under his belt, there's not much Tom doesn't know about the process of getting a tome out into the world, and what it feels like when an important story isn't picked-up by agents and publishers. 

 Although it can feel rather soul destroying at the time, Tom's stoicism in the face of rejection is a great lesson for us all. 

 But, as well as telling us about the ones that got away, we also hear the incredible successes Tom has had, not least with ghosting a book for an icon of sport, and why not already being immersed in the author's world can be an incredible advantage. 

Today in Giving up the Ghostcast, Teena and Shannon speak to the legendary ghost Ian Shircore.

Ian's ghosting career has allowed him to work with the kind of people not all of us get to meet, including someone whose criminal connections and childhood trauma was made into a Hollywood film and, at the other end of the spectrum, Ian also tells us about his decades long working relationship with the legendary Clive James, and how he came to write the only book which is about Clive himself, 'So Brightly at the Last: Clive James and the Passion for Poetry’. Ian also confides in us about the time he enlisted the services of another ghost writer. What was it like to have the shoe on the other foot, and have his words written by another?

Plus, as always, Shannon and Teena 'dig up the ghost past' and look at a ghost-written book of days gone by and, this week, we find out which already famous authors turned their hands to ghosting books for others...

In today's episode, Shannon and Teena gather around the mics to speak with award winning business ghost writer, Ginny Carter. 

 We hear what it's like to understand a world which might not be one a writer has been immersed in before, and how to interpret the language into something that can be understood.

Ginny also recalls some of the extraordinary people she has ghosted for, and the bizarre situations she's been in thanks to this most unusual job!

  

In this week's edition of Giving Up the Ghostcast, Teena and Shannon speak to Sunday Times and Irish Times bestselling ghostwriter Veronica Clark. Veronica has over 35 years’ experience in journalism and no fewer than 17 books under her belt, one of which was the incredible story of Barbara O'Hare, called, 'The Hospital: How I survived the secret child experiments at Aston Hall.' 

How does Veronica cope with hearing such traumatic stories about the worst of humankind? Veronica not only gives us an insight into this, but also tells us why it's so essential that these stories are heard and how her years as a journalist has helped make this happen. We also hear about a book which topped the charts, before being released, or even having a title! AND Zorro fans won't be disappointed, as we get plenty of input from podcasting's most vocal dog... 

In today's episode, Shannon and Teena welcome the award winning ghost writer and editor, Gillian Stern to the show, who shares some incredible insights from her career as well as tips for dealing with the feelings of loss ghost writers can experience when the collaboration is over. 

As always, hosts and guest spill the beans on some of the more unusual aspects of the job, including the time Gillian was stuck in the middle of a lake watching her manuscript being ripped to shreds by an irate author, and the team bonds over how they cope with having to hear harrowing accounts from the lives of their subjects. 

We also meet podcast dog, Zorro for the first time in this series … Something tells me we haven't heard the last of him

Today, Teena and Shannon welcome their first guest, bestselling ghost Andrew Crofts. Andrew talks to us about why he decided to write his own memoir about his ghosting career, and how he inspired a novel AND a blockbuster film. Andrew also talks about the impact that Prince Harry's book Spare has had on the ghostwriting business, and discloses what it was like to be gifted to a billionaire at a lavish party in the Middle East!

Our hosts also share some pretty shocking stories of their own about times they've found themselves facing personal dilemmas when working with authors who live by a very different moral code... No one can say being a ghost writer is dull!   

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PRODUCED BY AMANDA REDMAN - [email protected]