Frequently asked questions

HERE ARE SOME OF THE MOST COMMON QUESTIONS I'M ASKED . . . AND MY HONEST ANSWERS.

Can you guarantee me a book deal?

Absolutely not - there are so many stages to go through, and so many people who will be involved that there is no way I can guarantee anything of that sort.  When I say that I'll work with you on a book, that is it.  I can't promise that an agent will like the idea.  I can't promise that you will like my agent or that she will like you.  I can't promise that you will ever meet a publisher.  I can't promise that, even if you hear positive things from a publisher they will come to fruition.

Will we definitely produce a book together after discussing my idea initially?

No.  Until the point where we reach a formal, written collaboration which has been supported by an agent, I reserve the right to decide whether a project is commercially viable.  I don't do that on a whim.  If no agents like it, if no agents are going to be willing to take it forward, we both need to cut our losses.  As I'm not the sort of ghostwriter who takes money upfront, you won't be out of pocket - I will have lost time but I won't keep leading you down a path where everyone is telling me that there simply isn't a book there.  Hopefully you will have also learned some things for free, and if you decide to go it alone, you'll do so with more information about the whole process.

I've tried to get an agent without any success - can you get me one?

Again, I'm afraid not.  I can't make a decision for someone else.  If you come to me with an idea and I think it has something going for it, then usually I'll have a quick chat with my agent about it.  She'll tell me what concerns her or what she'd be looking for, then I'll bring that to our next conversation.  If she then thinks that it's worth my while and your while to get a proposal together, you have a much better chance.  However, she is the one who knows what publishers want that particular month, who knows how markets are changing, who knows the flavour of the week - and what Clare (or any other agent) says about all of that should be taken into consideration because that's what you and I pay her for.  There will be times when I like an idea but the agent doesn't.

How much will you charge me upfront?

Nothing.  If I am interested in your proposal and I want to take it further, I won't charge you a penny for that.  At no point whatsoever will I ask you for money (you can buy me a coffee when we're out though).  I know that some ghostwriters will ask for a fee to prepare the proposal and, to be honest, I don't think there's anything wrong with that.  If a writer is meeting you a good few times, having lots of phone calls, reading your draft, giving you suggestions and everything else that is involved even before you talk to an agent, that is a huge investment and I think that professionals who charge a fee for their time and effort are right to do so - it's just something I don't do.  Different people work differently.  

Do you do private book commissions?

Yes, but very few.  The cost varies between projects depending on the time implications, research considerations and many other variables.  I can also put you in touch with other ghosts who do this sort of work and may be better for you.

Do you do books for vanity publishing?

I haven't yet - there are some good companies out there and some sharks too.  I can't tell you what to do, but personally, I keep away from this type of deal.  If you have a brilliant story which will engage me, I'd hope we'd get a 'real' publishing deal for it.