How do ghostwriters write so vividly
about lives that can often seem mun-
dane? Most say it’s all about building a
connection with their subject. Some-
times it’s a “doctor-patient” relation-
ship that’s almost therapeutic — a
peaceful trip down memory lane, as
one describes it. Sometimes it is almost
telepathic. “I’m certain my ghostwriter
could read my mind,” says Alan Beck-
ett, 86, from Staffordshire, who used
LifeBook UK to create his memoir.
“She got things exactly right. It’s like
she had known me my whole life.”
Often the endless hours delving into
a client’s life can build a relationship
that goes beyond what’s on the page.
“These are not just books, they are peo-
ple,” Michael says, choking up as he
talks about the 250 memoirs he has
ghostwritten. “I invited nine of them to
my wedding. My children have so many
honorary aunts and uncles.”
Michael has even spoken at some of
his clients’ funerals. One man’s son
thanked him after an oration: “That was
Dad speaking through those words.”
Elspeth Mavor McKechnie — the first
woman doctor to reach air rank in the
Royal Air Force — had about 56 meet-
ings with Michael. On her deathbed in
2003 she declared writing her memoir
as one of her three proudest achieve-
ments, along with being awarded the
CBE and becoming an air rank officer.
Memoirs sometimes unearth family
secrets. Kristine Murray, 40, from Lanca-
shire, bought a ghostwriting service for
her Catholic grandmother during the
pandemic. She learnt that her gran,
100, was the only biological daughter
of her great-grandparents — her three
siblings had a different father.
Kristine confesses it was a bit of a
shock. “I couldn’t really take it all in.
What’s more, the memoir was filled
with sex, drugs and rock’n’roll. My
grandmother has the cheekiest side
you can ever imagine.”
Such memoirs may not be bestsell-
ers, although some people try to flog
them on Amazon, but the demand for
accuracy is high. Things can get heated
when first drafts are read and spelling,
grammatical or factual errors are spot-
ted. It can get even more awkward
when memories aren’t as good as they
once were. One ghostwriter had a
heated argument with a client about
whether his spell in the Royal Navy was
under “Her Majesty’s Service” or “His
Majesty’s Service”. “It was so embar-
rassing. I felt awful because I knew he
served under a king and his memory
just wasn’t there,” the ghostwriter says.
“Anyone considering it should just
go for it,” says Luke Hallard, 49, from
London, who has no regrets about
giving his father a memoir-writing
service as a 70th birthday present.
“You never know how long relatives
are going to be around or how long
they are going to be mentally able.
Anything could happen, and this pre-
serves their memories for ever.” cI discovered
my gran’s
siblings had
a different
father
This is your life
The founder of
Bound Biographies
Michael Oke, left,
and Bob Ely
GETTY IMAGES28 November 2021 15