
Speaking up for ghosts
I have lost count of the times that the authors I am ghost-writing – or authors I am deep-editing – have told me ‘this is great, this is like free therapy’ or Whatsapped me half an hour after I have left their place telling me how much ‘lighter’ or ‘unburdened’ they feel, how good it is to have ‘someone to share all these difficult things with’. I have had spouses of my authors greet me at the door, cheerfully welcoming me in as ‘respite care’ and an hour after I have left, received Whatsapp messages from them, these ones telling me how ‘amazing’ it is that I have been able to ‘get x to talk about things he hasn’t with anyone else before.’