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Lyons and Kyle launch The Ghostwriters Agency
Ghostwriters Teena Lyons and Shannon Kyle have launched The Ghostwriters Agency, a new platform “to help ghostwriters find better work opportunities more easily and for potential clients to also find ghosts when they need them".
Kyle was a national journalist before becoming a ghostwriter in 2009 and has ghosted over 20 books including four Sunday Times bestsellers. Lyons spent 15 years as a news reporter and feature writer on national newspapers and consumer magazines before leaving Fleet Street in May 2006 to pursue a career as a ghostwriter with her business Professional Ghost. She has now collaborated on more than 80 books, including several bestsellers.
Kyle said of co-founding the new agency: “For over a decade we helped run a consortium of ghosts called United Ghostwriters and following on from its success, we decided to make a business model from a collective of experienced professional ghosts with experience of working on various bestsellers. As bestselling ghostwriters ourselves we understand how the industry works but more importantly what the needs of ghostwriters are and that’s for a transparent platform with a steady stream of decent work opportunities plus a friendly community of writers who understand what ghosting is all about.
“We are not operating like a traditional agency where we get involved in bidding wars or sorting contracts. We are a platform connecting ghostwriters with serious clients, agents and publishers alike.” She continued they would be arranging regular social meet-ups to “encourage ghosts to feel part of a successful community". “All too often ghostwriters are forgotten after a book is published, or feel isolated when faced with challenges,” she said. “We can respect confidences but at the same time, build a network where ghosts feel supported and welcome.
“There are other agencies out there who provide budget jobs for ghostwriters, yes, but nothing quite like this. We are offering experienced, professional ghostwriters with bestsellers under their belt for serious authors, publishers and agents who want only the best in the business.”
Lyons added: “Ghostwriting has long had a bit of a ‘cottage industry’ feel to it. Ghosts fend for themselves in terms of getting work in. A lot of authors have come to us feeling slightly exasperated about the search process. They’ve been to various different websites, and got in touch with a lot of ghosts, but not really found the right one. Either the ghost doesn’t write in the genre they are looking for, or they do but aren’t available for months.
“We’ve spoken with agents and publishers and have been told that there is a need for decent, experienced ghosts too. One publisher told me that they have frequently signed up an author and then a shout goes out in the office: does anyone know a good ghost? It seems to us that, with so many brilliant ghosts out there, there is a job to be done connecting the dots.
“Something every ghostwriter knows is it is a lonely profession. There are highs and lows and the odd extremely frustrating experience, but no one to share it with. One of the big things we want to achieve is to professionalise ghosting, particularly at the top end. There are so many talented, experienced ghosts and this is the way to quickly link them with authors looking to create high quality, readable books.”
Alongside the new website and platform, the pair will be recording a podcast next month called “Giving Up the Ghostcast” where big name ghostwriters will be interviewed, some speaking for the first time about their experiences.
“Ghostwriters can talk about what they do while still keeping all confidences,” Kyle said.. “Many people we meet are fascinated by what we do and how we work. By bringing together the best in the business we hope to give the publishing industry’s best kept secret a big boost.”
