Costco Connection - June 2006

Most ghosts think of their job friend, an editing helper, a director of creative rave about their ghostwriter. Admittedly it as being like any other profession. services, an assistant, a supporter and a cheer- feels a bit odd when the “author” appears on We provide a service. While I’d leader. I’ve been to publicity parties where television or at a media event talking about never cut or color my own everyoneisclamoringtoheartheauthorread the grueling hours required to get those hair, because I’d botch it for from her new bestseller and I have been golden words in his or her book. sure, technically I am physi- pushed to the back of the crowd, without Why be a ghostwriter? cally able to do it. Instead, I • To get an issue out through an expert’s pay a professional. Much as celebrity status. a hairstylist would never “Ghostwriting • To have fun and meet a challenge. reveal to whom she’s given • To show publishers and agents you’re a “natural blonde highlights,” goodwriter. ghosts rarely reveal whom they’ve ^is ^far ^from ^boring,• To make money. Ghostwriting is lucra-written for. tive. Successful ghosts may make six-fig-There is an art to capturing the but it’s not for ure fees for their work. voice of an author, the person for whom the But before hanging up a ghost-for-hire ghosted book is written and who will get the ego-driven writers.” shingle, learn the business, then put your ego byline. A major requirement for successful aside and get ghosting. C ghosts is the ability to listen and then reflect —Eva Shaw the flair, style, phrases, unusual words, witti- Novelist and writing professor Eva Shaw cisms and elements that make the author has been a ghostwriter for 30 years and has sound unique. Much like stirring herbs into a even a nod or a wink from the celebrity. written and ghosted more than 70 books, savory spaghetti sauce, adding the author’s Ghostwriters often do not get credit with including many bestsellers. A Costco mem- voice in just the right way brings flavor to the their names on the front of the book. When ber, she is the author of Ghostwriting for writing. the book project is finished, the ghost moves Fun & Profit ( Writeriffic Publishing, 2003).

If you’re thinking of becoming a ghost, get to the next client, like a contractor taking on Contact Shaw at 1-866-244-9047 or ready to be invisible. I’ve been called a good another kitchen renovation. Authors rarely www.writeriffic.com.

F eed y our m ind, d evour a b ook t oday!

The battle between brothers continues. The Book of the Dead picks up where the bestselling novel Dance of Death left off, and you won’t want to miss a sentence. Set against the backdrop of an ancient Egyptian curse, The Book of the Dead portrays the ultimate showdown between good and evil.

WARNER BOOKS / HARDCOVER
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Get rid of the lengthy instruction booklet and get hands-on with the Teach Yourself Visually series. Pick up a guitar and learn by seeing and doing with Guitar. And with Knitting,

each photo and each stitch will get you closer to your own beautifully knitted projects!

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