My focus is on non-fiction, particularly memoir.

Why a ghostwriter:

You find the thought of writing intimidating or written words too limiting for the vastness of all you’ve experienced. You might be an excellent writer floored by putting together a whole manuscript or by the time it would take, or by memories that are not easy to revisit.

The process:

Each project is unique but generally, all you have to do is chat. Tell me your story over a number of recorded sessions in no particular order or structure. Themes will begin to emerge and I’ll start to gently steer the sessions.

The more you talk, delve in, the more you’ll remember. Memory is interesting like that. Memories are also individual, they are not facts but more like artworks, colours and emotions that tilt one’s perspective, this is what gives texture to a life, to a story.

Once the content is recorded and transcribed, I can do my thing and create a narrative. Where to from there depends largely on your intention for your project and whether it is for family, friends, or a wider audience.
This is not a publishing service, however should the book be for private distribution ie. family and not for resale, capacity is available to produce a cover to cover layout, including graphics and typesetting, ready to go directly for printing.
Rates are per hour. Please contact me for current pricing. 
melissa@unseenelephant.co.za

The nature of ghostwriting is anonymity, the below reference projects are by permission:

website projects cm plain b

Project: a private family tome. cover to cover. hybrid type: 122 recipes, travel, culinary experiences, family and ancestry

Client: Candace Myers

Title: The Tapestry of Life Through Cooking

Hardcover. 477 pages. Size 236 x 255mm. Direct to printer. first edition 2022

website projects pu plain b

Project: memoir. cover to cover. from scratch: all content recorded. photos included

Client: Peter Unite

Title: On Campaign

Hardcover. 740 pages. Size 174 x 246mm. 2023

1 Speight Cover r0 for website pdf conv

Project: family memoir. cover to cover hybrid type

Client: Ron Speight

Title: GADZEMA AS WE KNEW IT

Hardcover. 224 pages, size 230mm x 270mm. 2024

E and T cover for website

Project: Something of mine, pics and family fav recipes in a CHAPBOOK, as a one-off gift

Client: Private

Title: The Blue Book of Food Memories

24 page soft cover chapbook, A5

soakaholics

Project: Layout: content supplied. prepared for resale

Client: Justin Hersch

Title: Soakaholics

Softcover, 72 pages, size 210mm x 210mm. 2024

website projects gkm plain b

Project: assist to complete. overhaul to make submission-ready. assistance with publisher submissions and publisher pairing

Client: Geoffrey Kenyon-May

Title: France, Sunny Side Up

Accepted for traditional publishing at Footprint Press. Published 2024


While it’s wonderful to hug your own book, my opinion is that 90% of the value and joy is in the process, and the potential healing nature thereof.