The Ghostwriter

A key element of the novel is the protagonist’s profession as a ghostwriter. While ghostwriting is frowned upon in fields where authenticity determines the value of the published text, it’s often used by lobbyists, public figures, and celebrities who want to communicate their experiences and insight in book form.

Ghostwriters perform extensive research on their subjects, not only to emulate their voices, but to ensure that the text is accurate to verifiable information. In nonfiction, some prominent titles that were confirmed to have been produced by ghostwriters include United States President Donald Trump’s 1987 book Trump: The Art of the Deal and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex’s 2023 memoir Spare. In the case of Spare, part of its criticism revolved around the veracity of the text, causing the ghostwriter, JR Moehringer, to come to Prince Harry’s defense.

In recent years, ghostwriting has evolved as a career path with the rise of social media influencers. On a basic level, some celebrities and influencers hire social media assistants to ghostwrite their posts. Others are hired to work on conventional ghostwriting projects, such as memoirs and novels. Unlike in traditional publishing, where ghostwriting remains an open industry secret, influencers rely on discretion when hiring a ghostwriter for fear of offending their followers.