1 Topic by Marilyn Johnson (edited by Marilyn Johnson 2025-12-31 15:34:51)

Topic: “Ghostwriters in the Sky”

Some of you already know I'm doing some ghostwriting gigs for some publishers. Though my name doesn't go on the book, I get updated by the publishers when the book is released. In August I wrote a book from scratch about the problems teenage girls encounter growing up. This morning I got a notice that the book was on Amazon and was already in the top new seller list. I am proud of ME!!  Yay!  Though the author is listed as Rachel Claire, I am still excited about the way it has been reviewed since its publication date of December 20th!

https://www.amazon.com/Turns-Out-Actual … B0G9X6887B

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Re: “Ghostwriters in the Sky”

Congratulations!  Actually, given the success, that word is inadequate, but it will have to do.

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Re: “Ghostwriters in the Sky”

That's great! Congratulations. It didn't take you long to write and publish it. I'm impressed. Keep on writing.

George FLC

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Re: “Ghostwriters in the Sky”

I think the word you're looking for, njc, is, "Wow!" You're amazing, Marilyn. Talk about stellar reviews.
Congratulations.

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Re: “Ghostwriters in the Sky”

Thanks, Dirk, George, and NJC. Ghostwriting is fun until you see your book soaring in the charts under someone else’s name! LOL!

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Re: “Ghostwriters in the Sky”

Marilyn Johnson wrote:

Some of you already know I'm doing some ghostwriting gigs for some publishers. Though my name doesn't go on the book, I get updated by the publishers when the book is released. In August I wrote a book from scratch about the problems teenage girls encounter growing up. This morning I got a notice that the book was on Amazon and was already in the top new seller list. I am proud of ME!!  Yay!  Though the author is listed as Rachel Claire, I am still excited about the way it has been reviewed since its publication date of December 20th!

https://www.amazon.com/Turns-Out-Actual … B0G9X6887B

So is this person you were a ghostwriter for a celebrity? Ghostwriters for them usually get some credit as in, “My Mission Impossible Life” by Tom Cruise (with Marilyn Johnson). Is the supposed author a real person? Do you get royalties or a one-time fee? I’m intrigued.

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Re: “Ghostwriters in the Sky”

Sooooo proud of you--major congrats!!! smile smile What a GREAT way to start the new year!!!

All the best!!!  E. smile smile

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8 Reply by vern (edited by vern 2026-01-03 00:01:16)

Re: “Ghostwriters in the Sky”

Hi, MJ, Congrats. You deserve the accolades and perhaps the faux author will give you credit in the future. Great job. Take care. Vern

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Re: “Ghostwriters in the Sky”

jack the knife wrote:

So is this person you were a ghostwriter for a celebrity? Ghostwriters for them usually get some credit as in, “My Mission Impossible Life” by Tom Cruise (with Marilyn Johnson). Is the supposed author a real person? Do you get royalties or a one-time fee? I’m intrigued.

Hey, Jack... no, they're not celebrities, just publishing companies. They each have their niche, and kids growing up and the problems they go through is this particular publisher's thing. The good news is just today they sent me a message asking if I would write another one for them.

They pay an up-front fee, which I figure is more than I'd make if I published it myself. This particular publisher is in Romania. I'm getting lots of requests from publishers out of this country. I'm currently working on one from a publisher in Greece... a Western Historical Romance (I hate romance novels, but the pay is good). These folks have over 500 titles out and that's all they publish... they pay writers, then they publish the books with names other than the writers' names.

I just finished one today for a publisher in Spain. It's titled "How Not to Kill My Kids," a collection of funny stories about mothers and how their kids drive them to the brink of distraction at times. All the writing comes from me... no outline from this guy, just 110 pages is all he wanted.

At the same time I'm working on a memoir for a publisher in the country of Georgia. She did give me an outline to work from, but most of them don't.

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Re: “Ghostwriters in the Sky”

Marilyn Johnson wrote:
jack the knife wrote:

So is this person you were a ghostwriter for a celebrity? Ghostwriters for them usually get some credit as in, “My Mission Impossible Life” by Tom Cruise (with Marilyn Johnson). Is the supposed author a real person? Do you get royalties or a one-time fee? I’m intrigued.

Hey, Jack... no, they're not celebrities, just publishing companies. They each have their niche, and kids growing up and the problems they go through is this particular publisher's thing. The good news is just today they sent me a message asking if I would write another one for them.

They pay an up-front fee, which I figure is more than I'd make if I published it myself. This particular publisher is in Romania. I'm getting lots of requests from publishers out of this country. I'm currently working on one from a publisher in Greece... a Western Historical Romance (I hate romance novels, but the pay is good). These folks have over 500 titles out and that's all they publish... they pay writers, then they publish the books with names other than the writers' names.

I just finished one today for a publisher in Spain. It's titled "How Not to Kill My Kids," a collection of funny stories about mothers and how their kids drive them to the brink of distraction at times. All the writing comes from me... no outline from this guy, just 110 pages is all he wanted.

At the same time I'm working on a memoir for a publisher in the country of Georgia. She did give me an outline to work from, but most of them don't.

Well, congratulations, MJ, for making a name for yourself with these companies. Naive me, I didn’t know such publishers existed.

Happy trails!

Jack

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Re: “Ghostwriters in the Sky”

Many congrats, MJ!

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Re: “Ghostwriters in the Sky”

Congratulations MJ!

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