Your Memoir ...finally written
Marnie Summerfield Smith
Ghostwriter & Memoir Editor
Hello, I'm Marnie.
You've lived a remarkable life. Driven by passion, skill and life's possibilities, you've made an extraordinary contribution, pushed boundaries, weathered the storms, and led and inspired others.
You have the stories, the wisdom and your own unique perspective.
But what you don't have is a book.
The memoir that tells your story the way it really happened. The book that will transform your business, or share the guidance the world needs. The legacy that will carry your name and your voice long after you've gone. And the book your descendants will reach for, l'dor v'dor, from generation to generation.
After 18 years as a ghostwriter, I know why it hasn't been written.
It's because you don't have the time. And even if you did, where would you begin? How do you create a book readers won't be able to put down, rather than a simple list of what happened and when?
I know what happens, or rather doesn't happen…
People say, "You should write a book." You say, "Yes, I know. I will. Perhaps, one day." But one day never comes. The tales get told in fragments over dinner, the details grow ever hazier, and the people who matter most only ever know part of it. Or worse, someone else tells it for you, and gets it wrong.
I've ghostwritten more than 100 memoirs for entrepreneurs, leaders, philanthropists and families, including the memoir for which Prince William wrote his first foreword. I can come to you, wherever you are in the world. And I work with just two or three authors at any one time, so you can be sure of my dedicated attention.
We talk, and I listen. Then I write your book in your voice. You won't have to write a single word, and everything stays in complete confidence.
Without your memoir, your story stays scattered and unfinished. With it, it's told beautifully and on your terms. And when the next treasured friend or business contact says, "You should write a book," you can point to your bookshelf and say, "Funny you should say that – I have. Would you like a copy?"
"If you want to write your memoir, for leadership and guidance, you must consider Marnie as your partner for the journey. She is truly a gem and helped me deliver the best memoir I could."
Stephen Jon Thompson · Silicon Valley leader, TEDx speaker, philanthropist and author of Hotel Goodbyes, published by Forbes, with hundreds of five-star reviews.
The people I have written for
My authors have invented, pioneered and created global brands. They've built and sold businesses worth millions, founded charities, campaigned and changed laws, and led teams at some of the world's biggest technology companies. They've spoken at Davos and on the TEDx stage, sailed the globe, been at the heart of multi-million-dollar court cases, negotiated hostage releases and guarded British Prime Ministers. They've fled genocide, lost everything and rebuilt, and worked at the highest levels of the arts and entertainment.
"You were a breath of fresh air, who helped me dig deep and bring the suppressed memories to the surface in a couple of the most difficult chapters I had to write." Hana Ali · author of At Home with Muhammad Ali
Many of their names you'd recognise. But of course, every project is protected by an NDA as standard. Your story is shared only when, and how, you choose.
How it Works
I'm a curious and empathetic former journalist who has worked for the Daily Mail, the BBC and The Times, among others. Comfortable in environments as diverse as global conferences, royal households, and warzones. I know what to ask and when to listen.
We talk. Contact my assistant to arrange a conversation, in person or online, about your story and whether we're the right fit. It's confidential from the very first word.
Every project is individually quoted, based on scope and timeline, after we talk.
I interview you, then I write. We record our sessions wherever suits your life and location. Then I go away to transcribe, research, write and shape. You receive a first draft to amend on your own or with me, then a second, and a third or fourth if needed.
You hold your book. Your finished memoir, professionally edited and protected by a collaboration agreement and NDA throughout. I can also advise on proofreading, legal reading, printing and publication.
The Journey Edition
Did you know I offer something many other ghostwriters don't? My Journey Edition memoir.
I know your time is limited, so why not take me on your next holiday? We'll talk for an hour each morning, before the rest of the house is up, or while they're taking a siesta. Then I'll disappear and get to work.
By the end of your holiday, we'll have recorded close to 40,000 words of your story. It won't be finished and ready to read, but it's a significant part of the process, completed without you giving up a single day of relaxation.
Want To Write Your Memoir Yourself?
I also offer manuscript assessment, editing of your own writing, and memoir coaching.
