Co-authoring, sometimes called "ghostwriting" or "as told to" is a partnership. I, or another writer on my staff, write your memories, feelings and message in a book-length manuscript. That book, however, is always yours. A recent client said, "This sounds like I just sat down and wrote it myself!"--and that is the co-author's goal: to write in your voice the story you have to tell.

Like a building contractor makes your dream house a reality, I use my writing expertise to give form to your ideas and your story.

Our work together has a mutual goal--to tell the story that's important to you, and to tell it in your way.

How does co-authoring work?

Successful co-authoring has several components.

Interviews--
The foundation of co-authoring is the interview process during which I get to know you and become familiar with your story. I learn the features of your natural voice and get a feel as to how you relate to your story. We meet by telephone on a regular basis according to your schedule.

Support materials--
You also send me material--perhaps a manuscript you've started, notes, lists, newspaper clippings, maps, photocopies of documents such as letters and certificates, and photographs. We review these together and I learn how these puzzle pieces of your life and your story go together. Some of these items will be scanned to become illustrations in your printed book. Others simply serve as background info.

Filling in the gaps--
Soon I need to fill in the gaps and learn the links you see between the pieces of information you have shared. I may do some internet-based research to identify historical details you've forgotten, or to broaden the context of your experiences. I prepare questions for our next phone meeting and as you answer them, I type details into the growing document. Clients often feel that these questions prompt an interesting and creative process of re-evaluation--explaining to me the how and why so that I can write your story may give you new insights about your life.

Chapters for review as they are written--
As the manuscript grows, I send you chapters for review. (We can do this by email attachment or in hard copy.) You approve the pages or annotate the manuscript with changes and discuss them with me over the telephone. You may also want to fax me some changes, or mail me a photocopy of the annotated text.

Your story, your vision--
Your vision for the story always dominates. We call the process co-authoring because you play an active part in the process--a co-author. Your insight and point of view are constantly solicited and always stand at the core of the writing. My job as a ghostwriter is to stay behinid the scenes and provide the writing expertise to make your story a coherent, interesting book.

How long will it take?

Because each project is unique, it's impossible to predict. Some clients come with small commemorative projects for a family member or event. Others have an entire lifetime of experience and achievement to be recorded and explained.

One factor is how much of the preparation work you have already done--planned the book, assembled the photographs and support documents, even written some text. And the project will go more quickly if you are available for telephone meetings and to review chapters as soon as they are written.

Some clients have an end date in mind--an anniversary or holiday. If you have a deadline for finishing your book, we will do everything possible to meet it. We are more likely to be able to do so if you communicate with us about your project as soon as possible.

Who's name goes on the book cover?

That choice is always yours. As a minimum, I request that I am mentioned on your acknowledgement page with a line such as, "Thanks to Soleil Lifestory Network and to Denis Ledoux for the assistance given to this project."

Convention also allows that your co-author may be included on the cover-- "by Your Name and Denis Ledoux" or "by Your Name as told to Denis Ledoux."

The choice is yours.

How do I know if you and I are a good match for such an important project?

You get to try it out! I offer a free 30-minute telephone consultation during which we can meet and discuss your project in detail.

In addition, if you choose to work with me, you may terminate our working relationship at any time you feel you must. All the materials to date will be yours--always. Should you end our co-authorship before the publication of your book, the manuscript to date will be yours to do with as you please.

Will you publish my book when it is finished?

At Soleil Press, we do not purchase manuscripts for publication.

We do have all the technical skills to help you to self-publish your book. In addition to co-authoring your book, we can design it, do the pre-press preparation of files for the printer and work closely with the printer and binder to be sure the results are what you expect. Your book will have all the features of a professionally designed and published book and it will have the look and feel of you.

Click here for more info about our Book Production services.

What are the advantages of hiring Soleil to prepare my book for self-publication?

While anyone could master the processes of book design and layout, pre-press file preparation and working with a print house, the learning curve is steep. If you are publishing just one book, it may not be worth the investment to learn these skills yourself. Our experience goes back to 1988. We've already gone through the mistakes-to-learn-from stage!

If I (or another writer on our staff) has co-authored your book, staying with Soleil for publication means you're working with people who already know you and your manuscript. It's a seamless process from writing to illustrating to design and layout.

During the later stages of co-authoring, you will gather and sort through photos and other materials that will suggest and inform the design. That's when Martha, our book design and pre-press person, begins to think about your project and starts the creative process that will result in a dynamic cover and interior design that fits your story, your style, and your budget.