Speaking

Every year I get invited to dozens of schools, universities, literary groups, libraries…anywhere that loves to talk books.

I come with an incredible portfolio of anecdotes featuring the stories behind the stories.

Whether you want to know what goes on in an X Factor dressing room on the night of the final, or about the phone call from Northumbria Police in the week David Rathband’s book came out, or my client getting dragged into a meeting with the BBC and being told ‘publish that book and you’ll never work again’…the list goes on and on.

Hundreds of thousands of hours recorded in conversation with clients equal a lifetime of stories – both funny and tragic. I will talk about the process of writing and lift the lid on some of the characters I have worked with.

Fee varies according to the event but is based on The Society of Authors’ recommendations and should factor in travel and accommodation. Also available but in a smaller price strand, I am happy to appear virtually if preferable to your organisation.

For more information Hello@SecretsOfAGhostwriter.com

Some of my most popular talks:

1. FIFTEEN JAILBIRDS IN 45 MINUTES
Major cases that I have worked on featuring gangsters, victims, money launderers. witness protection, underage crime, robberies, whistleblowers, and cover-ups.

2. THE BOOK THE BBC TRIED TO BAN – FILMING CRIMINAL UNDERCOVER
This is the rollercoaster journey of Craig Summers who, after leaving the Beeb for Sky, was encouraged to write his memoir by the esteemed John Simpson. Together, they had gone to all corners of the globe getting the story, often at great risk and mixing with some very unpleasant people on the wrong side of the law. Bombed by the Americans in a Friendly Fire incident in Iraq, part of the first news crew (with Ben Brown) at the Tsunami in 2004, filming undercover, buying children in Bulgaria from the mafia in Sofia…the corporation called Craig in for a meeting to try to stop his book Bodyguard being released even though he no longer worked for them!

3. SERIAL KILLERS – THE MOORS MURDERS
The most famous case in UK crime history – The Moors Murders. When 14-year-old Terry West was too poorly to take his 10-year-old sister to the fair on Boxing Day 1964, she went alone. Lesley Ann Downey never came home.
Terry, who passed away in 2024, struggled to tell Tony his story. Hear how he was haunted for over 50 years, and how they sat in his living room together reading letters from Myra Hindley and Ian Brady sent from prison to his late mum.
In their grief, the family also acquired a stalker.

(I am ghostwriter to Terry West)

4. THE HUNT FOR RAOUL MOAT
The true story of what happened to the late PC David Rathband in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne in the summer of 2010. Featuring recorded contributions from both David’s twin, Darren and David himself. Britain’s biggest manhunt since the Yorkshire Ripper in the early 1980s.
As featured on the Number one Prime documentary: Raoul Moat – Inside The Mind of a Killer.

(I am ghostwriter to the late David Rathband)

5. THE KILLING OF JOHN SHIPPEY
A crime that was only solved by the BBC programme ‘Crimewatch’ watched by 20 million people. How did the stepson of a wealthy businessman end up killing him, before attempting to frame his own brother? Plus, the mysterious multiple lives of John Shippey which assed to the mystery.

6. UNDERCOVER AND ON THE RUN
The stories of Ian James MBE who immersed himself undercover in the criminal world in a special police unit of just four people nationwide. Also: Richard Shellis, who lived illegally in the USA twice.
Matt Little, a former Child Abuse Officer and Witness Protection Agent.

7. FALCONIO
The famous case of the British backpacker, Peter Falconio, ‘murdered’ in the Australian Outback in 2001. Bradley Murdoch, died in prison in 2025 as the convicted murderer. No body has ever been found. Thirty reasons why this case does not stack up.

8. THE A-Z OF TRUE CRIME GHOSTWRITING
A whistle stop interactive tour of true crime ghostwriting and all the elements you need to make your book a runaway success. If you want a piece of the action from the fastest growing genre in podcasting and literature, this talk is a must for you.

Other topics available outside the true crime genre:

1. FROM MAN IN THE MORNING TO INTERNATIONAL GHOSTWRITER
How does a very high profile breakfast presenter end up turning his back on radio and becoming a ghostwriter? Hear some hysterical stories from his radio life from the celebrity guests to the complaints and the lawsuits, and how he turned those skills into penning best-selling memoirs.

2. TALENT OR NO TALENT?
Writing for those who chase their fifteen minutes of fame, appearing on talent shows. From Celebrity Big Brother to X Factor.
Insight into what really went on the night of the first live X factor final in 2004 and then how quickly the dreams crashed and burned.

3. BULLDOG
The story of a former world Number One dart champ.
What goes on tour no longer stays on tour!
The inside track on the darts circuit through the eyes of Shayne Burgess.