25 Comments
User's avatar
Phil N.'s avatar

Sweet. It was my privilege to help edit Ghosted; it's a fascinating and well-spun yarn.

Joel J Miller's avatar

I saw your name in the acknowledgements. Sweet.

Holly A.J.'s avatar

Completely agree on letting a story marinate. I am always horrified seeing a book has come out by someone who just went through a horrific experience reported in the media a year or so before. I always know that publishers are trying to cash in on public attention when that happens and it seems to me that the person is being victimized all over again by the publisher.

Joel J Miller's avatar

There’s actually a great satire about that, Helen DeWitt’s The English Understand Wool. https://www.millersbookreview.com/p/dewitt-english-understand-wool-aira-magician

David George Moore's avatar

Hi Joel,

Your Substack is one of my favorites to read. Keep up the clever and creative work!

Nancy French's story is compelling. She (and her husband David) have shown a lot of resilience in the midst of some challenging circumstances.

Without being too long-winded, I was a bit disappointed that the ethics of ghost-writing were not broached. It may not be the place do it, but as one who did a little of it, and publicly repented in the pages of Patheos, I believe the non-attribution issue of ghost-writing is wrong.

Joel J Miller's avatar

I’m thinking of doing something on that very question at a later date. Still noodling on how best to do it.

The Symphony's avatar

three excellent authors to invite to dinner! What a fun interview.

Joel J Miller's avatar

Yes, I really like those selections as well.

S.'s avatar

Do you think she'd ghost one for me? ;-)

Joel J Miller's avatar

You could always check.

Russell Board's avatar

I'm a fan of both Nancy French and her husband David. Her book of memoirs is a great read. Fascinating to see how and where the Lord has led her.

Joel J Miller's avatar

Really true. I don’t get the vitriol they attract, even from people I otherwise think of as decent folks. It’s weird. But I love what they do; more power to ‘em.

Russell Board's avatar

I'm with you.

Drake Greene's avatar

I love the concept of lists of classic books and had never considered reading all of the Pulitzer Prize winners since my birth year. Fascinating idea.

How would you like to have been Kristi Noem's ghostwriter? "Now about this business of shooting the dog..." "Just write it."

Joel J Miller's avatar

That Noem story is something else. Nancy French commented on the situation on Twitter. Worth finding.

Nicki Broch's avatar

Love her three's - words and authors....should be al great dinner if she can work in the words

Stirling S Newberry's avatar

Good choices for dinner mates.

The real question is "Do I have one publishable book in me?"

Joel J Miller's avatar

That is the right question. It all comes down to how relevant your story would be to others. We tend to think our lives matter to others more than they actually do.

Stirling S Newberry's avatar

One should have that written backwards on our forehead.

Not My Real Name Either's avatar

What honesty. And i like her taking the Psalm quote to heart before commencing her writing. Nice, interesting interview

Joel J Miller's avatar

Thanks! I agree re the psalm. It’s an interesting way to contextualize her work.

Susan K's avatar

Great interview. Thank you

Joel J Miller's avatar

Thanks! My pleasure.

S.'s avatar

Darn. I thought you might say I don't need a ghost writer.

Trouble with the

https://sdorman.substack.com/p/trouble-with-the