Some Lives Should Be Recorded
A life is more than dates, places and achievements. It's the people, decisions, experiences and unexpected turns that made it what it was.
I write private and published memoirs, working directly with each client from our first conversation to the finished manuscript, creating a book worth keeping, sharing and reading.
“I spoke to a few writers before Mark, but once we started talking I knew I had the right guy. He didn’t just write the story, he worked through it with me and made sense of it.”
David Giles - CEO, Entertainment Brands Group
Why Work With Me
One Writer. One Relationship. Your Story
I'm a UK-based ghostwriter and author, but geography doesn't really matter. I help create the books that should exist, but often don't - wherever you are.
When someone has been in the thick of it, in business, medicine, the arts, public service, sport or simply led an extraordinary life, their experiences contain stories worth preserving. The judgement calls, wins, mistakes and near misses, but also the people, relationships and unexpected turns that shaped their lives. Some of these stories belong on a family bookshelf. Others deserve a wider audience.
I work personally with each client, from our first conversation to the finished manuscript. I take on a small number of commissions, giving each the time, attention and care it deserves.
I didn't arrive at this work through journalism or publishing. I came through business. I've founded companies, led teams and sat on both sides of risk for long enough that I don't have to imagine what those decisions feel like. I've experienced success and failure and know what it means when a decision affects payroll, reputation or survival. Judgement matters in business. It matters just as much in writing.
Earlier in my career, I wrote Crystal Mapping, a book about visual thinking and clear communication. I've always had a thing for making sure the story you're telling hits the mark. The same discipline applies here. Stand far enough back to see the whole thing, work out what really matters, breathe in life and energy, and make it make sense.
You don't need to have written anything or even know where your story begins. We can figure that out together. I'll listen carefully, ask the right questions and find the story within the life. Then make it clear and dangerously human. Something others will actually want to read, without polishing away the person behind it.
If you've lived a life worth recording, or know someone whose story shouldn't be lost, give me a shout.
How We Can Work Together
There's no single reason people decide to get their story written down, what matters is the connection between the story and the people it's written for.
Every life has its own story, and every memoir has its own purpose. Some are written for family and future generations. Others are intended for a wider readership. Both deserve the same care, curiosity and attention to detail.
Private Memoirs
Not for the bookshop, but for the people who know you, and those who may only ever know you through what gets written down. A private memoir captures the experiences, relationships and turning points that shaped your life, creating a lasting record for children, grandchildren and generations to come.
Memoirs for Publication
Some lives have stories that reach beyond family and friends. They may offer insight into a particular world, an extraordinary experience, or simply something about being human that others will recognise. These memoirs are written with a wider readership in mind, combining the truth of a life with the narrative craft needed to make a compelling book.
Explore Memoirs for Publication
From Conversation to Book
You don't need to arrive with a manuscript, a detailed plan or even a clear idea of where your story begins. Discovering that is part of the process.
First, we talk.
We begin with an informal conversation about the life you want to record, who the book is for and what you hope it will achieve. If we decide to work together, we'll agree the scope, timescale and fee before anything begins.
Then, we explore.
Through a series of relaxed, recorded conversations, we revisit the people, places, experiences and decisions that shaped your life. Photographs, letters and other material can help bring memories to the surface. Where appropriate, I may also speak with family, friends or colleagues.
Next, I write.
I find the connections, develop the structure and turn those conversations into a narrative. Not simply a chronological account of what happened, but a story that captures the life of person who lived it.
Finally, we refine.
You'll have the opportunity to read the manuscript, correct details and help me make sure it feels right. We work through the revisions together until we have an agreed final manuscript, ready for the next stage, whether that's a private family edition or preparation for publication.
The aim throughout is simple: to make the experience enjoyable, the process manageable and the finished book something you'll be proud of.
Fees & Scope
Every memoir is different. Some lives cover decades of extraordinary events. Others are quieter stories, no less interesting for that, where the people, relationships and decisions matter more than the milestones.
My memoir commissions start from £18,000, with the final fee depending on the length, complexity, research and intended purpose of the book.
A typical commission includes a series of recorded conversations, research and supporting material, the development of the book's structure, writing the manuscript and working through revisions together.
I agree the scope, fee and payment stages with you before we begin, so there are no surprises along the way.
Professional editing, design, printing and publishing support can also be arranged where required, with any additional costs agreed in advance.
The first conversation is simply an opportunity to explore what you have in mind, whether it's for yourself, someone in your family or a wider readership. It's free and there's no obligation.
Every Story Begins With A Conversation.