How We Turn Our Celebrity Ghostwriting Clients into
Bestselling Authors
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Think about it. Why would billionaire real estate mogul Donald Trump write a jaw-dropping 19 books? Or Playmate-turned-bestselling author and autism activist Jenny McCarthy publish books?
top of the media booker’s call list, and gets national TV and radio shows calling YOU, not the other way around. Your book will become your new business card. You will send it out as your brand’s holiday gift.
Or “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” rock star, Robert Kiyosaki, be on the publication of his 29th investment book? Or conservative media titan, Glenn Beck, be going on the publication of his 16th book? The answer: these celebrities know what thought leaders know—books build brands. Publishing a book flings open big doors, lands high-paying speaking gigs, zooms you to the
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You will include a signed copy when sending a prospect a business proposal (nothing sets you apart from the crowd quite like a signed copy of YOUR book). You will donate copies of your book to highprofile charity events. You will sell it in the back of the room at major events, conferences, or speaking opportunities ($25 book x 1,000
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audience members…well, you’re smart, you do the math). Put simply, when you publish your book you will join an elite club. It will separate you from those who “dream” of becoming a published author and establish you as the AUTHORITY you are. And there’s nothing more satisfying than strolling the aisles at Barnes & Noble and seeing YOUR book with YOUR name blazed across the bottom. Or clicking on Amazon. com and seeing YOUR raving fans reviewing YOUR wisdom and words. Bottom line: Books
Build Brands.
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We should know. Wynton Hall & Co. is the celebrity ghostwriting agency responsible for numerous New York Times bestselling books. Clients, publishers, and editors come to us because of our proven track record. We write for the clients we like and tell the stories that interest us. We don’t advertise. We don’t have to.
Our clients include: • • • • • • • • • • • • •
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Hollywood Actors and Producers White House Cabinet Members NBA Stars Billionaires Heisman Trophy Winners U.S. Senators Fortune 500 CEOs Media Superstars NCAA Hall of Fame Coaches Real Estate Investment Moguls Military Heroes 7-Figure Motivational Speakers International Fashion Models
We think one of our billionaire CEO clients put it best when he said,
“Anyone who is REALLY successful doesn’t have time to write their own book.” He’s right. In fact, 68% of all major nonfiction memoirs or celebrity books are ghostwritten, and most of the big New York publishing houses require that newbie scribes have a collaborator or ghostwriter working alongside them. Why? Because big league publishing houses don’t mess around. It’s not amateur hour. It’s a business. And they don’t have time to engage in hand holding and coddling. They expect pristine prose.
That’s where Wynton Hall & Co. comes in. www.WyntonHallCo.com
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OK… So How Does It Work Exactly? How Are You Going to Capture My Voice and Vision for My Book? That’s what they pay us the big bucks for. Wynton has developed an extremely detailed 4-step process that he has refined over the ghostwriting of 22 books.
architecture of your book’s scaffolding and thematic structure. From this, he then crafts your book’s table of contents and each chapter’s internal design.
1. RESEARCH
3. SILENCE
Wynton demands that you give him two weeks of access to you via phone or in person (if you prefer) for a total of no less than 10 hours. He will drill into your life and story in ways that, at first, may seem unconventional or off-topic. But knowing that you love sailing, for example, means he will lean toward nautical metaphors later. See how that works? These confidential conversations are recorded and later transcribed by our expert transcriptionists who are, themselves, bound to silence and secrecy as well.
You dash off to your movie premiere, VIP party, beach house, golfing, dancing, or shopping and leave Wynton the heck alone for 12-16 weeks while he sits at his insanely gorgeous wall library desk (jealous much?) pictured below and writes your masterpiece of a book (you lucky celebrity you!).
2. WIREFRAMING Once Wynton has read through the reams of your transcript, he then does what Wynton does: he gets his brain focused on your brand and begins laying out the interior
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4. EDITING & POLISHING Once Wynton works his magic and cranks out 50,000 to 70,000 words (yes, that’s how many words most books are and, yes, that’s why celebrities don’t waste their time punching keyboards), your manuscript gets into the hot little hands of our resident grammarians, copyeditors, and proofreaders. They iron out any communicative creases before we ship you your future bestseller in our signature blue manuscript box. You then sit down in a comfy chair, kick up your Gucci loafers onto your ottoman, and sip a Caramel Macchiato in honor of Wynton’s favorite writing beverage as you enjoy world-class writing. You make any marginal notes of details you wish to add or lines you wish to elide and then call Michelle to schedule your editing session with Wynton. We then integrate your final tweaks and—voila—you’re ready for publication and book launch. Painless!
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We’re humbled by what others say about us. Here’s a sample…
“Wynton Hall is a great writer and a great friend.”
“Wynton Hall is a world-class writer and friend. He helped me shape my message,and tell my story with heart and soul. If you’re looking for someone to help you develop your professional book proposal or book manuscript, you’ll be blessed to work with a writer of Wynton’s talent and proven track record of creating New York Times bestsellers.” --Charlie Ward, former New York Knick and Heisman Trophy Winner
–Steve Forbes, Forbes Magazine
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“When I asked Wynton to help me with my book, Ignite!: The 12 Values that Fuel Billionaire Success, I had no idea what Wynton Hall & Co. had in store for me. When Wynton says “books build brands,” he’s not kidding. After my book came out, Wynton’s marketing and media agency, Wynton Hall Creative, strategized my appearance on CBS’s hit-series “Undercover Boss.” My episode for Baja Fresh turned out to be one of the most-watched episodes in the series’ history and represented approximately $3.5 million worth of free media exposure for my company. Then, Wynton Hall Creative strategized and deployed a massive media and public relations campaign. Press releases, radio media tours, national TV media appearances…you name it, Wynton made it happen. And it all started with my book. Anyone who has the chance to become one of Wynton’s selected clients should consider themselves blessed. He runs with an elite crowd. But it’s his humility and friendship that make him the most trusted celebrity messaging strategist and ghostwriter in America.” www.WyntonHallCo.com
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–David Kim, Star of the CBS hit-series “Undercover Boss” and CEO and Owner of Baja Fresh, Sweet Factory, LaSalsa, and numerous other companies
“Wynton with David as he appeared in disguise on CBS’s Undercover Boss”
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“Wynton Hall is not only an exceptional strategist, marketing and branding genius, but one of the biggest hearts I have ever met. I hired him two years ago. I wanted him to help me harness my millions of ideas, ignite my private coaching practice, create a speaking platform to speak on cruise ships and empowering women’s panels. I wanted him to help refine my own tiered unique workshops based on my material and type of therapy I created called Soul Blazing so I could offer them around the world. I also wanted help sculpting over 300 pages of my travel memoir down to 160 pages. I then wanted to know if he could tie all these passions together and brand them and then help bring it all to fruition. Whew ... Some people might think that’s a tall order, but not Wynton. Wynton got excited. He was positive, rolled up his sleeves, and now, two years later, I couldn’t be happier. I have a thriving branded coaching business, a completed book that publishers are excited about, my own TV Show, I’m an enrichment speaker on Crystal
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Cruises (the most prestigious Cruise Ship in the world), I’m booked to lead my own workshops in Australia, Israel and London, I’m a regular ‘Guestpert” on Fox 5 News and other media outlets, I have a strong web presence that continues to bring me business daily; so much so, I cannot take on more clients. And not only that ... during these two years, my mother passed and Wynton held my hand through the process and helped me articulate her Eulogy since I was so distraught. So when Wynton asked me to write him a testimonial, it took me some time because it’s difficult to articulate on paper who this man is. When an angel soars down and waves his magic wand and changes every area of your life so dramatically for the positive when all you thought you were paying for was some good business advice and a strategy, that’s when you know you’ve met a soulmate, a deeply connected and loving person that gives 100% of his being to whatever he commits to. That’s who Wynton --Lisa Haisha, Hollywood Counselor & CoHall is, and so much more. Thank you, Wynton, for blessing me each day Founder (with her husband, TV Producer Lee Aronsohn) of the Whispers From Children’s with your being.” Hearts Foundation
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“Over the last seven years, I have had the good fortune to become well acquainted with Wynton Hall. We initially met because of his considerable interest in the dynamics of presidential campaigns and its governance. Most recently, he assisted me in writing the book, The Greatest Communicator: What Ronald Reagan Taught Me about Politics, Leadership, and Life, published by Wiley. Wynton has a wonderfully collegial personality. He is one of those rare individuals who takes considerable initiative, but never intrudes. He is obviously bright, articulate, and www.WyntonHallCo.com
has the skill not only of writing well, but more importantly for me, he accurately reflected “my voice” in our collaboration. Our publisher, Wiley, provided us with an extremely tight deadline to submit the final draft of our book. Wynton met or exceeded all our publisherimposed deadlines. As a writer, he has the ability to not only create clean and clear copy but also infuses his writing with valuable context that captures the mood of key events with accuracy and interest.” -Dick Wirthlin, Chief Political Strategist and Pollster to President Ronald Reagan
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“Wynton Hall: Without you, this book would have never been possible….You are truly the consummate professional.” --Sgt. Marco Martinez, Navy Cross recipient, author of Hard Corps: From Gangster to Marine Hero (Random House).
“Wynton goes beyond the call of duty. He is meticulous in paying attention to every dimension of the marketing and communications processes. I have never seen a communication strategist work as hard as he does. His creativity is matched only by his ability to design razor sharp messages that stick in the minds of audiences and readers.
I was fortunate to get on Wynton’s client list when he was just forming his consultancy. I’m glad I did, because with the clients he represents and the people he writes for, I know he will soon have to cap the number of clients he handles. If, however, he’s still accepting clients, you will not regret hiring him. As a matter of fact, your only regret will be not having hired him sooner! It is without reservation or hesitation that I extend my strongest recommendation to Mr. Wynton Hall and Wynton Hall & Co., LLC.” -- Marc Hrisko, President of Marc Hrisko International and author of Kangaroo Millionaire: The 7 Counterintuitive Secrets to Springing Ahead in Life and Wealth
Wynton’s impressive background in presidential communication strategy has served my business and me in ways I could never have imagined. But best of all, Wynton’s integrity, warmth, and fun and friendly nature make him a dream to work with. 10
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“Wynton is the ONLY person I will ever work with to write a book, create a speech, launch a new initiative, or think about doing something new in the future. He promises BIG and delivers BIGGER. I have never met someone more talented, more equipped or more able to deliver what I asked for. He is ‘the man” and I appreciate having him be a part of my world.”
“Wynton Hall?....Yeesh....where do I begin? He’s a master communication strategist who works with mega leaders at the highest levels. Fortune 500 CEOs, Washington insiders, pro athletes, Hollywood elite...you name it and they all go to Wynton Hall. Why? Simple. Wynton has a marketing mind that moves at Mach speed. Big brains, big ideas, and a big heart. I build companies, so I know a star when I see one. Wynton is a star. And if you have the privilege to work with Wynton Hall & Co., take it. Talents like Wynton are a rare find.” --Derek Wilder, CEO Of Hallmark Homes, Featured Builder on ABC “Extreme Home Make Over,” and author of Minds on Fire and Freedom
-- Robert Steele, Former Dallas Cowboy Wide Receiver Super Bowl XIII
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“In 2006, Wynton and President Reagan’s Secretary of Defense and the former chairman of Forbes, Caspar Weinberger, published
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Wynton with Co-Creator of Two and a Half Men and Executive Producer of Big Bang Theory Lee Aronsohn Wynton at the filming of CBS’s Undercover Boss
Wynton appearing on FOX & Friends analyzing President Obama’s speech...
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Wynton delivering a speech at a Young America’s Foundation conference.
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Opinion-Editorials We also ghostwrite op-eds and offer placement services for thought leaders. An op-ed on a leading website or published in a print publication can represent hundreds of thousands of dollars in media exposure. Taking out a full-page ad in USA Today will run you $199,000.00 (as of their 2011 ad rate card). That’s a fifth of a million dollars for one advertisement. Why not instead have us craft a professional opinion-editorial that establishes you as an expert thought leader and invest a fraction of the cost? Our op-eds have been published in virtually every major national periodical, including:
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We’re honored to have ghostwritten books published by America’s biggest and best publishers.
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FAQs 1. Does Wynton Hall & Co. sign NDAs (Non-Disclosure Agreements)? With a smile on our faces! Ironclad confidentiality is our solemn code and oath. They call us “ghosts” for a reason; we should remain invisible, unless the client wants it otherwise, which sometimes is the case (for some reason business moguls wear their ghostwriters on their sleeves like badges of honor; they’re too busy making mountains of money to write their own books).
2. Do I own the rights to the book you ghostwrite? Yep. And if any ghostwriter ever says anything to the contrary, sprint in the opposite direction as fast as you can.
3. Does Wynton Hall & Co. craft professional book proposals? Yes. And we’re devastatingly good at it, which is why our book proposals have sold a combined $2,328,755.00 in book advances.
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The fee schedule for professional book proposals is published in the writing industry “Bible,” The Writer’s Market. Email Michelle (Michelle@WyntonHallCo.com) and we’ll send you a copy. The general industry rate for professional book proposals is between $5,800 and $7,500, depending on the book’s scope and research requirements.
4. Should I self-publish or go the long road of trying to land a traditional publisher? It depends on what we call your S.O.C.O. (Single Overriding Communication Objective). What is the primary goal for your book? Boost national media exposure on TV and radio? Use as a tool for lead generation to
land more clients? Lay out a campaign policy platform? Sell in the back of the room at your speeches? Give out as a corporate gift? Most of our clients are established celebrities who aren’t writing a book to make money per se. Honestly, they don’t need the money and can and do make way more via other venues. Rather, they want to stay relevant, advocate their passions and values, and keep themselves in the forefront of media bookers’ minds. They also generally have contacts with top literary agents and access to publishers. So, for them, traditional publishing makes sense. If, however, you are a motivational speaker, entrepreneur, or business owner, you can make FAR more money by self-publishing your own book than taking the one to two year road required for traditional publishing.
“There is a lot of ‘good’ out there. There are even some who are ‘great’. But very few fall under OUTSTANDING. Wynton is in that very small group. I highly recommend him.” --Sue Enquist, NCAA Hall of Fame Coach UCLA Bruins and the Winningest Coach in Softball History
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5. Does Wynton Hall & Co. offer 7. Do you offer self-publishing book launch marketing services? shepherding services? Yes. And Wynton all but demands that he, at minimum, offer strategic support and counsel for your all-important book launch. Why? Well, because the greatest book in the world with a shoddy launch strategy is going to flop. Conceptualizing media hooks and pitches, contacting and securing top national celebrities for book endorsements, pitching and coordinating national radio and TV interviews, submitting newspaper op-eds and feature magazine articles to promote your book’s title…launching a book campaign is where a book’s success is made or broken. That’s why Wynton’s strategic insight is critical.
6. How many people are on the Wynton Hall & Co. team? 12. They are all super cool rock stars. We have graphics artists, copyeditors, proofreaders, web design ninjas, research nerds, advertising copywriters, the lovely Michelle to keep us all organized and paid on time, and, of course, the Sultan of Strategy, the Warrior of Words, and the Brain of Book Writing…Wynton. (Can you tell we’re angling for a raise?)
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Yes. Self-publishing can be an excellent choice because it offers you the luxury of a fast turnaround (average major publisher takes one to two years before your book will hit the shelves), excellent profit margins, and full rights to your work. But there are several pitfalls to look out for and details to manage. Be wary of so-called vanity presses that take exorbitant percentages from each book’s sale or require you to sign away book rights. Wynton Hall & Co. offers selfpublishing shepherding services to handle the myriad headaches and hassles (i.e. ISBN registration, barcode design, book cover design, listing with Amazon.com, etc.). We can send you samples of self-published books we’ve shepherded.
8. Is it true that Wynton only ghostwrites books while wearing white Ralph Lauren V-neck t-shirts and refuses to edit with anything but green felt-tip pens? Yes. We have no clue where those rituals began or why he swears by them, but we buy him both in bulk. Wynton is a little eccentric and…well….different. But that’s why we love him—and why he makes paragraphs pirouette across the page.
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Wynton Hall is the owner of Wynton Hall & Co., a celebrity ghostwriting agency responsible for numerous New York Times bestselling books. Hall is also a Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. Hall has been labeled a “star” of executive communication and “the wizard of words” by the president of the National Speakers Association. His published work has appeared in virtually every major periodical in America, including: the New York Times, USA Today, San Francisco Chronicle, The Washington Times, International Herald Tribune, The Examiner, Toronto Globe and Mail, National Review Online, NewsMax Magazine, Human Events, Presidential Studies Quarterly, Western Journal of Communication, Business Research Yearbook, RealClearPolitics, Leadership Excellence Magazine, Townhall Magazine, Politico, and others. Hall is a frequent guest on numerous television and nationally syndicated radio
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programs, including Bill O’Reilly’s “The Radio Factor,” “The Michael Reagan Show,” the “700 Club,” and C-SPAN2’s Book TV program, and was a featured commentator for the BBC News presidential documentary, “President Hollywood.” Hall is the author or coauthor of four books. In 2007, Wynton Hall published, The Right Words: Great Republican Speeches that Shaped History. In 2006, Hall and President Reagan’s Secretary of Defense and the former chairman of Forbes, Caspar Weinberger, published Home of the Brave. In 2004, Hall was tapped by President Ronald Reagan’s chief communications strategist and pollster, Dick Wirthlin, to co-write The Greatest Communicator: What Ronald Reagan Taught Me about Politics, Leadership, and Life. The book became a best seller-on the day of its release. Wynton Hall is one of the nation’s most sought after celebrity ghostwriters and communications strategists. Wynton Hall
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& Co.’s client list reads like a “Who’s Who” of leaders in myriad fields, including: NBA stars, White House presidential officials, Hollywood producers and movie stars, Fortune 500 CEOs, college presidents, Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks, NCAA Hall of Fame coaches, top international motivational speakers, TV celebrities, military heroes, and fashion models. Hall is a frequent deliverer of major keynote addresses to corporations and institutions interested in high-stakes strategic communication and marketing. In 2008, Hall delivered the keynote address for the Dow Jones VentureOne Summit. His keynote addresses have also appeared on C-SPAN2 Book TV and range from corporate audiences to college campuses, such as Stanford University, George Washington University, and the University of Georgia. He is a recipient of the Texas A&M University Distinguished Research Award. He is also a past member of the eight-person National Task Force on the Presidency and Public
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Opinion, which is comprised of some of the nation’s top presidential scholars. Hall was previously an intern for United States Senator Connie Mack and also worked in the Florida State Senate. Wynton is honored to currently serve as a Board member on the Board of Directors of Young America’s Foundation, owners of the Reagan Ranch as well as on the Board of Directors of the Whispers From Children’s Hearts Foundation. He has taught graduate and undergraduate courses in political campaigning, speechwriting, communications, and presidential rhetoric at Texas A&M University, East Tennessee State University, and Bainbridge College.Hall holds a M.A. from Texas A&M University with an emphasis in Rhetoric and Public Affairs. He received his B.A in Political Science from the University of Florida.
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‌Because Words Matter