Spencer Honniball – Ghostwriter

My first book, Beg, Steal or Borrow, the authorised biography of Peter Doherty’s band, Babyshambles, was published to largely positive reviews: 3/5 in Q; 4/5 in Zoo; 4/5 in Mojo – “Like all good horror stories, this is gripping stuff.”; The Guardian, meanwhile, wrote that the book offered “plenty of authentic insights,” while The Evening Standard named it among its best rock books of the year. In addition, the book earned glowing reviews in The Sun and Scottish Sun, and The Scotsman rated it among the “pick of this year’s rock books.”

Since then, I have largely focussed on ghostwriting and screenwriting. I spent two years in development with Focus Films, was shortlisted for the BAFTA Rocliffe New Writing Forum, and was a finalist in the C21 Media Drama Series Competition, where I was mentored by Line of Duty creator/writer, Jed Mercurio. I contributed to the book How to succeed as a Freelancer in Publishing: The Complete Guide, by Emma Murray and Charlie Wilson, and was one of 150 writers selected for the Penguin Random House Write Now initiative. I recently ghostwrote a book about a survivor of child abuse, which has been acquired by a major publisher, though unfortunately cannot divulge any more details at this stage, as I am not permitted to do so legally.

Prior to becoming a self-employed writer, I gained valuable experience in media monitoring while with Durrants, heading a team that wrote business stories for the Reuters website. In addition, I wrote and edited summaries taken from source material in national, international and regional press, and internet publications. During my time with Durrants, I wrote for a huge variety of clients, including governmental institutions and numerous globally renowned firms at the cutting edge of the business world, with expertise in the aid, defence, science, pharmaceuticals, technology, telecommunications, travel, health, food and drink, sports, fashion, media, leisure and entertainment sectors.