Member Spotlight: Kelly Boyer Sagert

How did you land your first book ghostwriting project?
I had been ghostwriting blog posts for B2B and B2C clients since 2006. So, when I saw an ad looking for a ghostwriter to interview a man, in person, for a memoir, I applied because the right geography existed. The man was delightful with a captivating life story; in his nineties, he still bowled on more than one league. I then began ghostwriting memoirs for the company that ran the ad as well as independently seeking clients.

What is your favorite type of project or client?
My favorite project involves historical research and/or immigration stories because this allows me to use my knowledge and skills. With historical research, my niche specialty focuses on the U.S. Civil War, but I conduct research much more broadly.
As for immigration stories, I’m from Lorain, Ohio, known as the International City, and I grew up surrounded by people from numerous nations. In fact, people from fifty-five different countries have settled in Lorain. I’ve ghostwritten memoirs for people immigrating from Ireland, Romania, Hungary, Cambodia, India, Pakistan, Italy, Greece, and more. I’ve also written about immigration history under my own byline.

What’s your favorite question to ask clients during an interview?
What’s your earliest memory? Why do you think this one stands out?

What are the best parts of this career?
People fascinate me, and I love to hear about their journeys and choices in a confidential, judgment-free zone. Then, I enjoy the process of shaping the memoir in ways that highlight that story and meet the client’s goals and dreams. I’m a lifelong learner, and ghostwriting contributes to that process.

What’s one thing clients might be surprised to know about you?
I grew up by first living over a funeral home where my father worked and then next door where the home was wired to allow him to respond to the funeral home doorbell and phone after hours. Because I needed to be so quiet above the funeral home, I learned to read and use my imagination at an early age.

How can people reach you?
Via email: Kellyboyersagert@gmail.com