Does Mercedes Lackey Use Ghostwriters? Debunking the Myth

Much to the chagrin of some armchair critics, legendary fantasy author Mercedes Lackey definitively states she does not use ghostwriters for her extensive body of work, including the acclaimed Valdemar series. At the age of 73, she not only continues to produce an average of 4 to 5 books annually but also maintains her own distinct persona and storytelling style.

The Persistence of Misinformation

Lackey clarifies in a recent statement, "Nope, I don’t. What do you think that at 73 I’m too old and feeble to write/co-write 4 to 5 books a year?" This assertion comes in the face of persistent rumors and claims of ghostwriters.

Ghostwriter Claims and Frauds

It is evident that some individuals mislead by claiming to be Lackey’s ghostwriters or even impersonating her. These imposters are easily exposed through simple verification methods, such as cross-referencing online images or publications. Lackey humorously recounts a particularly memorable incident: "Now, there are people running around out there claiming to be my ghostwriter. I hear about them now and again sometimes because a question like this comes up, sometimes because they’ve actually met one of these imposters. Which is what they are imposters.”

Another incident, though amusing, highlights the difficulty of such frauds: “In the past there also were people just plain claiming outright to be me—one of them actually went to a SFWA cocktail party on the strength of it though what she got out of it is beyond me because it was a cash bar so all she actually scored were some Vienna Sausages, a little cheese and crackers and a free cola. That’s a lot harder to pull off these days when anyone with a smartphone can access Google images and pretty quickly verify if someone is perpetrating a fraud."

Collaborations and Credit

Lackey has collaborated with various authors, but these arrangements do not constitute ghostwriting. She often co-writes with others, showing her commitment to the collaborative nature of the publishing industry while maintaining her personal writing voice. A significant co-author who has worked with Lackey is Larry, who has contributed to the Valdemar series. Although he has not been credited, his work has been crucial in assisting Lackey throughout the writing process.

Regarding the nature of this collaboration, Lackey explains, “Larry has often worked with me uncredited on some of the Valdemar books just as Catherine DeCamp used to do with L. Sprague.” Lackey considers this assistance "amazing and generous” but stresses that it does not equate to ghostwriting. Note that Larry’s contributions extend beyond writing; he has extensively contributed to world-building, research, and editing. "But that’s not ghostwriting. It ranges from consulting with him on sticky bits to bouncing ideas off him to him suggesting all kinds of nifty subplots and us working them out together. Then there’s all the research, fact-checking, editing, concept sketches, maps, OMG the maps. I hate, loathe, and despise maps, and he keeps Velgarth all neat and tidy and reminds me when point A is a day or twenty days from point B by horseback. He’s the Gryphon expert and auto expert and motorcycle expert… I’m just sorry he only writes at 'normal' speed not my metahuman speed."

Supportive Co-Authors and Research Partners

Through this collaborative process, Lackey acknowledges the immense support and contributions from her co-authors, such as Larry, highlighting the collaborative aspect of the writing process. She mentions tasks such as research, editing, and map-making, which have been essential in bringing her Valdemar series to life.

Lackey concludes by emphasizing the importance of a supportive co-author, stating, "Not to mention that while I’m up to my ass in alligators, he’s running the errands and fixing things and making sure the house doesn’t fall down around our ears and all the things that have nothing and everything to do with whether a book gets done or not.”