Illegit Ghostwriters

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Who are authors who pretend to write their books?

The following list includes a snapshot of specific books and authors who promote their books as written by their hands, but employ ghostwriters. The list does not consider how much of a book a respective ghostwriter has written. This dark figure can range anywhere from 99% to a lower two-digit figure, but the books shown here are rather found in the higher two-digit figures. The exclusive criteria is how the books are being promoted on the front covers and major sales channels, while ignoring the rather deceptive nature of the fine print. This list can naturally not include the worst transgressions - all those 'authors' and ghostwriters who have signed NDA's (Non-Disclosure Agreements).

What might be acceptable in the world and be legal in a few countries, cannot be acceptable for those who call themselves Christians and/or write for CHRIST's church (Exo 20:16, Lev 19:11, Psa 34:12-13, Pro 6:16-19, Pro 12:22, Col 3:8-10). The acceptance of ghostwriters by Christian publishers has to cease. Ghostwriters and NDA's have caused an immeasureable harm to the body of CHRIST.

'Books - Ghostwriters Concealed

This section includes books whose author was concealed, meaning an intentional deception with no indications such as 'with / and'.

▼ For more details, click on the respective links. ▼

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• The Always God: He Hasn't Changed and You Are Not Forgotten (2024, published by Multnomah), marketed as written by Jarrett Stephens, but written by Vince Antonucci (The Gates Group). [1] [2]
• America's Dates With Destiny (1986, published by Thomas Nelson), marketed as written by Pat Robertson, but written by Mel White. [1] [2]
• Approaching Hoofbeats (1985, published by W Pub Group, Thomas Nelson), marketed as written by Billy Graham, but written by Mel White. [1] [2]
• Breakthrough to Your Miracle: Believing God for the Impossible (2019, published by Chosen Books), marketed as written by Jason Noble, but written by Vince Antonucci (who is mentioned within the book, but neither on the cover nor in the product description; The Gates Group). [1] [2] [3]
• Contagious Faith: Discover Your Natural Style for Sharing Jesus with Others (2021, published by Zondervan), marketed as written by Mark Mittelberg, but written by The Gates Group (Undisclosed Author). [1] [2]
• Faith Among the Faithless: Learning from Esther How to Live in a World Gone Mad (2018, published by Thomas Nelson), marketed as written by Mike Cosper, but written by The Gates Group (Undisclosed Author). [1] [2]
• Don't Give Up: Faith That Gives You the Confidence to Keep Believing and the Courage to Keep Going (2019, published by Baker Books), marketed as written by Kyle Idleman, but written by Vince Antonucci (The Gates Group). [1] [2] [3]
• Grace Is Greater: God's Plan to Overcome Your Past, Redeem Your Pain, and Rewrite Your Story (2017, published by Baker Books), marketed as written by Kyle Idleman, but written by Vince Antonucci (The Gates Group). [1] [2] [3]
• The Hidden Enemy: Aggressive Secularism, Radical Islam, and the Fight for Our Future (2018, published by Tyndale Momentum), marketed as written by Michael Youssef, but written by The Gates Group (Undisclosed Author). [1] [2]
• Imagine the God of Heaven: Near-Death Experiences, God's Revelation, and the Love You've Always Wanted (2023, published by Tyndale Elevat), marketed as written by John Burke, but written by Vince Antonucci (The Gates Group). [1] [2] [3]
• Is God Real? Exploring the Ultimate Question of Life (2023, published by Zondervan), marketed as written by Lee Strobel, but written by The Gates Group (Undisclosed Author). [1] [2] [3]
• Lead Like It Matters: 7 Leadership Principles for a Church That Lasts (2022, published by Zondervan), marketed as written by Craig Groeschel, but written by Vince Antonucci and Thomas J. Winters (Winters & King). [1] [2] [3]
• One at a Time: The Unexpected Way God Wants to Use You to Change the World (2022, published by Baker Books), marketed as written by Kyle Idleman, but written by Vince Antonucci (The Gates Group). [1] [2] [3]
• Rebel With A Cause (1995, published by Thomas Nelson), marketed as written by Franklin Graham, but written by Cecil Murphey. [1] [2]
• ReLeader: How To Fix What You Didn't Break (2024, published by XLeadership), marketed as written by Jon Chasteen and Craig Groeschel, but written by Vince Antonucci (The Gates Group). [1] [2]
• Strength for the Journey: An Autobiography (1987, published by Simon & Schuster), marketed as written by Jerry Falwell (Autobiography!), but written by Mel White. [1] [2]
• The Power to Change: Mastering the Habits That Matter Most (2023, published by Zondervan), marketed as written by Craig Groeschel, but written by Vince Antonucci and Thomas J. Winters (Winters & King). [1] [2] [3]
• Think Ahead: 7 Decisions You Can Make Today for the God-Honoring Life You Want Tomorrow (2024, published by Zondervan), marketed as written by Craig Groeschel, but written by Vince Antonucci and Thomas J. Winters (Winters & King). [1] [2] [3]
• We're All Freaking Out (and Why We Don't Need To): Finding Freedom from Your Anxious Thoughts and Feelings (2021, published by WaterBrook), marketed as written by David Marvin, but written by Vince Antonucci (The Gates Group). [1] [2]
• Winning the War in Your Mind: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life (2021, published by Zondervan), marketed as written by Craig Groeschel, but written by Vince Antonucci and Thomas J. Winters (Winters & King). [1] [2] [3]

Books - Ghostwriters Revealed

While it is sometimes obvious that a Ghostwriter had been employed, this fact is most often disguised through (misleading) words such as 'with' / 'as told to' (= book mostly or exclusively written by the Ghostwriter) or 'and' (co-writing of author and Ghostwriter).

▼ For more details, click on the respective links. ▼

• 90 Minutes in Heaven: A True Story of Death and Life (2004, published by Fleming H. Revell), marketed as written by Don Piper, with Cecil Murphey. [1] [2] [3]
• Captive: The Untold Story of the Atlanta Hostage Hero (2005 published by Zondervan), marketed as written by Ashley Smith, with Stacy Mattingly (she ghost-wrote 5 books for Billy Graham's wife; Graham also pushed Rick Warren, who was the main beneficiary of the 2005 Atlanta Courthouse Shooting). [1] [2] [3]
• Chasing the Dragon: One Woman's Struggle Against the Darkness of Hong Kong's Drug Dens (2007, published by Chosen Books), marketed as written by Jackie Pullinger, with Andrew Quicke [1] [2] [Review 2*]
• The Cross and the Switchblade (1963, published by Jove Books), marketed as written by David Wilkerson, with John & Elizabeth Sherril (both employed by Guideposts - founded by the Freemason Norman Vincent Peale). [1] [2] [3] [Review 2*]
• Gifted Hands: The Ben Carson Story (1992, published by Zondervan), marketed as written by Ben Carson, with Cecil Murphey. [1] [2]
• God's Smuggler (1964, published by Chosen Books), marketed as written by Brother Andrew, with John & Elizabeth Sherril (Guideposts). [1] [2] [Review 2*]
• Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back (2010, published by Thomas Nelson), marketed as written by Todd Burpo, with Lynn Vincent. [1] [2]
• The Heavenly Man: The Remarkable True Story of Chinese Christian Brother Yun (2002, published by Kregel Publications), marketed as written by Brother Yun, as told to Paul Hathaway. [1] [2] [3] [Review 1*]
• The Hiding Place: The Triumphant True Story of Corrie Ten Boom (1971, published by Bantam), marketed as written by Corrie ten Boom, with John & Elizabeth Sherril (Guideposts). Probably very little (to nothing) of the book had been written by the proclaimed main author. Elizabeth went as far as to compare in an interview Corrie Tem Bom's communication skills with "a blind man trying to describe colors" [see 4], in order to justify their enormous creative license found in the books. [1] [2] [3] [Review]
• I Dared to Call Him Father: The Miraculous Story of a Muslim Woman's Encounter with God (1977-2003, published by Chosen Books), marketed as written by Bilquis Sheikh, with Richard Schneider. [1] [2] [Review 3*]
• Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust (2007, published by Hay House), marketed as written by Immaculée Ilibagiza, with Steve Erwin. [1] [2] [Review 2*]
• Outdated: Find Love That Lasts When Dating Has Changed (2021, published by Baker Books), marketed as written by Jonathan (JP) Pokluda, with Kevin McConaghy (The Gates Group). [1]
• Return from Tomorrow (1978, published by Revell), marketed as written by George G. Ritchie, with Elizabeth Sherril (Guideposts). [1] [2] [Review 1*]
• Run Baby Run (2017, published by Bridge-Logos), marketed as written by Nicky Cruz, with Jamie Buckingham. [1] [2]
• Same Kind of Different as Me: A Modern-Day Slave, an International Art Dealer, and the Unlikely Woman Who Bound Them Together (2006, published by Thomas Nelson), marketed as written by Ron Hall, Denver Moore, with Lynn Vincent. [1] [2] [Review 3*]
• Shout it from the Housetops (1987, published by Bridge-Logos), marketed as written by Pat Robertson, with Jamie Buckingham. [1] [2]
• Tramp for the Lord (1978, published by Berkley Books), marketed as written by Corrie ten Boom, with Jamie Buckingham. [1] [2]
• The Torn Veil: The Best-Selling Story of Gulshan Esther (2004, published by Zondervan), marketed as written by Gulshan Esther, with Lynn Thelma Sangster. [1] [2] [Review]
• Unlikely Angel: The Untold Story of the Atlanta Hostage Hero (2005 published by Zondervan), marketed as written by Ashley Smith, with Stacy Mattingly. [1] [2] [3]
• Welcome to Adulting: Navigating Faith, Friendship, Finances, and the Future (2018, published by Baker Books), marketed as written by Jonathan (JP) Pokluda, 'with' Kevin McConaghy and Vince Antonucci (The Gates Group). [1] [2] [3] [4]

Literary Agents & Agencies

▼ For more details, click on the respective title below. ▼

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Non-Disclosure Agreements

We Christians are called to hear the voices of those who are weak and suffering, and not to silence them.

Read in the excellent article by Will Timmins (Bible By Day) more about the nature and effects of Non-Disclosure Agreements. In summary they silence victims, judge the innocent, coerce the weak, bind and entrap, conceal sin, deceive and mislead, commit simony (provision of spiritual power, privilege, position), are idolatrous, are ineffectual and are a covenant with death (satan).

* No collaboration