In Other Words. Commentaries on Writing Craft, Life and Music is an eclectic collection of short articles, opinion pieces, and industry press releases which were originally published by E. Mark Windle in print or online between 2021 and 2024. A curated sample of works is presented on a range of themes, many of which fall outside of the author's usual book writing activities. Some pieces were published while the world was in the midst of dealing with a global pandemic and war. Covid, or rather the political mishandling of it, is addressed here, as is the crisis in Gaza. Lighter themes are also explored, such as the unique challenges associated with ghostwriting, self-publishing, non-fiction commissions and indie book selling. Inevitably though, music articles also feature. Black music has been a life-long passion for Mark Windle, reflected in articles written for the soul music community, as well as biographies, press releases and liner notes for the record industry (paperback, 100 pages).
Chapters:
1. What’s in a Name? Musings of a Ghostwriter
2. Life Stories, the Ghostwriter, and Authenticity. On Finding Voice and Personality
3. Good Fit or Conflict? Client-Ghostwriter Matching in Biography Writing, and When the Relationship Goes Wrong
4.
Smoke and Mirrors? Ghostwriters, Misunderstood
5. Keeping it Under Wraps. Data Protection for Biographers
6. Physical to Digital to Dust. The Future of Books in Our Hands
7. Gaza and the Innocent Casualties of War: From Food Insecurity to Man-Made Famine
8. Moral Code or F**k it? Hancock, the Lockdown Files and the Art of Breaching Non-Disclosure Agreements
9. A Toast to Childhood, Spielberg and Spanish Ladies
10. Holding on to the Past. The Challenge of Preserving and Accessing Soul Music History in the Written Word
11. Giving Back: Soul Direction
12. R-E-S-P-E-C-T! That Woman’s Got Soul. A Reflection for Women’s History Month
13. North Broad St. Records New Release. Lovemasters “If You See Kate”
14. The Yorkshire Soul Connection. An Interview with Garry Cape
15. Maurice Williams, R&B Vocal Group Frontman, Passes.
16. Big Man Records New Release. The Embers “Just Crazy ‘Bout You Baby”
17. Just Enough to Hurt Me. The Astors Story
18. Nashville. From Charlie Romans to the Paramount Four
