LGC Team
We are ghosts. We work on your behalf, unseen and confidential.
LGC is a leading ghostwriting group working throughout the publishing scene with the UK’s most sought after writers—New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling authors, and award-winning and critically acclaimed writers, scriptwriters, journalists and academics.
Please meet us, the main gang, below, then head over to The Writers’ Lounge to meet all our ghostwriters and editors.
Luke Shipman: Director and Founder
Luke brings over twenty years of industry expertise to company projects as a writer, editor and project manager. A trained scriptwriter with experience guiding complex creative processes, Luke is responsible for all business operations and the delivery of writing services to clients and the trade.
Luke is hands-on across every aspect of the company—from conducting in-depth interviews and running editorial strategy to collaborating with writers and shaping manuscripts. His interests lie in helping clients uncover the buried themes of their projects, drawing on his insight into how lived experience informs both memoir and fiction. Luke leverages strong industry connections to facilitate representation and publishing opportunities, valuing enduring quality over passing trends. Committed to nurturing writerly talent, Luke leads a staff team and roster of seasoned professionals; he is always seeking new growth opportunities and strategic alliances to take LGC forward, and is the go-to man to start your project.
James Baxter: Editorial Assistant, Project Manager
James is involved across all areas of the business, working closely with clients, department heads, editors and creative writers to assist the development process on all major book projects. He provides direct client support as an editor; performing line-edits, developmental edits, and appraisals. With an academic background, James offers research work and essential critical analysis to clients and staff, isolating core themes and situating them within a broader cultural or literary context. He occupies a front-of-house role, meeting new clients, conducting interviews and hosting workshops with authors and the team. James is an experienced book doctor and writing mentor, helping to elevate manuscripts and guiding projects to become all they can—with close attention to form, language, and theme. He is involved in preparing submission materials, ensuring each project is set to a top standard that is industry-ready before being submitted out.
James is head of LGC’s Writing Consultancy where he assists with fiction and non-fiction projects, as well as script to novel adaptations and vice-versa. He meets with and interviews new writers being brought into the LGC group.
Jacqueline Haigh: Story Consultant, Head of Scriptwriting
Jacqueline is a seasoned story consultant who leads the company’s Film and Scriptwriting division. With over 17 years as a professional writer and script doctor, Jacqueline occupies a leading role in advising and consulting on narrative structure across film, television, stage, radio, as well as all major literary projects. Highly experienced in leading development workshops, Jacqueline works closely with clients in one-on-one sessions, offering clear and practical feedback and next steps solutions, including to all in-house staff. Her ability to re-orient stories while enhancing the drama and emotional depth helps align projects.
A trusted expert in story design and structural development, Jacqueline serves as a specialist on all fiction with tools such as frame outlines and step sheets to isolate the core building blocks of a story with a focus on character function, drawing together actionable development plans to save projects and build them into successful stand-alones or on-going series treatments.
Jessica Whitehill: Screenwriter, Script Doctor, Ghostwriter
Jessica is a versatile, experienced and multi-talented writer working across a broad range of genres at the company; romance, fantasy, young adult and comedy among them, as well as on non-fiction projects focused on wellness, self-help, and lifestyle. In addition, Jessica provides detailed feedback and analysis on all book and film projects, delivering expert coverage reports to contextualise titles within their audience category, genre convention and narrative framework.
Jessica also works with business leaders on their memoirs, particularly those that combine company history and personal narrative. She represents LGC’s clients in Sydney, Australia, expanding the company’s presence and partnerships down under and on into Asia.
Mark Turley: Ghostwriter, Editor, Lead Writer
In-house ghost and lead writer, Mark brings 20 years of industry experience to his role. An award-winning author and journalist, Mark is known for his ability to guide projects strategically from initial meeting and through interviews, producing top quality ahead of editorials.
Working across genres, including autobiography, memoir, and fiction, Mark excels in identifying the core themes and structure of a project, ensuring it is rendered with clarity, depth, and narrative power. Due to his extensive experience working with people from all walks of life, Mark provides a unique journey for clients. His background as an acclaimed sports writer and journalist brings a sharp, dynamic edge to his storytelling, particularly in dramatising lived experience within autobiographical forms. Mark works quickly and efficiently, providing our editors with solid manuscripts as well as editorial support to other writers, including detailed feedback notes and comprehensive reports that guide projects toward becoming all they can.
Sam Binnie: Editor, Copywriter, Ghostwriter, Lead Writer
Sam is a lead writer at LGC, known for her versatility, creativity, and industry knowledge. A multi-skilled writer, she works across a spectrum of fiction and non-fiction at the company—including business books, genre fiction, industry handbooks, and memoirs. With trade knowledge, she brings key insight to every stage of the process, guiding clients through interviews and workshops to craft evocative and meaningful work. With a background in publishing, Sam ensures each project is market-ready and tailored to its target reader. In addition to her ghostwriting and editorial responsibilities, Sam is a skilled copywriter; her portfolio spans national print and radio ad campaigns, commercial non-fiction blurbs, and bestselling paperback titles. Staying closely attuned to trends in contemporary writing, she combines creative flair with commercial know-how—delivering quality projects rapidly and to a top standard.
Paul Dicken: Ghostwriter, Business Writing & Articles
Paul works across memoir, non-fiction, and business at the company, offering services that include newsletters, articles, and speeches. With a vast knowledge of the history and philosophy of science, Paul contributes regularly to magazines, exploring the social and political implications of emerging technologies. He brings this analytical depth to his writing and editorial work at LGC, providing authors and editors with cultural, historical and societal context, particularly for projects involving science, philosophy, and thought.
Paul has collaborated with pioneering business leaders and founders, providing expert insight and high-quality writing for corporate clients and industry insiders. With his ability to translate complex ideas into clear and accessible prose, Paul consults on all non-fiction projects. Whether supporting clients with strategic communication or developing compelling long-form, Paul delivers thoughtful, intelligent content that is academic whilst remaining fresh and accessible.
Lanna Ford; Company Assistant, Editor, Proofreader
Lanna has worked behind the scenes for nine years at the company, helping the business run smoothly, from marketing and publicity to project management, copyediting, proofreading and submissions. She is our full-time company assistant and second in command.
Lanna’s ten years of previous experience in customer service, administration and support roles ensure our projects run to a top standard and that our fabulous clients and writers are taken care of year after year. Helping projects navigate the terrain of deadlines, you’ll find her working diligently in the background on numerous projects simultaneously, reading query materials, preparing projects for submission, scouting for literary agents to submit to and proofreading all documents.
For writers enquiring about work, careers, internships or freelance roles available, please visit our careers page.