Ghosted: An American Story—Book Overview
Have you ever wondered about the hidden stories behind a ghostwriter's life? What if those stories were as compelling as the ones they write for others?
Nancy French's Ghosted: An American Story takes you on a journey through her life as a ghostwriter for conservative politicians. You'll discover her struggles with childhood abuse, her investigation into a Christian summer camp scandal, and her quest to reconnect with her family roots.
Let's dive into this captivating memoir that reveals the personal and professional challenges of a woman navigating the world of political ghostwriting.
Overview of Ghosted: An American Story
Ghosted: An American Story by Nancy French is a deeply personal memoir chronicling the author's challenging upbringing, long-lasting effects of abuse and trauma, and her experiences navigating the changing landscape of conservative politics.
French delves into her ancestral roots in the Monteagle mountains, her turbulent childhood marked by domestic violence and addiction, and how she overcame early abuse to find her voice as a speechwriter and political commentator. The author also recounts her disillusionment with the Republican Party during the Trump era and her harrowing investigation into systemic abuse at a prominent Christian camp—an effort that reopened old wounds but provided a path towards healing.
Family Roots in Monteagle
Nancy French's story begins in the rugged terrain of Monteagle, where her family's history is deeply rooted. This mountainous heritage played a crucial role in shaping her upbringing and worldview. French's ancestors faced numerous challenges living on Monteagle Mountain, especially during the Great Depression. These hardships fostered a culture of creativity and resilience that would be passed down through generations.
However, this legacy wasn't without its darker aspects. French reflects on the sorrow experienced by her relatives, which, combined with the influence of a well-known white supremacist group and ineffective spiritual ceremonies, created a heritage filled with challenges. Despite her parents' efforts to escape the mountain's hold, their history continued to linger, influencing French's early life experiences.
The family's legacy was a complex tapestry of chaos and spirituality. Violence was as commonplace as household chores, with men often compared to instruments of combat. The clan's notoriety was humorously likened to the kind of pictures one might see at gas stations, hinting at their casual attitude towards legal boundaries. Their lives were marked by chaos, often demonstrated by deadly outcomes in barroom brawls and the bizarre practice of throwing seemingly harmless rattlesnakes to instigate violence.
Rural Upbringing vs. Urban Dreams
French's formative years unfolded in a rural environment that stood in stark contrast to the urban lifestyle she would later experience. The family's mountain home reflected their way of life, where firearms were always within reach and a hefty skillet was constantly positioned atop the cooking range. This rugged existence was a far cry from the suburban Los Angeles life French read about in books, which shaped her dreams of a different life with modern comforts like air conditioning, functional cars, and an escape from the harsh mountain ways.
The author's early life experiences were deeply entangled with domestic violence and the chaos stemming from addiction and dysfunction. Within her family's stone home, warmed by a wood-fired stove, violence and extremes became elements of normalcy. The family's past was marked by episodes of violence and threats, including a disturbing incident where a relative played a role in his spouse's demise. These experiences forged a connection between French's lineage and a defiance of conventional living.
Unconventional Spiritual Practices
Unconventional spiritual practices were woven into the fabric of French's family ethos. An aunt who used a spherical object for divination, the inheritance of a mystical "gift," and spiritual gatherings marked by Native American ceremonies all indicated a departure from conventional religious customs. These puzzling nuances starkly contrasted with the family's public dedication to church attendance and adherence to Christian values.
This dichotomy between the spiritual heritage and violent history of her family emerged as a powerful force shaping French's worldview. It created a complex backdrop against which she would navigate her own experiences and relationships in the years to come.
Childhood Abuse and Its Lasting Impact
French's history with men is marked by troubling incidents and abuse, particularly during her childhood. She reveals a cycle of maltreatment and deceit she suffered, including the violation of trust by those in positions of power, which left enduring psychological wounds.
One of the most traumatic experiences French recounts is the sexual abuse she endured at the hands of a religious authority figure during her childhood. Conrad, a charismatic young clergyman with a leadership role, wielded a troubling influence over her within her spiritual fellowship. Despite initially feeling valued, French's experience quickly turned into a nightmare as he violated her trust through inappropriate touching and forced kissing.
The impact of this abuse was far-reaching. The prevalent narrative of spiritual salvation and forgiveness in her community allowed her abuser to go unnoticed. Even when the abuse was revealed, no steps were taken to protect French or other potential victims. This neglect intensified her sense of being unseen and unimportant, infusing her self-perception and religious beliefs with a deep-seated sense of guilt and shame.
Unstable Relationships and Betrayal
French's relationships with men in her youth and young adulthood were marked by instability and betrayal. Her efforts to establish new bonds were overshadowed by the anxiety and uncertainty that arose from her past encounters, all of which took place under the dark influence of her abusive history. Her college sweetheart, Jacob, added complexity to her situation with his controlling behavior and unpredictable outbursts, which escalated to threats of self-harm and violent confrontations whenever she tried to end their relationship.
French's quest for security and stability was persistently overshadowed by her previous traumatic experiences. Her revelation of past wounds in a public forum led to further discomfort and shame, underscoring the significant danger of exposing one's deepest emotional injuries. Her history had ingrained a profound mistrust of men, influencing her subsequent engagements and connections with them.
These experiences highlight how abuse and manipulative behavior can deeply affect an individual's capacity for trust, their sense of self, and the dynamics of their relationships with others. Despite the severity of her encounters, French's contemplation serves as a compelling witness to the intricate nature of maltreatment and its extensive repercussions.
Career as a Conservative Ghostwriter
French's career took an interesting turn as she applied her writing skills to craft speeches and documents for clients with conservative political leanings. This role required her to navigate the shifting political landscape while scrutinizing her personal convictions.
French honed her ability to craft compelling conservative messaging and rhetoric through her work in speechwriting, contributions to Fox News discussions, and writing for figures associated with the Republican Party. She gained a reputation for her sharp-tongued quips and artful wording, becoming the go-to writer for commentators and political figures. During this time, she experienced a transformation in her own political beliefs.
Her involvement in conservative politics was extensive. She played a pivotal role in Mitt Romney's campaign, securing recognition for his candidacy throughout Tennessee. She even lived with Sarah Palin for a time and was a regular at GOP gatherings, committing herself to ongoing involvement in various initiatives. French's deep engagement within the right-leaning community showcased her skill in creating persuasive language.
Evolving Political Landscape
As French's career progressed, she found herself grappling with the changing nature of conservative politics and her own disillusionment. She noted that the Republican Party had embraced language and personas that were divisive, a move that conflicted with her values. Her work began to feel shallow, and she experienced a loss of the "edge" she once had.
The tension peaked during a disagreement over content with her client, Ethan. French's disillusionment with the Republican Party deepened when she witnessed its support for figures like Donald Trump and Steve Bannon, which stood in stark contrast to her deeply held conservative values that echoed the ideology of Ronald Reagan. Her work commitments grew more difficult as the escalating partisan language that characterized the direction of the Republican Party began to affect her adversely.
Professional Consequences of Political Disagreements
French's public disagreements resulted in tension in her professional relationships. She and her spouse experienced a growing sense of estrangement as the Republican Party unified in support of Trump, a stance they opposed. French felt a profound sense of alienation and confusion as her firm adherence to traditional conservative principles seemed at odds with the trajectory the Republican Party took during Trump's tenure.
She became the focus of aggressive behavior by radical right-wing factions, indicating an alarming shift within the conservative political landscape. Her forceful denunciation of divisive figures like Donald Trump and a particular Alabama politician, along with the GOP's lack of response to the tragic event that took the life of George Floyd, deepened the rift between her and her clientele, as well as with the Republican Party.
French's realization that her own tactics had contributed to political division led her to a career crisis. She consistently refrained from misrepresenting progressive perspectives or broadly categorizing entire collectives based on isolated incidents, marking a significant departure from the expected approach in ghostwriting. Consequently, she faced isolation, economic struggles, and professional consequences for challenging the dominant trend of the political faction, a decision that put her prospects in the field of ghostwriting at risk.
Investigating Abuse at a Christian Summer Camp
French's journey took another turn when she conducted a disturbing inquiry that uncovered a systematic concealment of misconduct within a well-known Christian youth retreat. Her unwavering dedication to authentic portrayal stemmed from her personal history of abuse in her early life and was also about maintaining ethical standards in her career.
French carried out a thorough investigation to reveal hidden abuse at a religious retreat located in the heart of Branson, Missouri. Despite facing potential legal challenges and financial hardships, her determination was steadfast as she persisted in her unpaid efforts, independent of any media support. The disclosure of the camp's concealed sexual misconduct by Gretchen Carlson initiated an inquiry that revealed a setting in which authorities ignored clear warnings and complaints, instead promoting the offender's status and enforcing confidentiality agreements to silence those impacted.
With meticulous care, French gathered contact information for more than three hundred people linked to "Kanakuk" in her phone and endeavored to reach out to them using different strategies. She embarked on a journey for enlightenment, seeking the truth with the same careful approach her grandfather used when mining coal to avoid explosions.
Uncovering the Truth
French's determination led to the acquisition of a storage medium filled with incriminating visual evidence and communications, totaling sixteen hours, which she obtained by gaining the trust of a parent whose child had been harmed. A pivotal conversation with an individual suspected of abuse, during which the person did not refute the accusations, signified a major shift in her investigation.
As French explored the unsettling elements associated with Kanakuk, she faced a wave of emotional hurdles and resistance. Her efforts were downplayed by skeptics, the camp's inclination to pursue legal measures loomed menacingly, and being served with a cease and desist notice challenged her resolve.
Despite the thorough collection of proof and compelling narrative that ultimately drew a broad audience, the reaction was mixed. Some expressed encouragement while others felt disheartened. Numerous individuals within the Christian faith circle, including those affiliated with Christianity Today, minimized the significance of the findings or completely rejected them.
Personal Toll of the Investigation
The investigation imposed a significant emotional and psychological weight on French. She grappled with emotionally paralyzing fear of legal backlash, neglected personal care such as skipping meals and not showering due to an intense focus on safeguarding, experienced dissociation during interviews, and bore the burden of establishing the truth against the distorted story crafted by those at the retreat.
French likened her situation to that of the investigative journalism team in a certain film, mirroring not only her own inquisitive efforts but also the emotional upheaval linked with revealing widespread misconduct. Even after exposing the link between the detrimental practices at the facility and tragic instances of suicide, and confronting the officials, she noted that the institution still received new enrollees from parents, underscoring deep-rooted institutional failures.
Ultimately, French's persistence led to the nullification of the perpetrator's scholarly credentials. However, the more profound triumph lay in her unwavering messages of support to those harmed: "Blame lies not with you," "No misdeed was yours," and "Your testimony holds truth." Her inquiry not only embodied resilience but also represented an unyielding quest for the truth, affecting the emotional, psychological, and social realms.
Reconnecting With Family Roots
In the midst of her professional and personal challenges, French embarked on a sincere journey to explore her lineage and document the stories of her parents. This process uncovered well-kept mysteries and helped her gain a more profound understanding of her personal origins.
French's motivation stemmed from a strong commitment to preserve the oral history of her family. She embarked on an extensive interview process at her parents' home, asking them about their earliest memories and life details. Her dedication to documenting their stories with meticulous care, akin to the level she provided for her clients, remained steadfast despite the challenging environment of a home with fluctuating temperatures and the battle with voice recognition software that often misinterpreted their distinct mountain accents.
Uncovering Family Secrets
French's in-depth research unearthed startling discoveries about her ancestry, including brushes with violence and previously unknown incidents, along with the disturbing aftermath of mistreatment and encounters with a notorious white supremacist group. She uncovered the hidden truth about her Uncle Jasper's struggles with mental health, which had been obscured by invented stories of hostility to sidestep the stigma linked to mental illnesses.
This process of documenting these stories provided French with a new perspective on her parents. She began to see their lives, which were characterized by severe hunger, economic hardship, and aggressive encounters, as 'blessed' through their own lens. She developed a deeper bond with her mother, who recalled bygone days vividly, providing French with a significant link to her ancestry.
A Journey of Healing and Growth
French's journey to connect with her roots became an integral part of her path towards healing and growth. By exploring her parents' memories, she was able to reconcile with her past. Confronting and understanding the new truths about her family allowed her to engage in a process of reconciliation with her lineage.
This deep dive into her family history deepened French's comprehension of her own existence, provided new perspectives on the narrative she grew up with, and nurtured an appreciation for the heritage of keen awareness and empathy inherited from her highland forebears.
Ultimately, documenting her parents' stories was an act of love that established a lasting legacy for her descendants. The method was not just to preserve the liveliness of previous events but also to pay tribute to her relatives, ensuring their deep and heartfelt narratives are cherished by descendants as an important legacy.