Gwyneth Fires Back: I Wrote My Own Book

Gwyneth Paltrow responds to New York Times allegations that a ghostwriters wrote 'My Father's Daughter'.

By: Ashley Baylen
Published: March 19th, 2012 in Culture » Food » News

Gwyneth at a book signing for 'My Father's Daughter'

Gwyneth Paltrow’s deeply person cookbook, dedicated to her father Bruce, entitled “My Father’s Daughter” was recently called into question by the New York Times. In the dining section, the newspaper claimed that a large portion of Paltrow’s book had been ghostwritten by Julia Turshen, and that the actress has employed her to help with an upcoming cookbook.

It’s true that Paltrow feels indebted to Turshen for her “artful assistance”, but the actress claimed that she wrote every word of the book herself.

On the dedication page of “My Father’s Daughter”, Paltrow wrote that she could “not have written this book without the tireless, artful assistance of Julia Turshen, who stood over my shoulder at the stove and chopping block for the better part of a year, brining method to my freestyling madness.”

After hearing the allegations from the New York Times, Paltrow took to Twitter to post the following, “Love @nytimes dining section but this weeks [sic’ facts need checking. No ghost writer on my cookbook, I wrote every word myself.”

In the article in question, writer Julia Moskin, attempts to expose ghostwriting in the cooking industry.

“Julia Turshen, who is writing a second cookbook for Gwyneth Paltrow after their collaboration on My Father’s Daughter, began as the ghostwriter for the ghostwriter on a book by Mario Batali, tagging along with a notebook as the chef filmed a culinary romp through Spain.”

On Julia Turshen’s website, “My Father’s Daughter” is listed under books she has worked on, but it does not indicate specifically in what capacity.