0:18

Hello and welcome

0:20

to Story Nori. This

0:22

is Janna and I'm here

0:25

with the latest episode in

0:27

our spooky series. The

0:30

Dutch Hotel.

0:32

The Ghost Writer.

0:35

Nafsi and Yogi are brother

0:38

and sister who live in London's Dutch

0:40

Hotel, run by their parents,

0:43

Alan and Angeliki. And

0:45

there's one thing that makes the hotel

0:47

more interesting than most. It

0:51

is haunted. Two

0:53

sets of staff work at the hotel, the

0:56

living ones of the present and the

0:58

ghostly ones of the past, who

1:01

appear from time to time. You

1:03

never know when the ghostly

1:05

ones might show up.

1:10

Since Alan and Angeliki reopened

1:12

the hotel, it's become

1:14

a fashionable resting place on the London

1:16

scene. If you like spotting famous

1:19

faces, you might catch

1:21

some celebrity guests at the Dutch Hotel.

1:25

Royalty, actors,

1:28

politicians, TV professors,

1:31

opera stars, rappers, YouTubers

1:34

and influencers. But you

1:36

might not notice a writer,

1:38

because authors are more famous for their

1:40

words than

1:41

their faces.

1:43

Sometimes a writer's mugshot

1:45

might make it onto the back cover of their book.

1:49

But unless they are unusually beautiful

1:51

or handsome,

1:52

it will be a miniature picture of their face.

1:56

Every autumn, just such

1:58

a person stayed at the Dutch Hotel. Hotel.

2:01

He was the historical novelist Angus

2:04

McPee-Body, whose lifetime

2:07

habit was to spend the autumn months

2:09

in London. His favourite

2:12

place to stay was Suite 13

2:15

at the Dutch Hotel. In

2:18

this very room, back

2:20

in 1973, he had

2:23

composed the opening chapter of his best-selling

2:25

novel, The Forbidden Waltz.

2:29

It was later made into a movie, bringing

2:31

him fame and fortune, though

2:33

you probably would not recognise his fame. One

2:42

morning in early October, the kids,

2:44

Nasi and Yogi, were walking past

2:47

the door of Room 13 on the way up to

2:49

the apartment, where they lived with their

2:51

parents. They both stopped

2:54

when they heard a sound. What's that? Ask

2:56

Nasi.

2:59

Maybe

3:05

one of those ghosts is granting some

3:08

change to get ready for Halloween, suggested

3:11

Yogi. Maybe, said Nasi. But

3:14

I think we'd better tell Mum, because

3:17

it's very odd.

3:19

They found Mum in the kitchen of their apartment,

3:21

making jam sandwiches for their 11sies.

3:24

Mum, said Yogi. There's

3:27

a ghost making loud clanking noises

3:29

in Room 13. Really?

3:32

asked Mum.

3:33

Yeah, like this. Clatter,

3:35

clatter, clatter, clatter, clatter, clatter, clatter.

3:38

Oh, that's the sound of inspiration,

3:41

said Mum. An author stays there,

3:44

crafting his masterpiece on an

3:46

ancient mechanical typewriter.

3:48

It's very noisy. He means, he's writing

3:50

a book.

3:50

Why does he use an old typing machine? Can't he afford a

3:52

computer? asked Yogi.

4:00

He's old-fashioned and clings

4:02

to his habits of a lifetime," said

4:05

Mum. "'Better not to tamper with his

4:07

successful formula.

4:08

The words from that typewriter have

4:10

sold millions of copies.'"

4:13

The next morning, when

4:15

the kids went downstairs on their way to school,

4:18

they saw the author emerge from room 13. He

4:22

had a neat grey beard and wore a tweed jacket

4:24

with patches on the elbows. When

4:27

they were out of earshot,

4:29

Yogi said, "'He

4:31

doesn't look rich.

4:33

Maybe writing doesn't really pay

4:36

that well. If he

4:38

can afford to live in the Dutch Hotel,

4:40

he can't be

4:41

too badly off,'

4:43

said Nussie. "'Perhaps

4:45

Dad gives him a discount because he feels sorry

4:47

for him, or he likes his books.' "'I

4:50

don't think so,' said Nussie.

4:53

Zelda would never

4:55

allow him to do that. Zelda

4:57

was the owner of the hotel, and she

5:00

had a very hard business head.

5:03

It was raining in the morning, but the

5:05

autumn weather was fine in the afternoon. The

5:07

kids took their miniature poodle, Heracles,

5:10

for a walk in Kensington Gardens, where

5:12

the trees were turning into rich colours

5:14

of russet and gold. As

5:17

they sauntered along, they

5:20

stumbled upon the author sitting on a bench,

5:23

stroking his silver beard and

5:25

holding out a nut for a squirrel, who was

5:28

cautiously crawling towards it.

5:30

Herrott placed shot

5:33

like a bullet at the creature. In

5:35

an act of sheer agility, the

5:37

squirrel

5:38

miraculously veered up a tree

5:40

trunk at the very last moment. "'Shouldn't

5:43

you have a dog being a lead?' inquired

5:45

the author. His brow

5:48

furrowed with annoyance.

5:50

Dogs are allowed to roam freely in the park,'

5:53

said Nussie. "'Don't worry, though.

5:55

Heracles only ever catches a squirrel

5:58

in his dreams.'

5:59

The author frowned until

6:02

Yogi asked,

6:03

Wait, aren't you a famous

6:05

author? How

6:08

did you come by that morsel of information?

6:11

Mr McPee-body inquired. Our

6:14

parents managed the Dutch hotel, and

6:17

we hear you clanking away on your old-fashioned

6:20

typewriter.

6:21

I trust my creative endeavours haven't

6:23

proven to be an insufferable disturbance.

6:27

Nah, it's okay. But why

6:30

don't you get a computer?

6:31

said Yogi.

6:33

The author chuckled. Aye,

6:36

my young friends. I wrote

6:38

my first best fellow on that old typewriter,

6:40

Birk, in 1973. Right

6:44

there, in room 13

6:46

of the Dutch hotel, aye,

6:48

it's a special room. A magical

6:51

place, where my stories spring

6:54

to life. Every autumn,

6:56

I make a pilgrimage to London,

6:59

and in that very room, my

7:02

typewriter gives birth to new

7:04

tales.

7:05

Then,

7:06

when I return to exile in Guernsey,

7:09

strictly for tax purposes, my

7:11

secretary types it all onto the computer.

7:15

It's mostly a superstition, you

7:17

see. It's the only method that

7:19

suits my craft.

7:20

It's a good job you're superstitious,

7:24

said Yogi. Because our hotel

7:26

is haunted, you know.

7:29

Yes, I

7:30

have heard the tales. Maybe

7:33

it's ghosts who cyclically inspire

7:35

me.

7:36

I wouldn't be surprised.

7:39

They are real, you know.

7:42

What's so special about room 13,

7:44

ask Nasi?

7:47

A mysterious smile appeared

7:49

on McPee-Buddy's face. Around

7:52

a hundred years ago, a

7:54

writer named Christina Jean

7:57

Knightley stayed in that

7:59

room.

8:00

She penned marvelous books,

8:03

including her absolute

8:05

best, a liver a shade

8:07

of purple.

8:09

Whenever I'm in that room,

8:11

I sense her creative spirit

8:14

like a soft whisper of inspiration.

8:17

Oh, oh, oh, oh,

8:19

said Yogi. You know, a lot

8:21

of rich and famous people have

8:23

lived in our hotel. McPeabody

8:26

leaned closer.

8:28

Aye, at the interesting twist,

8:31

my young friends, is that Christina

8:33

Jean Knightley, despite

8:35

her brilliance, never

8:38

basked in the light of fame.

8:41

Her name is hardly known.

8:43

It wasn't until after she passed away

8:46

that her literary gems reached the hands

8:48

of a select few readers and authors.

8:51

She's been a hidden muse for many of us.

8:54

That's a shame she didn't become rich and

8:56

famous, said Yogi.

8:59

By the way, said Nasi, I

9:01

want to be an author.

9:03

What's your best writing tip?

9:05

Discipline, my dear.

9:08

Embrace a steadfast routine.

9:11

Sit yourself down at a prescribed

9:14

hour and do not stare

9:16

until a thousand words adorn

9:19

your canvas.

9:21

But where do you get your ideas?

9:24

The fertile soil of reality.

9:27

Who knows?

9:29

Perhaps even you two

9:31

will enliven the pages of my next

9:34

book. Oh, cool!

9:36

My name's Yogi.

9:38

Be sure to remember my name when you

9:40

write your story. And I'm

9:42

Nasi, but I bet

9:44

you would rather write about the hotel's ghosts.

9:47

They are far more interesting.

9:50

The kids continued their walk. They

9:52

didn't cross paths with Angus McPee-Body

9:55

for a few days, but the clackety-clack

9:58

of his typewriter had become part of them. the hotel's

10:00

daily routine like the laundry collection,

10:03

the vacuuming and the checkout by 12

10:06

noon. His

10:09

creative endeavors started at 8.30 sharp

10:13

every morning and continued

10:15

until around midday. Oh

10:20

Mum, he's very disciplined. He

10:23

doesn't stop typing until he's written

10:25

his daily 1,000 words.

10:28

Nasty said to Mum as they walked past room 13

10:30

one morning.

10:32

Only he told

10:33

us that in a jokey way, said

10:36

Yosie. He likes to use long

10:38

words that are hard to understand because

10:41

he's a writer, right? Well,

10:43

Dad read one of his books, so

10:46

he can't be too difficult to understand,

10:49

said Mum. He kept saying it

10:51

was total rubbish, but

10:53

couldn't put it down until he reached the last page.

10:57

His next book won't be rubbish, said

10:59

Yosie, because he's going to write

11:01

about us.

11:03

Oh, is he? said Mum.

11:06

Well, I hope he changes our names. We

11:08

told him not to,

11:10

said Yosie, because we

11:13

want to be famous.

11:15

Mum winced.

11:17

She said. Did he reveal

11:19

what he likes so much

11:20

about room 13? Oh yes, said

11:22

Nasty. He

11:24

said a lady writer

11:27

lived in that room 100 years

11:29

ago and

11:30

he likes her writing.

11:32

He says she's

11:34

a genius. It's

11:35

sad because only

11:37

a few people ever read her books.

11:40

Hmm, that rings a bell,

11:43

said Mum.

11:45

I think her portrait is hanging in the

11:47

bar. They refer to her

11:49

as the author S. I

11:52

think she was like Agatha Christie.

11:55

Only less well known.

11:57

I'll have a word with Marek. He was a

11:59

genius.

11:59

the bar manager.

12:01

Perhaps he can transfer

12:03

her painting to Mr. McPee-Body's room.

12:05

A touch of inspiration,

12:08

you know?

12:09

Mum put her plan into action, and

12:12

Mr. McPee-Body genuinely appreciated

12:14

the kind gesture. Christina

12:17

June Knightley's portrait now

12:19

adorned the wall behind his work desk,

12:22

and her painted eyes seemed

12:25

to observe his creative endeavours

12:28

with a certain artistic

12:30

curiosity. But

12:32

then, one Saturday morning,

12:35

the upper echelons of the hotel vibrated

12:38

with a loud commotion.

12:44

Doors slammed thunderously, and

12:46

the voice of Mr. McPee-Body could be

12:48

heard pleading,

12:49

No, no, please

12:51

don't! I implore you!

12:54

A moment later, there

12:57

was an earth-shattering crash

13:00

in the downstairs lobby.

13:02

A

13:06

mysterious

13:06

metal object had made

13:08

an unscheduled descent from the

13:10

dizzying heights of the top floor

13:13

balcony. It crash-landed

13:15

about four feet from online

13:18

influencer Olivia Transetter,

13:20

who let out a scream as piercing

13:23

as a police

13:23

siren. Then,

13:26

thin chaos enfolded before the

13:28

lens of her boyfriend and camera operator,

13:31

who

13:31

live-streamed the bedlam to a staggering

13:33

quarter of a million online followers.

13:38

Nafzi happened to be among those

13:41

watching online. She sat in the family's

13:43

apartment following Olivia

13:45

Transetter's panel. Normally,

13:48

Olivia's fashion and beauty tips

13:51

didn't pique her interest.

13:52

Still,

13:53

ever since her stay at the Dutch hotel, she

13:56

had grown curious about Olivia's updates,

13:58

which

14:00

As it turned out, it

14:02

weren't going too well today. Olivia

14:05

couldn't seem to stop screaming. Hey

14:08

Dad! Nuffsy

14:14

called out.

14:15

Something's just crashed in the hotel

14:17

lobby and nearly hit Olivia Transciter.

14:20

And

14:20

I think it's a metal typewriter.

14:23

Dad had also heard the uproar and

14:26

was already on his way down in the elevator.

14:29

Their apartment was on the top floor, near

14:32

where the mysterious object had been dropped from.

14:36

Nuffsy and Yogi rushed onto the landing

14:38

and spotted Mr McBeebodies slouched

14:40

in an armchair in an alcove.

14:43

His face had turned as pale as if

14:45

he had seen a ghost.

14:47

And he was breathing heavily, attempting

14:49

to regain his composure.

14:52

Are you alright?

14:53

inquired Nuffsy. Oh

14:56

no, my... no, my dear.

14:59

I'm afraid you'll find me in

15:02

quite a state.

15:03

responded the author. Yogi

15:06

chimed in asking, What

15:07

happened?

15:09

After the author collected himself,

15:12

he recounted the strange incident.

15:16

Oh, hi. I was seated at my

15:19

desk. My fingers dancing

15:21

across the keys of my trusty typewriter.

15:25

The words flowed from me as if

15:27

I were in a trance.

15:29

Suddenly, I felt

15:31

a hand on my shoulder.

15:34

It was a complete shock. I

15:36

turned around and there

15:38

stood a woman, as

15:41

if she had just materialized

15:43

in my room. At first,

15:46

I thought she might be the cleaning

15:48

maid. Do

15:49

you need something? I asked.

15:52

Yes, I need my typewriter, she

15:54

replied. Madame,

15:57

that is my typewriter.

15:59

A insisted.

16:02

But she seized my machine in a

16:04

flush and bolted through

16:06

the door. I

16:07

tried to follow, but I

16:10

was not as sprightly as I once was,

16:12

and she was remarkably nimble.

16:15

She dashed off,

16:17

her feet hardly touching

16:20

the ground,

16:21

and then she reached this very point

16:24

on the top floor.

16:26

From here, she

16:28

threatened to drop the machine

16:31

over the edge.

16:32

I pleaded with her not to,

16:35

but she would not listen. And

16:37

then

16:38

she let it fall.

16:41

It was a horrifying

16:43

moment. That's

16:44

a miracle. It didn't

16:47

land on someone's head. However,

16:49

I'm

16:50

afraid. The

16:52

machine is now a mangled lump

16:54

of

16:55

twisted metal

16:57

beyond any hope of repair.

16:59

I wonder who it was,

17:02

pondered Yogi. I

17:04

fear she might be some obsessed

17:07

stalker,

17:08

McPee body replied with concern

17:10

in his voice. Nasi checked

17:12

her phone.

17:13

Oh, Olivia

17:15

Trancessa is claiming that somebody tried

17:17

to assassinate

17:18

her. I

17:19

do hope she's not accusing me.

17:21

I've

17:22

no idea who this trendsetter

17:24

is, let alone arboring any

17:27

grudge against her well-being.

17:29

McPee body exclaimed.

17:31

Oh, no worries,

17:32

Yogi reassured him. I don't

17:35

think she's ever heard of you. No offence,

17:38

but she's more into makeup.

17:41

Mum was also curious about the commotion.

17:44

Nasi and Yogi filled her in on what

17:46

had happened.

17:47

My goodness, what a shock. This

17:51

woman sounds dangerous,

17:53

she exclaimed.

17:55

The police, the ambulance

17:58

and the fire brigade have all shown

17:59

Is

18:01

there anything I can do for you Mr McPee-body?

18:03

Cup of tea? Ah

18:06

yes. Would

18:06

you be so kind as to fetch a glass

18:08

of water

18:09

and me pills? They're on

18:11

the shelf in the bathroom. Mum went

18:13

to room 13 to complete the

18:14

request. When she came back with the pills and the water, she was

18:17

wearing a puzzled expression. What

18:23

is it Mum? asked Nasty. That painting?

18:25

The one of the author-ess? You know

18:27

how I said she

18:29

seemed to have a

18:30

sad expression on

18:32

her face?

18:35

Yes, said Nasty. Well, now she's positively smiling. How strange.

18:45

Mr

18:48

McPee-body swallowed his pills

18:51

and sipped the glass of water.

18:53

I feel better now. Thank

18:55

you. He

18:56

said. Shall we return to the room and

18:58

take a look at this mysterious painting? Following his suggestion,

19:00

the four of them ventured back

19:02

into room 13. Mum's initial assessment

19:04

of the painting proved to be correct. It

19:12

was now adorned with a cheeky grin.

19:15

She looks just like she

19:17

made a million pound book deal! exclaimed Yogi.

19:20

How

19:21

curious! declared

19:24

Mr McPee-body. I can hardly

19:26

believe my own eyes, but

19:28

now I see it.

19:30

The woman is through. My typewriter

19:32

off the balcony. Looked

19:35

just like her.

19:37

I could swear it was she. But

19:39

of course that's impossible. Of

19:42

course it's possible! said

19:44

Yogi. We did tell you we have ghosts here.

19:49

Well,

19:50

in any case,

19:51

I don't think I can live with that portrait

19:54

looking over me any longer. confessed

19:56

Mr McPee-body. That's understandable.

19:59

I'll call Alan

20:01

and ask him to take it back downstairs,"

20:04

said Mum. Five

20:06

minutes later, Dad arrived in

20:08

the room. They shared the

20:10

peculiar tale with him.

20:13

I fear you can't believe such

20:15

an incredible tale of stranger

20:17

infection.

20:20

There was a time before

20:23

we came to live in the Dutch

20:25

Hotel when I would have found

20:27

such a tale. Very

20:30

hard to believe, but a

20:32

lot of strange things

20:34

have happened over the past couple

20:37

of years. Now I'm ready

20:39

to believe almost anything. And

20:43

as it happens, I've

20:46

had a quick look at the CCTV

20:48

footage. And yes, you

20:50

are right. A woman threw

20:53

the typewriter over the balcony, and

20:56

she bore a resemblance

20:59

to the one in the painting.

21:01

What's more,

21:03

I've recovered this piece of paper from

21:05

the typewriter. The letters

21:07

appear to be in bright red

21:10

ink.

21:11

Take a look at what it says.

21:14

Mr McPee-Buddy adjusted his spectacles

21:16

on his nose and began to

21:18

read aloud.

21:20

This typewriter and

21:23

all its words are the property

21:27

of Christina Jean

21:29

Knightley. I'm assuming

21:31

those aren't your words. Remarked

21:35

Alan,

21:36

McPee-Buddy shook his head.

21:38

I know!

21:39

exclaimed Yogi.

21:42

It was a ghostwriter who

21:44

wrote them!

21:46

The author settled into his writing

21:48

chair.

21:49

The tale of my writing career is

21:52

stranger than any yarn I've spun

21:54

in my books. I've never

21:57

shared that, not even with my

21:59

nearest and dear friends. But it seems

22:01

this is as good a time as any

22:04

to make a confession. When

22:06

I was a young lad, full of dreams

22:08

of becoming a writer, I found myself

22:11

perpetually stuck. I'd

22:13

start tearing up my

22:15

feeble words and starting

22:17

new. I needed a change of scenery

22:20

to clear my muddled mind.

22:22

In those far off 1970s,

22:25

this place and the hotel in

22:28

particular were quite rundown

22:30

and worse to wear. Its former

22:33

glory had faded, but

22:35

it was within my budget,

22:36

so I took up residence in this very

22:38

room and stumbled

22:41

upon an old typewriter. Stored

22:44

away in the cupboard, it looked

22:46

abandoned and unloved, so

22:48

I cleaned it up and replaced the ribbon. To

22:51

my delight, it did more

22:54

than work. It seemed possessed.

22:58

As soon as I began to type, those

23:01

keys took charge. The

23:03

book practically wrote itself.

23:06

Of course, I took the typewriter

23:08

with me when it left. I

23:11

hope you won't think ill of me. It

23:13

simply wouldn't work the same anywhere

23:15

else.

23:16

Only in this hotel

23:19

I've returned each year since,

23:22

save for those times when the hotel underwent

23:24

repairs,

23:26

and every one of my

23:28

novels has been birthed on

23:31

that typewriter in this very

23:34

room.

23:35

Do you think the

23:37

lady in the picture might have something

23:39

to do with all this?

23:41

Oh, snazzy.

23:43

The author stared at the portrait

23:46

of Christina Jean Knightley, his

23:48

face a mixture of astonishment

23:50

and remorse. Is that

23:52

to you, ye? He

23:55

whispered, his voice tremulous,

23:58

effaint.

24:00

Almost imperceptible nod

24:02

from the portrait confirmed

24:04

his suspicions. Those

24:06

were my words that

24:08

came

24:09

out of the typewriter, and

24:12

you never gave me any

24:14

credit.

24:16

Her spectral voice echoed throughout

24:18

the room.

24:20

Tears welled up in the author's eyes

24:22

as he finally realized the

24:24

truth.

24:25

He had unknowingly been the vessel for

24:27

Christina's posthumous works, taking

24:30

credit for her brilliance. He

24:32

bowed his head,

24:34

humbled and repentant.

24:37

I am deeply sorry, Christina.

24:40

I never knew. I'll

24:42

make it right. I'll ensure

24:45

the world knows of your talent.

24:50

As the words left his lips, the

24:52

portrait of Christina Jean Knightley

24:55

seemed to glow with a radiant otherworldly

24:58

light.

24:59

Her smile softened,

25:01

and she nodded in approval. Dad

25:05

had recovered the wreckage of the typewriter,

25:07

but Mr McPeeblety did not want to repair

25:10

it. He went out and

25:12

bought a shiny new MacBook, which

25:14

he used to finish his novel, that

25:17

he dedicated to Christina

25:19

Jean Knightley.

25:20

A brilliant author,

25:23

and the inspiration for

25:25

me life's

25:27

work.

25:36

And that was The Ghostwriter,

25:39

read by me, Jana, for Story

25:41

Nori. It was written by Bertie

25:43

and featured Andy Keneer as Mr

25:46

McPeeblety. Don't

25:48

forget, we have a sister

25:50

podcast for grown-ups called Real

25:53

Activity, with a variety

25:55

of calming and soothing stories. We

25:57

call it A Little Time For Your

25:59

Story.

26:01

Tune in soon for more exciting

26:03

tales. From me, Jana,

26:06

at StoryNori.com.

26:08

Bye

26:08

for now!