Authors, Writers, Publishers, and Book Readers
Does being a celebrity already help or hinder your book?
Newest celebrity to announce a children’s book is Tori Spelling.
http://tvnz.co.nz/entertainment-news/tori-spelling-ventures-into-ch...
I'd like to hear your thoughts on this. Do people automatically love or hate a celebrity's book, no matter how good the writing is, depending on whether they like you as a celebrity?
Is it that much harder to prove you can write if you've become famous for something else first?
(I don’t like Tori Spelling so I wouldn’t buy her book. Any of them.)
Simon & Schuster said its Aladdin imprint is to publish Spelling’s first children’s book called “Presenting … Tallulah” in September this year.
Spelling, whose acting credits include TV show Beverly Hills 90210, has already written an autobiography sTORI Telling and follow-up book Mommywood about being a Hollywood mother of young children. Her third adult book, tentatively titled Uncharted terriTORI, is due to go on sale in June.
http://tvnz.co.nz/entertainment-news/tori-spelling-ventures-into-ch...
I'd like to hear your thoughts on this. Do people automatically love or hate a celebrity's book, no matter how good the writing is, depending on whether they like you as a celebrity?
Is it that much harder to prove you can write if you've become famous for something else first?
(I don’t like Tori Spelling so I wouldn’t buy her book. Any of them.)
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Wayanne Kruger aka Rae E Klein on
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Depends who they are. Some, such as child stars who have been out of the spot light usually do not aside from coming out with a issue such as M. Phillips did.
My life in high heels, was really good as well.
Politicians seems to be the bomb of the century. Not many are reading, but they are being noticed by Tv and HLN talk.
I would much rather read a comedy by a celebrity that does mostly drama than read the ups and downs of their life because we all have them. And, normally they do not write it. They have someone else help such as singers have others to help them create songs. Without editors, what woud they do????
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Permalink Reply by scribbler on
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The old ghostwriter in the shadows would be out of business if these celebs stopped writing books.
I'd buy it only if I was interested in the person and what they had to say because I viewed them as a genuine authority on the subject or they were famous for their brilliant mind and not a TV show, like Stephen Hawking. Tori Spelling dispensing her wisdom in whatever form does not strike me as a possible Booker Prize contender, let's put it that way.
Most of these celebrity type books are sheer ego trips because they have the money to do it and some publisher thinks it will sell. C-list celebrities are not on my wishlist.
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Permalink Reply by Kay Elizabeth on
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Tyra Banks is bringing out a three book series called Modelland.
She has already finished the first, called "Modelland", which is about a teen girl in a make-believe society at an academy for exceptional models called Intoxibellas. It will be published in the summer of 2011.
Writing on her web site, Banks said the book was "for all the girls and guys who want a lot more FANTASY in their lives and some fierceness and magic, romance and mystery, crazy and wild adventures, and yeah, some danger too."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100511/en_nm/us_books_tyra
Would you buy her books? Think she really did write it or employ a ghostwriter? I like Tyra actually.
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Permalink Reply by Dairenna VonRavenstone on
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I think being famous helps to sell a book. If your name is recognized (good or bad) you're going to sell a book even if it is ghost-written or a...rather boring book. But, it helps to be on the good list...or the so bad/not liked that people are interested in finding something else to make fun of you with.
Tyra Banks' books will easily hit the bestseller's list even if they are boring or full of shoddy writing (nothing against Banks at all, she's decent enough). Personally, based on description, I probably won't pick it up. But, I would bet good money that it'll be the most talked about thing in 2011.
And yes, people will automatically hate or like a book depending on the name of the celebrity, no matter how good the writing. if they hate the celebrity, they might not even pick it up to read in the first place. Onto of that, without fame, how do most authors (like King, Brown, Rice) make any sales in the first place?
You can't be unknown and sell. In order to hit it big, you have to become a celebrity. It's just the way it is nowadays.
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Good point about being on either the so good or so bad end of the scale. Being in the middle isn't as interesting as being an extreme example of either.
If Tyra Banks book is the most talked about one of 2011, the literary world is in more trouble than I thought! :)
She's quitting her Tyra Banks show too she said. I'll give it six months maximum before we see a Modelland TV show start production from Tyra's own new production company, Bankable Studios. Starring her, of course. :)
Popular writers like King sell their books because their writing's superior. They didn't need a name to trampoline from. Talent will float to the top with a little help from good publishers and marketing skills. Sometimes writers make it that only have two out of three. Sadly some do with very little of the former.
Luck also comes into it and being in the right place at the right time. But if you're short of talent, your chances of success are slashed unless you're famous and have fans that would buy anything you put your name to.
But it still happens. You can be unknown and still sell. Look at J.K. Rowling. She came out from nowhere. The foundation for Harry Potter's world was written on a delayed train and she took years building it from there before she ever approaching a publisher. Above all else if you have passion for your book as well as talent, you can't help but succeed as long as you're tenacious, work hard and keep knocking on doors.
Dairenna VonRavenstone said:I think being famous helps to sell a book. If your name is recognized (good or bad) you're going to sell a book even if it is ghost-written or a...rather boring book. But, it helps to be on the good list...or the so bad/not liked that people are interested in finding something else to make fun of you with.
Tyra Banks' books will easily hit the bestseller's list even if they are boring or full of shoddy writing (nothing against Banks at all, she's decent enough). Personally, based on description, I probably won't pick it up. But, I would bet good money that it'll be the most talked about thing in 2011. And yes, people will automatically hate or like a book depending on the name of the celebrity, no matter how good the writing. if they hate the celebrity, they might not even pick it up to read in the first place. Onto of that, without fame, how do most authors (like King, Brown, Rice) make any sales in the first place?
You can't be unknown and sell. In order to hit it big, you have to become a celebrity. It's just the way it is nowadays.
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One more point about JK I thought about. She was a single mum by then, divorced and living in a small place in Edinburgh. She spent her time writing in a cafe. She believed. Writers must believe in themselves and their book. They have to learn not to listen to the naysayers that tell them they can't succeed. Most are just jealous that writers can do something so special and they can't IMHO.
There's a great diary entry from her about what it's like to suddenly be successful and get the call.
http://www.accio-quote.org/articles/1998/0798-times-rowling.htm
Her advice to aspiring writers: "...look up suitable agents and publishers in the Writers' and Artists' Yearbook and work your way through the list. It is boring advice, perhaps, but it worked for me."
The rough US equivalent would be the Writer's Market.
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if you're too good, people want to find out your secrets because no one's perfect. If you're bad, they want to see what you'll do next. Average is boring.
Well, unless someone else releases something in tandum with Tyra's book, hers will be pretty big. A lot of people like her, a lot of people like to hate her. It's that instant celebrity thing. And I doubt she'll be able to stay off a television series for very long. I'm with you for the six months...lol
As for the whole talent thing, I agree, only the really talented survive. Of course, King didn't have the selling power of his name when he first started but he gained it as he went along. Now if someone hears that he's releasing a new novel, they go buy it because they know he's that good. On the other hand, there are a few famous authors out there who have no talent BUT have been made so popular people will buy their work. Kind of sad, that.
The problem with publishing is marketing. Unless you can clamp onto a huge marketing engine, it doesn't matter how talented you are, you won't sell a lot (at first). Until you can get your work in front of a large group, you're going to remain unknown. But, like you said, if you're passionate, tenatious and work hard, it can be done. You just have to work that much harder to do it then those with a popular name.
All great authors come from out of nowhere (as well as a lot of the not-so-greats). Their success is then measured on their talent and their continued passion for the written word. If the masses begin to see a not-so-talented writer as not-so-talented, then that author eventually falls.
Kay Elizabeth said:Good point about being on either the so good or so bad end of the scale. Being in the middle isn't as interesting as being an extreme example of either.
If Tyra Banks book is the most talked about one of 2011, the literary world is in more trouble than I thought! :)
She's quitting her Tyra Banks show too she said. I'll give it six months maximum before we see a Modelland TV show start production from Tyra's own new production company, Bankable Studios. Starring her, of course. :)
Popular writers like King sell their books because their writing's superior. They didn't need a name to trampoline from. Talent will float to the top with a little help from good publishers and marketing skills. Sometimes writers make it that only have two out of three. Sadly some do with very little of the former.
Luck also comes into it and being in the right place at the right time. But if you're short of talent, your chances of success are slashed unless you're famous and have fans that would buy anything you put your name to.
But it still happens. You can be unknown and still sell. Look at J.K. Rowling. She came out from nowhere. The foundation for Harry Potter's world was written on a delayed train and she took years building it from there before she ever approaching a publisher. Above all else if you have passion for your book as well as talent, you can't help but succeed as long as you're tenacious, work hard and keep knocking on doors.
Dairenna VonRavenstone said:I think being famous helps to sell a book. If your name is recognized (good or bad) you're going to sell a book even if it is ghost-written or a...rather boring book. But, it helps to be on the good list...or the so bad/not liked that people are interested in finding something else to make fun of you with.
Tyra Banks' books will easily hit the bestseller's list even if they are boring or full of shoddy writing (nothing against Banks at all, she's decent enough). Personally, based on description, I probably won't pick it up. But, I would bet good money that it'll be the most talked about thing in 2011. And yes, people will automatically hate or like a book depending on the name of the celebrity, no matter how good the writing. if they hate the celebrity, they might not even pick it up to read in the first place. Onto of that, without fame, how do most authors (like King, Brown, Rice) make any sales in the first place?
You can't be unknown and sell. In order to hit it big, you have to become a celebrity. It's just the way it is nowadays.
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I'm taking this slightly off topic. Is the Novel & Short Story Writers Market version perhaps better for fiction writers? The main one covers every type of publisher and publication I can think of.
Kay Elizabeth said:Her advice to aspiring writers: "...look up suitable agents and publishers in the Writers' and Artists' Yearbook and work your way through the list. It is boring advice, perhaps, but it worked for me."
The rough US equivalent would be the Writer's Market.
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Permalink Reply by Michael Sardone on
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Fame and celebrity sells just about anything, including books. I really don't mind celebrities telling their personal stories like how they were once addicted to heroin and then sobered up. But, when they start "writing" books on weight-loss, cancer cures or hormone balancing, etc... that's when I draw the line.
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"On the other hand, there are a few famous authors out there who have no talent BUT have been made so popular people will buy their work. Kind of sad, that." I can't think who you mean. Well I can but if I say it I'll get lynched by the Twilight fans. :D
Dairenna VonRavenstone said:if you're too good, people want to find out your secrets because no one's perfect. If you're bad, they want to see what you'll do next. Average is boring.
Well, unless someone else releases something in tandum with Tyra's book, hers will be pretty big. A lot of people like her, a lot of people like to hate her. It's that instant celebrity thing. And I doubt she'll be able to stay off a television series for very long. I'm with you for the six months...lol
As for the whole talent thing, I agree, only the really talented survive. Of course, King didn't have the selling power of his name when he first started but he gained it as he went along. Now if someone hears that he's releasing a new novel, they go buy it because they know he's that good. On the other hand, there are a few famous authors out there who have no talent BUT have been made so popular people will buy their work. Kind of sad, that.
The problem with publishing is marketing. Unless you can clamp onto a huge marketing engine, it doesn't matter how talented you are, you won't sell a lot (at first). Until you can get your work in front of a large group, you're going to remain unknown. But, like you said, if you're passionate, tenatious and work hard, it can be done. You just have to work that much harder to do it then those with a popular name.
All great authors come from out of nowhere (as well as a lot of the not-so-greats). Their success is then measured on their talent and their continued passion for the written word. If the masses begin to see a not-so-talented writer as not-so-talented, then that author eventually falls.
Kay Elizabeth said:Good point about being on either the so good or so bad end of the scale. Being in the middle isn't as interesting as being an extreme example of either.
If Tyra Banks book is the most talked about one of 2011, the literary world is in more trouble than I thought! :)
She's quitting her Tyra Banks show too she said. I'll give it six months maximum before we see a Modelland TV show start production from Tyra's own new production company, Bankable Studios. Starring her, of course. :)
Popular writers like King sell their books because their writing's superior. They didn't need a name to trampoline from. Talent will float to the top with a little help from good publishers and marketing skills. Sometimes writers make it that only have two out of three. Sadly some do with very little of the former.
Luck also comes into it and being in the right place at the right time. But if you're short of talent, your chances of success are slashed unless you're famous and have fans that would buy anything you put your name to.
But it still happens. You can be unknown and still sell. Look at J.K. Rowling. She came out from nowhere. The foundation for Harry Potter's world was written on a delayed train and she took years building it from there before she ever approaching a publisher. Above all else if you have passion for your book as well as talent, you can't help but succeed as long as you're tenacious, work hard and keep knocking on doors.
Dairenna VonRavenstone said:I think being famous helps to sell a book. If your name is recognized (good or bad) you're going to sell a book even if it is ghost-written or a...rather boring book. But, it helps to be on the good list...or the so bad/not liked that people are interested in finding something else to make fun of you with.
Tyra Banks' books will easily hit the bestseller's list even if they are boring or full of shoddy writing (nothing against Banks at all, she's decent enough). Personally, based on description, I probably won't pick it up. But, I would bet good money that it'll be the most talked about thing in 2011. And yes, people will automatically hate or like a book depending on the name of the celebrity, no matter how good the writing. if they hate the celebrity, they might not even pick it up to read in the first place. Onto of that, without fame, how do most authors (like King, Brown, Rice) make any sales in the first place?
You can't be unknown and sell. In order to hit it big, you have to become a celebrity. It's just the way it is nowadays.
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Agreed. Unless you have done it and can prove you have, it's little more than a product endorsement anyway. I like the stories that are honest and show celebs to be flawed like the rest of us. But I want to read about A-list stars that have careers that lasted longer than five minutes, not some kid who was a Mouseketeer in 1979 and went on to oblivion.
Michael Sardone said:Fame and celebrity sells just about anything, including books. I really don't mind celebrities telling their personal stories like how they were once addicted to heroin and then sobered up. But, when they start "writing" books on weight-loss, cancer cures or hormone balancing, etc... that's when I draw the line.
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Ah, the Twilight fans. I tried to read it...didn't make it half way into the first book because I got bored. Though, I do have to say, the naming of the saga was well done (Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, Breaking Dawn) so, she gets something for that.
I agree with you on your other comment, I'd rather read about the A-list stars then the nobodies. And big-time celebrities should stick to writing with what they know. Actually, Tyra is doing just that so I think her book may turn out half-decent.
scribbler said:"On the other hand, there are a few famous authors out there who have no talent BUT have been made so popular people will buy their work. Kind of sad, that." I can't think who you mean. Well I can but if I say it I'll get lynched by the Twilight fans. :D
Dairenna VonRavenstone said:
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