In Praise of Celebrity Authors
Picture Credit: Author's own
Not a headline I thought I’d ever write. Apologies if you've just choked on your cornflakes or sprayed your laptop with hot coffee. I know, and I'm with you.
Whenever I’m at the supermarket, my eyes get drawn to the selection of books their buyers choose to stock. I don’t know why I do this, because I’ve never bought a book there; I prefer to support bookshops. More than that, though, I’m always irritated by the relentless increase of celebrity authors. I’m not referring to those who have become famous by selling a ton of books, but to celebrities from other fields who suddenly ‘discover’ a hidden talent for casually knocking out best sellers in their spare time. I don’t know which of these books have been ghostwritten without credit, but it’s no secret that among them are those who penned no more than their names on the publishing contracts. Apologies to all the celebrity authors reading this who I’ve just offended. Send me the proof that you’re the real deal, and I’ll happily publish a correction excluding you from my scurrilous generalisation.
I expect this trend will only continue to grow, but other
than irritating me whilst I gather my groceries, it makes no difference to me. The
fact is, celebrity sells, business is business, and it can only be
good for those making a living from ghostwriting.
Earlier this month, I had the chance to go to a book launch. I’ve never been to one before, but as launches go, I’m sure it was bigger than most. A combination of The Greatest Story Ever Told and a celebrity author drew the crowds on a tropically hot night in central London.
If you haven’t heard about this new book, it’s billed as “the
incredible true story about a Galilean stonemason who changed the course of
history forever. Told through the firsthand accounts of those who knew him
best, this real-life journey will stay with you long after the final page.”
At the end of the launch evening, the author predicted it would reach
the Sunday Times bestseller list in its first week of publication. A bold statement,
but the action man himself was right. It's now at number one. What do you think... would the story of
Jesus have hit the bestseller list without the aid of a celebrity?
For absolute clarity, I don’t know how this book got written and what
the balance was between Bear Grylls and all the others behind the scenes. What
I do know is that Bear spoke with engaging honesty about his faith and motivation
for writing the book. The only ambition was to get people reading about Jesus
in an accessible way. His co-author was present at the launch too, but gets no mention
on the cover, and he seemed fine with that. Maybe that’s because this book isn’t
about ego or recognition. Neither is it about the bank account of the celebrity
who’s been fronting the media interviews since publication day. It’s unashamedly
about the business of ‘selling’ the good news of Jesus, and at this moment, it’s
in the hands of many people across the globe because of a celebrity name on the
cover. That’s okay with me. Wouldn’t it be great to see this in supermarkets
everywhere?
Hi David, yes I agree. Bear seems like a genuinely nice person, so I see no reason why he shouldn't be promoting the Kingdom through writing books. I agree with you about celebrity books in general. I have seen some dreadful ones. Wasn't it a well-known chef who made a terrible faux-pas by insulting a whole nation of people in his recent attempt to pen a children's book? Celebrities as a rule are probably better off sticking to what they do best, whether it's cooking or acting. Mind you, I am a bit of a fan of Celia Imrie. I enjoyed listening to an audiobook of one of her novels, but I don't know if she had a ghost-writer. Possibly. Some people are just genuine polymaths. It's annoying, but there you are.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jane, that's appreciated.
DeleteLovely post, David. Thanks. I've never heard of Bear before. By the sound of it, the launch was quite unique and interesting! I sure like Bear's courage and enthusiasm. Being a celebrity makes a difference. I feel motivated to read the book. Thanks for sharing about it. Blessings.
ReplyDeleteThanks Olusola, the book is going to be part of 'The Big Church Read' later in the year so it will receive a lot of attention.
DeleteThere is an article about Bear Grylls in this month's 'Christianity' magazine and his photo is on the cover. All part of the promotion for the book I'm sure, and my mother has ordered a copy after reading the article. I have to admit I am taken aback by Bear's reported conversation with his publishers when he woke up one day and knew he was going to write 'The Greatest Story Ever Told': "It's going to be the biggest-selling book in history" (after the Bible and the Quran). How's that for confidence? He says that he wrote it in the jungle whilst filming Bear Hunt, and he was writing all night, the words just pouring out. At no point in the interview does he mention a co-author. Which is interesting. I have similar misgivings about 'celebrity' authors who turn to writing, but to be fair, Bear has already written 100 books apparently, so his credentials as an author are well-established.
ReplyDeleteThanks Margaret, it would be amazing if the sales were as big as that!
ReplyDeleteThanks David. On the broader notes about celebrities 'writing' books, I've read some great autobiographies (probably playing with the diffuse borderland between ghost/co-writers and talented editors) and some terribly average novels by well-known figures. But, hey!, if someone has the urge to write, welcome aboard the impostor syndrome train calling at a station near you! As for Bear Grylls' TGSET, I'll certainly give it a read. And I'm sure that many of us will buy a copy to give to xyz in our attempts to direct their gaze and wonder back to Jesus.
ReplyDeleteThanks John, yes most successful books have had a great deal of help - editors, advisors, proof readers and so on who are rarely credited. I hope many people read TGSET.
ReplyDelete