tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298101854573683066.post1404199031852584726..comments2023-12-06T00:29:38.511-08:00Comments on Blethering Boys: Celebrities writing children's fiction; what's wrong with it?Blethering boyshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15634522937681092922noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298101854573683066.post-50069081981602141632014-04-19T09:11:46.868-07:002014-04-19T09:11:46.868-07:00Madonna said that? Wow! i just lost any respect ...Madonna said that? Wow! i just lost any respect I had for her (which wasn't a lot). What a horrible thing to say - has she never READ anything? I am shocked!<br /><br />I think you are right about judging them individually. It's so difficult though - celeb writers are given so many privileges marketing-wise, where real talented writers, like yourself Tanita, have to fight for the right! I suppose this is where my problem with it really lies.Blethering boyshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15634522937681092922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298101854573683066.post-59429883668417554932014-04-18T17:33:11.332-07:002014-04-18T17:33:11.332-07:00As a writer myself, I'm still SO ON THE FENCE ...As a writer myself, I'm still SO ON THE FENCE about this one. I try and be fair, truly, and not judge a book before I've read it, but honestly, once Madonna said that there were "no books" for her girl to read, so <i>she had to write one herself</i> I was hoping I'd never be in the same room with her or I'd have to give her a swift kick.<br /><br />Julie Andrews can WRITE. Madonna? Cannot. I just make value judgements as I go, and try not to turn other people off of celeb books... but I do mumble some and grit my teeth. ☺tanita✿davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01671822274852087499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298101854573683066.post-62515208682949586142014-04-08T12:09:08.752-07:002014-04-08T12:09:08.752-07:00Thanks Camilla.
I've noticed the dearth of c...Thanks Camilla. <br />I've noticed the dearth of cookbooks too. And adult fiction - Fern Britton, Julian Clary and Alan Titchmarsh cashing it in. Which is fine - they obviously have something to say. Cookbooks though - I guess it's a way of selling more stuff.<br />Commercialism is depressing isn't it/ I guess it makes the world go round and opens up the creative sphere to more folk, but it's stifling at times.Blethering boyshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15634522937681092922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298101854573683066.post-71547755491825562592014-04-08T12:06:26.881-07:002014-04-08T12:06:26.881-07:00I suspect there are many ghost writers out there M...I suspect there are many ghost writers out there Mike, all probably very good writers in their own respect, writing for celebs. It must be soul-destroying to have to pose as someone else to get someone to read your work! Although, better than nothing I suppose.<br />Blethering boyshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15634522937681092922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298101854573683066.post-60370235006077219472014-04-08T12:03:16.031-07:002014-04-08T12:03:16.031-07:00A very interesting piece! It's not just childr...A very interesting piece! It's not just children's fiction but the world of cookbooks has been infiltrated by celebrities too, sadly it's the laws of economics which dominate and that's just the way of the world. If I brought out a cookbook tomorrow hardly a soul would buy it but my class mate from school who is now famous has 3 books out, yet it was me who won the school prize for Home-economics! As long as people are good enough to be where they end up then that's ok but if someone has ghost written a celebrity's book then that is shameful cashing in and should really not be allowed whether it's for children or grown-ups!<br />David Walliams is so good he even gets me reading and I've never been a reader as the books that my school put in front of me were so boring there really was no incentive:-) But as Jacqueline said he's famous for writing and not just a celebrity who's picked up a pen!Fab Food 4 Allhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15217079830264499053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298101854573683066.post-41639664732630256842014-04-08T10:43:28.310-07:002014-04-08T10:43:28.310-07:00I guess I find it hard to see the difference betwe...I guess I find it hard to see the difference between the 'fluff' titles that make up a lot of children's series at the mo, and celebrity writers - they're all trying to achieve the same thing; make more money! A lot of the writing is formulaic and there's no real depth to it. i think that's what i associate celeb writing with - because it's just another part of their 'brand', and that brand isn't about doing something for the love of it, it's about peddling their worth for as long as people will buy it!Blethering boyshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15634522937681092922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298101854573683066.post-85621088772155945602014-04-08T10:40:43.544-07:002014-04-08T10:40:43.544-07:00That makes perfect sense Charlotte, and a good poi...That makes perfect sense Charlotte, and a good point. I think consumerism sometimes gets in the way of truly great work.<br />Think of all the artists who dies poor, but now their paintings sell for millions, simply because they weren't the 'fashion' at the time. Imagine never knowing how much your work is appreciated because it never got a chance in your lifetime! There is a huge difference between people who love what they do and folk who are just out to cash in on something. I think it's easy to tell - especially among children's fiction.Blethering boyshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15634522937681092922noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298101854573683066.post-27398744033797508772014-04-08T08:35:34.116-07:002014-04-08T08:35:34.116-07:00> we can send Jo Rowling off to the jungle to s...> we can send Jo Rowling off to the jungle to sleep in the dirt and eat locusts.<br /><br />Hasn't she actually done this, or some similar celebrity self-publicity prog?<br /><br />On the subject of celebrity authors though, how many of them actually write the stories themselves as opposed to having someone who knows what they're doing 'ghost' the story for them? It's that I object to. Apart from that objection, as you say what does it matter what else the writer is famous for if it gets kids interested in reading?Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05530946073882154423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298101854573683066.post-58231255095276548392014-04-08T08:10:58.022-07:002014-04-08T08:10:58.022-07:00I think it is a case of feeling sceptical about ho...I think it is a case of feeling sceptical about how good these celebrities will be. David Walliams is a slightly different case as he peddles humour and was already a writer before writing childrens books, so the key ingredients and experience was there, but for many it is simply another thing to do and yes they do get all the fabulous publicity and smaller publishers may not have the budget to spend on their authors, so they will be popular through mass exposure and the recognition factor. I would have to read each individually to decide, but I will remain sceptical.Jacqueline Meldrumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05748535381400208316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3298101854573683066.post-40374319937215591372014-04-07T14:14:10.296-07:002014-04-07T14:14:10.296-07:00This is a really great post. I've never really...This is a really great post. I've never really thought about it much I think authors who are genuinely passionate about writing children's books become the 'greats', the books we never forget, the books that you read at school and do book reports on... I feel like... I would rather spend money on books written by those who are doing it for the love, than for those who may be doing it for the love but who knows because they do so much else that has nothing to do with children or books! I hope that makes some kind of sense!Charlottehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15439365563353707864noreply@blogger.com