‘Stranger Things’ actress Millie Bobby Brown’s publication of her first novel in 2023 has sparked renewed debate about how so-called “ghostwriters” are referred to.
As book lists become increasingly inexplicably populated with celebrities They abandoned their acting careersThe Writers’ Union wants the real authors of their books to be credited, as musicians and socialites are interested in literature.
when the actress in ‘Stranger Things’ Millie Bobby Brown published her first novel in 2023, sparking a new debate about how so-called “ghostwriters” are referred to.
His novel ‘Nineteen Steps’ a shoddy piece of historical fictionShe was linked to Bobby Brown through her grandmother’s experience of the Bethnal Green tube disaster in 1943, rather than the article itself.
In reality, ‘The Nineteen Steps’ was written by Kathleen McGurl. As a ghostwriter, McGurl’s name was removed from the credits so The name of the famous actor can promote the novel to bestseller lists.
Changing the author’s name is a common tactic
Bobby Brown isn’t the first to post this a book written by an anonymous author. Literary works written by celebrities are a common tactic for publishers to sell copies. The success of ‘The Nineteen Steps’ means a film adaptation is on the way, which is arguably the ultimate goal of any venture. Prince Harry was a very successful writer Thanks to its anonymous author who wrote his autobiography ‘The Substitute’.
Write engaging novels and memoirs It’s not an easy or quick job And rather than relying on a celebrity’s unproven literary skills, it’s much easier to hire a tried-and-true writer to fill their shoes.
Society of Authors (SoA) He points out that books written by celebrities for children are useful tools because “encouraging children to read in the digital age can be challenging, and celebrity names can help start a reading habit that has the potential to benefit the reader for a lifetime.” .
But SoA thinks it’s time to give ghostwriters credit the credit they deserve. Abbie Longstaff, Chair of SoA Children’s Writers and Illustrators Group, said: “A book isn’t just a package with charm. Creativity and well-honed craftsmanship make it special. It’s the real hand that makes the magic happen.” should be recognized and applauded“especially in an age where humans are at risk of being eclipsed by the generic and derivative consequences of AI robots.”
SoA president Vanessa Fox O’Loughlin (who writes under the pseudonym Sam Blake) reflects on the rugby player Johnny SextonHe mentioned ghostwriter Peter O’Reilly at the Irish Book Awards. “It was a wonderful moment where both the story and the words were celebrated,” he said.
“It’s time for ghostwriters Earn recognition for your challenging and highly skilled work” said Mark McCrum, co-author of singer Robbie Williams’ memoir ‘Somebody Someday.’
“A ‘with’ or byline on the inside page of the title is sufficient and is ideally associated with the named celebrity on any bestseller list,” McCrum said. “Publishers must understand that this, and the reasonable distribution of advances and royalties, is an incentive to encourage as good work as possible, as well as benefiting the readership. an honest explanation of how these books came to be“.
