How many more famous people are going to write childrens' books?

[Roussette]

Sick to death of it, it's just a money making exercise and they are no better than someone who can actually write. It's only their name that is getting the book published and the writing could be crap.

Alison Steadman is on BBC1 now with her childrens book, yesterday was Harry Hill on with his book he's written. Madonna, Russell Brand, Katie Price, Frank Lampard, David Walliams, Cara Delevingne - the list goes on and on.

What about talented childrens authors who have to get by on their talent and not their name? I'm probably being U and grumpy

You do know that in many cases, the person doesn't write the book at all? A ghost writer pens the book and they put someone else's name to it to increase sales. The famous person tends to get at least half the money for donating their name. Walliams and Hill certainly wrote their own, I can't comment on the others but I'm pretty sure Katie Price has a ghost writer.

David Williams is good. Harry hill not bad.

I don't think Katie price even reads the books that go out under her name - I'm sure she acknowledged that somewhere.

I've no idea about the rest but it is depressing.

Touchy subject for me as I have a fabulously talented adult DD (I would say that being Mum!) who can actually write herself. She has got lots of followers on stuff she does but doubt she would get a book deal on her name only!

David Walliams is good

I don't doubt that some of them are good but I read somewhere that the sheer number of slebs writing childrens books is squeezing out childrens authors.

Dermot O'Leary just brought one out too.

Oh blimey him too! Would it be quicker to name slebs who aren't ?

The comedian writers are writers - David Baddiel, Julia Clary, David Walliams. Writing comedy, sketches etc shows that they do have writing ability and they've just transferred it into writing books for children.

Having said that, David Baddiel's stories are quite good, but his writing doesn't flow very well.

Isla Fisher’s stories are amazing, as are David Walliams.

*Julian Clary

I'm tired of this too. And I don't like the
David Walliams books. His attitude to women in those is unpleasant.

Arghhhh ... Chris Hoy too!

I've found the article and it says this... so true...

"But the balance of such deals remains tipped steeply towards the celebrity. Some are undoubtedly well crafted but others are little more than another addition to the personal brand, to go alongside the perfume, fitness DVD and fashion label.

Surely children’s books – which help form our outlook on life, which we carry into adulthood and old age – deserve better?"

I love David Walliams books. Tom Fletcher's are brilliant too!

But I do get where you're coming from. They're all at it these days and some of them really aren't that great.

I was just looking on a book selling site and noticed Jessica Ennis and one of the members of the pussycat dolls both have books out.

Even with ghost written books it can be annoying though, Shatner!

Some celeb (who hopefully has their OWN talent and profile) gets to make a significant cut of the profits for the talent of another person!

But the untalented people who get book deals because of their position are very depressing. Yes, that's how the world work, doesn't mean it doesn't suck and we can't complain about it.

I'm a writer (unpublished), and I'm currently reading Vince Cable's book for inspiration for my work. If I weren't reading it for a purpose, I'd have given up. I actually think that it's alarming how little an editor tackled it. Ditto Harry Potter and The Cursed Child. The characterisation is shockingly poor (I know it's not JKRs work, but I'd honestly be ashamed to put that next to the actual series with my name on it).

It's a bit like celebrity purfume, just a new bandwagon for them to jump on....soon you'll see David beckham bringing out a book🙄

I enjoy David William's and Tom Fletcher's books.

And even more annoying, famous mums who write books about parenting advice - I mean holly Willoughby give me a break!

Again, I enjoyed Giovanna Fletcher's book.

And lest we forget, dear Sarah Ferguson's much-loved Budgie the Helicopter. I fear there is a rich seam of mediocrity yet to be mined.

I agree. David Walliams, Harry Hill and Tom Fletcher are good. But the rest are pretty rotten. Funnily enough the books Madonna did were actually lovely too. They had really nice messages to them and she picked some extremely talented illustrators. I think she was one of the first to do it.

I was thinking the same yesterday, that children's writing is much the poorer because the future JK Rowlings and Philip Pullman's are being overlooked in favour of an easy buck.

Tim minchin has one out
And miranda Hart

It annoys me too.

DS likes David Williams but I find his books a bit creepy.

I'm a professional illustrator. Believe me, there's huge resentment out there at the moment amoungst very well known Children's Authors.

The only one that has respect is David Walliams. He's very much a part of the book world, turns up for publishing dos with us 'normal' book people and his books are good.

In fact I have just turned down the offer to illustrate a celebrity book. There was no percentage of royalties offered which is just not how things are normally done. Everyone's being shafted left right and centre except the celebrity.

Even the literary agents are getting very cats bum-faced about the whole thing.