re celebrities getting children's book deals

[Quipsandquotes]

I know the occasional one, like David Walliams, really does have a flair. But I've seen so many children's books, written by celebs., that are at best average but get massive publicity because of who's written them.

AIBU to find it a bit depressing that so many talented writers struggle to get published and then have to watch someone who excels in a completely different field be handed a publishing contract just because of who they are?

Aleesha Dixon. FFS. As if 7 year olds are begging for a book 'written' by her.

It’s extremely depressing. I think there are a few exceptions who probably would have got published if they’d not been celebs. David Walliams and David Baddeal (sp?) are two that spring to mind, but both of them have been writing scrips for decades so they do have talent. It’s questionable whether they would have sold as many copies without being household names though, especially Walliams who seems to have become one of the most successful children’s authors currently writing.

On the other end of the scale Katie Price never even pretends she writes her own stuff, she’s always been upfront about using ghost writers.

I don't know though, as pp pointed out still gaps in the market for zlebs to elbow their way in. Jordan and David Walliams in Antony and Cleopatra at the RSC? Has a certain appeal.

And maybe Holly Willoughby would like to have a go at being Prima Ballerina with the Royal Ballet.

*You see members of boy and girl bands being offered roles in soap operas that trained actors would kill for; and models or reality stars being offered TV presenting work over other people who have trained and trudged around auditions and taken unpaid work, and worked for small local stations.

These celebs would also have trudged around auditons prior to making it so that doesn't really make sense.

Giovanna Fletcher is one 'author' who does my head in. If she had not been married to Tom from McFly

That's a really unfair thing to say and entirely an assumption.

Oh god, yes to Giovanna Fletcher. Awful books, so smug, has a book out on parenting and has only been a parent for what? 5? 6 years? Absolutely ridiculous.

Raking in money yet being sent free stuff left, right and centre that could go to people who don't have anything. Urgh, just horrible.

Lifesabeach

I think the OP meant that they had trudged around to auditions in that particular field, which those who are successful in a completely different field just get to stroll in through the back door.

I really wouldn't put David Walliams in the "talented" category. We got gifted his books and The Slightly Annoying Elephant in particular is so godawful that I had to get it out of the house before I had a conniption. It's like someone decided to rewrite The Tiger Who Came To Tea whilst deliberately extracting everything that was good about it.

He mightn't be a great writer, but he definitely has something. Kids just love his books and his name is rarely off the bestseller list. I have never seen a celeb writer achieve the popularity he has. Usually they make a few quick and easy bucks for the publishing company and you never hear of them again.

Jameela Jamil- Radio Dj/tv presenter with no dramatic background whatsoever, now a series regular in a show starring Ted Danson and Kristen Bell.

Jameela Jamil- Radio Dj/tv presenter with no dramatic background whatsoever, now a series regular in a show starring Ted Danson and Kristen Bell.

A) she still had to audition, b) she's amazing (do you watch it?) Yes, I'm sure she had an easier time getting a job than an unknown would have, but I don't think it was the injustice of the century, given how she is killing in the role.

There was actually an interesting article about this in the Guardian recently.

www.theguardian.com/books/2017/oct/02/childrens-authors-slam-celebrity-heavy-world-book-day-lineup