Celebrity authors

There seems to be a deluge of celebrity authors entering the world of crime fiction, some of whom are writing their own books, and some of whom might not be. What are your thoughts on the celebrity author phenomenon, including those utilizing ghosts?

by Dietrich

When I think of celebrity authors, Dick Francis comes to mind. He started out as a champion steeplechase jockey before he penned his first novel Dead Cert back in ’62. The Atlantic Monthly called him “the best thriller writer going.” And his novels went on to top just about every international booklist.

Funny man Steve Allen was one of those celebrities who seemed like he could do it all. The former Tonight Show host (going back before Johnny Carson’s time) wrote some fifty books, nine of them mysteries, and all revolving around himself as the main character. Allen added mystery author to a resume that already hailed him as a highly-regarded comedian, radio personality and talk-show host. He even won a grammy for a jazz album. 

J.K. Rowling became a household name for her writing prowess through the Harry Potter books, later entering into mystery writing as Robert Galbraith, penning the Cormoran Strike series.  

And Stephen King started out by scaring the hell out of us, then went on to add some amazing crime novels to the mix.

Recently, there have been more and more mystery novels showing up on the shelves penned by celebrities. The Thursday Murder Club was Richard Osman’s debut novel in 2020 that went on to sell a million copies and launched the series that’s still going strong.

And politicians have been getting into the game too. Britain’s former labour MP, Alan Johnson, has written several installments in his Detective Louise Mangan series: The Late Train to Gypsy Hill, One of Our Ministers is Missing, and Death on the Thames.

Then there was Seventy-Two Virgins by Britain’s Boris Johnson, written in 2016. And Britain’s former deputy leader of the opposition Tom Watson put out his thriller The House, co-written with Imogen Robertson.

Then came political journalist Robert Preston’s thriller The Whistleblower, released in 2021.

And ghostwriting or collaborating with a celebrity is nothing new, something that would appeal to a publisher and readers alike based on the celebrity’s fame. Hilary Clinton and Louise Penny; Bill Clinton with James Patterson come to mind. I mean if you’re going to take an insider’s look into the world of politics and/or the White House, who better than someone who’s been there, right?

Well, we writers probably would all want to be rock stars, so fair is fair. Jimmy Buffett’s written bestselling books for children, a collection of short stories and his novel Where Is Joe Merchant?

Leonard Cohen wrote poetry collections as well as two outstanding novels, The Favourite Game in ’63, and Beautiful Losers in ’66. 

The Doors Ray Manzarek wrote a couple of novels: The Poet in Exile in 2002, and Snake Moon in 2006.

Woody Guthrie wrote the truly amazing House of Earth, a novel of hardship set during the great depression. Nick Cave had written several novels, and Dolly Parton has written everything from novels, cookbooks, children’s books, autobiographies, to collections of poetry. Pete Quaife, founding member of the Kinks wrote a couple of novel semi-autobiographical novels. 

Others musicians who’ve written novels include Richard Hell, and Morrissey, Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickenson, Steve Earle, John Darneille from the Mountain Goats, Colin Meloy, and I’m sure there are more to add to the list.

Other celebrities who have written novels include Steve Martin, Ethan Hawke, Hilary Duff, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bella Thorne, Lauren Graham, Chris Harrison, Britney Spears, Hugh Laurie, and the Kardashian sisters.  

I may reach a celebrity author’s book from a store or library shelf out of curiosity. And like any book, I’ll read the first few pages and if I get engaged in it, then I’ll just keep right on reading.