Keanu and co: how celebrities became bestselling novelists

From Richard Osman and Millie Bobby Brown to the upcoming book by Keanu Reeves, celebrity novels are everywhere. What’s behind the boom? And how do non-famous writers feel about it?I understood that if I was going to do it, I would have to put 100% of myself into it,” says Richard Osman about writing his debut crime novel The Thursday Murder Club, which was an immediate bestseller when it was published in 2020. He had attempted a novel before, but “I wasn’t giving it everything, I had too much on. And this was the first time where I thought: No, I’m able to focus on this for a couple of years now.” Osman’s agent, Juliet Mushens, adds: “He told me he was working on a novel, but he didn’t want to show it to anyone until he finished the whole thing.” When he did, “we did a couple of drafts and submitted it to publishers”. The rest is history: since The Thursday Murder Club was released, Osman has published three further novels and sold more than 10m books worldwide.He is the most successful example of a phenomenon that is more prominent than ever: the celebrity novelist. Of course, famous people have written novels for decades – from Alan Titchmarsh to Ben Elton. And the children’s market has become saturated with celebrities, including David Walliams, Geri Halliwell-Horner, Paul McCartney and Jamie Oliver. But sales of adult fiction by celebrities have remained relatively low, until recently. According to Nielsen BookScan data, in 2018 the Top 100 paperback fiction... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2024-01-13 09:00:12 UTC ]
News tagged with: #geri halliwell-horner #paul mccartney #jamie oliver #adult fiction #celebrity author #tom hanks #including books #dolly parton #novelists #nielsen bookscan #upcoming book

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The week's bestselling books, Oct. 29

Southern California Independent Bookstore Bestsellers list for Sunday, October 29 Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2023-10-25 13:00:39 UTC ]
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This Week's Bestsellers: October 23, 2023

The #10 book in the county is 'Killers of the Flower Moon,' David Grann’s 2017 true crime narrative turned Martin Scorsese–helmed film. Plus Bob "Better Call Saul" Odenkirk makes his children's book debut a family affair, and a trio of new cookbooks pepper our hardcover nonfiction list. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-10-20 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Heartland Fall Forum 2023: Honoring Booksellers, Celebrating Bookselling

Heartland Fall Forum, the last regional gathering of booksellers this year, kicked off yesterday with what promises to be a high energy show that drew 547 booksellers, authors, and exhibitors to Detroit for networking, education, and an opening night party at Third Man Records. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-10-19 04:00:00 UTC ]
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The week's bestselling books, Oct. 22

Southern California Independent Bookstore Bestsellers list for Sunday, October 22 Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2023-10-18 13:00:44 UTC ]
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27 of the Bestselling Manga of All Time

These bestselling manga series have sold tens of millions — and sometimes hundreds of millions — of copies worldwide! Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-10-17 10:34:00 UTC ]
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This Week's Bestsellers: October 16, 2023

'Icebreaker' author Hannah Grace has the #1 book in the country and it's selling like 'Wildfire.' Plus Alix E. Harrow's 'Starling House' is the October Reese's Book Club pick, and Le Bernadin owner and chef Eric Ripert makes 'Seafood Simple.' Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-10-13 04:00:00 UTC ]
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September Religion Bestsellers: Jonathan Cahn Returns; ‘The Stranger’ Stays

Biblical prophecy author Jonathan Cahn’s latest title, ‘The Josiah Manifesto,’ takes #1 on PW’s Religion Nonfiction Bestsellers list. In fiction, ‘The Stranger in the Lifeboat’ by Mitch Albom remains at the top. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-10-11 04:00:00 UTC ]
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This Week's Bestsellers: October 9, 2023

Emily Wilson's translation of Homer's 'The Iliad' takes the #9 spot on our hardcover fiction list. Plus children's book favorites including Peter Brown's Wild Robot and Abby Hanlon's Dory Fantasmagory return. (Percy Jackson's back, too!) Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-10-06 04:00:00 UTC ]
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This Week's Bestsellers: October 2, 2023

Seven years after debuting with 'The Nix,' Nathan Hill returns with 'Wellness.' Plus Ava Reid, author of two dark fantasy novels for adults, makes a YA foray with 'A Study in Drowning,' and John Scalzi subverts classic supervillain tropes with 'Starter Villains.' Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-09-29 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Bestselling author Naomi Wood wins 2023 BBC national short story award

The UEA creative writing lecturer won for Comorbidities, which judging chair Reeta Chakrabarti called a ‘sparkling gem’ that tackles serious issues with a ‘light and wry touch’• Read the story belowNaomi Wood has won the 2023 BBC national short story award for Comorbidities, a story about a... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-09-26 19:00:36 UTC ]
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This Week's Bestsellers: September 25, 2023

Actor Matthew McConaughey has the #7 book in the country with the children's title 'Just Because,' illustrated by Renée Kurilla. Plus Lauren Groff heads into 'The Vaster Wilds,' and Reese's Book Club taps Nina Simon's debut, 'Mother-Daughter Murder Night.' Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-09-22 04:00:00 UTC ]
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‘I didn’t think it was possible to be a novelist’: Julian Barnes on literature, loss – and his late friend Martin Amis

The Booker winning author talks about how his most recent work was inspired by Hilary Mantel, and the way the books world has changed since his debut was published more than 40 years agoToo many people have been dying lately,” Julian Barnes reflects over the phone from his home in north London.... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-09-16 08:00:25 UTC ]
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This Week's Bestsellers: September 18, 2023

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[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-09-15 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Debut novel by Millie Bobby Brown reignites debate over ghostwritten celebrity books

Publishing figures defend Stranger Things star’s book, Nineteen Steps, after this week’s publication ignites criticism on social mediaThe publication of Stranger Things star Millie Bobby Brown’s debut novel has reignited a debate over ghostwritten celebrity books.Brown’s Nineteen Steps, inspired... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-09-14 10:56:45 UTC ]
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Opus & Olives Library Fundraiser Celebrates 20 Years

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[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-09-14 04:00:00 UTC ]
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August Religion Bestsellers: ‘The Artist’s Way’ Tops, ‘The Stranger’ Lives On

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[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-09-13 04:00:00 UTC ]
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This Week's Bestsellers: September 11, 2023

The #1 book in the country is 'The Brothers Hawthorne,' fourth in the Inheritance Games series by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. #2, 'Assistant to the Villain,' grew out of author Hannah Nicole Maehrer’s TikTok skits, and another BookTok favorite, Freida McFadden, debuts at #6 in the country with 'The... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-09-08 04:00:00 UTC ]
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This Week's Bestsellers: September 4, 2023

TikTok phenom Mercury Stardust has the #1 book in the country with the home maintenance manual 'Safe and Sound.' Plus Adalyn Grace's YA fantasy 'Foxglove' takes the #1 spot on our children's fiction list, and Max Miller's 'Tasting History' returns to our hardcover nonfiction list. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-09-01 04:00:00 UTC ]
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This Week's Bestsellers: August 28, 2023

Regional favorites include a sporty self-help title and back-to-school stalwarts. Plus 'Rabbit Hutch' author Tess Gunty shows 'CBS Sunday Morning' viewers around her hometown. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

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This Week's Bestsellers: August 21, 2023

Hanya Yanagihara’s 2015 novel, A Little Life, is having a very good 2023, thanks in part to a little BookTok love. Plus James McBride stocks up at 'The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store,' and Dav Pilkey's 11th Dog Man title gets a boost after #12 is announced. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

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