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Daily Mirror
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Award-winning authors' fury at celebrities who don't write their own kids' books
Impossible Creatures author Katherine Rundell has criticised the 'high percentage' of children's books published under famous names that could have been ghost-written Katherine Rundell, the acclaimed author of Impossible Creatures, has criticised celebrities who use ghost-writers for not taking "sufficient care" with the children's books published under their names. The novelist, who clinched the Waterstones Book Of The Year title in 2023, suggested that "a high percentage" of celebrity-published books might be ghost-written, estimating the figure to be just shy of 50%. Speaking to BBC Radio 4's This Cultural Life, she expressed her frustration: "I think the thing that frustrates me most would be where people are publishing books that they have not themselves written". She continued, highlighting the lack of personal touch in such works: "Because, of course, there are many great comedians who could write great children's fiction, I'm sure, but if you are creating a children's book in the same way you would create a perfume or a series of steak knives, you are not giving it sufficient care." Rundell added her thoughts on the importance of authenticity in children's literature: "I think ghost-writing makes perfect sense for memoir, for non-fiction, but for fiction, when a child opens a story they should be entering a pact with you, that you will have thought of them and what they need, their desires, their drive." She warned of the potential negative impact of ghost-written books on young readers: "And if you break that pact, and if you flood the market with books that break that pact, you risk turning children off books." Rundell concluded with a stark message about the importance of genuine storytelling: "And to turn children off books is to turn them off the great history of ideas. Books are the place we have gone to set down our most bold and ambitious thought and to risk turning children off that, I think, is a stupidity for which we shouldn't be forgiven." When queried on the proportion of children's books that are ghost-written, she estimated: "I don't know. A high percentage, probably less than half, but not that much less." Rundell achieved recognition winning the Costa Children's Book Award in 2017 for her novel The Explorer. She then scooped up the Blue Peter Best Story Award in 2014 for her book Rooftoppers. Her literary contributions to children's fiction also encompass titles such as One Christmas Wish (2017) and Skysteppers (2021). Readers are highly anticipating release of The Poisoned King, which is set to succeed Impossible Creatures (2023). Help us improve our content by completing the survey below. We'd love to hear from you!
Glasgow Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Celebrities are not putting enough care into their children's books, says author
The novelist, who won Waterstones Book Of The Year in 2023, said that 'a high percentage' of books published by famous people could have been ghost-written, estimating that the figure could fall just below 50%. 'I think the thing that frustrates me most would be where people are publishing books that they have not themselves written,' she told BBC Radio 4's This Cultural Life. 'Because, of course, there are many great comedians who could write great children's fiction, I'm sure, but if you are creating a children's book in the same way you would create a perfume or a series of steak knives, you are not giving it sufficient care.' Katherine Rundell attending the Costa Book of The Year Awards 2017 (Ian West/PA) She added: 'I think ghost-writing makes perfect sense for memoir, for non-fiction, but for fiction, when a child opens a story they should be entering a pact with you, that you will have thought of them and what they need, their desires, their drive. 'And if you break that pact, and if you flood the market with books that break that pact, you risk turning children off books. 'And to turn children off books is to turn them off the great history of ideas. Books are the place we have gone to set down our most bold and ambitious thought and to risk turning children off that, I think, is a stupidity for which we shouldn't be forgiven.' Asked, anecdotally, if she knows the proportion of children's books that are ghost-written, she said: 'I don't know. A high percentage, probably less than half, but not that much less.' Rundell won the Costa Children's Book Award in 2017 for her book The Explorer and the Blue Peter Best Story Award in 2014 for Rooftoppers. Her other children's books include One Christmas Wish (2017), Skysteppers (2021), and her forthcoming book The Poisoned King, a follow-up to Impossible Creatures (2023).
Powys County Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Powys County Times
Celebrities are not putting enough care into their children's books, says author
Impossible Creatures author Katherine Rundell has said celebrities who use ghost-writers are not giving 'sufficient care' to the children's books they have published in their name. The novelist, who won Waterstones Book Of The Year in 2023, said that 'a high percentage' of books published by famous people could have been ghost-written, estimating that the figure could fall just below 50%. 'I think the thing that frustrates me most would be where people are publishing books that they have not themselves written,' she told BBC Radio 4's This Cultural Life. 'Because, of course, there are many great comedians who could write great children's fiction, I'm sure, but if you are creating a children's book in the same way you would create a perfume or a series of steak knives, you are not giving it sufficient care.' She added: 'I think ghost-writing makes perfect sense for memoir, for non-fiction, but for fiction, when a child opens a story they should be entering a pact with you, that you will have thought of them and what they need, their desires, their drive. 'And if you break that pact, and if you flood the market with books that break that pact, you risk turning children off books. 'And to turn children off books is to turn them off the great history of ideas. Books are the place we have gone to set down our most bold and ambitious thought and to risk turning children off that, I think, is a stupidity for which we shouldn't be forgiven.' Asked, anecdotally, if she knows the proportion of children's books that are ghost-written, she said: 'I don't know. A high percentage, probably less than half, but not that much less.' Rundell won the Costa Children's Book Award in 2017 for her book The Explorer and the Blue Peter Best Story Award in 2014 for Rooftoppers.
North Wales Chronicle
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- North Wales Chronicle
Celebrities are not putting enough care into their children's books, says author
The novelist, who won Waterstones Book Of The Year in 2023, said that 'a high percentage' of books published by famous people could have been ghost-written, estimating that the figure could fall just below 50%. 'I think the thing that frustrates me most would be where people are publishing books that they have not themselves written,' she told BBC Radio 4's This Cultural Life. 'Because, of course, there are many great comedians who could write great children's fiction, I'm sure, but if you are creating a children's book in the same way you would create a perfume or a series of steak knives, you are not giving it sufficient care.' She added: 'I think ghost-writing makes perfect sense for memoir, for non-fiction, but for fiction, when a child opens a story they should be entering a pact with you, that you will have thought of them and what they need, their desires, their drive. 'And if you break that pact, and if you flood the market with books that break that pact, you risk turning children off books. 'And to turn children off books is to turn them off the great history of ideas. Books are the place we have gone to set down our most bold and ambitious thought and to risk turning children off that, I think, is a stupidity for which we shouldn't be forgiven.' Asked, anecdotally, if she knows the proportion of children's books that are ghost-written, she said: 'I don't know. A high percentage, probably less than half, but not that much less.' Rundell won the Costa Children's Book Award in 2017 for her book The Explorer and the Blue Peter Best Story Award in 2014 for Rooftoppers. Her other children's books include One Christmas Wish (2017), Skysteppers (2021), and her forthcoming book The Poisoned King, a follow-up to Impossible Creatures (2023).
South Wales Argus
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Celebrities are not putting enough care into their children's books, says author
The novelist, who won Waterstones Book Of The Year in 2023, said that 'a high percentage' of books published by famous people could have been ghost-written, estimating that the figure could fall just below 50%. 'I think the thing that frustrates me most would be where people are publishing books that they have not themselves written,' she told BBC Radio 4's This Cultural Life. 'Because, of course, there are many great comedians who could write great children's fiction, I'm sure, but if you are creating a children's book in the same way you would create a perfume or a series of steak knives, you are not giving it sufficient care.' Katherine Rundell attending the Costa Book of The Year Awards 2017 (Ian West/PA) She added: 'I think ghost-writing makes perfect sense for memoir, for non-fiction, but for fiction, when a child opens a story they should be entering a pact with you, that you will have thought of them and what they need, their desires, their drive. 'And if you break that pact, and if you flood the market with books that break that pact, you risk turning children off books. 'And to turn children off books is to turn them off the great history of ideas. Books are the place we have gone to set down our most bold and ambitious thought and to risk turning children off that, I think, is a stupidity for which we shouldn't be forgiven.' Asked, anecdotally, if she knows the proportion of children's books that are ghost-written, she said: 'I don't know. A high percentage, probably less than half, but not that much less.' Rundell won the Costa Children's Book Award in 2017 for her book The Explorer and the Blue Peter Best Story Award in 2014 for Rooftoppers. Her other children's books include One Christmas Wish (2017), Skysteppers (2021), and her forthcoming book The Poisoned King, a follow-up to Impossible Creatures (2023).
