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Hi Libby and @janette.
Here below is a copy of my original letter to the society of authors.
I think that a “Christmas appeal” letter, encouraging readers and book-buyers to support ordinary authors by avoiding celebrity titles would be great! I’ve been chatting loads about this issue in my various writing networks, so I think that if we were able to put a well-worded letter together, they would be plenty of appetite for sharing this all over social media.

While the society of authors *are* looking into the issue, they are definitely not going to be taking any concrete action before Christmas! But I think an author-led Christmas appeal letter would be a great way to keep the issue high on people’s radar and be a way of keeping the pressure up to push for change. I think it would be good if the letter could be worded in a way that is inclusive of both traditionally-published authors (big five or indie presses) and self published authors.

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Dear Society of Authors,

I am writing to you about the increasing number of fiction books published under the names of celebrity authors, and to share my concern that this publishing practice is beginning to have a direct effect on the livelihoods and opportunities of the professional authors you represent.

I’m raising my concerns in the context of a) an increasing number of celebrity fiction titles being published each year (or even each month) (https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/jan/13/keanu-and-co-how-celebrities-became-bestselling-novelists) and b) the recent 2022 ALCS survey showing that median author earnings were just £7,000 pa, a drop of 60% since 2006 (https://societyofauthors.org/2022/12/06/a-profession-struggling-to-sustain-itself/)

I am a traditionally-published author, with four titles released with a Big Five publisher. I am currently out of contract and seeking a new publishing deal. I believe that the preponderance of celebrity books threatens professional authors’ livelihoods and opportunities in a number of ways.

Firstly (and this is my primary issue), it is a well-known industry “secret” that a great number celebrity books are entirely ghostwritten; however, readers are rarely aware of this fact, due to a concerted lack of transparency.

Ghostwriting can be a valid option in certain contexts (for example, producing a memoir for someone without natural writing skills who nonetheless has an important personal narrative to share). However, the lack of transparency about ghostwritten fiction gives the impression that writing is quick, easy and requires little expertise or hard work. This could not be further from the truth. For example this 2010 survey indicated that the median time it took an aspiring author to secure their debut publishing deal was 10 years (https://www.jimchines.com/2010/03/survey-results/). Producing each publishable manuscript typically takes an author hundreds, if not thousands, of hours of work.

Given evidence that readers are becoming less and less willing to pay full price for the books they purchase (https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/oct/18/even-bestselling-authors-are-under-threat-from-dwindling-incomes), anything that further devalues and cheapens books or the work of authors is of serious concern. In my view, lack of transparency about ghostwritten celebrity novels devalues the expertise, talent and work of professional authors, making their books appear easily-produced and of little overall worth.

My second point relates to the sales, marketing and promotional opportunities available to professional authors when celebrity titles are preferred and prioritised.

In general, celebrities (almost by definition) already have large established platforms from which to promote their work or products. In general, non-celebrity authors are looking to their publishers to provide these opportunities for them (typically in return for the larger cut of royalties the publisher will take compared to those the author receives).

The hope (expectation?) is that publishers will secure promotional opportunities via things like festival panels, newspaper reviews, or even TV shows such as Between the Covers. Such opportunities certainly exist, however the competition for these is extremely high and when these opportunities to go to celebrities (who may or may not have even written a book), “ordinary“ authors cannot help but lose out.

Additionally (as the article “Promotional Problems“ in your most recent edition of The Author magazine points out), these days authors are expected to do more and more of the labour of promotion by themselves. When this is the case, most authors don’t stand a chance of competing with the reach and influence of a celebrity, creating a drastically unfair playing field.

Similarly, we are all aware that sales slots such as supermarket shelf space have been seriously squeezed in recent years. Securing a slot in Sainsbury’s, WHSmith or Waterstones can make or break a book’s success. When these slots are allocated to celebrity books, again non-celebrity authors cannot but lose out. Furthermore, if a publisher chooses to invest more of their marketing budget in a celebrity title, that title is likely to do better than a book that has had minimal marketing spend. Publishers can then convince themselves that it is celebrity titles (only) which “sell“, in a self-fulfilling prophecy.

In general, authors are the first people to encourage and support someone who wishes to write and publish a book. As you will know, we are typically a very generous bunch 🤗

However, my worry is that the increasing number of (ghostwritten) celebrity titles devalues books and disrupts any sense of level playing field, making it harder and harder for ordinary writers — most of whom already earn below minimum wage — to make a living or a career out of their writing work.

This is of a special concern for writers who may already be poorly-represented in the industry, for example those from working-class backgrounds or from minority groups. Many writers simply cannot afford to be professional authors. I am concerned that the publishing industry’s increasing focus on celebrity titles will make the wonderful job of professional author increasingly unviable and inaccessible for talented yet ordinary writers, and in the long run do significant damage to the reputation and resilience of the publishing industry as a whole.

(This is to say nothing of the impact on author morale and mental health when it can feel that our blood, sweat, tears and talent is overlooked in favour of the someone who has “written a book” by doing no more than handing a ghostwriter an idea.)

I don’t require a reply to this email, but I’d be grateful if the Society might consider looking into this issue, to explore the extent to which my concerns are (un)founded and to consider ways that these issues could be highlighted and addressed. As a starting point, I would love SoA to lobby for ghostwritten celebrity books to be clearly presented as such.

With many thanks for your time and attention,

Yours sincerely,

Philippa East

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Philippa East – Author (HQ/HarperCollins) 📚 b.link/philippa_east

Little White Lies 💛 Safe And Sound ❤️ I’ll Never Tell 💗 A Guilty Secret 🧡

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