Ghost Writers / Sequel Writers - Your Thoughts?
By debbie4824
@debbie4824 (118)
United States
January 12, 2007 4:00pm CST
Has anyone ever noticed that a new trend is starting in popular fiction? An established author who has a following allows someone to "co-write" their novels, thereby using their name to draw people in but when you read the books, it's so obviously different you feel cheated?
James Patterson's - Fifth Horseman had a co-writer. If I had been handed the book with no title/author, I would have never said Patterson had written it, it was so far off from the others he's written in both content and quality that I felt cheated for being led into reading it.
A more classic version.
Gone with the Wind - Scarlett - Why???? Why should someone be allowed to write a sequel to an established novel from someone else, it's just wrong, who would ever think this is a good idea? The book was horrible, it should never have been written.
Then there's the family books. Mary Higgins Clark's daughter Carol, they now co-write books. But unlike others, they are both established on their own and while I prefer Mary Higgins, Carol's books aren't bad and their co-written books are pretty decent.
Anybody else notice any of this?
2 people like this
3 responses
@patgalca (18181)
• Orangeville, Ontario
12 Jan 07
I find it is happening when authors die, someone else picks up the stories and characters and writes for them. Lawrence Sanders, for example, has someone else writing his stories now that he has passed. It must be a family or publisher's decision. Probably both. VC Andrews is another one I believe who has someone writing books for her/him. I know people are sad when these authors die and will miss their stories, but I think they lose their value when someone else starts writing for them. Let their stories live on as classics.
@debbie4824 (118)
• United States
16 Jan 07
When they die, that's one thing, but these days, they don't wait to die, they are using their name to earn income while they are still alive and able to write. James Patterson, Tom Clancy (as mentioned below) are just a few of the worst offenders.
I definitely think it's inappropriate either way. If the new author is any good, let them establish their own name!
@Angelwhispers (8978)
• United States
17 Jan 07
Stephen King and Peter Straub co-wrote a book together in 1984 called the Talisman, then in 2001 collaborated again to write its sequel Black house. In both books you could almost pick out each authors individual styles. I know that is not a very good example of what you are speaking of as both authors were well established in their own rights. The thing is it worked for them. The world they created in the first book was amazing.
JRR Tolkien's Son Christopher finished his fathers book,An Unfinished Tale, took him an agonizing 30 years to complete the work. He was also responsible for the maps of middle earth and lands surrounding Mordor, in the original trilogy.
My point here is that sometimes we don't always know who is behind an author providing direction and inspiration.
@seewhy (231)
• Australia
16 Jan 07
I've never understood authors writing sequels to other author's books. To me it shows that the author lacks the originality to come up with their own characters and are trying to cash in on well loved, already established ones. You mentioned 'Scarlet' which is a perfect example. Another is all the sequels to 'Pride and Prejudice'. Have a look on Amazon some time and see how many there are. I'm surprised that there isn't some kind of copyright issue being breeched?
