Most of my blogs are a mixture of positive interaction about being an up and coming crime writer with a dash of music, TV or other connected nonsense. It’s not often I would write a negative blog, but if you would humour me for a moment, there’s something I would like to get off my chest, but I’ll come to that later.
Firstly, apologies to Sir Ian for the name dropping heading if this month’s blog, but it’s important to what I want to say. Those who know me, realise that he is one of my main crime writing heroes, someone whose work I devoured when I moved to Edinburgh and one of the main influences that made me pick up a pen and start to write. Over the last 12 years or so, what started as a bit of a secret hobby, has grown into something that I take more seriously each time I write.
Getting back to my question, and the title of this blog, what do I mean? Well, I’m talking about writers who come from a normal background (if you excuse the phrase), whom started writing in their bedroom, honing their craft before sending off manuscript after manuscript before finally landing that book deal. Now, that’s not the end goal and again using Sir Ian as an example, it would take 8 (EIGHT) – as they would do on the Vidiprinter (ask your dad) – Rebus novels before the series would really take off. Most writers would not have that luxury nowadays, but that is not the main crux of my current grievance.
News came out this week that a ‘TV Celebrity’ had signed a 2 book, crime novel contract with one of the large publisher firms. From what I’ve seen online, there has been an understandable backlash, particularly from up and coming authors. Although the crime writing genre has experienced this before, it’s probably not as bad as some other writing genres, especially children’s literature. Rumours are abound of many of the big selling books and novels being penned by others and the celebrity’s name just used as a marketing ploy. Is this the same in my own genre? I guess I’ll never know.
I suppose there could be an argument made that publishers need these books to keep them going and, dare I say it, support upcoming authors. I don’t have the insider knowledge to support or disagree with this, but it seems that bookshops are now flooded with celebrities’ novels. Now, autobiographical and memoirs aside, I find this sad and a recent large scale promotion of a book penned by a successful young actress was made before the name of her ghost writer was leaked. I’m sure that had little impact on the sales even if her fans found out the book was not actually written by her (even if it was only her name on the front cover).
So, will there be another Sir Ian Rankin, a crime writer that comes out of nowhere to become a global writing sensation? Novels, including crime ones, tend to go through fads and sometimes authors will jump on the currently hyped novel, although few of these have the continued success of their ‘big novel’. I suppose time will tell, but I hope that we do soon discover the new Rankin, McDermid or Cleeves and just not someone who was on the telly…
Thanks again for reading. Next blog will be back to the positive nonsense of old, but in the meantime if you fancy supporting an up and coming crime writer, you can get hold of my books via the Books tab of this website or have a read of some of my short stories in that section.
Ross Alexander Writer 