jan, I haven't read the book but I find 'writers' such as V Hislop (daughter of Ian Hislop of 'Private Eye' and various TV progs. fame) and Victoria Conran (daughter of Allan Conran who was with Punch mag and appears on radio 'funny' shows) and even Peaches Geldorf daughter of ex pop star Bob G, who has her own newspaper column, have all arrived on the newspaper, bright young writer scene because of the influence/background of their fathers. Talent doesn't seem to have played much part in their success
I don't know if this is just a UK phenomena or if it happens in other countries as well.

Mary Higgins Clark, mother to Carol Higgins Clark-bad to worse

This reminds me of a book review I read several years ago - I can't remember any names or any book titles or anything pertinent, but it made an impression on me because of the interviews with the two young writers, both children of famous writers.

The first, when asked if having a famous writer father had helped him, said, "No, absolutely not, it is all me, myself and I." Or something like that. Huh. Right.

The second said, "Absolutely, there is no way to even quantify how valuable my parents, their support, their valuation of my writing and their contacts has meant to my success." A bit refreshing, that!

I picked up a non-fiction book called 'Minus Nine to One' by Jools Oliver (wife of tv chef Jamie) a little while ago. It covers their experience of getting pregnant, being pregnant and the first year of dealing with a baby; all a bit too private for me. The style was chatty and incredibly ordinary, with no literary merit whatsoever. Skim-reading the first couple of pages was quite sufficient to put me off.

It does annoy me intensely how many books are written by celebrities and celebrities' relatives, but one can only blame the idiotic society we live in these days - people seem to want rubbish on tv and in the book shops.

The best place to find GOOD ideas for books is right here at Reader's Paradise forum.

We have no vested interest in promoting any books ( do we? are there authors among us?!? :0) and I have found that the opinions of RP are very helpful.

Some of my most interesting recent books came from suggestions at RP.
Publishers aren't honest and haven't read the books!

I rarely get a new release unless I ask RPers what they think of it. It works for me!

I am here, and I am an author. One of the big problems in book publishing is that nobody has done an in-depth customer survey in decades. You know, the sort of thing that the political parties do every 45 minutes. So publishers have no idea, nor does anybody, whether readers prefer books by celebrities or books by unknowns; whether green really is a color that is disliked on covers (a legend in the industry for years); whether books sell more written by/with covers depicting/starring protagonists who are women or men. The entire industry is flown by the seat of the pants. Nobody knows what they are doing or why it works or does not work.

Brenda

You know I hadn't detected the nepotism aspect - well that's Private Eye finished for me!
It is the appalling writing style that irritated so - my lit students wouldn't get away with the phrase I quoted.

Brenda - how interesting - your web page and work looks most impressive and I look forward to reading some of your works.

I dont care who writes the book as long as the writer credits his/her readers with some critical integrity.
IMO Hislop's novel was never proof read (arrogance/ignorance/ who knows) and readers were taken in by the enormous amount of hype that accompanied the publication.