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Horrid celebrity writers

23.04.08

Children's writer Francesca Simon has hit out at celebrity authors. The author of the phenomenally successful Horrid Henry books tells the Telegraph that children's fiction writing has been infected by vacuous celebrities aided and abetted by venal publishers.

"Jordan didn't write her books", Simon tells the newspaper. "I have a big problem with that . . . I think books and celebrities sit uneasily together and it really, really bothers me when someone uses a book to market their own brand to children: it's exploitation."



Telegraph

children's Jordon Francesca Simon

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By blue2590

Bravo Francesca Simon! A lot of people were thinking it - and now she has been brave enough to say it in the media. But it's not just Jordan - I read that Colleen McLoughlin has signed a two children' novel book deal as well. It is gutting for author's who are struggling to get their work published when they see things like that on the shelves.

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By im a tree

This is a bit precious isn't it? I'm a great friend of Daisy Meadows and I know she is upset too. Is it not more important that kids are reading books at all - and if they like Jordan, Darcy, Colleen etc aren't they or their parents more likely to come back for more and pick up Francesca Simon at the next instance. As for the authors - well someone has to be the ghost and get paid for it.

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By Enid Richemont

Bravo Francesca! The Scattered Authors Society backs you up to the hilt (we had a lively debate recently on whether our female members might have more success if they equipped themselves with outsize plastic boobs).

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By pooh pooh

Much as I admire Francesca Simon, I beg to differ. Celebrity books pay a good proportion of publishing salaries. People like to read them. There's room for every sort of book in the world. And I wouldn't criticize a child for preferring Horrid Henry to more worthy children's reading, so why pick on Jordan's ponies?

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By Caroline

Imatree - Daisy Meadows is a pen name for not one, but four different children's authors. Which one exactly are you a friend of? ;)

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By imatree

I always thought she had a split personailty,

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