New Celebrity Memoirs Making Headlines: Jada Pinkett Smith, Britney Spears, John Stamos, and Amy Schneider
In the world of celebrity memoirs, this month has been filled with captivating and often shocking stories. Jada Pinkett Smith revealed that she and her husband, Will Smith, have been separated since 2016. Britney Spears shared personal details, including her experience with having an abortion while dating Justin Timberlake. John Stamos recalled catching an ex in bed with Tony Danza, and Jeopardy! champion Amy Schneider discussed her struggles with body image before completing her gender transition. These headlines have generated a lot of buzz even before fans had the chance to buy and read the books.
But does this media exposure help or hurt sales? According to Carrie Thornton, the vice president and publisher of Dey Street Books, publicity is always beneficial. Thornton’s publishing imprint has released memoirs from celebrities like Gabrielle Union, Paris Hilton, Pamela Anderson, and Jessica Simpson. Thornton explains that publishers carefully plan the release of excerpts, audio clips, and other forms of publicity to set the tone for the book. While some may argue that revealing juicy stories upfront may deter readers from buying the book, Thornton believes that any form of publicity is valuable in today’s noisy world.
Madeleine Morel, a representative of 2M Communications Ltd., an agency that works with ghostwriters for celebrity authors, also agrees that the right celebrity memoir will always attract readers. She points to Prince Harry’s book, Spare, which sold 3.2 million copies worldwide in its first week, despite extensive coverage of its content.
In addition to media coverage, the quality of the writing itself can also contribute to a memoir’s success. Morel highlights memoirs from Viola Davis and Cicely Tyson as examples of books that received rave reviews. However, not every celebrity memoir is a hit. Both Morel and Thornton emphasize the importance of working collaboratively with the celebrity to create a compelling and promotable book.
According to Thornton, the landscape of celebrity memoirs has changed due to social media and the accessibility that the public has to celebrities. Readers want something beyond what they can find on platforms like Instagram. They want authenticity and relatability. Jada Pinkett Smith, known for her show Red Table Talk where she discussed various personal and social issues, understands this well. Her memoir, Worthy, taps into her spiritual journey and aims to connect with her female readers on a deeper level.
To achieve success with a celebrity memoir, Thornton believes that it begins with a relatable and compelling story that can stand on its own, independent of the author’s fame. This story then becomes the foundation for various promotional activities such as book clubs, fairs, and conferences. The key is to have a celebrity who is fully committed to partnering with the publisher in promoting the book. This partnership extends beyond the traditional short burst of publicity and can have enduring success if the book resonates with the public and changes their perception of the author.
Jessica Simpson’s memoir, Open Book, is a prime example of this. It addresses public criticism of her body and her failed marriage to Nick Lachey and repositioned her from a “C-level, blond pop star” to a business mogul with a compelling personal journey. This candidness propelled her book to become a New York Times bestseller. Thornton’s ultimate goal with celebrity memoirs is to create beloved books that go beyond headlines and truly touch readers.
