Depends on the situation. If the book was truly coauthored, then cool. If the book was mostly authored by one an the other put their name on it to sell more copies… not cool.
my new fav urban fantasy series is co authored! Ilona Andrews is a husband and wife writing together. I think it really helps with the dialogue and banter. the rest if the writing is good, even if they don’t use many contractions.
I’m the co-author of three published (traditionally) romance novels, with two viewpoints per novel, and I loved having a co-author. And I think readers enjoyed that aspect too!
I guess that’s different than a ghostwriter or “as told to” or another such arrangement. I think it can be great when it’s a real collaboration. You see it in YA sometimes, like in Will Grayson, Will Grayson, and it’s effective!
I did like ‘The Forgotten Room’ each of 3 authors took a different character in the book. The book covered 3 generations of women and how they came to stay at the same house. It was well done. Other co authored books I’m not so crazy about. The Forgotten Room was written by Kate White, Beatriz Williams and. Lauren Willig
Occasionally it works. More often than not, to me its just an excuse for someone (James Patterson, hello) to crank out too many poorly written repetitve books. I used to enjoy his stuff. Not anymore.
In Patterson’s case it seems like pure greed. He is offering online writing classes for a fee. From what I’ve read you pay fee towatch his pre-recorded videos.
Well my “bff” and I started co-writing a book together went really good for about 9 months ,really good in fact. But then she decided that she don’t have the time for it anymore and I have a book that’s not finished and it’s a struggle for me to find her voice on the other end. When I read a lot of co-authored books like James Patterson and other famous authors , I don’t ever hear mainstream author I only ever hear the other voice. I would love suggestions of books or stories that are from both views.
It doesn’t change my opinion of a book, though finding out a book was ghost written does. Someone taking credit for another’s work, and the other allowing it, doesn’t sit well with me.
Also, for anyone interested there is a story called “A House to Let” from the 19th century which was a collaboration of Charles Dickens, Elizabeth Gaskell, Wilke Collins and Ann Proctor.
I see those a lot for the authors that produce lots of novels in a short time. I don’t mind if the book still follows the writing style of the original author. I don’t like them however if the original or main author doesn’t have the skills to write on their own.
Many books credited to one author may actually have been heavily influenced by an editor like Maxwell Perkins or even a spouse like Olivia Clemens, Mark Twain’s wife.
Personally, I don’t care. A lot of ostensibly co-authored books are written by the second credited author, while the first, more marketable name takes the lion’s share of the credit. But I don’t read books like that anyway, so it doesn’t affect me. Books that are intended to be true collaborations, like “Q” by “Luther Blissett” (in scare quotes because Blissett is a pseudonym for a group of Italian authors) or the comic novels of Ilya Ilf and Yevgeny Petrov are just fine, IMO. Also, many technical, nonfiction books are coauthored (I own several examples of these, for example “Where Do We Come From?: The Molecular Evidence for Human Descent” by Jan Klein and Naoyuki Takahata) and these books are good too, because they’re all about conveying information and considerations of style don’t arise.
We were at a citywide book event a few years ago and posed that question to several of the prominent authors we encountered. The primary answer we heard was that it’s a way to help new authors develop their own voice under the mentorship of established authors and publishing houses.
All American Boys by Reynolds and Brendan Kiely…one black, one white and narrating a story alternating characters who are also one black kid and one white kid. Very skillful.
Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child. Great combo for the Pendergast series. Love their emails & website when their readers get to help choose book covers and even titles. They also have their disagreements which I find funny & refreshing when they share them!
I’ve never read a co-authored book. If I like/love an author, their point of view and thoughts are all I want to read. I just don’t get the point of co-authored books but I’m open minded if someone wants to explain the benefits, if any.
Depends on the situation. I loved “Same Kind of Different as Me” which had alternating chapters by two authors (Ron Hall and Denver Moore) Nonfiction though, so that made a difference I suppose
If you like Urban Fantasy no one can beat the team of Ilona Andrews – a married couple – their dialogs are amazing! Although I love the Kate Daniels series, my favorites are The Edge and Hidden Legacy series. Plus I have followed their Innkeeper online serial, which is now available in books.
I read the series Cape Light and Angel Island. The painter Thomas Kinkade started the Cape Light spencerseries, peopling it with characters he’d like to aee in his paintings. Katherine Spencer, a romance author was his coauthor. I could hear Kinkade’s voice in Pastor Mark’s sermons. Because of this partnership between Spencer and Kinkade, she has been able to continue the series after Kincade’s untimely death. I continue to read the series, but I really miss Kincade’s voice.
Another delightful series is Tales of Grace Chapel Inn. There are about 44 books with multiple authors. Somehow in all the ones I’ve read, I haven’t found any discrepancies between the books. The first book is Back Home Again by Melody Carlson.
Remember The Relic, the first one written, and terribly bad, hokey, and elementary it was? Thank heavens the writing grew up. They are fantastic now. BTW, saw The Relic on tv a couple of days ago; just as bad as the book.
I’ve read a couple of Stephen King and his son’s novels. I’m not sure of how much the sons contribute as the books appear to be very much like SK’s work.
When I was director of public library Patterson books started taking up so many shelves we divided them by sole writer and contributed writers. Guess which books were checked out more????
Yep James Patterson is the first author that came to mind. Stephen King has had a co author also I think?. I’ve often wondered are they assisting a new author to get a start or was it the co authors book plot idea. Well knowns do not want to be accused of plagarism ever lol?
I love Jonathan Kellerman’s books and I love his wife Faye’s books, too. However, I was disappointed with their co-authored book Capital Crimes. I believe it’s the only book they co-authored.
Co-authors remind me of Thomas Kincaid and his little dabs of paint on a mass produced canvas. Raking in the money on very little work. The “famous” author contributes something small and an unknown does all the rest. Lucrative way to churn out a lot of best sellers per year and make a lot of money.
Your question comes at an interesting time. A novel co-authored by Bill Clinton and James Patterson is due for release very soon… The president is missing!
it didn’t work for Fraser and Niles haha…writing is such an intimate and personal experience..but, I agree with Maggie..two minds coming together..could be twice as good
Does anyone remember a book entitled I Keturah? I read it in the seventh grade and felt like I was a character in it. It wasn’t great literature, but it met a need.
Wrote some (not yet published), so obviously I’m not opposed. 😉
I mostly don’t love them. Often it’s so easy to recognize each authors voice so the story has less cohesion in my opinion.
Depends on the situation. If the book was truly coauthored, then cool. If the book was mostly authored by one an the other put their name on it to sell more copies… not cool.
I agree.
A best selling author comes to mind.
I’ve noticed this with some of James Patterson’s non series books.
@Ruth, that would have been one of my examples
Like them mostly my favorite author, Terry Pratchett, wrote a few. The best one being “Good Omens” with Neil Gaiman
I love the Agent Pendergast books by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child.
Not quite the same thing , but “As told to” books are usually very poorly written. I have a very hard time with them.
So far I’ve lived all the ones I’ve read.
my new fav urban fantasy series is co authored! Ilona Andrews is a husband and wife writing together. I think it really helps with the dialogue and banter. the rest if the writing is good, even if they don’t use many contractions.
The Talisman…..Black House…Stephen King and Peter Straub…*mic drop*
I really love Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green & David Levithan.
That was the one that popped into my mind and I hated it by the end. I actually threw it across my room.
I avoid them.
Usually if it’s an author I’ve already read a lot, I don’t like his/her work as much w/a co-author. With rare exceptions.
Pure fuckery!
Must be a fellow King fan?
Ah another King fan?
I wish I could give this a million thumbs up!
Good Omens is my favorite.
This one works!
I’m almost intrigued to read the new James Patterson mystery co-authored with Bill Clinton.
I want to read the rest of the books on this list first, though.
Already on the hold list at my local library for The President is Missing by Patterson and Clinton. Looking forward to it.
I’m the co-author of three published (traditionally) romance novels, with two viewpoints per novel, and I loved having a co-author. And I think readers enjoyed that aspect too!
I guess that’s different than a ghostwriter or “as told to” or another such arrangement. I think it can be great when it’s a real collaboration. You see it in YA sometimes, like in Will Grayson, Will Grayson, and it’s effective!
I did like ‘The Forgotten Room’ each of 3 authors took a different character in the book. The book covered 3 generations of women and how they came to stay at the same house. It was well done. Other co authored books I’m not so crazy about.
The Forgotten Room was written by Kate White, Beatriz Williams and. Lauren Willig
Occasionally it works. More often than not, to me its just an excuse for someone (James Patterson, hello) to crank out too many poorly written repetitve books. I used to enjoy his stuff. Not anymore.
I agree. I quit reading Patterson because of his co-authoring
Yep, this!
In Patterson’s case it seems like pure greed. He is offering online writing classes for a fee. From what I’ve read you pay fee towatch his pre-recorded videos.
@Margarete he’s really turned into a hack. No thanks to his online money grab.
I can highly recommend ‘The Girl Who Smiled Beads’, which is co-authored.
That is on my to read list.
Don’t have one, an opinion
Hugh difference between co-writing and ghost writing. Preston and Child = Good; Patterson or Cussler and anyone = Not so much
It depends on the authors and whether or not their writing style actually gels.
I posted a thread on how I hate when I can tell who wrote what, like Arthur C Clark and Gentry Lee.
I’d be curious about the process
blech
Agree
No care
Well my “bff” and I started co-writing a book together went really good for about 9 months ,really good in fact. But then she decided that she don’t have the time for it anymore and I have a book that’s not finished and it’s a struggle for me to find her voice on the other end. When I read a lot of co-authored books like James Patterson and other famous authors , I don’t ever hear mainstream author I only ever hear the other voice. I would love suggestions of books or stories that are from both views.
Not too crazy about them!
I lead a Teen Lit Group. We read Same Sun Here. It was very well done. Both authors voices were evident throughout since they took turns by chapter. Silas House even met with our class to discuss the novel and writing process which was WAY too cool!!
https://www.amazon.com/Same-Sun-Here-Silas-House/dp/0763664510/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1527483672&sr=8-1&keywords=same+sun+here
It doesn’t change my opinion of a book, though finding out a book was ghost written does. Someone taking credit for another’s work, and the other allowing it, doesn’t sit well with me.
Not for me. Don’t read James Patterson any more because of the people he hires to help him. Money, money, money.
I’m with you on James Patterson. He has turned into a book factory. It’s all about the money. Plus his TV ads really, really annoy me.
I find his co-authors are usually better writers.
I do enjoy the Pendergast series by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, so I will say I don’t mind.
Ditto.
Same.
Also, for anyone interested there is a story called “A House to Let” from the 19th century which was a collaboration of Charles Dickens, Elizabeth Gaskell, Wilke Collins and Ann Proctor.
Generally not my first choice.
I loved Good Omens and The Rise and Fall of DODO
Not a fan
I love Good Omens!
Loved All American Boys.
I see those a lot for the authors that produce lots of novels in a short time. I don’t mind if the book still follows the writing style of the original author. I don’t like them however if the original or main author doesn’t have the skills to write on their own.
I feel tricked. NOT the author I was hoping for.
Many books credited to one author may actually have been heavily influenced by an editor like Maxwell Perkins or even a spouse like Olivia Clemens, Mark Twain’s wife.
Oh, and Dick Francis’s wife contributed significantly to his books.
Personally, I don’t care. A lot of ostensibly co-authored books are written by the second credited author, while the first, more marketable name takes the lion’s share of the credit. But I don’t read books like that anyway, so it doesn’t affect me. Books that are intended to be true collaborations, like “Q” by “Luther Blissett” (in scare quotes because Blissett is a pseudonym for a group of Italian authors) or the comic novels of Ilya Ilf and Yevgeny Petrov are just fine, IMO. Also, many technical, nonfiction books are coauthored (I own several examples of these, for example “Where Do We Come From?: The Molecular Evidence for Human Descent” by Jan Klein and Naoyuki Takahata) and these books are good too, because they’re all about conveying information and considerations of style don’t arise.
We were at a citywide book event a few years ago and posed that question to several of the prominent authors we encountered. The primary answer we heard was that it’s a way to help new authors develop their own voice under the mentorship of established authors and publishing houses.
Don’t you think the books will sell better too, with a name like James Patterson listed first?
How many people pay attention to the second, less well known name?
Two who work well together and share credit don’t bother me. I love the mother and son writing team that is Charles Todd.
Depends. I like PJ Tracy, which is actually a mother-daughter pair of mystery writers. They are terrific.
Since it’s impossible to know whose voice you’re reading, I usually don’t choose books written by more than one author.
Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan. ?????????
All American Boys by Reynolds and Brendan Kiely…one black, one white and narrating a story alternating characters who are also one black kid and one white kid. Very skillful.
So so good! ?
My favorite set is Preston and Child – Pendergast is one of my all time favorite characters.
Two great WWWImystery series set in England by a mother and son team (really), write under the pseudonym Charles Todd.
Rachel Cohen/David Levithan.
If the “co-author” is actually a ghost writer and the lead author does no more than append his/her name to the book, I do not read that book.
Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child. Great combo for the Pendergast series. Love their emails & website when their readers get to help choose book covers and even titles. They also have their disagreements which I find funny & refreshing when they share them!
I’ve never read a co-authored book. If I like/love an author, their point of view and thoughts are all I want to read. I just don’t get the point of co-authored books but I’m open minded if someone wants to explain the benefits, if any.
I’ve never read one because I didn’t understand the concept and wasn’t familiar with the additional author.
Honestly I think a co-author is added to increase sales.
Douglas Preston/Lincoln Child are awesome. Absolutely love their Agent Pendergast series
I’m currently reading Sleeping beauties by Steven King and his son Owen King and its great so far!?
That was an intense read. His other son, Joe Hill, has some great books too.
Depends on the situation. I loved “Same Kind of Different as Me” which had alternating chapters by two authors (Ron Hall and Denver Moore) Nonfiction though, so that made a difference I suppose
Patterson, Coulter love the co authored books
Have to agree Preston/Lincoln Child are wonderful together!
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society book was co-authored because the primary author became ill. They finished together
Meh
The only co-authored book I’ve ever read is The Nanny Diaries. In this case I suppose it worked.
Really depends on the book.
Or the authors! Straub and King can certainly stand on their own
If you like Urban Fantasy no one can beat the team of Ilona Andrews – a married couple – their dialogs are amazing! Although I love the Kate Daniels series, my favorites are The Edge and Hidden Legacy series. Plus I have followed their Innkeeper online serial, which is now available in books.
I think about a production line. However, some are enjoyable.
I read the series Cape Light and Angel Island. The painter Thomas Kinkade started the Cape Light spencerseries, peopling it with characters he’d like to aee in his paintings. Katherine Spencer, a romance author was his coauthor. I could hear Kinkade’s voice in Pastor Mark’s sermons. Because of this partnership between Spencer and Kinkade, she has been able to continue the series after Kincade’s untimely death. I continue to read the series, but I really miss Kincade’s voice.
Another delightful series is Tales of Grace Chapel Inn. There are about 44 books with multiple authors. Somehow in all the ones I’ve read, I haven’t found any discrepancies between the books. The first book is Back Home Again by Melody Carlson.
I love those books, but have only found a half dozen or so. Any idea where I can order them??? These are much better than the Mitford series!
Preston and Child, their Pendergast series is great.
I second this. I love all their books.
I love the books featuring Special Agent Pendergast.
Remember The Relic, the first one written, and terribly bad, hokey, and elementary it was? Thank heavens the writing grew up. They are fantastic now. BTW, saw The Relic on tv a couple of days ago; just as bad as the book.
@Kim The first book I read was The Cabinet of Curiosities. I loved that book. Then I read the rest. I agree The Relic was the worst one in the series.
I liked Good Omens…i didn’t like The Talisman
Loved Good Omens. One book I’ll keep instead of donating.
Oh wow – loved The Talisman
@Linda I loved both Good Omens and The Talisman!
I don’t care for books by James Patterson and his co-writer, whomever that might be.
James Patterson is a fast read Good for the beach, plane ride & vacations
Not a fan of the Patterson book factory
Charles Todd is actually a mother/son team, I do believe. Their Bess Crawford series is such a good read.
I’ve read a couple of Stephen King and his son’s novels. I’m not sure of how much the sons contribute as the books appear to be very much like SK’s work.
I avoid them. It reminds me of something approved by a committee.
Have not read anything co-authored. James Patterson is putting a huge amount of books. You know he’s not writing them
Steven King and son wrote last book.
Ok thank you
@Geri Crime Scene James and Jesse Kellerman. I read diverse types of books. Never read anything by Kellerman until saw staff pick.
When I was director of public library Patterson books started taking up so many shelves we divided them by sole writer and contributed writers. Guess which books were checked out more????
Yep James Patterson is the first author that came to mind. Stephen King has had a co author also I think?. I’ve often wondered are they assisting a new author to get a start or was it the co authors book plot idea. Well knowns do not want to be accused of plagarism ever lol?
@Yvette Kellerman I researched called upon Jesse this latest to assist w/research
@Joy Isn’t Jesse his son? Faye Kellerman also writes (wife)
@Yvette yes son did I write wife somewhere? ?
@Joy Alex Delaware series is early work by Kellerman and what I enjoyed by him.
@Joy No just added Faye to the mix ad libbed by me sorry
@Yvette phew
I’m a diehard Michael Connelly loyalist. His research is salient and his latest about drug issue and airports that stay open unmanned all true
I love Jonathan Kellerman’s books and I love his wife Faye’s books, too. However, I was disappointed with their co-authored book Capital Crimes. I believe it’s the only book they co-authored.
@Cheryl he co authored crime scene w/Jesse my first n only by him
I need a thumbs down button
Sorry, I wonder who is riding on whose coat tails? The co-written books are never 2 unknowns or 2 celebrity writers. So …..
Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson co-authored Peter and the Starcatchers series and those are awesome books for kids.
Depends on the result.
Stephen King and Peter Straub.. The Talisman is a good book… there is a sequel too… The Black House.
Loved The Talisman but could never get into Black House for some reason.
Avoid them for the
most part except Lee and Child
????
@Alice sorry I meant Preston and Child
Jolie Kelley Pellegrino – thanks. I’m a mystery bookseller and have met Lee numerous times at mystery conventions.
I LOVE Preston and Child books!!!
I enjoy some Lee Child books but getting a bit bored by Reacher and unfortunately Tom Cruise being cast somewhat ruined me. ?
@Jolie I have read some of the Reacher books. Cannot stomach Cruise. Reacher is tall, for one thing. But it’s mostly that I don’t like Cruise.
@Alice agreed!
We all need a little help from our friends ?
Love lars keppler. A Scandinavian husband and wife team. Very noir.
Co-authors remind me of Thomas Kincaid and his little dabs of paint on a mass produced canvas. Raking in the money on very little work. The “famous” author contributes something small and an unknown does all the rest. Lucrative way to churn out a lot of best sellers per year and make a lot of money.
Your question comes at an interesting time. A novel co-authored by Bill Clinton and James Patterson is due for release very soon… The president is missing!
Really?!?
Jolie Kelley Pellegrino yes. The book The President Is Missing is featured in BookPage’s June edition and will be available on June 4, 2018.
Sometimes two heads are more creative than one
it didn’t work for Fraser and Niles haha…writing is such an intimate and personal experience..but, I agree with Maggie..two minds coming together..could be twice as good
It depends on whom the co-authors are. I’m looking forward to the one Bill Clinton is co-authoring.
Like other novels, quality varies.
Sometimes it works out but I’ve had books that seems to be fighting itself.
Not my favorite. But I am looking forward to the James Patterson/Bill Clinton one this weekend at BookCon.
Does anyone remember a book entitled I Keturah? I read it in the seventh grade and felt like I was a character in it. It wasn’t great literature, but it met a need.
Yuk.
Anyone read 5 Smoothe Stones read in HS it stayed w/me all ways. Just like when I saw the film Imitation of Life! Any others open to comment?
I read Five Smooth Stones years ago and was swept away by it.
You did, awesome I read it in HS and have carried it my heart all these years. Thank you Linda just knowing you read it.
Don’t like them