Booking Celebrity Authors For Private Parties, Corporate Events And Appearances

History Of Celebrity Authors

Long before there were reality show stars, music celebrities, and actors, authors and poets were considered the rock stars of their age. The Romantic poets of the 18th century crafted their own “cults of personality,” since their success depended largely on the financial value their personal reputations brought to their work. As a result, cities like Paris and London blossomed with the “see and be seen” cultures of celebrity gossip and high-profile clubs, except that instead of chasing after actors and actresses, common patrons sought to rub shoulders with writers.

The United States watched a similar rise of the “celebrity as author” with Truman Capote, author of the groundbreaking nonfiction novel “In Cold Blood,” in the mid 20th century. Capote was not only an award-winning writer but also a member of New York’s jet-set society, throwing parties and galas which would rival Gatsby himself. Ubiquitous in newspapers, magazines, and the few television stations available at the time, Capote became a much sought-after celebrity, just as much as the actors and actresses of his time, with whom he also developed many long-lasting relationships.

Today, high profile authors such as Stephen King and J.K. Rowling enjoy celebrity much in the same vein as did Capote, although often without the flamboyance and extravagance. King himself became one of the most recognizable authors of the modern era when his first novel, Carrie, rose to prominence in the mid 1970’s and the book was quickly turned into a successful film. Dozens of novels (and films based on them) followed, including The Shining (1977) and The Stand (1978), with King also foraying into screenwriting and producing. Today, King boasts a massive creative media empire, averaging a new novel every year while producing films and televisions shows throughout as well.

In the 1980’s and 1990’s, authors such as Ann Rice rose to prominence in the same vein, and with the growing demand for text-based media that has followed since, today authors such as George RR Martin (Game of Thrones); J.K. Rowling (the Harry Potter series); and Dan Brown (the DaVinci code series) have all enjoyed rock-star success similar to Capote and King, with crossover achievements found as their books were turned into films and smash-hit television series.

Today, high-profile authors enjoy the same demand for public appearances in person, on television, and in print often to the same level as their more traditional “celebrity” counterparts. In recent years, Rowling has been featured as key note speaker for everything from university graduations to TED Talks; King continues to book multiple speaking engagements each year and boasts a politically active Twitter account; and with the success of “Game of Thrones,” George RR Martin keeps up with a staggering speaking schedule, brining his voice to conventions such as ComicCon and ThrillerFest, in addition to dozens of other appearances.