Although it's focused on a more 'elite' audience and companies that use literary fiction to make themselves look more classy and cultured, rather than on the mass marketing you're thinking about, it's definitely an example of writers as marketable commodities. I thought it was fascinating.
I love thinking about stuff like this, thanks for writing!
Oh that sounds so interesting. I don't have a subscription but I'll find a way to read it. And thank you! I'm hoping to keep the content as interesting as possible.
- Someone (not ever found and named in the article) is getting a reputation as the Book Stylist, who selects books for celebs and influencers to be seen reading (or at least holding)
- “Belletrist and Valentino will soon send 100 celebrities, influencers and journalists a limited-edition hot pink Valentino box with three drawers lined in the label’s trademark red, each containing a book that hasn’t yet hit stores.”
- Books are now such useful expressions of taste and identity that the objects themselves are status symbols
- Fashion houses are using literary stuff (short stories, excerpts, small books) to make their brands feel classy
- Celebs, etc. hire people to accessories their spaces with the ‘right’ books — “I want people to *think* I’m about this. I want people to *think* I’m about that.”
- “The bottom line for publishers is not ‘Did your book get read?’ It’s ‘Did your book sell?’ And famous readers sell books.”
Which, going back over my notes, it's still much more about the book than the writer. Now I'm imagining the mysterious 'book stylist' arranging a nice chat in a trendy cafe between a celebrity client and the author of whatever book will most enhance their reputation!
Wow, this reminds me of a trend I heard about (which you touch on here) of celebrities adding books to their library strictly to shape the way people view them. Books do carry a certain cache, which is separate from the author. I don't think there's another art form where the artist is not associated with their work. People know that's a Drake song. They may not know that's a Donna Tart book.
Thanks for this convo! One of the reasons I do this newsletter is to give writers the confidence to be in the same rooms as these other artists who dominate pop culture. We deserve all the attention they do.
Did you see this New York Times article? It reminded me of what you're writing about here:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/18/t-magazine/book-stylists-instagram-influencers.html (subscription might be needed, I read it through the library's online service myself)
Although it's focused on a more 'elite' audience and companies that use literary fiction to make themselves look more classy and cultured, rather than on the mass marketing you're thinking about, it's definitely an example of writers as marketable commodities. I thought it was fascinating.
I love thinking about stuff like this, thanks for writing!
Oh that sounds so interesting. I don't have a subscription but I'll find a way to read it. And thank you! I'm hoping to keep the content as interesting as possible.
Here's my notes about the article:
- Someone (not ever found and named in the article) is getting a reputation as the Book Stylist, who selects books for celebs and influencers to be seen reading (or at least holding)
- “Belletrist and Valentino will soon send 100 celebrities, influencers and journalists a limited-edition hot pink Valentino box with three drawers lined in the label’s trademark red, each containing a book that hasn’t yet hit stores.”
- Books are now such useful expressions of taste and identity that the objects themselves are status symbols
- Fashion houses are using literary stuff (short stories, excerpts, small books) to make their brands feel classy
- Celebs, etc. hire people to accessories their spaces with the ‘right’ books — “I want people to *think* I’m about this. I want people to *think* I’m about that.”
- “The bottom line for publishers is not ‘Did your book get read?’ It’s ‘Did your book sell?’ And famous readers sell books.”
Which, going back over my notes, it's still much more about the book than the writer. Now I'm imagining the mysterious 'book stylist' arranging a nice chat in a trendy cafe between a celebrity client and the author of whatever book will most enhance their reputation!
Wow, this reminds me of a trend I heard about (which you touch on here) of celebrities adding books to their library strictly to shape the way people view them. Books do carry a certain cache, which is separate from the author. I don't think there's another art form where the artist is not associated with their work. People know that's a Drake song. They may not know that's a Donna Tart book.
Thanks for this convo! One of the reasons I do this newsletter is to give writers the confidence to be in the same rooms as these other artists who dominate pop culture. We deserve all the attention they do.