16 thoughts on “After an author has been dead”

    • Well, those were the pen names of a syndicate so they don’t count 🙂 Although, as a little girl I really did think Dixon and Keene were unusually blessed with long life (until I found out about the Stratemeyer Syndicate) because I noticed the copyright dates on the hardcover originals vs. the Archway Paperbacks.

      I do think it might be worthwhile for indies to study some of the syndicate’s methods, though.

      • I do think it might be worthwhile for indies to study some of the syndicate’s methods, though.

        Yes!

        That is the heart of what I am doing.

        Multiple housenames, always publishing the first three books of series at the same time, branding from the start and keeping the branding consistent over time, i.e., not changing things on a whim. Things only fell apart after his death and the daughters got greedy.

        I don’t know how to solve that part. HA!

  1. Boy is he underestimating them, for publishers laugh in the face of death, at least for a proven golden goose 😉 They have a neat backup plan for author existence failure: a thoughtful author will have a trunk full of stories for the publishers to “find,” like VC Andrews. Or Philip K. Dick (likely legit in his case, though). Or they’ll just hire someone to write “sequels” like they do with Sidney Sheldon’s books.

    A mere inconvenience like an author’s death is no obstacle for publishers.

      • Don’t forget Vince flynn. Same thing as clancy. They print the title and dead authors name very large and in small print the real author. Would be illegal if I had any power.

  2. The question becomes, are the products worth buying?

    The stuff produced after Mickey Spillane died weren’t very good.

    • Worth buying? That would depend on the product in question, and the tastes and preferences of the consumer. There is no reason to presume the ghost writer for the dead author will produce something a material number of people like. There’s also no reason to presume he won’t.

      God Bless the free market.

      • Yeah, but if the ghost writer were as good, wouldn’t he be writing his own stuff under their name, letting it stand on its own?

        Anything hypothetical can be argued in circles.
        But the facts are a different story. 🙂
        Few posthumous books stand up to the original creator’s work.

        • Yeah, but if the ghost writer were as good, wouldn’t he be writing his own stuff under their name, letting it stand on its own?

          I don’t know. I suppose it depends on how much he makes under each option. Some will choose one path, and some another. My comment refers to those who choose to be ghost writers.

          I wonder how many very good independent KDP writers make as much as these ghost writers?

          I’m also reminded of the traditional writers who told us any writer who was any good would be able to get a traditional contract.

          Few posthumous books stand up to the original creator’s work.

          So what? If lots of consumers like them, they are a success.

        • There are many authors who knocked out a few such books early in their careers to keep the wolf from the door.

          Remember it can take time to achieve the fame and necessary level of sales.

          • I know.
            I was just pointing out that hypotheticals don’t settle anything. For every “if this” there is a “if that”.

            That said, those kinds of work for hire deals can become a time sink trap. Plus they require writing to mimic somebody else’s voice. Hard to develop a personal voice is all you do is mimic others, no?

            • Hard to develop a personal voice is all you do is mimic others, no?

              Again, So What? An author might never develop a personal voice, but may make a good living getting a regular paycheck like zillions of other people.

              Writing is an activity. People can weave it into a variety of life styles and occupations.

  3. It might be hard, but they do it. Just like some people continue to receive SSI checks for their dead relatives. It’s the gift that keeps on giving, if you know how to work it. You, young, alive authors at the gates, waving your manuscripts, you’ll just have to wait till we’ve exhausted our trove of everything ‘dead writer’ has written.

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