ELDON —
“Oh boy,” I exclaimed on my last trip to the library to pick up some holiday reading, a new novel by Tom Clancy.
NOT!
Another book with a famous author’s name in huge type, but the actual writer’s name in small type at the bottom of the cover.
I wonder how long its been since Tom Clancy, James Patterson, Bill O’Reilly, Stephen King and it seems like almost countless others, have actually sat down at their typewriter or word processing program and actually written a novel all on their own?
So many of these popular writers seem to have tired of the labor of actually producing a novel, and now they just pitch the outline and the publisher hires a writer to actually write the book. He gets his name, in small print, on the cover, and a share of the profits, which, considering the large type name on the cover, will be significant.
I for one no longer read these novels purportedly by the big time authors. If there’s a name on the cover other than the writer I have always admired, I give it a pass.
Hey, big-time writers: Your name became an instant best seller because you were producing terrific books! Now you seem content to rest on your laurels and gull the public into paying for a cover with your name, but none of your actual creative juice on the pages inside.
Stop it. Your fans don't like or appreciate it.
Don Howard
Eldon
Letters to the Editor
January 5, 2013
No longer reading books by ghost writers
- Letters to the Editor
-
- Youth Field Day a great success Youth Field Day a great success We would like to express thanks on behalf of the 154 students and their parents for the efforts put forth by the various groups and individuals who sponsored the Youth Field Day events held at the Izaak Walton League
- Proud of Bridge View Center This past weekend, educators from around the state of Iowa and the Northwest Regional Director from Canada attended a convention held at the Bridge View Center. The women educators were members of Delta Kappa Gamma, an international society that prom
- No respect offered at funeral No respect for a deaf man at his mother's funeral. My friend didn't know what was going on in regards to his mother's funeral. He thought the hearse would take his mother to the cemetery. I told him no, cremation was the plan. His relatives did not a
- Thankful for excellent educators Editor's note: The following includes excerpts from a 1981 retirement for Alice Lee. While strolling by the shores of the Des Moines River, I ran into an interesting group. Now, you must understand that this wasn't the normal family group you often
- Don't bury your head like an ostrich Don't bury your head like an ostrich History teaches us about human nature. We learn from reading others' experiences through books, magazines, letters and photos. It allows us a treasured glimpse into the soul of man. Usually, we see the good in o
- A rush through paradise In last week's "Mini Page," the article headlined "Experience Gravity," it mentioned Isaac Newton and his apple. Now if this apple had fallen through a hole and another apple at the same time and same altitude in say, China, with equal force, fell th
- Ottumwa is an amazing community Ottumwa is an amazing community Ladies and gentlemen of Ottumwa … THIS is what you are. After completing my military career, I moved my wife and four small children to Ottumwa. After spending my life traveling and moving all over the world, I now
- Lemonade stand unfairly targeted Recently, my kids and their friends wanted to have a lemonade stand at our home on North Court Street. This is something we do very often and have for the last five years since we moved here. A police officer showed up informing us that someone had c
- No Headline Provided Kudos to whoever hired the camp hosts (Mary and Rich) for Ottumwa Park. They made us feel welcome from the moment we pulled in. You can tell they are very hard workers and take pride in what they do. The entire park was very clean, and the showers st
- American is more than its economy America is more than its economy America is strong, unique and a one-of-a-kind nation. It's because of our freedoms that people from all over the world seek to come HERE. America is the greatest county the world has ever seen. It is not perfect, but
- More Letters to the Editor Headlines
