At the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, the lines form early—and often, they form for names.
From celebrity authors to first-time writers, the annual event at USC brings together thousands of readers and storytellers. But, beyond the panels and signings, the festival also reflects a larger shift in publishing—one where visibility, platform and personal brand increasingly determine whose stories get told.
“I think it’s cheating in a sense,” said first-time author Jerry J. Bobb, who traveled from Louisiana to promote his book, “Overcoming Adversity: Time For a Reset.” “You don’t get that cut-the-line status by being just a normal person.”
Bobb said the rise of celebrity-authored books can make it harder for independent writers to compete.
“I think it saturates it a bit,” he added.
That concern is echoed by younger writers trying to break into the industry.
Shayaan Ahmed, an aspiring author working on an Indian American sci-fi novel, said the publishing process itself often favors those with built-in audiences.
“Agents and publishers really only want to take a chance on [people] with a huge following,” Ahmed said. “It’s really hard to market your stuff if you’re not a celebrity or influencer.”
Even so, not every writer sees celebrity influence as a limitation.
Tish Barnhardt, author of “So You Wanna Be a First Lady,” said success today depends on how authors position themselves.
“As I go out here and market my book, then I am now the authority,” she said. “People already think I’m a celebrity… I’m just walking in my celebrity shoes.”
Her approach reflects a growing reality in publishing: authors are no longer just storytellers—they are brands.
Industry insiders say that shift is partly driven by the sheer volume of content competing for attention.
“There’s so many different books out there that it can get pretty overwhelming,” said Jane Lee, director of brand marketing for Reese’s Book Club (Reese Witherspoon’s book club).
Celebrity-driven platforms, she said, help readers navigate that landscape.
“Each celebrity has a specific taste,” Lee said. People come to us to find that story.”
For celebrities themselves, however, writing a book is not always just about visibility—it can also be deeply personal.
During a panel discussion about her latest book, “You Better Believe I’m Gonna Talk About It,” at the festival, Lisa Rinna—also the author of previous books including “Rinnavation” and “Starlit”—spoke candidly about her experience with the production of her books.
“I don’t write my own books… I always have a ghostwriter,” she said. “I’m not a writer.”
Still, she described the process as transformative.
“It ended up being very cathartic,” she said, explaining that making books helped her process grief and reconnect with her identity.
For fashion designer and businesswoman Tina Knowles, authorship is also tied to purpose—one rooted less in profit and more in passion.
“Make sure that you pick something that you’re passionate about… because I feel like the money will come,” Knowles said in an exclusive interview with Annenberg Media.
She emphasized that while financial success matters, it shouldn’t drive creative decisions.
“Don’t make it about the money,” she said. “If you put 100% into your business and your career, the money will come.”
During the panel, Knowles reflected on the personal influences behind her storytelling, including her late nephew, whom she described as both creative and unapologetically authentic.
“He [Johnny] taught me to be myself… don’t judge yourself by what others think,” she said.
That perspective highlights a deeper layer of the celebrity-authored book boom: while some projects are driven by platform and audience, others are grounded in personal legacy, identity and lived experience.
At the Festival of Books, that tension plays out in real time—between visibility and voice or branding and authenticity.
For Ahmed, the path forward may require adapting to that reality.
“With the rise of social media, there is a way to organically build a following,” he said.
And for Bobb, the focus remains on something simpler.
“If you have a real story,” he said, “it takes real courage to put it into words.”
In a space where everyone is trying to be heard, that courage may be the one thing no platform can replace.