Unauthorized??? vs Authorized, there's a difference?
Q: I’m considering writing a biography about someone relatively famous in my hometown. I’ve noticed that biographies fall into one of two categories: authorized and unauthorized. What’s the difference?
A: The difference between an authorized biography and an unauthorized biography is this: An authorized biography is written with the help/cooperation of the person whom the book is about and an unauthorized biography is not.
In an authorized biography, the author typically holds interviews with the subject of the book, the subject’s family members and friends, co-workers, etc. The author is privy to information only attainable from the subject of the book. So, let’s say you wanted to write Brian A. Klems: Man, Writer, Softball Champion and wanted it to be an authorized biography. You’d contact me and ask for my blessing and cooperation, getting as much information as you can directly from me (and those around me). If I were deceased (yikes!), you’d need the blessing of my estate.
Also, depending on level of involvement, sometimes the subject will get a shared byline and possibly a share of the book’s revenue. Issues like that can—and should—be addressed before the book is started.
On the flip side, if you call for my help and I tell you to buzz off, you have two options: 1) to actually buzz off or 2) to go ahead and write the biography anyway without my help. Here you’ll have to gather info on your own from public records and other resources, but you won’t have to make any professional compromises or financial concessions.
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MacLeans
MacLeans
Christy Clark bio goes beyond the smile
Former B.C. MLA Judi Tyabji pens an unauthorized biography of the B.C. Premier
Nancy Macdonald
June 4, 2016
....... She described for Tyabji the moment she was able to turn it around. She was swimming in the cold Pacific Ocean, near her family cabin in B.C.’s Gulf Islands. “For the first time, I felt overwhelmed, thinking that I just didn’t know how we were going to win the election.” She’s always been a nervous swimmer, she admits, wary of the creatures beneath her, and of the open ocean after her father’s and sister’s near-drowning in a boating accident. “I remember swimming and thinking, I don’t know if I’m going to win the election, but it all depends on me, and I’m not going to be scared about the outcome,” she tells Tyabji. “I’m going to let go of all my fear about it.”. In that moment, she “stopped being afraid. ......
..... The biography was unauthorized, but it’s not clear the premier will appreciate the help. ......
Great point NVG. This puffery was served to Judy on a silver platter. I wonder how many books the Liberal government will authorize for purchase. Kickbacks for product placement all paid for by us tax payers to spin us citizens. No shame, same old same old.
ReplyDeleteDirectly quoting the moment she was "able to turn it all around"... now we are all swimming in it.
yes and we too swim in it up to our necks, many paddling for their lives. Christy knows no fear, so lets give her something to be afraid of, very afraid, vote her out of office.
ReplyDeleteUnauthorized. right, in a pig's ass. How'd she get the quote if its so unauthorized. Perhaps to put some distance between her and Judy because somewhere I read good ole Judy received a grant of some such, which I do believe was tax payer funded??????
@Bill and @e.a.f
ReplyDeleteWith a title like 'Behind the Smile' I expected more, politically, a major take-down along the lines of President Richard Nixon at the hands of the Late Mark Felt aka Deep Throat of Watergate fame
ReplyDeleteDeep Throat:
a person who anonymously supplies information about covert or illegal action in the organization where they work.
http://linkis.com/omnyapp.com/shows/ly/Hh4Qf
ReplyDelete