Literary Nepo Babies: Children of Famous Novelists on Following in Their Parents' Footsteps

A Guardian feature explores the rise of second-generation novelists, including Naomi Ishiguro, Jess Atwood Gibson, and Patrick Charnley, who have published books this year. The article examines whether having a famous writer parent provides an advantage or pressure. Nick Harkaway, son of John le Carré, notes his father's ubiquity but says the key was demonstrating that finishing a book and getting paid is possible. Deborah Moggach, whose parents were both writers, says she would have been a butcher if they had been. Her daughter Lottie Moggach published her fourth book in February. Amanda Craig describes writing as 'absolute torture,' yet her daughter Leon Craig became a writer. Aidan Cottrell-Boyce kept his writing secret from his father Frank until Shaun Evans revealed it. Patrick Charnley submitted his debut under a pseudonym to avoid nepotism claims. Publisher Francis Bickmore says a famous parent may get a manuscript read but makes him a harsher judge. The article notes that Martin Amis and Kingsley Amis were once considered a 'literary curiosity,' but now such pairs are increasingly common.