It’s never been harder for older and experienced writers—so how did a celebrity with no book land a deal?
- Replies 21
When an unexpected figure steps into the literary world, it’s bound to raise a few eyebrows—especially when their journey bypasses the usual hurdles.
What started as a light-hearted announcement quickly sparked a heated debate online.
The reaction has revealed deep tensions in the world of publishing, privilege, and who gets to tell stories.
An unlikely name sparked a firestorm in the online book world after revealing an unexpected leap into the publishing industry.
Former NRL player and The Bachelor contestant Luke Bateman shared on social media that he had secured a book deal with major publisher Simon and Schuster—news that initially delighted his growing follower base.
But the announcement quickly shifted from celebration to controversy, as many questioned how someone with no published work had landed such an opportunity in a notoriously competitive industry.
Bateman, who played for the Canberra Raiders between 2015 and 2019, recently re-emerged on social media platforms to excitedly connect with the BookTok—or rather, book-loving—community in social media. He described himself as a lifelong fan of fantasy and expressed a desire to finally have a space to discuss his passion.
‘I’ve loved books my entire life,’ he said in his first video, which amassed over 2 million views’.
‘Love fantasy... it’s my main go to... but I’ve never had anywhere to really talk about it because I’m a male in a blue collar work and from the country.’
He added that he’d noticed many women in the online book space enjoying ‘smut and spice’—a comment that didn’t go unnoticed.
The warm welcome Bateman initially received cooled swiftly when he revealed he’d signed a two-book deal. That revelation left many questioning what exactly had earned the 30-year-old Queensland pine cutter such a significant opportunity.
Aspiring authors—many with completed manuscripts, built platforms, and years of experience—began expressing their frustration.
One creator, known online as Jeff Kissubi, voiced his concern in a widely shared post: ‘Race and privilege shape who get the shortcuts. Black and marginalised authors, especially women and gender-diverse creatives, are out here with finished, powerful stories that still get overlooked.’
Source: TikTok/lukesreads
Another creator, Audra Winter Books, didn’t hold back either.
‘Let’s put this into perspective, shall we?’ the account wrote.
‘I have around the same size audience, with a completely written book and series, over 10 years of experience in writing, and a platform built solely around my concept; I struggled for three years to even secure a literary agent.
‘This is why I turned against traditional publishing; it’s never been truly about the story WRITTEN. There are so many talented and skilled authors from marginalised communities across this app who HAVE put in the effort, who HAVE worked to refine their skills, who HAVE worked to build their platform, and yet this is what publishing prioritises. Yikes.
‘You, as an author with a voice, should be standing up and recognising the flaw in this, if you are truly part of the community on this app with many authors who have actually written and marketed the book getting shadowed by you.’
Others echoed similar sentiments. One user asked: ‘I’m confused, lol - how did you get a book deal with no book written???’
Another chimed in: ‘A white man getting a book deal without having written anything? My jaw stayed right where it was.’
And one comment read: ‘This opportunity is the intersection of white privilege, male privilege, and pretty privilege. Not a reflection of worth.’
Still, not everyone joined the backlash.
QBD Books Australias commented: ‘Congratulations Luke! We can’t wait to read your debut book!!
’
Another user defended Bateman’s right to pursue the opportunity: ‘Why the hate? Why is it about race? Why is it about gender? The double standard has got to stop.
‘We made him famous. Now we are tearing him down? He did nothing wrong. Right place at the right time. Say congrats and move on! And if the book is good or bad, remember reading is subjective. Congratulations!! I wish you all the best!! This is an insane opportunity!’
Whether Bateman’s fantasy debut will live up to the hype—or the criticism—remains to be seen. But for now, he’s at the centre of a much bigger conversation about fairness, representation, and who gets a seat at the literary table.
In a previous story, another high-profile figure faced backlash after diving into the book world—this time, a celebrity chef whose children’s book was pulled from shelves.
It’s a reminder that fame doesn’t always translate smoothly into publishing, and not every reader welcomes a familiar face in unfamiliar territory.
If you missed that controversy, it’s worth a look.
Do you think today’s publishing world still values experience and hard work, or is it all about who you know? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
What started as a light-hearted announcement quickly sparked a heated debate online.
The reaction has revealed deep tensions in the world of publishing, privilege, and who gets to tell stories.
An unlikely name sparked a firestorm in the online book world after revealing an unexpected leap into the publishing industry.
Former NRL player and The Bachelor contestant Luke Bateman shared on social media that he had secured a book deal with major publisher Simon and Schuster—news that initially delighted his growing follower base.
But the announcement quickly shifted from celebration to controversy, as many questioned how someone with no published work had landed such an opportunity in a notoriously competitive industry.
Former NRL player’s book deal sparks backlash. Image source: Instagram/lukebateman_
Bateman, who played for the Canberra Raiders between 2015 and 2019, recently re-emerged on social media platforms to excitedly connect with the BookTok—or rather, book-loving—community in social media. He described himself as a lifelong fan of fantasy and expressed a desire to finally have a space to discuss his passion.
‘I’ve loved books my entire life,’ he said in his first video, which amassed over 2 million views’.
‘Love fantasy... it’s my main go to... but I’ve never had anywhere to really talk about it because I’m a male in a blue collar work and from the country.’
He added that he’d noticed many women in the online book space enjoying ‘smut and spice’—a comment that didn’t go unnoticed.
The warm welcome Bateman initially received cooled swiftly when he revealed he’d signed a two-book deal. That revelation left many questioning what exactly had earned the 30-year-old Queensland pine cutter such a significant opportunity.
Aspiring authors—many with completed manuscripts, built platforms, and years of experience—began expressing their frustration.
One creator, known online as Jeff Kissubi, voiced his concern in a widely shared post: ‘Race and privilege shape who get the shortcuts. Black and marginalised authors, especially women and gender-diverse creatives, are out here with finished, powerful stories that still get overlooked.’
Source: TikTok/lukesreads
Another creator, Audra Winter Books, didn’t hold back either.
‘Let’s put this into perspective, shall we?’ the account wrote.
‘I have around the same size audience, with a completely written book and series, over 10 years of experience in writing, and a platform built solely around my concept; I struggled for three years to even secure a literary agent.
‘This is why I turned against traditional publishing; it’s never been truly about the story WRITTEN. There are so many talented and skilled authors from marginalised communities across this app who HAVE put in the effort, who HAVE worked to refine their skills, who HAVE worked to build their platform, and yet this is what publishing prioritises. Yikes.
‘You, as an author with a voice, should be standing up and recognising the flaw in this, if you are truly part of the community on this app with many authors who have actually written and marketed the book getting shadowed by you.’
Others echoed similar sentiments. One user asked: ‘I’m confused, lol - how did you get a book deal with no book written???’
Another chimed in: ‘A white man getting a book deal without having written anything? My jaw stayed right where it was.’
And one comment read: ‘This opportunity is the intersection of white privilege, male privilege, and pretty privilege. Not a reflection of worth.’
Still, not everyone joined the backlash.
QBD Books Australias commented: ‘Congratulations Luke! We can’t wait to read your debut book!!
’Another user defended Bateman’s right to pursue the opportunity: ‘Why the hate? Why is it about race? Why is it about gender? The double standard has got to stop.
‘We made him famous. Now we are tearing him down? He did nothing wrong. Right place at the right time. Say congrats and move on! And if the book is good or bad, remember reading is subjective. Congratulations!! I wish you all the best!! This is an insane opportunity!’
Whether Bateman’s fantasy debut will live up to the hype—or the criticism—remains to be seen. But for now, he’s at the centre of a much bigger conversation about fairness, representation, and who gets a seat at the literary table.
In a previous story, another high-profile figure faced backlash after diving into the book world—this time, a celebrity chef whose children’s book was pulled from shelves.
It’s a reminder that fame doesn’t always translate smoothly into publishing, and not every reader welcomes a familiar face in unfamiliar territory.
If you missed that controversy, it’s worth a look.
Do you think today’s publishing world still values experience and hard work, or is it all about who you know? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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