From fame to fiction: celebrities turned authors

Celebrities are sometimes reduced to their appearances, categorized as individuals who take on lines and lyrics that other people have written for them. But don't be fooled, there are tons of celebrities who have tried their hand at writing—and not just penning the age-old, scandalous, spill-all memoir either.

Check out this gallery to and be surprised by the stars who have crafted a genuine work of fiction.

Dolly Parton

In 2022, Dolly Parton teamed up with prolific best-selling writer James Patterson for their a new mystery thriller, 'Run, Rose, Run'. The novel tells the tale of Rose, a young country singer/songwriter from Nashville who realizes that fame and fortune can be as heartbreaking as the secret she's carrying.

If the main character sounds a little familiar, Parton has teased that it is slightly autobiographical and it takes a cautionary look into "the dark side" of the music industry. 

Kendall and Kylie Jenner, 'Rebels: City of Indra'

The Jenner sisters worked on a dystopian young adult novel that tells the story of Lex and Livia, two young girls living in a restrictive society in the future. Their sequel, 'Time of the Twins,' came out in 2016.

Madonna, 'The English Roses'

Madonna's children's book series explores a close friendship among four young girls, simultaneously imparting knowledge about inclusivity along the way.

Lauren Graham, 'Someday, Someday Maybe'

Graham's funny and sweet novel about a girl who tries to make it on Broadway, reflecting Graham's own early beginnings as a young actress, actually became a New York Times bestseller!

Hilary Duff, 'Elixir'

Instead of spiraling into drugs and profane behavior, this former Disney star decided to write not one but three novels in the 'Elixir' series, which follows photojournalist Clea as she encounters the supernatural.

Jesse Eisenberg, 'Bream Gives Me Hiccups'

The actor's debut short story collection garnered a lot of praise as an intelligent mix of sharp satire and surprising sweetness.

Britney Spears and Lynne Spears, 'A Mother's Gift'

The mother-daughter duo wrote this book about a young girl from Mississippi who earns a scholarship to a performing arts school. It was later turned into a TV movie.

Hugh Laurie, 'The Gun Seller'

The 'House' actor appears to have a penchant for the crime genre, best demonstrated in his spoof-style story about an ex-soldier who gets involved in a conspiracy surrounding the world of spies, CIA agents, and terrorists.

Nicole Richie, 'The Truth About Diamonds'

In her debut novel, Richie wrote from her experience and told the story of Chloe Parker, the adopted daughter of a famous rock star and A-list circle socialite, who struggles with growing up in the spotlight.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 'Mycroft Holmes'

The legendary basketball player collaborated with Anna Waterhouse to put his own spin on the famous Sherlock Holmes character in this nod to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

David Duchovny, 'Holy Cow'

The 'X-Files' actor wrote a fictional animal welfare novel about a cow who finds out about industrial meat farming and is forced to rethink the world and to escape to a better, safer place.

Bella Thorne, 'Autumn Falls'

After five years on the Disney Channel, the young star published a novel that follows the journey of Autumn Falls as she discovers her wishes come true when she writes them in a diary bestowed upon her by her dead father. It was followed up by two sequel novels!

Steve Martin, 'Shopgirl'

The legendary comedian has four major fiction titles to his name: 'An Object of Beauty,' 'The Pleasure Of My Company,' 'Shopgirl,' and 'Late For School.' His first novella, 'Shopgirl,' was adapted into a movie in 2005, starring himself, Claire Danes, and Jason Schwartzman.

Chris Harrison, 'The Perfect Letter'

After working on a reality show about finding love for almost 16 years, 'The Bachelorette' host used his knowledge to write his debut novel 'The Perfect Letter.'

James Franco, 'Palo Alto'

Franco's collection of short stories was actually turned into a movie of the same name, starring himself and Emma Roberts. He also wrote 'Actors Anonymous,' a darker look into Hollywood, and a poetry collection, 'Directing Herbert White: Poems.'

Willie Nelson, 'A Tale Out of Luck'

The singer has dabbled extensively in autobiographical musings, but 'A Tale Out of Luck' takes a fictional turn to follow a Texas Ranger and his murder investigation in a small Texas farm town called Luck.

Tom Hanks, 'Uncommon Type'

The world-renowned actor published a collection of 17 short stories, bringing life to a multitude of characters, worlds, and emotions with a distinct Tom Hanks flare.

Bob Dylan, 'Tarantula'

This experimental prose poetry collection, written in the '60s, uses a stream of consciousness style that put Dylan's name in the ranks of Jack Kerouac, William S. Burroughs, and Allen Ginsberg.

Nick Cave, 'The Death of Bunny Monro'

'The Death of Bunny Munro' follows a middle-aged lothario whose womanizing and alcohol abuse comes to a head after his wife's death. This is actually the second of the Australian singer's novels, the first being published in 1989.

Woody Allen, 'Without Feathers'

The actor/screenwriter/director is also well-known for his short-story fiction, frequently published in The New Yorker and published in 'Without Feathers,' 'Side Effects,' 'Getting Even,' and 'Mere Anarchy.'