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RE: Derecho Isn't Just a City in Texas
Speaking of passing it on, I know it's not quite the same, but I loaned my youngest daughter several of my books on writing the other day. Another novelist in the family? I'm so proud! And worried about her financial future, but mostly proud.
Well, that's nice! I didn't know writing is a genetic thing. Acting and race driving may be, but writing... :)
Beats me--art is art, I suppose, so if it's in your blood, writing counts. Stephen King's son is a writer, and Mel Brooks' son is, too--and Mel has done a lot of writing in addition to his movie work.
I didn't know about King's and Brooks' sons, but I assumed there might be some examples of writer's families, too. I guess they would rather use a different name to publish, as it may look a bit daft if the use the famous name.
In acting, there are a lot of family connections, some do use the famous name some don't. In race driving there are lots too, and since they don't have aliases its easy to see. Its quiete weird actually: where ever you look, Formula 1, Formula E, Touring Car series, NASCAR - you could think you are watching events from 25 or 30 years ago, if you see the names of the drivers. But actually they are sons, or even grand sons, of famous drivers from the 70s to 90s. And in racing there is not so much suspicion to be in it just because of the famous name - because either you can drive and win, or you can't.
Yes, I remember seeing a name in the list of drivers for this year's Indy 500 that was the same as a driver from when I saw it as a kid. Not just a kid but, I'd imagine, a grandkid.
with writing and acting it's different--you'll always have people wondering if you got a roll just because of your name. It's why I admire people like King's son, who didn't let anyone know his real name until after he had some books published.
Well, there you go - just as I expected. Yes, with the famous family name people quickly say"Oh, sure, daddy pulled some strings in Hollywood." And I guess, in some cases it's true. Not saying that such person must be a bad actor - but there are lots and lots of people who are not bad actors (or writers) and still never make it.
Yes, with racing drivers it's extreme. In the US, you have some real dynasties of racers, like the Earnhardts, the Unsers, Andrettis, Waltrips, Labontes ect., often they also founded racing teams or are envolved in organizing racing series.
In Germany we have some, too, most famously the Schumacher family. Both Michael and Ralf Schumacher, ex F1 drivers, have sons who are also race drivers now.
If you have some spare time, here is a list of family relations in racing:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_family_relations_in_auto_racing
The Schumachers are known over here, too--I don't even follow racing, and I've heard of them.
Not very surprising - Michael Schumacher is the most successful Formular 1 driver ever. He was champion 7 times. Until he had a skiing accident some years ago, that left him in a coma since. What a irony: a racing driver who had dozens of accident that he walked away from - and then a accident at a skiing vacation ruins his life.
His brother Ralf is example that a big name can be a burden as well as a help. He came into the F1 when Michael was already a champion, so everybody expected Ralf to do the same. He won a few races, and was not so bad, but never on the level like Michael. Must be hard to always get compared to the big brother, I guess. But finally he succeeded, in a way - he is rich and still healthy now.
Good for the brother, too bad for Michael though. It reminds me of how I've made it through so many incidents on the fire department without a serious injury, then keep getting banged up doing chores around the house!