Rachel Dolezal Book Deal Unlikely, Insiders Say: 'There's Nothing Sympathetic About Her' (Exclusive)

Inside Edition

Rachel Dolezal, the embattled former leader of the Spokane, Washington, chapter of the NAACP, may be the media darling of the week. But capitalizing on her current moment in the spotlight with a lucrative book contract could be a struggle, publishing insiders say.

“It’s a fascinating story but it’s already gotten too much coverage,” a longtime literary agent told TheWrap.

Jennifer Robinson, VP of publicity for Gallery Books, agreed. “There’s a lot out there,” she said. “I don’t think people want to hear more from her.”

Also Read: Rachel Dolezal Defended by Black Scholar: 'Let Her Be a Black Woman, It's Not Going to Hurt Anybody'

In addition to overexposure, insiders said Dolezal would face other challenges in trying to win over publishers, starting with her likability.

“There’s nothing sympathetic about her,” the agent said. In order for an author to land a memoir contract with a major publisher, this insider said, “You need to be able to root for the person. What is there for me to even identify with?”

Added Robinson, “I don’t know who the audience would be.”

Then there’s the matter of Dolezal’s believability — especially since both her parents and her brother have publicly challenged the substance of many of her claims about her racial identity and her experiences growing up.

Also Read: Rachel Dolezal Claims 'No Biological Proof' of Relationship to Parents (Video)

During her NBC News interview on Tuesday, Dolezal admitted darkening her skin and perming her naturally straight, blond hair. She’s also claimed to have been the victim of several hate crimes, claims that the Spokane Police Department has not been able to verify. On her application to join the city’s police oversight commission, Dolezal identified herself as multiracial, even though her Montana birth certificate lists both of her parents as Caucasian.

“There seem to be a lot of issues with credibility,” Emi Battaglia, director of marketing for Regan Arts, told TheWrap.

“If I sent [a Dolezal book proposal] to an editor, first of all they would frown upon it because it’s so down-market,” the agent said. “Plus, she’s a liar. What are the potential legal ramifications? If she’s talking about her family, it sounds like her parents or her brother could sue her.”

Also Read: Rachel Dolezal Ripped by Transgender Activists Over Caitlyn Jenner Comparison

At this time, there is no indication that Dolezal has hired a literary agent or approached publishers with a proposal for a book.

But many said they would not be surprised if the former civil rights leader and adjunct professor of Africana Studies did so — particularly given the massive public attention she has received since last week.

Timing any book would be critical. “The news cycle moves so quickly,” Dori Weintraub, VP of publicity at St. Martin’s Press, said. “It would have to be a very serious book about identity, that incorporates gender identity as well as racial identity, that could withstand the very, very quickly shifting news cycle.”

13 Reality Shows Killed by Scandal Before '19 Kids and Counting': 'Megan Wants a Millionaire' to 'Buckwild' (Photos)

These reality television shows made their exit from the small screen in unfavorable ways. Will "19 Kids and Counting" follow a similar path?
Getty Images/TLC/MTV
MTV suspended production on "Buckwild," marketed as the "redneck version" of "Jersey Shore," following the death of cast member Shain Gandee. The 21-year-old was found dead of accidental carbon monoxide poisoning.
MTV
Never mind that Liza Minnelli and David Gest separated the following year, VH1 dropped "Liza and David" before its first episode aired because Gest was "impossible to work with."
Twitter/@LoveYouMoreMJ_
"Kid Nation," a show about 40 kids running their own town with minimal adult interference, was axed by CBS when it was accused of exploiting the children's welfare and being the "sweatshop of the entertainment industry."
CBS
CeeLo Green’s reality show "The Good Life" was canned by TBS days after the musician pleaded no contest to a felony charge of giving a woman the drug ecstasy. He then tweeted: “People who have really been raped REMEMBER!!!”
Getty Images
"Pretty Wild" was slated to become E!'s next reality family success story after the Kardashians. The show followed momager Andrea Arlington and her three wannabe model daughters Alexis Neiers, Tess Taylor and Gabby Neiers. Alexis was arrested after shooting the pilot as one of the members of the "Bling Ring," a group of teenage thieves who broke into celebrity homes like Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan. "Pretty Wild" included some of the trial in its first season and did not opt to renew.
Getty Images
TLC quickly canceled "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo" after reports came out that June Shannon, mother to the young star of the series, was resuming her relationship with a man who was convicted of molesting another one of her daughters.
TLC
Ryan Jenkins, the Canadian man suspected of killing model Jasmine Fiore and then taking his own life, appeared first as a contestant on "Megan Wants A Millionaire" and then on "I Love Money 3." Though the incident happened months after he was on either show, VH1 pulled the plug on both. "Megan Wants A Millionaire" was yanked mid-season, while "I Love Money 3" was not set to air for another year.
VH1
"Ev and Ocho" was a VH1 series following newlyweds NFL receiver Chad Johnson (aka Ochocinco) and “Basketball Wives” star Evelyn Lozada. VH1 yanked the show after the new groom was arrested on a domestic violence charge for head-butting his new bride.
VH1
"Armed and Famous" followed five stars (La Toya Jackson, Erik Estrada, Jack Osbourne, Jason "Wee-Man" Acuna and Trish Stratus) who enrolled in the Police Academy in Muncie, Indiana, and served as part of its patrol. The show was canceled after four episodes due to ratings ... And perhaps because Estrada got into a public shouting match with a suspect. Also, a woman sued the show for wrongful entry and illegal search.
CBS
"Jon & Kate Plus 8" became "Kate Plus 8" when Jon and Kate Gosselin announced their split during the show's fifth season finale. Jon wasn't pleased to be kicked off the show and tried to stop TLC from filming his children altogether.
TLC
A&E yanked "The Two Coreys," which featured child stars Corey Haim and Corey Feldman, after Haim suffered a drug abuse relapse while shooting the second season. Feldman said he would no longer deal with his friend's substance addiction. Haim died in March 2010.
A&E
"Flip It Forward" features twin brothers Jason and David Benham in their own HGTV series. Or, it would, had the network not shut down those plans after learning about homophobic, anti-Muslim and anti-abortion statements they’d made in the past.
HGTV
Last month, it was revealed that Josh Duggar had inappropriately touched five underage girls – four of which are his sisters – when he was a teenager. TLC pulled all episodes of "19 Kids and Counting" off the air, but has stopped short of definitively canceling the show. Considering the backlash and how many of its sponsors have dropped out, it's a matter of "when" and not "if" the show will get axed.
TLC