One of Australia’s most famous – and best loved – entertainers, Olivia Newton John has signed up with Pan Macmillan. The major publishing coup follows months of negotiations with the star of Grease whose string of hit songs include Let’s Get Physical and If Not For You. Her memoirs, titled It’s A Charmed Life, will be released in October and the US based star will promote the book with a major tour of Australia. Expect a big song and dance.
In another coup, Pan Macmillan has signed up Kerry and Kay Danes, the Australian couple who made the headlines after being arrested and imprisoned in Laos for alleged gem smuggling. Apparently the story behind the headlines reads like a contemporary thriller and the book will be a real nail biter.
Random is bringing TV’s ‘The Nanny,’ Fran Drescher, to Australia in June for the launch of her book, Cancer Schmancer. Same month will see Oprah’s Chef, Rosie Daley touring here to promote her latest book, The Healthy Kitchen (Random). And fans of Kathy Reichs, forensic anthropologist and crime writing super-star, will be thrilled to know she is coming to Australia in September. Her appearances are yet to be announced, but Random says Reichs will tour Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth. Her first Temperance Brennan novel was the best selling Deja Dead. Her most recent page turner, Fatal Voyage, was released earlier this year.
Her actual name is Franklin Birkinshaw, but you would know her better as Fay Weldon and she too is coming here as a star of The Sydney Writers Festival which is being held from May 27 to June 2. The British born author who spent much of her early life growing up in New Zealand, will be talking about her soon to be released autobiography, proofs of which have been held up by the lawyers – so it must be spicy. Fay will appear at a function at the Sydney Town Hall on the evening of Friday May 31. (For further information telephone 02 9566 4809). Another big star author attending the festival is Jodi Picault, whose terrific legal thrillers have earned her a big following here.
On the subject of lawyers and delays, whispers that Paul Keating’s much anticipated biography is being very carefully checked by the legal eagles, has caused a frisson of excitement. Ghost-written by his former speech writer, Don Watson, the book is due for release in May (Random) and the rumoured title is, wait for it -‘Confessions of a Bleeding Heart.’
From the US comes news of a book of essays and reminiscences about her life and career by Emmy award winning actress Patricia Heaton, currently starring as the put upon wife, Debra, in the hit TV show Everybody Loves Raymond. Tentatively titled Motherhood and Hollywood, it will consist of “funny and charming stories” about her Tinsel Town experiences and her personal life.
A huge publishing deal has been signed with singer, song-writer, Sting, for his memoirs. A man whose career in music has spanned 25 years and crossed over to acting – he’s just been nominated for an Academy award – must have an extraordinary tale to tell. Simon & Schuster certainly think so. They won the rights to Sting’s book at one of the biggest auctions of the year.
According to Publishers Weekly, “an unprecedented ten bidders” vied for the rights to a collection of short stories by “first time Australian author John Murray.” He is “a doctor residing in the US,” and HarperCollins will be publishing his book called A Few Notes on Tropical Butterflies. Other than that, we’ve never heard of him.
For those who missed the intriguing report in The Australian newspaper (Thursday March 7): The folk from a German town called Lohr are claiming Snow White, the fairy tale heroine created by the Grimm Brothers, was based on a local, one Maria Sophia Margaretha Catherina von Erthal who according to town hall records, was born in 1729 and grew up in a magnificent castle, now a museum, which contains a “talking,” mirror – an acoustic toy very popular in the 18th century. So there.
Publishers Weekly reports that famous author, Jean Auel, has broken a 12 year silence to publish Shelters of Stone, the fifth novel in the Earth Children series about prehistoric life which began more than 20 years ago with Clan of the Cave Bear. The previous four books sold more than 34 million copies in 26 languages world-wide and this is expected to be one of the biggest books of the US summer season.
Bookseller reports that Penguin Putnam has won the battle for the diaries of the late rock star Kurt Kobain. The deal between Cobain’s estate, controlled by his widow Courtney Love and the publisher has been criticised by fans angry at the way Love exploits Cobain’s legacy.
Despite talk of recessions and set-backs connected with world events, the book business in Australia is alive and well. For the year 1999 to 2000, The Australian Bureau of Statistics report that a whopping 126.1 million books were sold. Actor , alias Jim Royle in ABC-TV sitcom The Royle Family (10.30pm Friday), has signed up his autobiography for a large six figure sum because of his colourful background, which includes a stint in prison.
Speaking of crime, an Australian writer has been short-listed for the prestigious 2002 Los Angeles Times Book Prize. Marshall Browne, author of The Wooden Leg of Inspector Anders (Duffy & Snellgrove), is one of five finalists in the category of Mystery/Thriller writing. The same book won the Ned Kelly Award for best Australian first crime novel of 2000. Judging will be on Saturday April 27. Browne’s next novel, The Eye of the Abyss, is out in August.
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