First, it was Jack The Ripper Patricia Cornwell chose to investigate, now the world’s best-selling crime writer says she has uncovered new evidence during a six-month investigation into the death of Diana, Princess of Wales. It is believed Cornwell had access to those involved in the autopsy and has uncovered the truth about Diana’s rumoured pregnancy at the time of the accident. (She wasn’t pregnant). Cornwell’s findings will be broadcast in America on ABC’s Prime Time Thursday, October 30.
U2’s Bono, with help from his daughters, Jordan, 14, and Eve, 12, has illustrated a book based on Peter and the Wolf, the Prokofiev classical children’s piece about a boy who catches a wolf. Sales will benefit the Irish Hospice Foundation and the 43-year-old rocker’s 16 original illustrations will be auctioned by Christie’s in New York City.
Lots of reports coming from the US that Woody Allen is fishing for a seven-figure book deal to tell his life story.
Former Agassi and Roddick coach, Brad Gilbert has written a book called Head Trip, which tells readers how to apply his lessons about performing under stress on centre court to their own lives.
Like Rock Hudson and Richard Chamberlain – and who knows who else? – Tab Hunter, a handsome leading man in movies in the late 1950s and early ‘60s, was living an off-screen life as a closet gay man. Publishers Weekly reports that Tab has been signed up to write a tell-all book about his double life.
The NSW Writers’ Centre has announced the winners of the 2003 Fastbooks Self-Published Books Competition. Automoton by Alana Woods won the fiction category. Too Long in the Tropicals by Barbara Sherwood won the autobiography/memoir category.
You have until Friday, November 7, to vote for your favourite Australian book. It can be fiction or non-fiction, a novel or a collection of poems or stories. You can cast your vote by posting the name of your favourite book and its author to “Your favourite Australian Book,” GPO Box 9994, Sydney NSW 2001. The website contains a list of 160 titles which may be used as a basis for voting, but any book by an Australian author can be nominated. The results in the survey, held in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of the Australian Society of Authors, will be announced on ABC Radio National, ABC local radio and ABC Online on Monday, November 24.
Pan Macmillan will publish what promises to be a very interesting, authorised autobiography of swimming champion Ian Thorpe, in 2004.
The family saga, The Namesake (Random) by Jhumpa Lahiri, who won the Pulitzer prize for her story collection, Interpreter of Maladies, has been given a good plug on US TV according to Publishers Weekly, with Ray’s wife Debra reading it in bed in an episode of Everybody Loves Raymond. The Bookseller is staging another Oddest Title of the Year competition. Early entries include: The Big Book of Lesbian Horse Stories, Shipping Semen: How To Have a Successful Experience and Ultra Cool Dwarfs. Death By Hollywood, a murder mystery written by Steven Bochco, the co-creater of TV shows L.A. Law and NYPD Blue, is receiving good reviews in the US.
A book written by 39-year-old Rachel Greenwald, called Find a Husband After 35 Using What I Learned At Harvard Business School: A Simple 15-Step Action Program has been optioned by Paramount Pictures. One of Rachel’s tips are: Make A Plan. “There’s this notion that love should happen naturally, not strategically. After 35, if you want to believe in fairy tales, you’re going to be single for a long time. Fate is not going to knock on your door.”
In an interview to publicise the movie version of her book, Under The Tuscan Sun, author Frances Mayes reveals that Ed Kleinschmidt, who worked alongside her to restore Bramasole, adopted her surname when they married. “He’s a very enlightened man,” Frances told Newsday. “And Kleinschmidt is a terrible name in Italy – all those consonants!”
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