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Archive for April, 2008
April 24th, 2008
Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee is writing
a book about his run for the Republican presidential nomination. The book will be released in November, 2008 and will discuss his failed bid for the presidency and his ideas for the future of the conservative movement. Sentinel, an imprint of Penguin Group will publish the former governor’s book.
“There’s going to be a lot of untold stories and untold anecdotes,” said Will Weisser, Sentinel’s associate publisher. “But the other part is the governor’s vision for the future of American politics and society and what should we be working towards? How does the (Republican) party become more unified?”
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The publishing company wouldn’t say how much Huckabee will be paid.
Weisser acknowledged that they’ve agreed to the book at a time when Huckabee’s political future is uncertain. The former governor recently formed a political action committee to raise money for McCain and other Republicans, and has also been mentioned as a potential running mate for the Arizona senator.
“We kind of had to think about that because obviously it’s possible he could be the running mate,” Weisser said. “It could certainly be hard to do a traditional book promotion if he’s the vice president-elect. But some people here have pointed out that that’s a nice problem to have.”
Governor Huckabee’s last book detailed his 100 lb weight loss Quit Digging Your Grave With a Knife and Fork was a bestseller. What’s more impressive than his weight loss, however, is the fact that he managed to keep the weight off during a presidential primary campaign. Think of all the calorie-laden foods the candidates are asked to eat on camera: Philly cheesesteaks, hamburgers, corn dogs…you name it, they have to eat it to please the locals.
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Original post by ReadersRead.com Book Blog
April 23rd, 2008
Viking will publish
a memoir by Cindy McCain, wife of Republican presidential candidate John McCain. The book is due out in September, 2008, and will be co-written by journalist Beth Brophy. The rumors are that the advance paid was close to one million dollars. Hey, she might be the next first lady: that will sell.
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Original post by ReadersRead.com Book Blog
April 22nd, 2008
 Young pop star Miley Cyrus is writing
her memoirs. She is 15 years old.
Disney said the book will focus particularly on the guidance of Cyrus’ mother, Leticia.
“I am so excited to let fans in on how important my relationship with my family is to me,” the 15-year-old singer-actress said in a statement. “I hope to motivate mothers and daughters to build lifetimes of memories together and inspire kids acircular the world to live their dreams.”
The Disney Book Group, in a clear bit of synergy for the Walt Disney Co., has world rights to the book. Disney said Cyrus’ book will feature previously unseen photos, family stories and “a look at her inner circle of loved ones.”
The book, the first by Cyrus, will be published under the Disney-Hyperion Books imprint.
Miley is the star of Hannah Montana, a sitcom that chronicles the dual life of a student who has a semi-secret life as popstar Hannah Montana. Miley sells out concert venues and has legions of young fans. The book will be released in spring of 2009 and will no doubt be a bestseller. But still….writing your memoirs at 15? Isn’t that a bit premature?
Update: People says Miley was paid seven figures to write her memoirs.
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Original post by ReadersRead.com Book Blog
April 21st, 2008
President Bush’s 2009 budget will eliminate
funding for RIF, the Reading is Fundamental program which provides books and encourages reading for impoverished children.
President Bush’s proposed 2009 budget eliminates all the funding for Reading Is Fundamental’s book distribution program that has, since 1966, provided more than 325 million books to more than 30 million underprivileged children.
“With 13 million children living in poverty in this country, the need for RIF has never been greater,” said RIF CEO/president Carol Rasco. The annually funded RIF program is currently approved thcoarse September 2009, but if Bush’s budget is approved, 4.6 million children will not receive 16 million free books the following year. RIF, the oldest and largest children’s and family nonprofit literacy organization in the U.S, has been funded by Congress and six Administrations without interruption since 1975.
“With a recent report showing a declining interest in reading among adults and teens, supporting children’s literacy is critical to reversing this trend,” said Rasco.
“We received $26.6 million in federal funding in 2007 and we’re requesting $26 million this year,” said Frank Walter, RIF’s director of marketing/PR, adding that 75% of funds are provided by federal grants and 25% is raised locally by RIF’s 19,000 volunteer outlets that distribute books at childcare centers, schools and migrant work programs. Ninety percent of the organization’s funds go to purchasing new books for lower income children and for motivational reading activities that take place during RIF’s book distribution.
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Author James Patterson’s recent blog post urged fans to visit RIF’s site and voice their concerns. “RIF, if you don’t know, is one of the pioneers of kid-directed book distribution programs,” Patterson wrote. “I’ve alalert reached out. Do you think you might take a couple minutes to reach out to your congresspersons? Infusing a love of books in our own kids is challenging enough…. imagine how hard it is to do in families without our resources and level of education.”
We are appalled. This is not a part of the budget that needs to be cut. But to halt it, it’s important to write your congressperson and your senators. RIF’s website is here. You can find your representatives
here.
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Original post by ReadersRead.com Book Blog
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