"Leiths an idol onstage and page", SMH 11/2/07
Feb 11, 2007 2:44:57 GMT 10
Post by winterlong on Feb 11, 2007 2:44:57 GMT 10
www.smh.com.au/news/books/idol-on-stage-and-page/2007/02/10/1170524343593.html
Leith's an idol on stage and page
Christine Sams Entertainment Reporter
February 11, 2007
Talented: Musician and soon-to-be-published novelist Damien Leith in Gould's Book Arcade in Newtown.
Photo: Adam Hollingworth
Australian Idol winner Damien Leith has signed a book deal with HarperCollins for his debut novel to be released this year.
Leith, who wrote the fictional story before he won Idol last year, now has a chance to top the music and book sales charts in the same year.
Leith said the first prints of his novel were due for general release in October.
"It's insane, it's an incredible feeling," said Leith, who sent his manuscript to HarperCollins publisher Linda Funnell before entering Australian Idol last year.
"I wrote before I ever did music; I wrote plays, I tried to write loads and loads of different books. I did that for years. It's just weird that all these years later the music has taken off and now suddenly this comes along as well. I've got to pinch myself," he said.
Leith's manuscript was first passed to Ms Funnell by a mutual friend, who met the singer while he was an unknown artist performing at the Balmain Bowling Club. Since winning Idol last year, Leith has spent five weeks at No. 1 in the Australian album charts (with a compilation album of hits from the show) and he is recording his debut studio album with Sony BMG.
Leith said some music fans might be surprised by his style of writing.
"It has a dark element because of the psychological side to it," Leith said. "There's murder, there's all sorts of stuff in there. It has it all, plus the dramatic backdrop of Nepal.
"A lot of it is [based on] me, but about 50 per cent of it isn't. That's all the stuff that makes it a story."
There is also a romantic theme, with the narrator focusing on his love for a girl he met in India.
Although many celebrities use ghost writers to pen books in their name, the novel is all Leith's work, loosely based on an adventure he had in Nepal in 2003. His wife, Eileen, was also on the trip.
Leith first dubbed the psychological story The Trek because it is based on an arduous journey in the tiny nation, but the title is expected to change before the October release.
The singer/writer has a busy month ahead. He is finishing his studio album, embarking on his first tour and due to finish his final book draft for HarperCollins by the end of February.
Source: The Sun-Herald
Leith's an idol on stage and page
Christine Sams Entertainment Reporter
February 11, 2007
Talented: Musician and soon-to-be-published novelist Damien Leith in Gould's Book Arcade in Newtown.
Photo: Adam Hollingworth
Australian Idol winner Damien Leith has signed a book deal with HarperCollins for his debut novel to be released this year.
Leith, who wrote the fictional story before he won Idol last year, now has a chance to top the music and book sales charts in the same year.
Leith said the first prints of his novel were due for general release in October.
"It's insane, it's an incredible feeling," said Leith, who sent his manuscript to HarperCollins publisher Linda Funnell before entering Australian Idol last year.
"I wrote before I ever did music; I wrote plays, I tried to write loads and loads of different books. I did that for years. It's just weird that all these years later the music has taken off and now suddenly this comes along as well. I've got to pinch myself," he said.
Leith's manuscript was first passed to Ms Funnell by a mutual friend, who met the singer while he was an unknown artist performing at the Balmain Bowling Club. Since winning Idol last year, Leith has spent five weeks at No. 1 in the Australian album charts (with a compilation album of hits from the show) and he is recording his debut studio album with Sony BMG.
Leith said some music fans might be surprised by his style of writing.
"It has a dark element because of the psychological side to it," Leith said. "There's murder, there's all sorts of stuff in there. It has it all, plus the dramatic backdrop of Nepal.
"A lot of it is [based on] me, but about 50 per cent of it isn't. That's all the stuff that makes it a story."
There is also a romantic theme, with the narrator focusing on his love for a girl he met in India.
Although many celebrities use ghost writers to pen books in their name, the novel is all Leith's work, loosely based on an adventure he had in Nepal in 2003. His wife, Eileen, was also on the trip.
Leith first dubbed the psychological story The Trek because it is based on an arduous journey in the tiny nation, but the title is expected to change before the October release.
The singer/writer has a busy month ahead. He is finishing his studio album, embarking on his first tour and due to finish his final book draft for HarperCollins by the end of February.
Source: The Sun-Herald
;D
What a talent. After all the years of struggle, he's finally getting recognition of his abilities in so many different genres. What's next? A play perhaps?
