Thread: R. Kelly To Publish Soulacoaster: The Diary of Me

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R. Kelly to Release Memoir With SmileyBooks - Yahoo! Finance


R & B Superstar Ready to Reveal the Secrets of His Roller-Coaster Ride to the Top
Los Angeles—December 9, 2009—R & B superstar R. Kelly (born Robert Sylvester Kelly) will publish his memoir with SmileyBooks, the publisher announced today.

A three-time Grammy Award winner whose remarkable career spans two decades filled with achievements, R. Kelly has thrilled audiences and sold more than 34 million records worldwide, including six No. 1 albums, twelve platinum-plus selling albums, and eleven No. 1 singles. Over the years, he has collaborated with and written songs for music icons from all genres, including Michael Jackson, Mary J. Blige, Pussycat Dolls, Usher, and Celine Dion. Most recently, he earned rave reviews for his Ladies Make Some Noise Tour, and on December 1, Kelly released his tenth studio album, Untitled, including the chart-topping “Number One,” and his new hot single “Echo.”

“We are thrilled to be the conduit through which R. Kelly will tell his own story,” said Tavis Smiley, founder and publisher of SmileyBooks. “He has earned the right to tell his story his own way.”

In the memoir, Kelly, writing with celebrity author David Ritz, will detail the agony of losing his mother, whom he adored. He will reveal how the same creative soul that came up with such inspiring ballads as the iconic “I Believe I Can Fly” and “You Are Not Alone,” which became a No. 1 hit for Michael Jackson, could also generate such sexy R & B mega-hits as “Bump N’ Grind,” “Ignition,” and “When a Woman’s Fed Up.” And he will discuss the six-year legal ordeal that nearly ruined his life, but finally ended in vindication when he was found innocent of child pornography charges in 2008.

“I’m writing this book as Robert, not R. Kelly,” the singer says. “I’m tired of being misunderstood. I will show you the tears, fears, and sweat. I will open my heart and reveal the good in my life as well as all the drama. I want to tell it like it is.”

The collaboration between Kelly and Ritz is destined to captivate readers, says SmileyBooks President Cheryl Woodruff.

“You have the creative passion of R. Kelly, revealed in his groundbreaking Trapped in the Closet series, coupled with writer David Ritz, who has collaborated with the musicians Marvin Gaye, Ray Charles, B.B. King, and Aretha Franklin. It’s a great pairing.”

Kelly’s book joins a SmileyBooks roster that includes the latest offering from New York Times bestselling author Cornel West, Brother West: Living and Loving Out Loud, A Memoir, as well as Jeff Johnson’s Everything I’m Not Made Me Everything I Am. Other SmileyBooks authors include Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Tom Burrell, Sophia Nelson, and New York Times bestsellers Iyanla Vanzant and Tavis Smiley.

R. Kelly’s memoir, as yet untitled, is scheduled for release by SmileyBooks in early 2011.

ABOUT SMILEYBOOKS
Founded by media pioneer Tavis Smiley in 2004, SmileyBooks (http://www.smileybooks.com) is a general trade book publisher that specializes in quality nonfiction. A dynamic company dedicated to the new media landscape, SmileyBooks publishes books by authors ranging from established New York Times bestsellers to exciting new voices on topics that appeal to a broad spectrum of readers.

Totally awesome. That will be an AMAZING READ. I absolutely CANT WAIT for this. And this is also a great way to come back after disappointing record sales and make money. The book will be such a fascinating read. Can't wait.

Now this has come straight out of left field...

Or maybe not??!!!

Either way, this is gonna be fantastic!!..I think we'e in store for really big things from Rob...we just have to show a little patience.

This will be great....he's a private man so hope he goes deep too....seems like has got a good writer backing him up,look forward to it.

This will be interesting. Good to see he is looking at other opporunities outside the music scene.

Awesome news. this is fantastic! I hope it's gonna be a very thick book

cant wait to read it

great news ! i can't wait to have the book in my hands !

Wow, this will be interesting. Hope he does some book signings too.

just in the other thread we discussed ways in kells career can change..now this..its gonna be interesting...