Morrissey's Autobiography / Penguin Books (UK) deal [updated] - true-to-you.net

UPDATE Sep. 13, 3:05PM PT:

link posted by jbabz:

Clarification - true-to-you.net
13 September 2013

The publication of Morrissey's Autobiography remains with Penguin Books.

This is a deal for the UK and Europe, but Morrissey has no contract with a publisher for the U.S. or any other territory.

As of 13 September, Morrissey and Penguin (UK) remain determined to publish within the next few weeks.

---

Statement - true-to-you.net
12 September 2013

Although Morrissey's Autobiography was set to be available throughout the UK on September 16th, a last-minute content disagreement between Penguin Books and Morrissey has caused the venture to collapse. No review copies were printed, and Morrissey is now in search of a new publisher.

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UPDATE - media coverage:

The Story of Morrissey's Autobiography Keeps Getting Weirder by ALEXANDER ABAD-SANTOS - The Atlantic Wire

Excerpt:

But two spokespeople in Penguin's New York headquarters said they had no knowledge of any plans for publication.

A spokeswoman for Penguin's U.K. arm was a little more revealing when reached via email about Morrissey's latest signal to fans about the book.

"How nice that he seemed to say yes," said the spokeswoman, Rosie Glaisher. "Here's hoping."

But she added: "Nothing on the schedule at this time."

And then there's this comment to The Guardian this morning:

Penguin has refused to confirm or deny that the book was due to be published, or even the existence of the reported deal with the singer.

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Morrissey autobiography deal has collapsed, says semi-official fan site by Liz Bury - The Guardian

Morrissey pulls his autobiography days before release - BBC.co.uk

Excerpt:

A Penguin Books spokeswoman said there would be no comment on the issue.

Link/excerpt posted by HangtheDJ16:

Is Morrissey’s autobiography a book that will never come out? by Nick Clark - The Independent
Singer announces 11th-hour split from publishers – despite no evidence the book was anywhere near finished

Excerpt:

Lee Brackstone, creative director of Faber, said it was the “first I’d heard” about next week’s supposed publication. “I can’t see how they could turn the book around that quickly and nobody seems to know anything about it. It seems like mischief to me.”

Mr Brackstone had written an open letter to Morrissey in 2010 to woo him to the publisher, though “only half seriously” and continued in a similar tone yesterday. “I’ve grown out of it. All I can say is: that joke isn’t funny any more.”

He added: “It will be a wonderful book and I love him – he’s a hero to so many people and remains a vital influence in this moribund culture he constantly challenges. But working with him? I’m not sure I’ve the strength and fortitude much as I’d love to.”

One industry insider said: “There is simply no evidence of this book in existence. It would be on the radar of bookshops, certainly wholesalers. How else would it get sold? Out of the boot of his car?”

Morrissey’s autobiography was not listed as due for publication on the Nielsen Index, nor was it given an International Standard Book Number (ISBN) code which it would have been had it been coming out next week, according to the industry insider.

 

[Orson Swells]

The liklihood is that the autobiography will be in the style of the liner notes from the Southpaw Grammer and Maladjusted reissues and the recent piece on Mick Ronson and the recording of Your Arsenal.

Absolutely - and the Moors extract, of course.

 

[Johnny Barleycorn]

The liklihood is that the autobiography will be in the style of the liner notes from the Southpaw Grammer and Maladjusted reissues and the recent piece on Mick Ronson and the recording of Your Arsenal.

I hope not. Five hundred pages of blaming the record label might grow tiresome quite quickly.

 

[Playcat2000]

I hope not. Five hundred pages of blaming the record label might grow tiresome quite quickly.

What’s tiresome is reading your reviews and assumptions that it will be a crap book before it has had a chance to be released.

 

[Uncleskinny]

What’s tiresome is reading your reviews and assumptions that it will be a crap book before it has had a chance to be released.

So you know it will be a good book before it's released? Do you?

P.

 

[Johnny Barleycorn]

What’s tiresome is reading your reviews and assumptions that it will be a crap book before it has had a chance to be released.

That's a long post for you. You've almost tripled your median word count there. Good work!

Ah, Playcat, 2013's (very, very) average Morrissey fan made flesh. Let me take you through it step by step, as I know these things aren't easy to you.*

I replied to a post saying that perhaps the style of the book would be reminiscent of the sleeve notes of Maladjusted and Southpaw Grammar, which if you had read them - which you haven't - you would know blame the disappointing performance of both albums on the record companies, rather than the truth. Hence my point that I hoped they would not, which is a fair comment. The SG notes are virtually unreadable garbage, the Maladjusted better, but still a little bit "poor me", for my tastes.

There will be no middle route with this book. It will be a spectacular triumph or a narcissistic disaster.

 

[Anonymous]

So you know it will be a good book before it's released? Do you?

P.

Yes, she made a stupid post.

So did a few people who are trashing the book without having read it.

You throw your weight behind the latter group. Why?

 

[Playcat2000]

So you know it will be a good book before it's released? Do you?

P.

I'm sure it will be because it will be in his words and not some biographer's interpretation.

 

[Playcat2000]

That's a long post for you. You've almost tripled your median word count there. Good work!

Ah, Playcat, 2013's (very, very) average Morrissey fan made flesh. Let me take you through it step by step, as I know these things aren't easy to you.*

I replied to a post saying that perhaps the style of the book would be reminiscent of the sleeve notes of Maladjusted and Southpaw Grammar, which if you had read them - which you haven't - you would know blame the disappointing performance of both albums on the record companies, rather than the truth. Hence my point that I hoped they would not, which is a fair comment. The SG notes are virtually unreadable garbage, the Maladjusted better, but still a little bit "poor me", for my tastes.

There will be no middle route with this book. It will be a spectacular triumph or a narcissistic disaster.

Thanks for the “step by step” of an absolutely worthless and tired retort. And thanks again for assuming and probably hoping that the book will be a “narcissistic disaster” just as you assume that I haven’t read any sleeve notes. Funny, I don’t remember seeing you around the room at that time. How would you know if I read them or not? And both albums were NOT disappointing performances. Millions of fans can’t be wrong.

 

[Uncleskinny]

Yes, she made a stupid post.

So did a few people who are trashing the book without having read it.

You throw your weight behind the latter group. Why?

I'm not 'throwing my weight' behind any position - I pointed out the logical inconsistency in the post. You, I or anyone else don't know if it will be 'good' or 'bad'. Still, if if suits your agenda to think otherwise, go right ahead.

P.

 

[Uncleskinny]

I'm sure it will be because it will be in his words and not some biographer's interpretation.

You know it's possible to hope that a book will be good and then read it to realise it wasn't what you thought it was going to be? My point is that you have already decided it will be, for you, 'good', without knowing anything but a mere scratch of the contents. It may be to your taste. It may not. I'm interested to know how you can say right now that it will be.

P.

 

[Oh my god. it's Robby!]

You know it's possible to hope that a book will be good and then read it to realise it wasn't what you thought it was going to be? My point is that you have already decided it will be, for you, 'good', without knowing anything but a mere scratch of the contents. It may be to your taste. It may not. I'm interested to know how you can say right now that it will be.

P.

I suppose for some people Moz is a kind of religion
so for them its like arguing about the validity of this or that in the Bible with a Christian
really there is no point, is there?
and if what they believe(not know) makes them better people, then awesome!

 

[Uncleskinny]

I suppose for some people Moz is a kind of religion
so for them its like arguing about the validity of this or that in the Bible with a Christian
really there is no point, is there?
and if what they believe(not know) makes them better people, then awesome!

I don't think that being blinkered to the point of exclusion of opposing viewpoints makes anyone a better person. Still, if it affects no one else...

P.

 

[Oh my god. it's Robby!]

I don't think that being blinkered to the point of exclusion of opposing viewpoints makes anyone a better person. Still, if it affects no one else...

P.

you got a point there I was just trying to be nice and respect other people's beliefs, like in Moz's infallibility

 

[Anonymous]

Oh how romantic!

News is a coming. 00's on 03-10-2013

Any other hints available?

 

[MelissaD]

Re: Article: Morrissey's Autobiography / Penguin Books deal collapse; search for new publisher - tru

Just a quick post here, (just logged in, will address the other topics soon!
Im writing out some reply's and saving them 2 microsoft word ! )
But its obvioulsy upto morrissey, but ive been saying this for years now, why doesnt he self publish?
His auto biography book will sell, and will be a world wide best seller, I dont really see who publishes the book to be of any real significance nor importance!
In fact its irrelevant!
He could allways buy a top of the range printer (yes im being serious here,) and print the book himself?
Its costs about just £1,300 for a top of the range printer that can sing and dance and do almost anything!
Print museum archive quality fine art prints and yes print books just as professional as dedicated book printers !

He can still always sell it via mail order via true-to-you.net and get the book into all major book store and music store outlets ect
This is morrissey were talking about! book stores and music stores ect will all fall over themselves to stock it irrelevant as 2 who the publisher is!

Maybe theres isssues regarding the book novel chart position ? and self publishing may not allow him and us 2 see the official sales and numbers ect ?
Dunno! but i do feel very strongly the way forward for morrissey is to not only publish the book himself in paper format but 2 also audio format 2 via a audio cd box set format, that wud be loverly! but it MUST be read by morrissey himself!
we accept no other substitute!
Think the way forward these days tho is audio books , people really enjoy and appreciate listening to the book read by the author!
Its relatively easy to record an audio book!
Look at patti smiths self auto biography "just kids" ?
Ive got it , and listen 2 it over and over agian! its wonderfull ! her raw honesty is incredible! and by far the best thing is that its read by patti smith herself!

Well the longer he delays publishing the book the more interest there will be!
The mans a genious ! LOL well we allways knew this anyways!

But ultimately, and in the end, its up 2 morrissey , its his book, he can publish it if and when he wants 2!

We can only a-wait in anticipation - if and when your ready moz!
But we love ya no matter what!

Great post Midnite! I too believe his autobiography will be a best seller (or at least I really, really hope so!) Interesting point on Morrissey doing an audio book. It would be lovely to hear him read his autobiography. I think he has a lovely speaking voice-a nice deep, rich bass. Sends chills up the spine just thinking about it. I'm waiting with anticipation myself and can only hope whatever snag he's run into will soon right itself.

 

[Playcat2000]

You know it's possible to hope that a book will be good and then read it to realise it wasn't what you thought it was going to be? My point is that you have already decided it will be, for you, 'good', without knowing anything but a mere scratch of the contents. It may be to your taste. It may not. I'm interested to know how you can say right now that it will be.

P.

And I’m also interested to know what constitutes whether it will be a bad book or a great book in your head. Will he divulge personal information about is sex life? Will he settle some old scores? What is it that you really want to know? Morrissey takes a lot of shit from the media being labeled by them and people who don’t understand him so with this book, I hope he gets his frustrations out of his system and can find some peace. All I can say is that I expect it to be a great book because it’s from him. I think I made that clear in my previous post. I can’t be any clearer about my feelings about it. Oh God Its Robby gets it: Morrissey is like a religion to some of us.

 

[Playcat2000]

I'm not 'throwing my weight' behind any position - I pointed out the logical inconsistency in the post. You, I or anyone else don't know if it will be 'good' or 'bad'. Still, if if suits your agenda to think otherwise, go right ahead.

P.

Just because some dosent have the same ideals as you dosent make them illogical and inconsistent. Oh, and your band sucks.

 

[Peterb]

And I’m also interested to know what constitutes whether it will be a bad book or a great book in your head. Will he divulge personal information about is sex life? Will he settle some old scores? What is it that you really want to know? Morrissey takes a lot of shit from the media being labeled by them and people who don’t understand him so with this book, I hope he gets his frustrations out of his system and can find some peace. All I can say is that I expect it to be a great book because it’s from him. I think I made that clear in my previous post. I can’t be any clearer about my feelings about it. Oh God Its Robby gets it: Morrissey is like a religion to some of us.

Is that really true Playcat? Morrissey is like a religion to you?
Does that mean to you that he literally a god or the messiah or a holy being? That he is different to the rest of us?
Do you think that this is believed by other posters here?
I am not being judgmental.
I really am only asking.

 

[Uncleskinny]

Just because some dosent have the same ideals as you dosent make them illogical and inconsistent. Oh, and your band sucks.

Well, that ad-hominem didn't take long. May I remind you I am not the one making predictions about the quality of content - you did. I made no such assertion. And where did I mention ideals? And where did I accuse someone of being illogical and inconsistent? I said there was a logical inconsistency - you know the difference, right? And finally, your spelling sucks.

P.

 

[Anonymous]

And I’m also interested to know what constitutes whether it will be a bad book or a great book in your head. Will he divulge personal information about is sex life? Will he settle some old scores? What is it that you really want to know? Morrissey takes a lot of shit from the media being labeled by them and people who don’t understand him so with this book, I hope he gets his frustrations out of his system and can find some peace. All I can say is that I expect it to be a great book because it’s from him. I think I made that clear in my previous post. I can’t be any clearer about my feelings about it. Oh God Its Robby gets it: Morrissey is like a religion to some of us.

Oh dear !!!!!! :guffaw:

Tell me more, tell me more like does he have a church ?

Pope Bennydick