The Bookseller.com

8th October 2008

Girls Aloud and Westlife sign book deals

04.04.08 Alison Flood

Transworld has paid a substantial six-figure sum for the first book from girl band and tabloid favourites Girls Aloud. The news comes as HarperCollins snapped up the autobiography of Irish boy band Westlife.

Transworld senior editor Sarah Emsley saw off stiff competition to win the Girls Aloud book, currently entitled Girls Aloud—Dreams That Glitter—Our Story and due in October. Singers Cheryl (wife of footballer Ashley Cole), Kimberley, Nadine, Nicola and Sarah started out as hopefuls on "Popstars: The Rivals" in 2002, and have since had 18 consecutive Top 10 singles.

Transworld said that in the past two years there has only been one day on which a story about the band has not appeared in the British national press. Girls Aloud said the book would cover the stories of their lives, both individually and as a band, their style tips, and "everything we've learnt about life, love and music".

The Westlife title, due in June, was acquired by Harper Non-fiction editorial director Natalie Jerome from agent Marianne Gunn O'Connor in a "substantial deal" that was "hotly contested". All four members—Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily and Shane Filan—will contribute to the autobiography, which will chart how they became a band that has had more number ones that any other group except the Beatles.

Transworld Rights deal Alison Flood Girls Aloud.

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