[Mrluvaluva]

Jade Goody is to write a follow-up to her bestselling autobiography for John Blake, after HarperCollins cancelled publication of the paperback last year following controversy over her "Celebrity Big Brother" appearance.

Jade: Living and Learning is due this October (£18.99, h/b). Managing director John Blake said Goody would discuss her time in the "Big Brother" house, where she caused a media storm with apparent racist remarks to house-mate Shilpa Shetty; her subsequent trip to India to smooth over the situation; and her time in the Priory. He promised "witty anecdotes and heart-rending tales, all told with Jade's usual humour and unique turn of phrase".

"It's an interesting situation," Blake said. "HarperCollins sold close to 90,000 copies in hardback, then she went on television and somewhat disgraced herself. HC then pulled the paperback altogether. Along with Salman Rushdie, she's one of the very few authors whose book has been pulled for political reasons. It's very, very rare for people to get censored in this day and age."

Blake bought the book from Sean O'Brien, with whom he had worked as a journalist at the Sunday People. "He approached us directly," Blake said. "I first thought: 'Goodness I'm not sure', then I realised how incredibly honest she is. Lots of my friends in magazines have told me that if they put Jade on the cover, the circulation goes up. I think that people have taken the view that she's a young woman who did something very stupid, and now bitterly regrets it—she's very contrite."

Blake originally considered publishing the paperback that HC rejected, but decided to go for a totally new title. He has high hopes that Jade: Living and Learning will match HC's sales for Jade: My Autobiography, which sold more than 88,000 copies according to Nielsen BookScan.

John Blake said it already has significant serial interest in the title. Goody, 26, will be interviewed on television programmes including "Richard & Judy" and "This Morning", as well as taking part in a full publicity campaign.


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