With the writing of my book A MILLION MILES FROM BROADWAY, I have found that what some people would call serendipity (I tend to think of it as a higher power) played a leading part. For example, when I was in Singapore, my hosts strongly urged me to talk to pop star and musical writer Dick Lee. How was I going to do that from the opposite end of the world? I found his website and sent him an email. Almost immediately I received a reply saying “I am in fact in London right now… and could meet up… I'm staying at The Soho Hotel…” He in turn insisted I talk to his Japanese collaborator, Amon Miyamoto. How on Earth was I going to do that? After a few weeks of playing email tag, I learned that he was directing the next show at the theatre where I worked. I then concluded that God must have wanted this book to be written. Now that it's done, however, I will have to learn to trust that same power to its distribution. So far, it has gotten off to a slow start. Few in the media have asked for reviewers copies. Perhaps they don't realise that this "revised and expanded edition" is actually twice the content of the original: it has added segments on Greece, Italy, Mexico, Cuba, Egypt, Israel among others, and also includes coverage of the Daegu International Musical Festival in Korea, and the story behind the development of COME FROM AWAY and a greatly expanded coverage of the South African musical KING KONG.
However, this book is not backed by a major trade publisher (they weren't interested in something they saw as "uncommercial") so I have to do everything myself. Still, people are resistant to what they see as marketing emails, so it is a challenge to find ways of reaching its potential market, those professionals who are looking to expand their knowledge of their craft. I received this message from Katie Doyle, one of the readers of my previous book, BROADWAY NORTH: “I initially got an advanced diploma in Musical Theatre because my school did not offer a degree program and was one hundred percent practical. Now, fourteen years later they are offering a degree program and I was able to go back and complete my degree. What did this entail? The History of Musical Theatre, Dance and Acting. That is how I discovered your book… It was so valuable to me and I loved it so much! It was what was missing all those years ago. I think if I had understood the history sooner, not only would it have informed my work in a positive way, but it would have made me realize I was a part of something much bigger than the latest audition and given an importance and richness to my work that was lacking. Not only should it be included in a MA of Musical Theatre program, it should be taught from first year!”
I believe that my new book brings an important and hitherto unexplored perspective to the musical. Please give it a chance.
There is a 40% discount in effect until the end of this month.
