Blink Publishing has announced the acquisition of Different Aspects, the ‘incredible and long-awaited’ memoir by music theatre legend and bestselling author Michael Ball.
Ciara Lloyd, editorial director for John Blake, acquired world rights for Blink from Gordon Wise at Curtis Brown.
In 1989, a young Michael Ball landed the lead role in the musical Aspects of Love. It was a moment that changed his life forever. It was the first time he worked with legends of the stage like Andrew Lloyd Webber and Trevor Nunn; it was from that show that came his smash hit song, ‘Love Changes Everything’, which rode high in the charts for 15 weeks; it was then, also, that he first met his long-term partner Cathy McGowan and battled back against the stage fright that had threatened his career.
Over three decades later, Michael returns to a new production of the same show where he made his name, definitely older, possibly wiser, and with a lifetime’s worth of stories to tell. In Different Aspects, Michael takes us backstage inside the making of a West End hit, while diving back into memories to explore that moment in his twenties when the world was at his feet and his life changed beyond recognition.
Part exploration of the pitfalls and pratfalls of modern theatre and part exploration of his life, his career and his relationships, Different Aspects is the story of a life lived on the stage. There is laughter, there is tears, there is sweat and some blood, there is even some Roger Moore, although, famously, not quite enough. And through it all the show goes on.
Michael Ball said: “Revisiting ‘Aspects of Love’ has been such a wonderful experience, both on and off stage, and l really felt that now was the perfect time to share this experience with readers. It has evoked such extraordinary memories of my time adapting to the enormous life changes I went through during the original show’s creation, to remember and re-evaluate who I was then in comparison to who I am now. I’ve loved trying to write an honest and heartfelt account of both these periods in my life and to give the reader an insight into the world I live in and love so much. The excitement, heartbreak, laughter, tears, people and places, mishaps and memories…all the different aspects of my life then and now.”
Ciara Lloyd said: “Working with Michael is a real career high for me, especially on such a special project. I know Michael’s fans have waited for a non-fiction book from Michael for a long time, and Different Aspects is sure not to disappoint!”
Matt Philips, publisher, added: “I love books that focus on the details and Michael’s book will lift the lid on the sights, sounds and stress-points of putting on a West-End show, while also jumping back to reveal some of the biggest moments in his life. Michael is a consummate storyteller and this promises to be an absolute treat.”
Michael Ball OBE is a singer, actor, presenter and now author. He’s been a star of musical theatre for over three decades, winning the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical twice, he’s also won two BRIT awards and been nominated for a Grammy. Michael regularly sells out both his solo tours and his Ball & Boe shows with Alfie Boe and has multiple platinum albums. He published his first novel, The Empire to great acclaim in 2021. Different Aspects is his first non-fiction book.
Different Aspects will be published in hardback, audio and eBook on October 12th, 2023. Michael will be narrating the audiobook himself.
