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Italo Calvino: Letters, 1941-1985
by Italo Calvino Martin Mclaughlin Michael WoodThis is the first collection in English of the extraordinary letters of one of the great writers of the twentieth century. Italy's most important postwar novelist, Italo Calvino (1923-1985) achieved worldwide fame with such books as Cosmicomics, Invisible Cities, and If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler. But he was also an influential literary critic, an important literary editor, and a masterful letter writer whose correspondents included Umberto Eco, Primo Levi, Gore Vidal, Leonardo Sciascia, Natalia Ginzburg, Michelangelo Antonioni, Pier Paolo Pasolini, and Luciano Berio. This book includes a generous selection of about 650 letters, written between World War II and the end of Calvino’s life. Selected and introduced by Michael Wood, the letters are expertly rendered into English and annotated by well-known Calvino translator Martin McLaughlin.The letters are filled with insights about Calvino’s writing and that of others; about Italian, American, English, and French literature; about literary criticism and literature in general; and about culture and politics. The book also provides a kind of autobiography, documenting Calvino’s Communism and his resignation from the party in 1957, his eye-opening trip to the United States in 1959-60, his move to Paris (where he lived from 1967 to 1980), and his trip to his birthplace in Cuba (where he met Che Guevara). Some lengthy letters amount almost to critical essays, while one is an appropriately brief defense of brevity, and there is an even shorter, reassuring note to his parents written on a scrap of paper while he and his brother were in hiding during the antifascist Resistance.This is a book that will fascinate and delight Calvino fans and anyone else interested in a remarkable portrait of a great writer at work.
Italo Calvino: Letters, 1941-1985
by Italo Calvino Martin Mclaughlin Michael WoodThis is the first collection in English of the extraordinary letters of one of the great writers of the twentieth century. Italy's most important postwar novelist, Italo Calvino (1923-1985) achieved worldwide fame with such books as Cosmicomics, Invisible Cities, and If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler. But he was also an influential literary critic, an important literary editor, and a masterful letter writer whose correspondents included Umberto Eco, Primo Levi, Gore Vidal, Leonardo Sciascia, Natalia Ginzburg, Michelangelo Antonioni, Pier Paolo Pasolini, and Luciano Berio. This book includes a generous selection of about 650 letters, written between World War II and the end of Calvino’s life. Selected and introduced by Michael Wood, the letters are expertly rendered into English and annotated by well-known Calvino translator Martin McLaughlin.The letters are filled with insights about Calvino’s writing and that of others; about Italian, American, English, and French literature; about literary criticism and literature in general; and about culture and politics. The book also provides a kind of autobiography, documenting Calvino’s Communism and his resignation from the party in 1957, his eye-opening trip to the United States in 1959-60, his move to Paris (where he lived from 1967 to 1980), and his trip to his birthplace in Cuba (where he met Che Guevara). Some lengthy letters amount almost to critical essays, while one is an appropriately brief defense of brevity, and there is an even shorter, reassuring note to his parents written on a scrap of paper while he and his brother were in hiding during the antifascist Resistance.This is a book that will fascinate and delight Calvino fans and anyone else interested in a remarkable portrait of a great writer at work.
It's a Helluva Town: Joan K. Davidson, the J.M. Kaplan Fund, and the Fight for a Better New York
by Roberta Brandes GratzA history of the J.M. Kaplan Fund and its role in shaping New York City, from World War II to the present.The J.M. Kaplan Fund was established in 1945 by Jacob M. Kaplan, and would go on to play a critical role in New York City's cultural and urban life. Kaplan's long leadership of the Fund (1945-1977) was marked by determined advocacy, including the effort to save Carnegie Hall from destruction, support for institutions like The New School for Social Research and the South Street Seaport Museum, as well as to bolster the cause of union democracy, the arts, and the co-operative movement. Since the 1970s, the Fund has been led by Kaplan's daughter, Joan K. Davidson, who has led the Fund to its current place as a forceful presence in New York City's civic life, supporting the Westbeth Artists Housing, Greenmarkets, and more.
It's About Damn Time: How to Turn Being Underestimated into Your Greatest Advantage
by Arlan Hamilton"IF YOU WANT TO FEEL INSPIRED, READ THIS NOW." JAMEELA JAMIL, actress, model, and writerFrom a black, gay woman who broke into the boys' club of Silicon Valley comes an empowering guide to finding your voice, working your way into any room you want to be in, and achieving your own dreams.In 2015, Arlan Hamilton was on food stamps and sleeping on the floor of the San Francisco airport, with nothing but an old laptop and a dream of breaking into the venture capital business. She couldn't understand why people starting companies all looked the same (white and male), and she wanted the chance to invest in the ideas and people who didn't conform to this image of how a founder is supposed to look. Hamilton had no contacts or network in Silicon Valley, no background in finance - not even a college degree. What she did have was fierce determination and the will to succeed.As much as we wish it weren't so, we still live in a world where being underrepresented often means being underestimated. But as someone who makes her living investing in high-potential founders who also happen to be female, LGBTQ, or people of color, Hamilton understands that being undervalued simply means that a big upside exists. Because even if you have to work twice as hard to get to the starting line, she says, once you are on a level playing field, you will sprint ahead. Despite what society would have you believe, Hamilton argues, a privileged background, an influential network, and a fancy college degree are not prerequisites for success. Here she shares the hard-won wisdom she's picked up on her remarkable journey from food-stamp recipient to venture capitalist, with lessons like "The Best Music Comes from the Worst Breakups," "Let Someone Shorter Stand in Front of You," "The Dangers of Hustle Porn," and "Don't Let Anyone Drink Your Diet Coke." Along the way, she inspires us all to defy other people's expectations and to become the role models we've been looking for.
It's All About the Bike: The Pursuit of Happiness on Two Wheels
by Robert PennRobert Penn has saddled up nearly every day of his adult life. In his late twenties, he pedaled 25,000 miles around the world. Today he rides to get to work, sometimes for work, to bathe in air and sunshine, to travel, to go shopping, to stay sane, and to skip bath time with his kids. He's no Sunday pedal pusher. So when the time came for a new bike, he decided to pull out all the stops. He would build his dream bike, the bike he would ride for the rest of his life; a customized machine that reflects the joy of cycling.It's All About the Bike follows Penn's journey, but this book is more than the story of his hunt for two-wheel perfection. En route, Penn brilliantly explores the culture, science, and history of the bicycle. From artisanal frame shops in the United Kingdom to California, where he finds the perfect wheels, via Portland, Milan, and points in between, his trek follows the serpentine path of our love affair with cycling. It explains why we ride.It's All About the Bike is, like Penn's dream bike, a tale greater than the sum of its parts. An enthusiastic and charming tour guide, Penn uses each component of the bike as a starting point for illuminating excursions into the rich history of cycling. Just like a long ride on a lovely day, It's All About the Bike is pure joy- enriching, exhilarating, and unforgettable.
It's All About Treo: Life and War with the World's Bravest Dog
by Damien Lewis Dave HeyhoeThis is the incredible true story of the unbreakable bond forged between Treo, the world's most highly decorated dog, and his handler Sgt. Dave HeyhoeWhen Dave Heyhoe was sent to Afghanistan to help detect the Taliban's murderous roadside bombs, he knew he'd need a special dog by his side. Luckily for him, his closest pal Treo, a staggeringly brave ball of energy and mischief was with him every step of the way. The two friends had a miraculous understanding that helped them save countless lives but, as they embarked on a roller-coaster emotional ride, Dave realized he needed Treo more than he could ever have imagined. Tear-jerkingly sad one moment, laugh-out-loud hilarious the next, It's All About Treo is a moving and uplifting story that will melt the hearts of animal lovers everywhere.
It's All Going Wonderfully Well
by Rosa Hoskins'Will resonate with any bereaved reader' Daily Mail'A heart-warming memoir' OK‘Laugh. There’s humour to be found everywhere, even in your darkest days there’s something to joke about. Laugh long and loud and make other people laugh. It’s good for you. Whatever you do, always give it a good go. Don’t be afraid of failure and disappointment. If you fall flat on your face then get straight back up. You’ll always regret not trying. Disappointment is temporary; regret is forever. Love with all your heart. In the end, love is the only thing that matters.’These were just some of the lessons that Rosa’s dad, Bob Hoskins, taught her. In the years following his death, they are words that she keeps close to her heart.Remembering the times they shared together and featuring interviews with those who knew and worked with her dad – including Judi Dench, Ray Winstone and Robert Zemeckis – IT’S ALL GOING WONDERFULLY WELL is a revealing portrait of one of the country’s best-loved actors, and a moving story of a close bond between father and daughter.
It's Always Summer Somewhere: A Matter of Life and Cricket
by Felix White***"Felix White's beautifully, elegantly and passionately written book reminds me why I love cricket so much. And reading, come to that." - Stephen Fry"The love of cricket is both communal and individual. Felix has a wonderful knack of evoking both in a book full of life, joy and resilience." - Gideon Haigh"Whether you love cricket or are still confused by the rules of the game, you'll love this. Felix's writing is warm and witty. A joy to read." - Cariad LloydFelix White, for reasons often beyond him, has always been deeply in love with cricket. His passion for the game is at the fore on the BBC 's number one cricket podcast and 5Live show, Tailenders, which he co-presents with Greg James and Jimmy Anderson. It's Always Summer Somewhere is his funny, heartbreaking and endlessly engaging love letter to the game.Felix takes us through his life growing up in South West London and describes how his story is forever punctuated and given meaning by cricket. Through his own exploits as a slow left arm spinner of 'lovely loopy stuff', to the tragic illness of his mother, life with The Maccabees and his cricket redemption, Felix touches on both the comedic and the tragic in equal measure. Throughout, there's the ever-present roller coaster of following the England cricket team. The exploits of Tufnell (another bowler of 'lovely loopy stuff'), Atherton, Hussain et al, are given extra import through the eyes of a cricket-obsessed youth. Felix meets them at each signposted moment to find out what was really behind those moments that gave cricket fans everywhere sporting memories that would last forever, sending the book into an exploration of grief, transgenerational displacement and how the people we've known and things we've loved culminate and take expression in our lives. It's Always Summer Somewhere is an incredibly honest detail of a life lived with cricket. It offers a sense of genuine empathy and understanding not just with cricket fans, but sports and music fans across the world, in articulating our reasons for pouring so much meaning into something that we simply cannot control. Culminating in the heart-stopping World Cup Final in 2019, the book finally answers that question fans have so often asked... what is it about this game?
It’s Fine, It’s Fine, It’s Fine: It's Not
by Taz AlamA raw, honest and heartfelt poetry collection from Taz Alam – for the tough times, the great times, and everything in between.
It's in the Blood: My Life
by Lawrence DallaglioAs a Premiership, World Cup and Grand Slam winner, no one better embodies the charisma and the colour of English rugbys greatest era than Lawrence Dallaglio. He has some story to tell, not just of the formidable exploits on the field, but an extraordinary life off it. His only sister, Francesca, was the youngest to perish in the Marchioness disaster and her death at 19 remains the great sadness of his life. In addition to this and his much-talked about England exploits, he also led his club Wasps to the summit of European rugby, winning two Heineken Cups and three consecutive English Premiership titles. Full of drama, controversy and great sadness, Lawrence Dallaglios story the last of the great World Cup heroes is the one every rugby fan has been waiting to read.
It's The Little Things – Francis Brennan’s Guide to Life: Spread a little sparkle dust and make the world a happier place
by Francis BrennanThe inimitable Francis Brennan shares his philosophy for life: spread a little sparkle dust and make the world a happier placeHave you ever wondered which fork to use when dining out? Or how to make the perfect cup of tea? If you’ve ever wanted to learn the correct etiquette for weddings, funerals and christenings, this is the book for you! Covering everything from gracefully handling office politics to what gifts to bring to a dinner party, this book will advise you on everything you need to lead a well-groomed and well-mannered life.Francis Brennan, the hugely successful proprietor of the Park Hotel Kenmare and presenter of RTÉ’s highly rated ‘At Your Service’ believes it’s the little things in life that count the most. And by following his philosophy based on manners, etiquette and respect, he has built an extremely successful business and a very happy life.With his signature charm and wit, Francis shares with you his personal code for living – including the correct way to position a toilet roll, and the direction in which your pillowcase should face!Full of fun and personal memories, Francis will motivate you to pay attention to the small things that make a big difference.‘You get the feeling that if he ever called over to your house you’d have a totally delightful evening drinking tea with him, and although he might rearrange the cushions on your sofa and criticise your choice of hand soap, he’d do it so nicely you’d end up offering him all the fancy biscuits.’Beaut.ie‘Wouldn’t it be a great if restaurateurs got hold of Francis’ book and doled it out to, ahem, deserving parents?’Sinead Ryan, The HeraldIt’s the Little Things: Table of ContentsPrefaceManners Begin At HomeGuess Who’s Coming to Dinner? The People Next DoorThe Big Occasions: Births, Marriages and DeathsPlanes, Trains and AutomobilesThe World of WorkThe Ancient Art of Grooming: How to Look Your Best on Every OccasionEating OutSocial MediaEpilogue: It’s the Little Things
It's A Long Story, Doctor!: "there You Are, Doctor!", "on Holiday Again, Doctor?", "you're Still A Doctor, Doctor!" (The Dr Clifford Chronicles)
by Dr Robert CliffordIn this hilarious omnibus edition of There You Are, Doctor!, On Holiday Again, Doctor? and You're Still a Doctor, Doctor!, we follow everybody's favourite G.P. as he encounters eccentric patients and extraordinary complaints galore.In his charming and delightful style, Dr Robert Clifford brings out the colourful side of medicine, introducing us to Miss Peabody, the elderly spinster ever hopeful of pools to win, and William Jessop, the blind man with a difference! Getting away from it all is not quite the relaxing, welcome break a doctor hopes for as he deals with gastro-enteritis in Marrakesh and kidney stones in Sahara - and the same could be said for the joy of retiring; it seems Dr Bob will always be on call!There's never a dull moments in his company; at home or abroad, his humour and philosophy are a tonic for all.
It's Marty!
by Marty MorrisseyMarty Morrissey - GAA broadcaster extraordinaire and one of the hardest-working people in show business - has been to every corner of Ireland (and a few interesting ones further afield) in his illustrious career. Everywhere he goes, he makes friends and hears terrific stories - and sometimes he becomes a character in them. Now he's sharing them with us, in a book full of his trademark warmth, wit and energy.Starting with his childhood in the Bronx and west Clare, Marty introduces us to the people and places that have mattered most to him. He takes us through his adventures as a Gaelic footballer and hurler, schoolteacher, and coach of schools teams and underage sides for his beloved club, Kilmurry Ibrickane. And he tells the story of his remarkable rise as a broadcaster, from the back of tractors and trailers flatbed trucks to Croke Park on All Ireland finals days - despite having being told by RTÉ Sport that his voice on an early audition tape was 'too thin, too high-pitched'.Now, having established himself as a beloved figure across the full spectrum of the Irish airwaves, Marty is ready to show us who he really is. It's Marty! is an invitation to join the Marty Party, a rollicking ride through contemporary Irish life and sport, from a true national treasure.
It's Never Too Late: Stories of People Who Changed the World in Later Life – Foreword by Michael Whitehall
by Chester MorganfieldThe best is yet to come; stories of the inspiring, inventive, and brave things people have achieved in later life. With a foreword by Michael Whitehall, late bloomer par excellence.With life comes perspective, wisdom, judgement and depth. You are as likely to change the world after middle age as you were before it - and perhaps more likely to change it for the better. From the well known to the unsung, each entry tells the story of how older age was no barrier to impressive feats of intellect, creativity and daring. Ranging from Alexander Fleming, Stan Lee and Baroness Trumpington, to Whina Cooper and the bestselling novelist Mary Wesley who didn't write her first novel until she was 71, and William Ivy Baldwin who tightrope walked across a canyon at 82. Here is a celebration of the amazing things we humans have shown to be possible in later life. A gift book for late bloomers, baby boomers, and beyond; and an inspiring picture of the possibilities and potential that older age holds.
It's Not About The Bike: My Journey Back to Life
by Lance Armstrong"I want to die at a hundred years old after screaming down an Alpine descent on a bicycle at 75 miles per hour. I don't do anything slow, not even breathe. I do everything at a fast cadence: eat fast, sleep fast." At twenty four, Lance Armstrong was already well on his way to becoming a sporting legend. Then, in October 1996, he was diagnosed with stage four testicular cancer. When lesions appeared on his brain and in his lungs, doctors gave him a 40% chance of survival. On that day Armstrong's life changed forever and in typical fashion he met the challenge head on - this was one fight he was determined not to lose. As he battled against the cancer invading his body and the chemotherapy that threatened to sap his soul, a tremendous sense of commitment emerged, to his training and to the people around him who never gave up on him. Just sixteen months after he was discharged from hospital, Armstrong entered the Tour de France, a race famed for its gruelling intensity, and won, in the fastest ever time. Just a few months after that, he became a father. It's Not About the Bike is the story of one man's inspirational battle against the odds, charting his progress through triumph, tragedy and transformation. This is an awe-inspiring tale of immense courage and will.
It’s Not Banter, It’s Racism: What Cricket’s Dirty Secret Reveals About Our Society
by Azeem RafiqTHE STORY OF ONE MAN WHO CHANGED THE FACE OF CRICKET FOREVER.'Azeem's first legacy - a legacy carved at great personal expense - was to expose how cricket works. His second gift may be to expose how this country works, too.' Jonathan LiewWhen Azeem Rafiq was a young boy playing cricket near his home in Pakistan, he could never have foreseen that this sport would change his life forever. He fell in love with the game quickly and it wasn't long before the white flannels and green grass felt like home to him. When he moved to England, he became the youngest man to captain a Yorkshire side and the first person of Asian descent to do so. His talent was undeniable, and doors were opening for him.But there was something Azeem was bottling up and it was about to explode out of him and shake the whole cricket world, and wider society, out of their slumber. It's Not Banter, It's Racism is the never before-told truth behind the racism accusations that shocked a nation, from the moment Azeem spoke up to the resulting events that have altered his world entirely. With heartbreaking honesty, Azeem reveals why he will always use his voice in a society that would prefer him to be voiceless.'Azeem has stood up to the world, spoken back against evil. He has had victories. He has failed. He extends charity to others and he says no: no to racism. Because we must be better than our worst.' Stan Grant'Azeem's dream was to help England win the Ashes. That wasn't to be. But maybe, one day we'll reflect that his legacy to the game is far greater than winning any amount of Test series.' George Dobell'A principled whistleblower who stood up for what was right, Azeem has changed cricket forever.' Jennifer Robinson'Honest, open and powerful.' Baroness Warsi
It’s Not Because I Want to Die
by Debbie PurdyDebbie Purdy doesn't want to die. She has far too much to live for. But when the time comes, and the pain is so unbearable that she cannot go on, she wants her husband to be by her side, holding her hand until the end; and she wants to know that he won't be arrested.
It's Not A Diet: the no cravings, no willpower way to get lean and happy for good
by Davinia Taylor'A personal, fun and positive book encouraging dietary diversity and NOT calorie counting' Professor Tim Spector, author of The Diet Myth and Spoon-Fed'Empowering' Hello! magazineWhy stress causes weight gainHow fasting makes you less hungryWhy sunflower oil is unhealthyHow cold showers can cut your carb cravings'If I could give you one bit of advice right now, it would be to take all the energy you're putting into fad diets and put it into becoming the most genuinely healthy version of you. If you've got a plan, you're already halfway there. And now you've got this book, you've got one.'Davinia Taylor was overweight, depressed and unmotivated. She couldn't walk around the block, let alone go for a run or do an exercise class, and she struggled to keep up with her four young sons. In desperation she turned to biohacking to sort her head out - the unexpected bonus was that she lost nearly three stone and has kept it off for years through a series of health tricks from cold showers, to MCT oil, to ancestral eating. She spent tens of thousands of pounds on specialists and Harley Street doctors, trying the most cutting-edge therapies available, only to discover that the true secrets of feeling amazing are very easy and affordable. Start with eating for your mental health, and weight loss is an effortless side effect.Divided into four sections: Mood, Food, Movement and Rest, the book takes a holistic approach to weight loss, reminding you that true health is not just about what you eat. It's Not a Diet concludes with a two-week reset programme to put Davinia's advice into action easily and achievably.
It's Not Me, It's Them: Confessions of a hopeless modern romantic - THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
by Joel Dommett'Effortless humour and bucketloads of charm. It's impossible not to be bowled over by the ending. Most definitely my favourite celebrity memoir in a long time. Brilliant.' - THE SUN**The hilarious debut from I'm A Celeb star Joel Dommett (Live at the Apollo, 8 Out of 10 Cats, Impractical Jokers), for fans of Joe Lycett, James Acaster and Sarah Millican**As a 17-year-old virgin working . . . for Virgin, Joel Dommett has grand ambitions. Firstly, he is going to swap suburbia for the bright lights of Showbiz. Secondly, he is going to find 'the one' in the first forty people he's going to sleep with. What follows is a series of disastrous romantic encounters, including carpets mistaken for toilets, futile grand gestures and the catfishing to end all catfishing. Featuring genuine teenage diary entries and told in Joel's trademark self-deprecating style, this is the brilliant first book from the UK's most exciting comedian.
It’s Not Me, It’s You!: Impossible Perfectionist, 27, Seeks Very Very Very Tidy Woman (Bookd Podcast Ser. #7)
by Jon Richardson‘I loved Jon’s book. It’s even better than the real thing because you can’t hear his voice.’ Michael McIntyre
It’s Not Raining, Daddy, It's Happy: Surviving Grief, A Father And Son Start Again
by Benjamin Brooks-DuttonThe Sunday Times bestsellerThe moving and inspiring account of heartbreak and courage, and the life-affirming relationship between a father and son. Ben Brooks-Dutton's wife - the great love of his life - was knocked down and killed by a car as he walked beside her, pushing their two-year-old son in his buggy. Life changed forever. Suddenly Ben was a widower deep in shock, left to raise their bewildered child alone. In the aftermath Ben searched for guidance from men in similar situations, but it appeared that young widowed fathers don't talk. Well meaning loved ones admired his strength. The unwritten rule seemed to be to 'shut up, man up and hide your pain'. Lost, broken and afraid of the future, two months after his wife Desreen's death, Ben started a blog with the aim of rejecting outdated conventions of grief and instead opening up about his experiences. Within months Life as a Widower, had received a million hits and had started an all-too-often hushed conversation about the reality of loss and grief. This is the story of a man and a child who lost the woman they so dearly love and what happened in the year that followed. Ben describes the conflicting emotions that come from facing grief head on. He rages against the clichés used around loss and shows the strange and cruel ways in which grief can take hold. He also charts what it means to become a sole parent to a child who has lost their mother and cannot yet understand the meaning of death. Through the shock and sadness shine moments of hope and insight. So much of what Ben learns comes from watching his son struggle, survive and live, as children do, from moment to moment where hurt can turn to happiness and anger can turn to joy. This is a story of loss, heartbreak and courage. At its heart is the funny, infuriating and life affirming relationship between a father and son and their ongoing love for an extraordinary woman.
It’s Not What You Think
by Chris EvansThe story of how one council estate lad made good, really very good, and survived – just about – to tell the tale…
It’s Not What You Think and Memoirs of a Fruitcake 2-in-1 Collection
by Chris EvansChris Evans is one of the country’s most successful broadcasters and producers. For the first time, readers can follow Chris’s journey in this single volume – from a young paperboy living in a council estate in It’s Not What You Think to battling his demons whilst hosting his radio show in the Sunday Times bestseller Memoirs of a Fruitcake.
It's Not Yet Dark: A Memoir
by Simon Fitzmaurice'If you are hungry for truth and beauty, read this book' Roisin Ingle, The Irish Times'A demonstration of a will to live that is breathtaking ... a work of documentary poetry ... an extraordinary read' The Herald'An unforgettable read about what it means to be alive' Woman's Way'The world "inspirational" is over-used, but if ever a book deserved this epithet, this is it' Sunday Independent'Sparsely and beautifully written .. the human spirit and will to live shines out of these pages' Irish IndependentA No.1 bestseller, It's Not Yet Dark is an unforgettable book about relationships and family, about what connects and separates us as people and, ultimately, about what it means to be alive.In 2008, Simon Fitzmaurice was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (mnd). He was given four years to live. In 2010, in a state of lung-function collapse, Simon knew with crystal clarity that now was not his time to die. Against all prevailing medical opinion, he chose to ventilate in order to stay alive.Here, the young filmmaker, a husband and father of five small children draws us deeply into his inner world. Written using an eye-gaze computer and told in simply expressed and beautifully stark prose, the result is an astonishing journey into a life which, though brutally compromised, is lived more fully and in the moment than most, revealing at its core the power of love its most potent.
It's OK to be Gay: Celebrity Coming Out Stories
by Alison StokesLaunched to coincide with National Coming Out Day, It's OK to be Gay is a collection of inspirational coming out stories from well-known figures from the LGBT community, who talk frankly about their own experiences and how their sexuality has shaped their character and success.Contributors include: Sue Perkins; rugby star Gareth Thomas; best-selling crime writer Val McDermid; Coronation Street star Charlie Condou; Strictly Come Dancing star Robin Windsor; Evan Davis, presenter of Dragon’s Den and Radio 4′s Today programme; Alice Arnold, former BBC newsreader and partner of Clare Balding; Edd Kimber, winner of the first ever Great British Bake Off; Reggae/soul singer Diana King; Lord Waheed Alli, Labour peer and entrepreneur; Award-winning writer Stella Duffy; X Factor finalist Jade Ellis; Author Paul Burston; Paralympian Claire Harvey; Actress Sophie Ward; Jane Czyzselska, editor of Diva magazine; Hip-hop artist Q Boy; Playwright Shelley Silas; Former Brookside actor Stifyn Parri; International rugby referee Nigel Owens; BBC Radio presenter Chris Needs; Rosie Wilby, comedienne and writer; Phyllis Opoku-Gyimah, Director UK Black Pride; Darren Scott, editor of GT magazine;It's OK to be Gay is a raising money for the charity Diversity Role Models and its work to stop homophobic bullying in schools.