There is new news, including the pre-order information at Amazon, and old news, including the “book-cover-Stella-uses-until-the-real-cover-is-published.” Also, with his usual serendipitous comedic timing, Steve Martin has a book coming out in November, too. wink

The pre-publication information offers contradictions: the book is being published in October. Nope, in November. We understood the book was being published by Picador, an imprint of Macmillan. Nope, the book is being published by Grove Press, according to Amazon.

[Note from Stella: As it turns out, Gabriel’s new book was published in November by Picador in the UK and in January, 2021 by Grove Atlantic in the USA. It really wasn’t as confusing as I made it sound!]

Well, none of this really matters, so long as someone publishes Gabriel’s new book and it is published THIS YEAR. Right? Right.

And, if we are very good and stay home and do our part to “flatten the curve” and battle the pandemic sweeping across the globe, there may be a book tour in support of the publication of Gabriel’s new memoir in October/November.

There will certainly be an interview or nine as well, so we can anticipate that, too!

Every book cover includes a pic of the author, right? At the end of this posting is my choice, but which pic would be your favorite for Gabriel’s new book? Should it be a recent pic? Probably. Here are some existing options. I imagine they will use something new. It does no harm to imagine, though.

Walking With Ghosts has received its initial record at Amazon US, where you can pre-order the hardcover edition of the book, which Amazon says will be released October 16, 2020. There will be other formats eventually, so stay tuned for those at some point in the future.

Here is the “blurb” for Gabriel’s new book:

When award-winning actor, producer and international icon Gabriel Byrne was a young boy, his grandmother brought him to the cinema for the first time. There, Byrne fell in love with the transporting power of the big screen. Growing up in 1950s and 60s Dublin within a family of eight, Byrne’s formative childhood years were both carefree and challenging, spent between home, the church, school, and the streets of his ever-changing city where he observed that some of the greatest actors and entertainers could be found in the lives of those around him.

In captivating, funny, and sensual prose that brings to life the myriad voices of his youth, Byrne recounts his first formative 12 years―morning routines with his father, a barrel-maker at the Guinness factory; his debut role in a nativity play; his relationship with his dynamic mother; and his years at a seminary where he studied to be a priest. Interspersed throughout this engrossing childhood story we see Byrne’s ascent to global stardom, from his days acting in amateur drama groups in London, to his first big role opposite Richard Burton, his arrival at the Cannes stage for his breakout hit movie, The Usual Suspects, to the HBO show In Treatment for which he won a Golden Globe.

Combining the cinematic power of Fellini’s Amarcord with the poignance of John McGahern’s writing, Walking with Ghosts is both a moving exploration of the pathos in what it means to be famous and a singular account of Irish boyhood.

“International icon.” I like that, don’t you? There is no cover provided yet, so you’ll just have to be happy with my temporary one for a while longer.

And guess who else has a new book coming out in November? Gabriel’s colleague, Steve Martin, that’s who! He’s been collaborating with Harry Bliss on cartoons for a long time. This book will be hilarious.

Gabriel and Steve and Harry should do a book tour together, yes?

And that’s the new book news! Stay tuned for more as the publication date grows closer. And cross your fingers that, if we are able to move freely about the world again soon, a book tour might happen! Probably not, but hope springs eternal, as we have learned. heart