Madonna's Brother Pens Unauthorized Memoir

NEW YORK — The mystery is solved: Madonna's brother, Christopher Ciccone, is writing a memoir about his sister, to be released in mid-July by an imprint of Simon & Schuster, the publisher told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

The imprint, Simon Spotlight Entertainment, had been promoting a celebrity memoir for July, without identifying the author or contents. "Life With My Sister Madonna" will have a first printing of 350,000. Financial details were not disclosed.

"Ciccone's extraordinary memoir is based on his life and 47 years of growing up with and working with his sister _ the most famous woman in the world," the publisher said Wednesday in a statement.

Persuading stores to make "blind" orders has been tried before. In 2006, William Morrow offered a mysterious tell-all that turned out to be by Princess Diana's former butler, Paul Burrell, who had already written about her. Retailers were angered and the book sold poorly.

Ciccone will work with Wendy Leigh, who has written biographies of Liza Minnelli and Grace Kelly and a highly critical book about Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Ciccone, 47, has worked often with his older sister, designing and directing her "Girlie Show" tour in 1993 and serving as artistic director of her 1991 documentary, "Madonna: Truth or Dare." But according to Madonna's spokeswoman, Liz Rosenberg, they are no longer close.

Madonna, who turns 50 this summer, is among the most popular recording artists in history, with such hits as "Like a Virgin," "Material Girl" and "Vogue."

Rosenberg had no initial comment on the book, but told the AP that "Madonna has not cooperated with any biography about herself."

Comments

[Cos1]

She does have issues. She's what 53 or 54 and she is still trying to hold on to the spotlight like she is a 25 year old. Justin T. seems to be the latest effort to hold on to her youth. The guy writing the story is her brother. He knows almost everything. Even if the book doesn't sell well, the media will go after her.

[bethonna]

Issues? trying to hold on to the spotlight? really? Have you made similiar comments about sir paul or elton john or sting or mick jagger? Madonna will be 50 this year, which is not yet the age of retirement. She is still working. Her career in music has not ended. with another hit record and another hot tour about to commence. if your job involves the public like most artists, there is a good chance that there will be a spot light. "trying to hold on to the spotlight" that's called working.From all that I know, this midwestern work ethic was inspired by her father who had a career in the auto industry, retired and then grew a vineyard and has a successful business. Apparently, this was not part of her brothers character. He must be the only person who ever worked with or for her that was unable to parlay the experience into a job. Dancers, musicians,­directors,­singers,de­signers have all benefited from having worked with Madonna on their resume, but not her brother chris. didn't like being madonna's bro. but now needs the $$$

[bethonna]

I wonder how many "news" shows will give a forum to this "tabloid" story of jealousy, resentment and betrayal. Lets see. A failed man trying to take down a successful woman. Hmmm. Of course they will!

[Ndw]

The most famous woman in the world?

Ugh. She is not.

[StewieGriffin]

Uh, yes, she is.

[WinslowLeach]

Am I banned? Aw come on! That was funny!

[deepintheheartoftejas]

How can he write an unauthorized memoir? Memoirs are by definition autobiographical. Did he not authorize himself to write it?

[TakeSake]

Believe it or not, a conversation between them was overheard:

"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"I'm telling mom!"

[cobobs]

Has the material girl been kind to her family? If she has been greedy with her fortune and condescending to her relations, there could be more like this. Kind memoirs do not make money, as a rule.

[expanse]

Yes she has been kind to her family. Perhaps her brother is doing this because Madonna has cut him out of her life because of his drug and alcohol abuse. She has offered to pay for his rehab and get him a job if he goes to rehab which he refuses to do. She gave him countless jobs in the past, he did the set design for her Blonde Ambition tour among other things. He is an ingrate.

[StewieGriffin]

Madonna gave him everything. Truly sickening.

[sophieozz]

She's never going away, is she?

[Boobaloo]

Never.

Not ever.

She will bedazzle her own corpse and do a strip tease from the grave for the paparazzi.

[devadasi]

I hope he embarrasess the hell out of her. Madonna is a narcissist. With all her money and fame she has done absolutely nothing to make the world a better place. People with that kind of clout and money are obligated to give back.

[ENK727]

Then again I think we all know a lot about Madonna's past. Will any of this info be all that new?

[unfettered]

snooze...

[ENK727]

oooooohhhh this should be very interesting!