Tag: harpercollins focus

The actor, producer, and activist delivers a profound and gripping story about an immigrant and the power of a dream. 

Nashville, TN- Today Harper Select announced they will publish An American Story: Everyone’s Invited, the debut memoir from Wilmer Valderrama, on September 17, 2024. The book tells the remarkable true story of a young immigrant from Venezuela who had a dream to change the world, a talent for entertaining, and a determined spirit to build a new life, taking as many as possible with him on the journey.

An American Story weaves Valderrama’s personal stories with those of the remarkable people he’s met along his philanthropic journey. This isn’t just Valderrama’s story though. It’s a view of America through an immigrant’s eyes, in both its stunning unmatched wonders and all its native challenges.

 “I’ve long been a fan of Wilmer’s talent and have now become even more impressed with his overall character and heart for service,” said Matt Baugher, SVP at HarperCollins and Publisher of Harper Select. “Whether he’s on the set of a major tv show or onstage at one of his more than 50 USO appearances around the world, his ebullient optimism inspires all around him.  I can’t wait for readers to know his full story.  The American Dream is alive and well.”

His new book, An American Story, goes back to the beginning, delving into Valderrama’s upbringing in Venezuela where he was raised by two hard working parents as they navigated their family through a rapidly changing country and the rise of Hugo Chavez. With the economy crashing around them and their livelihood disappearing, the family decides to flee the country. Suddenly, the young boy had to grow up quickly, journeying as a teenager from a tiny little pueblo in Venezuela to the big city of Los Angeles.

After being cast in a school theatre production, Valderrama immediately knew he had found his calling and began thinking of ways to help support his struggling family. To do this, he would attempt the impossible: find work in Hollywood as an unproven Latino actor. Following countless auditions and frequent criticisms of his accent, he created the personality that would eventually land him the role as Fez on the hit series That 70s Show, which catapulted him to stardom.

It was however through service to others and his first USO trip, where Valderrama found his expanded calling, entertaining and encouraging US troops around the world. Through his work, Valderrama hopes to demonstrate his love and gratitude for the country that changed his life. 

“As a little boy growing up in Venezuela, I never thought I would write a book, let alone be able to fill it with such complex and triumphant stories about a 25-year career in entertainment, philanthropy, and everything in between. This is my thank you to my younger self for seeing beyond the expected,” said Valderrama. “Thank you to my family and every person who has been a part of this whirlwind journey. This is my tribute to the country that gave me a shot, this is for all of us.”

An American Story will be released simultaneously in both English and Spanish. Both editions of the book will be available in hardcover, eBook, and audiobook with Valderrama narrating. You can pre-order today at https://www.harpercollinsfocus.com/harper-horizon/american-story.

ABOUT WILMER VALDERAMA:

From his breakout role as Fez on the Emmy-nominated series That ’70s Show to playing Nick Torres in the number-one TV drama NCIS on CBS, actor, producer, and activist Wilmer Valderrama has been making audiences laugh, listen, and think for more than two decades.

On the big screen, he lent his voice to the Academy Award-winning Disney animated film Encanto, which became a cultural phenomenon. Behind the camera, in 2006, Wilmer established his production company, WV Entertainment, where he continues to develop and produce projects in the alternative and scripted spaces.

Valderrama is active in several philanthropic agencies. He’s the co-founder of Harness, a group dedicated to connecting communities through conversation to inspire action, serves on the board of Voto Latino, and sits on the National Hispanic Media Coalition’s (NHMC) Visionary Alliance, which aims to foster opportunities for Latinx talent in the entertainment industry through the Series Scriptwriters program and the Latinx Stream Showcase. Wilmer is deeply involved with the military community, serving as a USO Global Ambassador, and participating in various shows worldwide.

Born in Miami and raised in Venezuela until the age of thirteen, Valderrama is fluent in Spanish and English. He and his family reside in Los Angeles.

ABOUT HARPER SELECT:

Harper Select, based in Nashville, TN, publishes an exclusive number of hand-selected memoirs and narrative nonfiction each year. Recent NYT Bestsellers include books from Joanna Gaines, Mark Harmon, Leon Carroll, Jr., and Loyola Chicago’s Sister Jean.

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 THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS WRONG: An Unhinged Guide to Everything That Sucks About Work is on sale September 10, 2024

(Nashville, Tenn.) February 22  — Harper Celebrate, a gift book imprint of HarperCollins Focus, has announced a forthcoming book with comedian, actor, former customer service employee, and writer Scott Seiss, creator of the viral “Angry Retail Guy” sketches. On sale September 10, 2024, The Customer Is Always Wrong: An Unhinged Guide to Everything That Sucks About Work (From an Angry Retail Guy) is a fully illustrated, hilariously cathartic ode to underpaid and overworked employees – and the customers who annoy them. 

Anyone who has ever worked in customer service (or any job, really) knows that everyone else—the customer, the boss, the company—is always right, and never the employee. The Customer Is Always Wrong expands on Scott’s ire-filled, laugh-out-loud viral videos, joyfully eviscerating not only overbearing customers, but every annoying aspect of work, including purposeless job interview questions, debatable brand values, phony mental health webinars, and the walking human trainwrecks that are our bosses. In The Customer Is Always Wrong, laugh (and maybe cry) at all the frustrating things that suck about work.

 “This is a literary rage room that people can flip through and laugh about in the back while their manager wonders where the hell they are,” said Scott. “I wrote it to celebrate the resilience and determination of workers everywhere—especially those in customer service who are often the hardest working (and most underappreciated) type of employee.” 

“Scott delivers the perfect combination of scorn, humor, and compassion in this book,” said Michael Aulisio, vice president and publisher, Harper Celebrate. “Anyone who has ever worked in an office, in retail, or had a day they’re not proud of as a shopper, will see themselves in these pages.”

Advance praise for The Customer Is Always Wrong includes: “Scott Seiss is a hilarious geyser of rage, cynicism and venom, all delivered with a Dundalk accent that could peel paint. I love him.” – New York Times bestselling author, comedian, and actor Patton Oswalt.

Scott’s signature rants, funny anecdotes, and absurd musings are paired with four-color illustrations in The Customer Is Always Wrong, a hilariously unhinged guide to all the things we wish we could say out loud at work . . . without getting fired. The Customer Is Always Wrong is available for preorder now. Find it wherever books are sold on September 10, 2024.

About Scott Seiss: Scott Seiss (aka “Angry Retail Guy”) is a comedian, actor, writer, and, of course, former customer service employee. He’s best known for his viral “Angry Retail Guy” sketches, which have garnered millions of views online. He’s headlined comedy clubs across the country, and, notably, has opened for Patton Oswalt, Joe Gatto, Roy Wood Jr., and Josh Wolf. He appeared in Cocaine Bear directed by Elizabeth Banks, as well as Randall Park’s directorial debut Shortcomings. Scott lives in Baltimore, Maryland, when he’s not on tour for his stand-up comedy. For more information, visit www.scottseiss.com. 

About Harper Celebrate: Harper Celebrate publishes projects such as daily readers; lifestyle books; cookbooks; journals; photography-driven books and anthologies; poetry; mindfulness; and occasion/holiday-focused books. For more information, visit www.harpercollinsfocus.com/harper-celebrate.

About HarperCollins Focus: HarperCollins Focus, LLC owns and operates a collection of publishing imprints that enlighten and empower readers to transform their hearts and minds, connecting through story, advice, mentorship, and community. The company’s mission is to inspire the world with content that equips people to lead lives of significance, integrity, and purpose. The company is based in Nashville, TN. For more information, visit www.harpercollinsfocus.com.

Contact:  MacKenzie Collier, Publicity Director, Harper Celebrate, [email protected]

The award-winning content creators share the ultimate survival guide to living with or loving someone with ADHD.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Penn and Kim Holderness are on a mission to reboot how we think about ADHD with their upcoming new book, ADHD Is Awesome: A Guide to (Mostly) Thriving with ADHD.  The book will be released on April 30, 2024, with Harper Horizon.

Penn and Kim are beloved for their hilarious videos online. Now they bring their trademark uplifting humor, along with a wealth of research and personal insights, to share their experience with a condition that affects millions of people around the world: attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Penn was in college when he was diagnosed with ADHD, although the signs of having a brain that worked just a little bit differently had been there since he was a kid. Rather than view the diagnosis as a curse or give into feelings of inadequacy or failure, Penn took a different approach, one that he wants to share with fellow ADHDers and the people who care about them.

Penn and Kim lay out what it’s like to have ADHD—or love someone who does—and how to (mostly) thrive with it. In this innovative resource specially designed to appeal to the ADHD brain, you’ll find an entertaining yet informative look at how ADHD works and tools to help you harness its unique gifts. You’ll learn how to tackle the challenges of ADHD head on and how to find humor in the hard times. And you’ll discover strategies and techniques that will improve your relationships and your outlook on the condition—not to mention quizzes, ADHD Bingo, top-ten lists, and an ode to cargo pants.

“If you have ADHD, I want you to know that you are not alone. You are not broken. You have no reason to be ashamed. We are energetic, creative, and fun to be around. We just live in a world that wasn’t designed for people like us,” said Penn. “My hope is that this book can help us better navigate that world without having to change who we are, because what we are is awesome.”

Along with the expertise of their network of doctors, researchers, and specialists, Penn and Kim draw from their often-hilarious, from-the-trenches insights and break down the reality of having ADHD into fun, easy-to-digest sections. ADHD Is Awesome highlights the challenges ADHD presents while also sharing how to tackle them with targeted tools and techniques that play to your unique strengths.

Take it from Penn: Having ADHD can be scary, but it comes with incredible upsides, including creativity, hyperfocus, and energy. You might even say it’s kind of awesome. Whether you have ADHD or want to support someone else in their journey, this is the guide you need to make the life you want.

ADHD is Awesome will be available in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook with Penn and Kim narrating. You can pre-order today at https://www.adhdisawesomebook.com.

About the Authors:

Penn and Kim Holderness have been married for nineteen years and are authors of the bestselling book Everybody Fights: So Why Not Get Better at It? For the past ten years, they have been online content creators known for their award-winning videos, including original music, song parodies, and comedy sketches. Their videos have resulted in over two billion views and over eight million followers across all The Holderness Family social media platforms. Penn and Kim were also winners on season 33 of The Amazing Raceon CBS.

Penn and Kim live in Raleigh, North Carolina, with their children, Lola and Penn Charles, and their dog, Sunny. For more on The Holderness Family, visit theholdernessfamily.com.

About Harper Horizon:

 Harper Horizon is a Nashville-based imprint of HarperCollins Focus focused on the stories, values and diverse voices of Americana and beyond, publishing authors such as Willie Nelson, Syd & Shea McGee, Zachary Levi, Meghan Trainor, Jenny Doan, Trae Crowder, and more. For more information, please visit www.harpercollinsfocus.com/Harper-Horizon.

Contacts:

Kevin Smith
[email protected]

Lauren Kingsley
[email protected]

Singer/songwriter Stephanie Quayle teams up with psychologist W. Keith Campbell to write intimate and practical guide to relationship recovery

January 11, 2024 (Nashville, TN) —Harper Celebrate, a gift book imprint of HarperCollins Focus, has announced a forthcoming book with country artist Stephanie Quayle, on sale in April 2024.  WHY DO WE STAY?: How My Toxic Relationship Can Help You Find Freedom combines gripping storytelling and clinical research from psychologist Dr. W. Keith Campbell to offer a compassionate and practical resource to relationship recovery.  New York Times bestselling author Katherine Schwarzenegger Pratt says, “Many of us know someone or have found ourselves in a relationship that we know isn’t right. [Stephanie] wrote this book to help others who might find themselves in a toxic relationship, and I know with Stephanie’s honesty and vulnerability, this book will do just that.”

When Stephanie lost her boyfriend in a plane crash, she faced intense grief and pain. Nothing compared, though, to the shock of discovering she had not been the only woman in his life. As her world unraveled around her, Stephanie realized that it had actually been unraveling from the start of their relationship—back when he promised her everything.  In WHY DO WE STAY, Stephanie shares her own story to explain how to spot a toxic relationship, how to get out, and how to heal.  With additional evidence-based advice from mental health expert Dr. Campbell, readers will find tips on identifying warning signs, narcissism, compulsive lying, and gaslighting; making changes; and finding healing and freedom.  

“I know what it’s like to be in the trenches,” says Stephanie. “I’m familiar with what it feels like to be shamed, blamed, minimized, disrespected, love bombed, and gaslighted, because I was in a toxic relationship for years.  I’m excited to welcome readers into my story because I want them to find the healing I fought fourteen years to find.” 

“Quayle writes movingly and transparently about the deep psychological scars experienced in a relationship and the many years it took to heal the subsequent wounds,” says Joshua Miller, PhD, psychologist and professor, University of Georgia. “Dr. Campbell, one of the world’s foremost experts in the study of narcissism, defines psychological terms and discusses strategies for coping with wounds left from these relationships.”

WHY DO WE STAY?: How My Toxic Relationship Can Help You Find Freedom is available for preorder now.  Learn more at HarperCollinsFocus.com/Harper-Celebrate/Why-Do-We-Stay/.  Find WHY DO WE STAY on sale wherever books are sold on sale April 30, 2024.

About Stephanie Quayle: Stephanie Quayle is a touring recording artist based in Nashville, whose music resonates with audiences worldwide. Additionally, she’s a successful entrepreneur, proudly owning her own record label, Big Sky Music Group. Rolling Stone Country called her “an artist you need to know,” CMT named her as part of its “Next Women of Country” franchise, and she’s appeared on popular programs like “The Kelly Clarkson Show” and” The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” As an indie artist with two Billboard charted singles, “Selfish” and “Whatcha Drinkin ’Bout,” she has repeatedly performed at CMA Fest and the Grand Ole Opry. The Montana native has teamed up with recognizable brands like Wrangler, Harley-Davidson, Bass Pro Shops, Montana Silversmiths, as well as Lucchese Bootmaker in the creation of her exclusive boot line. Quayle’s latest album On the Edge chronicles her personal experience in a toxic relationship and the healing she’s gone through since —inspiring others and redefining her future. For more information, visit www.stephaniequayle.com.

About Harper Celebrate: Harper Celebrate publishes projects such as daily readers; lifestyle books on topics like hospitality, home decorating, organization, and crafting; journals; photography-driven books and anthologies; poetry; mindfulness; and occasion-focused books such as holiday celebrations, graduation, and gifts for special persons. For more information, visit www.harpercollinsfocus.com/harper-celebrate.

About HarperCollins Focus: HarperCollins Focus, LLC owns and operates a collection of publishing imprints, that enlighten and empower readers to transform their hearts and minds, connecting through story, advice, mentorship and community. The company’s mission is to inspire the world with content that equips people to lead lives of significance, integrity and purpose. The company is based in Nashville, TN. For more information, visit www.harpercollinsfocus.com.

Contact:

MacKenzie Collier, Harper Celebrate, [email protected]

(Nashville, Tenn.) July 24, 2023—HarperCollins Focus today announced the launch of a new Spanish-language publishing imprint, HarperEnfoque, led by industry veteran Cris Garrido, vice president and publisher, Spanish division. HarperEnfoque will publish a variety of content dedicated to empowering lives and fostering change. The imprint will include releases by recently acquired authors such as Agustín Laje, Margarita Pasos, Sara Huff, and Pablo Muñoz Iturrieta, as well as best-selling titles from John Maxwell, Dave Ramsey, Brian Tracy, Daniel Habif, Zig Ziglar, and others.

“Our vision is to hand-select an exclusive number of projects each year that are uniquely positioned to capture the interest of readers through content that challenges and inspires the mind and helps them to change their world,” said Garrido. “HarperEnfoque will be a natural extension of the HarperCollins Focus overall position in the marketplace—one that equips readers to lead a life of significance, integrity, and purpose.”

Garrido continued, “Our goal is to publish unique voices that matter. We will look for authors that challenge the way we think and encourage us to be a catalyst for change, both within our immediate sphere of influence and beyond.”

The first releases published under the new imprint include Pablo Muñoz Iturrieta’s Turn off Your Phone and Turn on Your Brain, Sara Huff’s How to Manufacture a Feminist, and Margarita Pasos’ I Could And You Can Too!. All are slated to release this fall.

HarperEnfoque will be based out of Nashville, Tenn.

About HarperCollins Focus:

HarperCollins Focus owns and operates a collection of publishing imprints, that enlighten and empower readers to transform their hearts and minds, connecting through story, advice, mentorship and community. The company’s mission is to inspire the world with content that equips people to lead lives of significance, integrity and purpose. Current publishing imprints include Blink, Harper Celebrate, HarperEnfoque, HarperCollins Leadership, Harper Horizon, Harper Muse and Harper Select. The company also operates HarperCollins Leadership Essentials, an online community dedicated to accelerating personal and professional development. The company is based in Nashville, TN. For more information go to www.harpercollinsfocus.com.

Harper Celebrate, a gift book imprint of HarperCollins Focus, has announced a forthcoming book with six-time Grammy Award–winning musical icon Dionne Warwick.  Set to release in January 2025, the full-color book—tentatively titled What the World Needs Now: Messages of Love and Hope (But No Advice Cause No One Listens Anyway)—will include heartfelt, humorous, and wisdom-filled stories from Dionne’s personal and professional life, alongside positive affirmations—and classic Dionne-isms. 

“Harper Celebrate is giving me an opportunity to give you an insight into my feelings about love, joy, hope and inspiration,” said Dionne Warwick.   “Some quite serious and most with a touch of humor.  I’m excited to share with all of you!”

“Dionne is an iconic figure in American music and culture,” said Michael Aulisio, vice president and publisher, Harper Celebrate.  “We’re thrilled that she’s bringing her distinctive voice to the page.  Her signature sophistication, poignancy, and wit is electric.” 

What the World Needs Now was acquired for Harper Celebrate by Danielle Peterson.

About Dionne Warwick: Iconic entertainer Dionne Warwick is receiving a Kennedy Center Honor in 2023 in celebration of her 60 years in the business. Six-time Grammy winner and Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner, Dionne is recording a new gospel album, “Songs of Inspiration,” produced by her multiple Grammy-winning/Oscar-nominated son Damon Elliott and scheduled for a fall release. The album’s first two singles are a duet with Dolly Parton, “Peace Like A River,” which Dolly wrote and Damon produced. On Mother’s Day the second single, “I Kneel,” was released sung by Dionne and Damon and featuring Grammy-winning gospel artist and minister Donnie McClurkin. The “Dionne Warwick: Don’t Make Me Over” documentary is currently streaming on HBO Max.  Dionne has been dubbed the “Queen Of Twitter” for her outspoken comments on social media for which SNL does a recurring parody skit.

During her career, Dionne has sold more than 100 million records worldwide. She is the second most-charted female vocalist during the rock era and ranks #74 on the Billboard Hot 100’s “Greatest Artists of All Time.”  Warwick has been inducted into the Hollywood Walk Of Fame, the Grammy Hall of Fame, the R&B Music Hall of Fame and the Apollo Theatre Walk Of Fame. She has been a philanthropist throughout her career.  Two examples of which include the total proceeds from the royalties and sales of “That’s What Friends Are For” raising millions of dollars for AMFAR and her current work to mentor youngsters with musical talent through her Kind Music Academy. She is a former Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nation’s Food & Agriculture Organization.

About Harper Celebrate: Harper Celebrate publishes projects such as daily readers; lifestyle books on topics like hospitality, home decorating, organization, and crafting; journals; photography-driven books and anthologies; poetry; mindfulness; and occasion-focused books such as holiday celebrations, graduation, and gifts for special persons. For more information, visit www.harpercollinsfocus.com/harper-celebrate.

About HarperCollins Focus: HarperCollins Focus, LLC owns and operates a collection of publishing imprints, that enlighten and empower readers to transform their hearts and minds, connecting through story, advice, mentorship and community. The company’s mission is to inspire the world with content that equips people to lead lives of significance, integrity and purpose. The company is based in Nashville, TN. For more information, visit www.harpercollinsfocus.com.

Contacts:

MacKenzie Collier, Publicity Director, Harper Celebrate

[email protected]  |  615.902.1645 

Maureen O’Connor, Maureen O’Connor PR LLC

[email protected]  |  818.399.4774 

The long-awaited design book from the New York Times bestselling author showcases the beautiful spaces behind Studio McGee and the tools needed for crafting them on your own.

Interior design superstar, bestselling author, and host of the EMMY-nominated Netflix’s series Dream Home Makeover, Shea McGee will release her highly anticipated design book, The Art of Home: A Designer Guide to Creating an Elevated Yet Approachable Home on September 12, 2023 with Harper Horizon.

Whether it’s through her thriving design business, Studio McGee, or her online community of over five million followers, Shea has shown the world how the principles of high-end design can be applied to any home on any budget.  In her first-ever design book, Shea takes us through every room of the house, starting with an explanation of process and then guiding the way to a cohesive design for our entryways, living rooms, kitchens, offices, kids’ rooms, and even our utility rooms, balancing her signature aesthetic of sophisticated design and livable functionality.

“What I love about design is the opportunity to dream and then will that vision into existence,” said Shea. “I am passionate about sharing that ethos whether it’s through social media, my new Sessions on MasterClass, and now my latest labor of love: The Art of Home. Shortly after the release of this book in September, we will celebrate ten years of Studio McGee. The Art of Home is the culmination of all of that work. I am proud of the spaces we’ve designed over the years, as you’ll see on these beautiful pages, and to be able to share some of the lessons I’ve learned along the way so you can create a home that feels authentically you.”

In 2020, Shea and her husband Syd McGee released Make Life Beautiful, their New York Times bestselling autobiography which offered fans an insider and intimate look into how they built their business. 

“Shea is a designer’s designer. Whether you are a professional designer or just a weekend aficionado looking for new ideas, this is the book for you. I can’t recommend it highly enough,” said Matt Baugher, SVP and Publisher of Harper Horizon.

The Art of Home is as functional as it is heart-stoppingly beautiful, and it will maintain a presence in your home for years to come.  In a video shared on Studio McGee’s social media, Shea gave the first look at the upcoming new book.

Join Shea as she teaches us to dream and then shows us how to make it reality.  The Art of Home is available forpre-order today here.

About Shea McGee:

Shea McGee founded her design firm, Studio McGee, with her husband Syd in 2014 and together with their team, she has designed hundreds of homes across the country. As their design portfolio and following grew, it paved the way for the launch of their e-commerce brand, McGee & Co., two years later. Their popular Netflix series, Dream Home Makeover, is entering its third season. With a vision that beautiful design can be approachable, they have become one of the leading innovators in the interior design industry. Their firm has become a premiere online retail destination and continues to share their light-filled aesthetic with millions.

About Harper Horizon:

Harper Horizon is a Nashville-based imprint of HarperCollins Focus focused on the stories, values, and diverse voices of Americana and beyond, publishing authors such as Willie Nelson, Syd & Shea McGee, Zachary Levi, Meghan Trainor, Jenny Doan, Trae Crowder, Ellie Goulding, Luke Russert and more. For more information please visit www.harpercollinsfocus.com/Harper-Horizon.

BookClub Inc, the enterprise learning platform that up-levels team performance, has announced a strategic partnership with HarperCollins Leadership, a leading provider of books and resources to help individuals grow in their career and life. The partnership is aimed at providing better access to world-class content and resources to teams and individuals, enabling them to perform at the highest level possible.

With the partnership, BookClub will integrate HarperCollins Leadership’s content into its platform, making it easily accessible to millions of teams across the globe. The two companies will work together to develop custom learning solutions that address the unique needs of different organizations and teams, helping them to achieve their performance goals.

David Blake, CEO of BookClub Inc, stated that “this partnership has the potential to change how teams and leaders can increase their performance capability. Our mission is to empower teams to become more effective, and with HarperCollins Leadership’s expertise in leadership development, we can provide our clients with a wider range of tools and resources to help them achieve their goals.”

Matt Baugher, HarperCollins SVP and Publisher of HarperCollins Leadership, expressed his excitement about the partnership, saying that “our relationship with BookClub will further our ability to get the incredible content from these authors into the hands of the people and teams that need them. Together, we can help teams and individuals achieve their full potential and drive success in their organizations.”

BookClub and HarperCollins Leadership are committed to helping organizations and individuals succeed through better access to quality learning resources. This partnership represents a significant step forward in achieving that goal, and the companies look forward to the positive impact it will have on teams and leaders around the world.

For more information on the partnership, please visit the BookClub Inc website or HarperCollins Leadership’s website.

About BookClub

Founded in 2020, BookClub is a SaaS-based learning platform that empowers groups, teams, and enterprises to learn and apply what they learn together. The company is backed by Signal Peak, GSV Ventures, Maveron, Pelion, and others.

About HarperCollins Leadership

HarperCollins Leadership publishes content from leaders who redefine or expand what a reader previously thought possible. Authors provide unique inspiration and experiences to those who seek to learn, make a difference, and find their own version of success.

The Emmy Award–winning journalist will offer an exploration of finding oneself and one’s place in the world in the face of crushing expectations and grief. 

“Look for me there,” news legend Tim Russert would tell his son, Luke, when confirming a pickup spot at an airport, sporting event, or rock concert. After Tim died unexpectedly, Luke kept looking for his father, following in Tim’s footsteps and carving out a highly successful career at NBC News. After eight years covering politics on television, Luke realized he had no good answer as to why he was chasing his father’s legacy. As the son of two accomplished parents—his mother is journalist Maureen Orth of Vanity Fair—Luke felt the pressure of high expectations but suddenly decided to leave the familiar path behind. 

Instead, Luke set out on his own to find answers. “I reached a crossroads in my early thirties where I felt empty and unfulfilled. I wanted to know why, so I set out into the world, hoping to feel something,” Russert said.  

What began as several open-ended months of travel to decompress and reassess morphed into a three-plus-year odyssey across six continents to discover the world and, ultimately, to find himself. “The reward of travel was that it made me much more aware of my surroundings—the beauty of nature, the weight of history, and the common good of the larger human family,” said Russert. “It also forced out some hard truths about losing my dad, my relationship with my mom, grief, inadequacy, and ignorance.”  

“There are times as a publisher that I’m fortunate enough to receive a page-turning memoir from an author who is equally nuanced and impactful. This is that book and Luke is that author. I can’t wait for the world to experience his story,” said Matt Baugher, publisher of Harper Horizon.  The book has also received early industry praise with TODAY co-anchor Savannah Guthrie adding, “In Look for Me There, Luke Russert traverses terrain both physical and deeply personal. On his journey to some of the world’s most stunning destinations, he visits the internal places of grief, family, faith, ambition, and purpose—with intense self-reflection, honesty, and courage.” 

Look for Me There is both the vivid narrative of that journey and the emotional story of a young man taking charge of his life, reexamining his relationship with his parents, and finally grieving his larger-than-life father, who died too young. “This book shows the power of vulnerability. It’s something I felt and saw everywhere I went. Whether through faith or just a meaningful moment, when I became more vulnerable things became clearer,” Russert said. 

For anyone uncertain about the direction of their life or unsure of how to move forward after a loss, Look for Me There is a poignant reflection that offers encouragement to examine our choices, take risks, and discover our truest selves. 

Look For Me There will be available in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook with Russert narrating. You can pre-order today at https://www.harpercollinsfocus.com/lookformethere 

About Luke Russert:  

Luke Orth Russert is an Emmy Award–winning journalist who was an NBC News correspondent from 2008 to 2016, primarily covering American politics. Since leaving broadcast journalism, he is the author of Look for Me There, a travel memoir about his three-and-a-half-year journey around the world that took him to more than sixty-five countries. Based in Washington, DC, he is the son of journalists Maureen Orth (Vanity Fair) and the late Tim Russert (NBC’s Meet the Press). 

About Harper Horizon: 

Harper Horizon is a Nashville-based imprint of HarperCollins Focus focused on the stories, values, and diverse voices of Americana and beyond, publishing authors such as Willie Nelson, Syd & Shea McGee, Zachary Levi, Meghan Trainor, Jenny Doan, Trae Crowder, Ellie Goulding and more. For more information, please visit www.harpercollinsfocus.com/Harper-Horizon 

Media Contact:

Kevin Smith 

Publicity Director, Harper Horizon 

Tel: 615-902-1738 

Web: [email protected] 

The Grammy Award–winning singer will offer the TMI real talk women want about pregnancy, birth, body image, and the newborn days. 

Today, Meghan Trainor surprised fans with big news during a pop-in appearance on the Today Show. While dropping by to exclusively announce the news of her first book, Dear Future Mama: A TMI Guide to Pregnancy, Birth, and New Motherhood from Your Bestie, she also announced that she is expecting her second child. 

The chart-topping singer-songwriter behind “All About That Bass,” “Dear Future Husband,” and recent global smash “Made You Look” has wanted to be a mom since before she even knew how babies were made. From the moment she discovered she was pregnant with her first child—her son, Riley—she was fascinated by the entire experience. “I spent my entire pregnancy trying to get all the information I could possibly get. I was captivated by what I was experiencing, and as the first of my friends to be pregnant, nobody around me but my mom, my aunts, and strangers on the internet knew what I was going through,” says Trainor.   

Dear Future Mama, which will be released on April 25, 2023, with Harper Horizon, is a heartfelt and humorous guide for expectant mamas and their partners inspired by Meghan’s own journey into motherhood. The book also offers expert insights from Meghan’s own personal trainer, registered dietitian, husband, and ob-gyn.  

Yes, pregnancy and motherhood are miracles—but even a miracle can freak you out sometimes. Dear Future Mama offers future mamas a place to relax, laugh out loud, and get the pep talk they need to know that they are absolutely not alone. No shame, no judgment—just straight talk (and laughs) from a bestie who’s been there. Trainor shares her TMI guide to the good, bad, and WTF of conception, pregnancy, and childbirth. The book includes advice about everything from ovulation apps to breastfeeding as well as Meghan’s personal stories about body image, mental health, and navigating her career path as a mother.    

“After feeling so overwhelmed and alone in my first pregnancy, I was inspired to write this book to make sure no other future mama ever felt like that.” says Trainor. “I want to give future mamas permission to find the right path for them —without the judgment of others. I want this book to feel like a hug from a bestie.” says Trainor. 

Dear Future Mama will be available in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook with Trainor narrating. You can pre-order today at harpercollinsfocus.com/dearfuturemama 

About Meghan Trainor: 

Meghan Trainor first made history in 2014 with her diamond-certified smash single “All About That Bass.” Since then, the award-winning singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist has garnered a GRAMMY® for Best New Artist, achieved eight multi-platinum singles and two platinum albums, sold out three world tours, penned multi-platinum hits for peers across pop and country, and received countless industry awards and nominations. Expanding her influence on pop culture, she starred on FOX’s hit series THE FOUR: Battle for Stardom for two seasons and on the superstar coaching panel of The Voice UK alongside Sir Tom Jones, will.i.am, and Olly Murs. She kicked off 2020 with the release of her third full-length album, Treat Myself (Epic Records), which includes the platinum smash “No Excuses” as well as blockbuster anthems and collaborations such as “Nice To Meet Ya” [feat. Nicki Minaj], “Genetics” [feat. Pussycat Dolls], and “Wave” [feat. Mike Sabath]. At the end of 2020 she released her first-ever Christmas album, A Very Trainor Christmas, featuring the #1 holiday radio single “White Christmas.” In 2021, we got to watch her as the host of Top Chef Family Style on Peacock and as a judge on Clash of the Cover Bands on E!. In September of 2021 she also launched her podcast Workin’ On It which she hosts alongside her brother, Ryan Trainor. In 2022 Meghan released her fourth full-length album, Takin’ It Back, which takes you through her journey into marriage, motherhood, and achieving a new level of confidence. The album features colossal hit “Made You Look,” which has garnered over 300 million streams and become an internet sensation, being used in over 4 million videos on social media to date.  She kicks off 2023 by joining the judging panel of the iconic star-maker series, Australian Idol, in its highly anticipated return to air. This year, Meghan will also be making her literary debut with Dear Future Mama, a humorous, unflinching guide to pregnancy and motherhood…..and more music to come soon! 

About Harper Horizon: 

Harper Horizon is a Nashville-based imprint of HarperCollins Focus focused on the stories, values, and diverse voices of Americana and beyond, publishing authors such as Willie Nelson, Syd & Shea McGee, Zachary Levi, Meghan Trainor, Jenny Doan, Trae Crowder, and more. For more information, please visit www.harpercollinsfocus.com/Harper-Horizon 

Kevin Smith 

Publicity Director, Harper Horizon 

Tel: 615-902-1738 

Web: [email protected] 

Luke Burland  

COO, BB Gun Press 

Tel: 310-721-4443 

Web: [email protected]