The Buzz...About Books

The next season of Dancing with the Stars will premiere on September 19th on CTV.  Will Season 13 be lucky for one of the new contestants? 

The group of "stars" for the upcoming season has just been announced.  It is an eclectic mix of celebrities including Chaz Bono, Ricki Lake, Chynna Phillips, David Arquette and one of the numerous Kardashians – brother Rob.   ABC has the full list, with bios on all the contestants.

After appearing on the hit show, quite a number of contestants have published memoirs.  Here is a selection:

National Football League Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice appeared on Season 2 and made it all the way to 2nd place. In Go Long!:my journey beyond the game and the fame he shares the lessons and practices that helped him achieve success during his football career with the San Franciso 49ers and the Oakland Raiders as well as on Dancing with the Stars.

Short-track speed skater Apolo Anton Ohno first came to our attention at the Salt Lake Winter Olympic games in 2002 when he won a gold and silver medals. He went on to win another gold and two bronze medals at the Winter Olympic Games in Torino, Italy in 2006.  In the spring of 2007, he won'the glitter ball with partner Julianne Hough in Season 4.  In his book, Zero regrets: be greater than yesterday he shares the inspiring personal story of his journey to Olympic glory and his secrets for success.

We've known Marie Osmond since she was a "little bit county" to her brother Donny's  "little bit rock'n roll" on the Donny and Marie show in the 1970's.  Her participation in Season 5 of Dancing with the Stars was quite memorable  – who could forget the moment she passed out on live TV?!  Always a professional, she picked herself up and finished the competition in 3rd place.   In her book,  Might As Well Laugh About It Now, she writes about the many successes and challenges she has had in her life – both personal and professional. It is also available in Large Print and eBook.

Bristol Palin was probably the most controversial contestant in Dancing with the Stars history.  In season 11 she finished in 3rd place, although some thought her success was due to her mother's political supporters and not a reflection of her dancing.  In her book,  Not Afraid of Life: My Journey So Far, she gives readers an intimate look at her life, her growing up in Alaska and her coming of age as the daughter of Alaska's most famous politican.

Cheryl Burke has participated as one of the professional dancers in every season of DWTS since season 2, when she won'the mirror ball trophy with Drew Lachey.  She won again the following season with Emmett Smith.  In her book,  Dancing lessons: how I found passion and potential on the dance floor and in life, she talks about her life as a dancer, choreographer and her years working on Dancing with the Stars.

 Don't Mind if I Do by George Hamilton (Season 2, 5th place). Also available in Large Print.

I'll Scream Later by Marlee Matlin (Season 6, 7th place).

Cloris: my autobiography by Cloris Leachman (Season 7, 7th place). Also available in Large Print.

All My Life by Susan Lucci (Season 7, 6th place). Also available as an eAudiobook.

The Big Fight: My Life In and Out of the Ring by Sugar Ray Leonard (Season 12, 9th place)