Dear Mr Pop Star

For more than a decade, Derek Philpott and his son, Dave, have been writing to pop stars from the 1960s to the 90s to take issue with the lyrics of some of their best-known songs. But then, to their great surprise, the pop stars started writing back... Dear Mr Pop Star contains 100 of Derek and Dave's greatest hits, including correspondence with Katrina and the Waves, Tears for Fears, Squeeze, The Housemartins, Suzi Quatro, Devo, Deep Purple, Nik Kershaw, T’Pau, Human League, Eurythmics, Wang Chung, EMF, Mott the Hoople, Heaven 17, Jesus Jones, Johnny Hates Jazz, Carter the Unstoppable Sex Machine, Chesney Hawkes and many, many more.

This book "renders the singular arc of a woman's life through letters Mary-Louise Parker composes to the men, real and hypothetical, who have informed the person she is today. Beginning with the grandfather she never knew, the letters range from a missive to the beloved priest from her childhood to remembrances of former lovers to an homage to a firefighter she encountered to a heartfelt communication with the uncle of the infant daughter she adopted"--

I'm in desperate need of James Butler's help. There's one issue—he's my ex. The last time I saw him, I told him, "I never want to see your crazy a** again." But he is one of the best lawyers in town, and I know he can help with my poor dad's lawsuit problem. To my surprise, when I go to James, he is willing to help me. I offer him money in exchange, but he doesn't want cash. Instead, he wants me. Specifically, he wants me in his bed... ***The third standalone book in the OTT Enterprises series featuring alpha male businessmen and the women they want to make theirs.*** WORD COUNT: 5,800 Excerpt: James stands up and grabs my arm. "Just tell me what you need. You wouldn't have come to me if you had other options." The jerk is right. "My dad's getting sued," I say. "As you know, we don't have much money. I contacted you because I hoped you would be his lawyer. Obviously, we can't afford to pay you at your regular rates, but we can give you some money and we'll throw in free dry cleaning for the rest of your life. If you want me to go on my knees and beg, I'll do it and whatever else you want me to do." To my relief, he doesn't laugh in my face and say, "Absolutely not. Get the hell out of my office." His green eyes look into mine. "You'll do whatever I want you to do?" I nod. "Anything." "Tell you what," he says. "I'll help your dad for free." I exhale. "Thank you. But let us give you some money—" "I make six figures a year. I don't need your money." "What do you want then?" A heavy ball of dread forms in my stomach. Is he going to make me do something humiliating like clean his apartment in a skimpy French maid costume? My ex wouldn't be above that. He draws me to him till our bodies are a mere inch away from touching. "I want you in my bed." I narrow my eyes. "Jesus, you're a slime-ball." "Well, I am a corporate lawyer."

In the summer of 2011, a mysterious gentleman sidled up to the reception of a London publishing house, deposited a memory stick on the desk then melted away. The stick was a revelation; it contained hundreds of letters, all seemingly written by Prince Charles. Dating back to his boyhood and addressed to a far wider range of recipients than hitherto suspected – including the Pope, Celine Dion and a recurring correspondence with former deputy prime minister John Prescott – the Prince of Wales’ epistolary efforts reveal a man unafraid to grapple with the great questions of our time. Whether inviting Lady Gaga to one of his Outward Bound events, advising The Village People on matters naval, or recommending to David Cameron that he and his ministers take turns to pull each other to Cabinet meetings by rickshaw, this is a Prince both ready and willing to think outside the royal box. Moreover, after reading Charles’ attempts to reach out to his future subjects, world statesmen, the plant kingdom and the occasional higher being, few could fail to agree with his heartfelt conviction that, hang it all, something - indeed, almost anything – really must be done.

Through its use of conversational and supportive tones, this popular guide puts readers at ease, assisting the transition to academic study. With clear explanations, summaries and exercises, it is an invaluable companion for the mature student. This third edition has much new content including a new chapter on writing a dissertation proposal.

An extensive biographical and critical survey of more than 300 jazz and popular singers is comprised of provocative, opinionated essays that incorporate the views of peers, fans and critics while assessing key movements and genres.

Bought to the printed page on the back of the cult internet sensation and an immensely successful Crowdfunding campaign contributed to by many of the artists involved, ''Dear Mr. Kershaw'' is the result of 7 years' surreal and quite bonkers work. ''Derek'', with help from his friend ''Wilf'', is a retired gent who back in 2008 set out on a bizarre crusade, writing good old-fashioned letters to pop and rock stars regarding lyrical inaccuracies and ambiguities in their most famous songs and often hilariously getting the wrong end of the stick. The letters are eminently publishable in their own right, mixing sharp wit, confusion and biscuits with trips to the shops and unarguable logic in relation to questioning the offending chart hits under scrutiny. What makes this book an essential purchase however is that, with the missives online for all to see on what was becoming a hugely popular website, the artists quite unexpectedly started to reply. ''Dear Mr. Kershaw'' features over 65 of the best and funniest letters and responses from famous and legendary names spanning every reach of the pop, rock, metal, prog and punk spectrum, all relishing their involvement ''in character'' and revealing their own in many cases hitherto unknown humorous sides. Amongst those to be saluted for their great sportsmanship are Noddy Holder, Billy Bragg, Was Not Was, The Stereo MCs, Dave Stewart of The Eurythmics, Saxon, Tom Robinson, Stiff Little Fingers, Rick Wakeman, Paul Heaton, Squeeze, Toyah, Howard Jones, The Divine Comedy, Kim Wilde, and of course the gentleman himself Mr Nik Kershaw Also includes 100 ''mini-letters'' and Polymer Animal Popstars Highly recommended to anyone who likes music and laughing

The author was a college student in California during the '60s, heyday of psychedelia, then moved on to Swinging London and photographed such supergroups as the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and the Who. His sensitive memoir of those years evokes vividlythe essence of a generation that "welcomed Mr. Fantasy into our lives with a sense of joy and celebration.'' Although Russell acknowledges that many people were burned out by the '60s (indeed, he knew some of the famous casualties), he nevertheless believes that the personal and social changes spawned by that turbulent decade were necessary. ``In retrospect, people often seem embarrassed by that time,'' he writes. "But, really, so much was accomplished.'' Russell tells many entertaining stories about working with the artistocracy of rock; his anecdotes unite with more than 300 of his splendid photographs to create a detailed history of an extraordinary period in popular musicand to pay eloquent tribute to "the spirit that moved us all.'' October 29 -Publishers Weekly.