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S&S UK lands Queer Eye star Jonathan Van Ness' memoir
The first memoir of Jonathan Van Ness, of Netflix makeover show "Queer Eye", will be published by Simon & Schuster UK in September.
The publisher's editorial director Fritha Saunders, bought UK and Commonwealth and audio rights to Over the Top by the rebooted show's hair stylist from Rachel Clements at Abner Stein on behalf of CAA. Harpercollins will publish simultaneously in the US in September 2019.
“Before he stole our hearts as the grooming and self-care expert on Netflix’s hit show ‘Queer Eye’, Jonathan was growing up in a small Midwestern town that didn’t understand why he was so over the top,” the blurb reads. “Jonathan was an easy target and endured years of judgement, ridicule and trauma—yet none of it crushed his uniquely effervescent spirit.”
“Over The Top uncovers the pain and passion it took to end up becoming the model of self-love and acceptance that Jonathan is today,” the publisher said. “Jonathan shares never-before-told secrets and reveals sides of himself that the public has never seen… Fans may think they know the man behind the stiletto heels, the crop tops, and the iconic sayings, but there’s much more to him than meets the ‘Queer Eye’.”
Van Ness is a hair stylist, podcaster, comedian, and television personality based in New York. He is known for the web series parody “Gay of Thrones”, hosting the “Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness” podcast as well as “Queer Eye”.
Saunders says: “Half-way through episode one of the first season of 'Queer Eye', I was completely hooked and already a huge fan of Jonathan’s and so when the proposal for his memoir landed in my inbox I literally whooped with excitement. Public figures don’t often provoke such a unanimously warm response – people love Jonathan and I know they’re only going to love him even more when they read his memoir. He’s not only hilarious but genuinely inspiring and, frankly, his warmth and generosity of spirit are a balm for the soul in these troubling times. I’m very proud that we’re publishing his memoir in the UK.”
Van Ness is a hair stylist, podcaster, comedian, and television personality based in New York. He is known for the web series parody “Gay of Thrones”, hosting the “Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness” podcast as well as “Queer Eye”, a reboot of "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" that launched on Netflix in February 2018.
The news follows various others of the "Queer Eye" presenters' book deals: it was announced in August that Ebury Publishing imprint Virgin Bookswill publish the first memoir of British fashion designer Tan France, while Antoni Porowski, food and drink expert, is writing a “culinary autobiography” for Bluebird. Headline also published a tie-in book from all the presenters in November.
