From Twitlonger;


I CAN'T WAIT TO INTRODUCE THE WORLD TO "MY FRIEND MICHAEL" 

LIFELONG FRIEND OF MICHAEL JACKSON, FRANK CASCIO,
TO PUBLISH “MY FRIEND MICHAEL” WITH WILLIAM MORROW

Most Candid, Detailed Portrait of Pop Icon to Include
Many Never-Before-Seen Photos

New York, NY (January 25, 2011) – William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins Publisher today announced an agreement to publish the memoir MY FRIEND MICHAEL: Growing Up with the King of Pop by producer and lifelong Jackson friend, Frank Cascio. 

The memoir, scheduled for Fall 2011, will chronicle Cascio’s relationship with Michael Jackson over 25 years and reveal the inside, behind-the-scenes story of the Michael that Cascio knew as the performer’s friend and closest confidante, offering the most candid, moving, and detailed portrait of the pop icon. The book will also include photos never before seen by the public. 

Cascio intends to dedicate a portion of his proceeds from the book to charities benefiting children around the world. He plans to start with an organization that has been building housing, schools and orphanages in Haiti since the devastating earthquake that left many children without families. Details of his plans will be announced in the coming months. 

Acquiring editor Matt Harper says “For more than 25 years, Frank was fortunate enough to be one of the few people that Michael Jackson chose to have around him. In that time he witnessed many of the singer’s most private and public moments firsthand, and with this book, Frank will share a side of Michael that only a handful of people have seen--a side that will set the record straight and change how people think about this often misunderstood icon.” 

In MY FRIEND MICHAEL, Cascio tells the full story of his life with Michael, offering an uplifting and definitive account of the superstar’s life from someone who lived it alongside him during the most controversial times of Michael’s life. What emerges is an emotional new side of the “King of Pop,”––a human one that was at times unremarkably average but also terribly scarred by his life in the spotlight both on and off the stage. Packed with never-before-seen photos, amazingly insightful revelations, personal anecdotes, and private moments that are essential for every Michael Jackson fan, this book is a treasury of Michael Jackson lore, one that both celebrates his life and presents him as the special person that he really was.

World Rights to the book were acquired by William Morrow Senior Editor, Matt Harper from Matthew Guma of the Guma Agency.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Frank Cascio, an entrepreneur and producer who splits his time between New York, Los Angeles, and Germany, knew Michael Jackson for more than 25 years, including serving as his personal manager for nearly a decade from the 90's into the '00's . During that time, Cascio developed and co-produced “The Michael Jackson 30th Anniversary Celebration, Madison Square Garden,” was co-producer and creative director of “The Michael Jackson Interview: Footage You Were Never Meant to See,” executive producer and creative director in collaboration with Brett Ratner on “Michael Jackson Private Home Movies,” which aired on Fox in 2003. 
Cascio is a co-founder and partner in the private equity platform, IMPERIAL™. Through this platform, he and his partners, entertainment attorney, Eric Lerner, and venture capitalist, Sean Koh, deploy strategic capital to their portfolio companies in the areas of film and television development and production, media, technology and music publishing.
He is also part of the music production trio DTC based in Berlin, Germany.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
source: http://www.twitlonger.com/show/8de5g4
**
For a related article (MJ's relationship with the Cascio family);
http://shineingrace.blogspot.com/2010/12/michael-jackson-and-cascios-after.html

Adorable MJ Moments

       "Michael showed me his newly finished private theater, complete with plush red velvet seats. I thought his blue sweater would complement the deep red, and I asked him to take a seat and pretend as if he were watching a movie. “Which movie?” he asked. I said, “It doesn’t matter. Any movie will do.” But Michael insisted: “Todd, you’ve got to tell me which movie I’m supposed to be watching if you want a reaction from me.” O.K., what about a Charlie Chaplin comedy, I suggested. “Which one?” Michael asked. “He’s made so many, you know.” My mind went blank; luckily, my assistant shouted out, “Modern Times.” Michael responded, “O.K., which part?” Exasperated, I said, “Michael, it’s a comedy, just laugh!” It was getting late and we were all tired and a little punchy, but Michael was having fun with all of this. “Well,” he began, “if you want me to laugh, then you have to tell me a joke. But you said you wanted me to act like I’m watching a movie. Which is it you want?” Finally I gave up and made a ridiculous clown face, which made him laugh."

---Todd Gray,  excerpt from his book  "Michael Jackson: Before He Was King"

source: http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/features/2009/10/michael-jackson-excerpt-slideshow-200910#slide=4

Beautiful artwork from the pages of Ever After; all illustrated by Kathy Garren. For more pictures and information about this very beautiful MJ tribute book, please see posting last October 1st, 2010

source: http://www.facebook.com/photos.php?id=123710814345276

This is a cropped  detail from the cover picture of the book Ever After, which was featured here before; please see    last October !st post  for more information about this book and for other more beautiful artwork;  

 http://shineingrace.blogspot.com/2010/10/i-found-this-from-another-site-and.html

Artwork of the Michael Jackson Opus

The only  publication approved and endorsed by Michael Jackson himself, is a definitive photographic tribute with exclusive, unseen images and personal heartfelt commemorations written by those close to him .

Here are some of the double-page spreads of all ten chapter openers, all featuring the artwork of Nate Giorgio.

All Pictures © 2009 Copyright Kraken Opus 
For more info about this book: http://www.krakenopus.com/family/michaeljackson/index.php

 Fan art that made it into the Michael Jackson Opus 

I found this from another site and thought it's so lovely and sweet, so my sincere thanks to Brenda Jenkyns and Kathy Garren for this amazing book and tribute to MICHAEL JACKSON, THE KING OF HEARTS, FOREVER AND EVER AFTER :)

Ever After

"A book for children and adults, telling the story of Michael Jackson, to comfort and inspire all of us to honour his message of love..." 

Book Cover  

First Page

Last Page

This book would indeed make a wonderful present to young (and young at hearts! ^.^) members of the family and friends.
I'D SO LOVED TO HAVE ONE TOO :) 
For additional info, please go to:

https://www.michaeljacksoneverafter.com/MichaelJacksonEverAfter.html