Marilyn Monroe: Private and Undisclosed

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of Marilyn's death, I have uploaded the first 7 pages of my book, 'Marilyn Monroe: Private and Undisclosed,' (New edition) and included them here.  These pages are taken directly from my original manuscript, so may have a few words different from the published pages, but not enough to drastically change the story.  If you like what you read, the links to order the book are provided below.

Chapter One

The Lady With the Red Hair

Marilyn Monroe’s mother - Gladys Pearl Monroe - was not a happy child.  She was born on 27^th May 1902, to Della and Otis Monroe, and together with her brother, Marion, spent her first few years constantly on the move.  When she was seven years old her father died within the confines of the California State Hospital for the mentally ill, and although it was later revealed that the cause was syphilis of the brain, his relatives believed he’d died insane, hence beginning a legacy of fear that would haunt the entire family.

By 1910 Gladys was living with her mother, brother and ten lodgers at 1114 East 10^th Street, and by 1912, Della had married Lyle Arthur Graves, a switchman who had once worked with Otis.  The marriage was short-lived, and the two eventually divorced in January 1914 when Lyle moved to Ohio, where he later remarried.  Della too was on the look-out for new adventures and by 1916, had sent her son Marion to live with a cousin in San Diego, while she moved with Gladys to a boarding house at 26 Westminster Avenue, Venice, Los Angeles.

Shortly afterwards Della met and fell for Charles Grainger, a widower who worked in the oil industry.  He had been working in Rangoon since April 1915 and had arrived back in the States on 19 July 1916, just months before he met 40 year old Della.  She wished to live with him at his home at 1410 Carrol Canal Court, but Gladys’ disapproval and Grainger’s reluctance to take on the judgmental offspring put a spanner in the works and Della was left wondering how she could rid herself of her fourteen-year-old daughter.  She didn’t need to wonder long, however, as along come Jasper Newton Baker, who, despite being twelve years her senior, courted Gladys and shortly afterwards made her pregnant.  This of course gave Della an instant reason to rid herself of the teenager; insisting the pair marry on 17 May 1917 and even swearing Gladys to be eighteen years old, when actually she was just shy of her 15^th birthday.

Della was then free to move in with Grainger, while Gladys and her new husband lived at 1595 21^st Street, while he worked as a hotel manager at 219 South Spring Street.  Eight months after the wedding, Gladys bore Baker a son called Robert Jasper (aka Jackie or Kermitt), and several years later a daughter named Berniece Gladys.  The marriage was not a happy one, and by 1920 both Gladys and Baker were broke and living at 343 Fifth Avenue with Baker’s eighteen-year-old brother Ardry, a concessionaire at the amusement park. 

Jasper believed Gladys to be an unfit mother, and evidenced their son, Robert who once almost lost an eye when Gladys left some broken glass in the trash.  Then on another occasion the Bakers were arguing in the front seat of their car, whilst Robert managed to open the door in the back, falling from the seat and severely injuring his hip in the process.  It would be unfair to blame Gladys directly for Robert’s problems, but Jasper never forgot the incidents: “Your mother was a beautiful woman”, he told Berniece, “but she was also very young, too young to know how to take care of children.”

Baker was also known to beat his wife, and on one occasion whilst visiting relatives in Kentucky, he took offence to her spending time in the company of one of his brothers; beating her across the back with a bridle until she bled.  Terrified of her husband, Gladys finally filed for divorce in 1921, and during divorce proceedings, (in which she claimed they were married one year earlier in order to cover-up the fact that she was pregnant); she disclosed that Baker had called her vile names, had beaten and kicked her and had caused ‘extreme mental pain, anxiety and humiliation, as well as to suffer grievous bodily pain and injury.”  The divorce became official in May 1922 but this was not the end of the drama, as during one fateful weekend, Baker decided he no longer wanted his children in the care of Gladys, and snatched them out of California to live a new life with his mother in Kentucky. 

Gladys was understandably devastated by this turn of events, and spent all her savings trying to get her children back.  She went to Kentucky and begged Baker’s sister for help.  However, instead of gaining assistance, Gladys found herself banned from visiting her daughter, and unable to take her son who had been admitted to hospital to try and fix his ongoing hip problems. 

Waiting for Robert to be released from hospital, Gladys gained temporary employment at the home of Harry and Lena Cohen, who lived at 2331 Alta Avenue, in Louisville.  There she acted as housekeeper and looked after the Cohen’s daughters, Dorothy and Norma Jean.  The family were used to having staff around the house: according to census reports, in 1920 18-year-old Effie Newton worked as a servant for them, and by 1930 they had grown to employ not only a maid but a chauffeur too.  So the arrival of Gladys in the Cohen home caused not even a stir, and her presence and departure were all pretty uneventful.  Later rumours would surface that Gladys caused many ‘uncomfortable’ moments in the Cohen household, but in fact so unmemorable was Gladys, that the family did not even realise she went onto become Marilyn Monroe’s mother until many years later, and long after the death of both Harry and his wife Lena.

Norma Jean Cohen’s daughter Bonnie confirmed this in 2009:   “There were no letters or stories, and we know that my grandmother, Lena Cohen had no idea that her ex-employee was Marilyn Monroe’s mother.  I knew my grandmother for over thirty years so I know this is true.  Plus this would have been good ‘family history’ information but it was never discussed; and it would have been if we had known.”

After working with the Cohen family for a short time, Gladys became disillusioned about regaining her children.  Baker had remarried and the family seemed settled, so Gladys reluctantly accepted the fact that she’d lost them; visited the family to say good bye and then disappeared from their lives.

On her return to Los Angeles, Gladys obtained a job at Consolidated Film Industries, where she became friends with a colleague called Grace McKee.  The two spent quite some time together, going out dancing, having fun and gaining something of a reputation among the male employees at Consolidated. 

Whilst living at 1211 Hyperion Avenue, Gladys shocked everyone when on 11 October 1924, she suddenly married Martin Edward Mortensen, a 27 year old divorcee who worked as meter man for the Los Angeles Gas and Electric Company.  He was in love with his new wife, but it was not reciprocated; she complained to friends that he was ‘dull’ and it wasn’t long before she had fallen for Charles Stanley Gifford, a 25 year old divorcee and one of the bosses at Consolidated. 

“Gifford was a real likeable guy”, remembered one friend; while another described him as “well-dressed, and always drove a pretty nice car.”  He had a dark side, however, as witnessed by his first wife, Lilian and detailed in divorce papers submitted by her shortly after they separated in 1923.  According to the papers, Gifford “continuously pursued a course of abuse, threats and intimidation calculated to harass, annoy, hurt and worry the plaintiff.”  This was just the tip of the iceberg.  Lilian said she also experienced physical injury and accusations that she was being unfaithful to him, when actually she believed that he was undertaking affairs with women where he worked, as well as taking illegal drugs.  Things had come to a head during June 1923, when Lilian alleged Gifford verbally abused her before striking her so hard on the cheek that she was “knocked against the bed post” sustaining severe bruising and pain in her side.  The divorce papers also claim that a blood clot was formed under the cheek and urgent medical attention was required to remove it.

Whether or not everything cited by Lilian was true, will never be known, but certainly the marriage had been turbulent and by the time the divorce was finalized and Gladys Baker arrived in his life, Gifford was enjoying his new-found freedom and had no plans to settle down.  Unfortunately for Gladys, she believed she could persuade him to change his mind, and on 26^th of May 1925, walked out on Martin Edward Mortensen.

During the autumn of 1925, Gladys became pregnant.  It has been said that there were various men who could have been the father, including a 28 year old colleague called Raymond Guthrie.  Friends at the studio claimed that Gladys had dated blue eyed, brown haired Guthrie for several months that year and that he could very well be the father.  Raised by his aunt and uncle since a baby, Guthrie had also recently divorced and was certainly in a position to date Gladys, though all records indicate that she never considered him to be her baby’s father. 

The official ruling is that the father was unknown, though evidence suggests it was Gifford, and this was most certainly the belief of Gladys.  For instance, family letters and memories show that both Gladys and Norma Jeane named him as the father on several occasions, and in August 1961, an article appeared in ‘Cavalier Magazine’ which said: ‘[Marilyn’s] father is very much alive and residing in Southern California.  He was once connected with the movie business, although he no longer is today.’  This would certainly be a nod in Gifford’s direction, since by that time he was living south of Los Angeles and running his own dairy farm.

Gladys broke the news of the pregnancy to Gifford during a New Year’s party at the family home, presumably that of his father, carpenter Frederick Gifford who lived at 12024 Venice Boulevard.  Later as the pregnancy became obvious, it created quite a stir in the Gifford family; particularly with his sister Ethel, who lectured him intensely, demanding to know what he intended to do about the situation.  The argument culminated with Ethel telling her brother, “Look, either marry the woman or do something”, and according to relatives, Gladys was not seen at their home anymore.

Shunned by the Gifford family, Gladys then tried to gain sympathy from her mother, who by this time was living on her own at 418 East Rhode Island Avenue, while Charles Grainger was now working overseas.  Della acknowledged disgust that her daughter was once again pregnant with an illegitimate child, and then sailed off to South East Asia on 20^th March in order to visit her husband.

When Gladys gave birth on 1^st June 1926, she had hoped Gifford would accompany her to the hospital.  She was greatly disappointed, however, as he purposely stayed away, refusing to have anything to do with her or the child.  Gladys perhaps wouldn’t have been shocked by this had she known that in 1922, when his wife Lilian gave birth to their son Charles Stanley Jr, Gifford took her to the Lomashire Hospital, excused himself immediately and walked out of the building. 

Knowing that Gifford was to play no part in the child’s upbringing, Gladys reluctantly decided to get on with her life.  She named the child after the little girl she had looked after whilst in Kentucky and for respectabilities sake, also gave the surname of her former husband, hence naming her Norma Jeane Mortenson.  (She added an e to Norma Jean and changed Mortensen to Mortenson on the birth certificate.)  Shortly afterwards she changed her mind and declaring that both she and her daughter would be known by the surname of her first husband, Baker.

Shortly after the little girl’s birth, perhaps feeling mild curiosity or a pang of guilt for the way he had treated her in the past, Gifford asked Gladys if he could see the child.  His plea fell on deaf ears, however, and she refused point-blank to let him have anything to do with her.  “He felt the mother had been unfair”, remembered Gifford’s minister, Dr Liden.  “She had cut him off and didn’t allow him to see the child.” 

On leaving hospital, Gladys took Norma Jeane to her apartment at 5454 Wilshire Boulevard, but it was only a matter of days before she made a trip to East Rhode Island Avenue to deposit her child at number 459, the home of the Bolender family. 

Ida and Wayne Bolender lived across the road from Gladys’ mother Della, on a two-acre plot of land in Hawthorne; an agricultural area, dominated by lots of space, dairies and farms.  A postman for many years, Wayne and his wife had applied to become foster parents just before the depression, and continued for the next 35 years, happily opening their home to any child who needed their help. 

Contrary to popular belief, Gladys did not immediately abandon her child with the Bolenders; instead she moved in with the family and left Norma Jeane in their care while she commuted to and from her job in Hollywood.  “Mrs Baker was with me”, Ida later told Cavalier Magazine.  “She stayed in Hollywood when working nights as a negative cutter and stayed with me while working days.”   However, the long journey and the responsibility of single-motherhood soon became too much for Gladys, and she ultimately took the decision to move back to her old life. 

Leaving her baby behind, Gladys moved in with her friend and colleague, Grace McKee and the two shared a space at the Rayfield apartments at 237 Bimini Place.  Going from the quiet seclusion of the Bolender home to this colourful apartment block must have been something of a thrill for Gladys.  But in spite of now living the life of a single girl once again, she didn’t give up on her daughter and always paid $25 a month to the Bolenders for her care.  She also often stayed at the weekend, involving herself with family life, and later showed up on the 1930s census as a ‘boarder’ in the Bolender home.  “[Norma Jeane] was never neglected and always nicely dressed”, said Mrs Bolender.  “Her mother paid her board all the time.”

On 15^th August 1926, Della sailed from Hong Kong and arrived in San Francisco on 8^th September.  On her return to East Rhode Island Avenue, she was introduced to her grand-daughter for the first time, though she never developed much of a bond with the child; seeing her as more of a sin than a joy.  Sick with malaria and often delusional, she made her feelings quite clear just months later when she was caught trying to smother the child with a pillow.  She was immediately banned from the Bolender home, but Della still tried to gain access to Norma Jeane as Ida Bolender later recalled:  “She did come over one day for no reason I know of.  She just broke in the glass of our front door and I believe we called the police.”

For Della, this sequence of events was the beginning of the end and she soon found herself admitted to the Norwalk Mental Hospital, suffering from Manic Depressive Psychosis.  She was never to leave the hospital, and when she passed away, Della Monroe Grainger contributed to the legacy of mental illness, which had begun with the death of her husband.

After the turmoil of recent days, the Bolender family tried their best to continue life in a normal way for their foster-children, Norma Jeane and a baby boy called Lester.  Born on 23 August 1926 whilst his parents, Pearl and Carl Flugel were living in a tent, Lester had come to the Bolender home after the Flugels decided they were too young to care for him.  Married for just over a week before the birth of their son, the couple handed the baby to Ida Bolender and returned to their home state of Washington, where they later had four more sons, Milton, Gerald, Robert and William.  The couple kept their first son a secret from their family, and it wasn’t until Pearl’s death in 1988 that they discovered a 1927 letter from Mrs Bolender, describing Lester’s life in California.  The now elderly Lester travelled to meet his long-lost family but unfortunately even at this late stage, one of the brothers refused to believe they were related and apparently never accepted Lester as his brother.

But back in 1926, when both Lester and Norma Jeane were just babies, they were nicknamed ‘The Twins’ and raised as brother and sister.  “They have great times together”, wrote Mrs Bolender.  “Lot’s of people think them twins.  I dress them alike at times and they do look cunning….”

Eventually the Bolender family made a decision to officially adopt Lester, and asked Gladys if they could adopt Norma Jeane too.  Gladys, having already lost two children, was appalled at the Bolender’s plans and turned them down flat.  However, they weren’t the only ones interested in the child as according to several reports, Charles Stanley Gifford also had plans to raise her.  By this time he was living on his own at 832 N Alta Vista Boulevard, and had learned that Norma Jeane had been placed in a foster home.  He contacted Gladys to tell her he intended to raise the little girl himself, but was sent away with nothing more than a scolding from his ex-lover, who had developed a deep loathing for him since her troubled pregnancy.

How Gifford thought he could possibly raise the child on his own is a mystery.  He was not listed as her father on the birth certificate, and divorce records from his first wife Lilian, show that he had been verbally abusive and distant from his other children; calling them derogatory names on many occasions.

But even if his temper was not an issue, there was no way Gladys was going to let the man she claimed to detest, raise her child.  Instead, she continued to visit her daughter at the weekends, though as Norma Jeane grew, the stopovers became more and more confusing for the child.  One day when she referred to Ida Bolender as ‘Mama’, she was immediately put in her place.  “The woman with the red hair is your mother”, explained Ida, though this did not end the confusion.  “But [Wayne] is my daddy”, exclaimed Norma Jeane; “No”, replied Ida.  After that, the child became afraid to call anyone mummy or daddy, as not even Gladys referred to her as a daughter.

As for her father, Gladys told Norma Jeane that he had been killed in a car crash either before she was born or when she was a young baby – the story differing according to Gladys’ mood at the time.  Her story was cruel but contained a kernel of truth, as in 1929 she was told that the man she had named as Norma Jeane’s father – Martin Edward Mortensen - had been killed in a car crash.  Unknown to Gladys, it later transpired that it was a completely different person who had died, and her ex-husband was actually alive and well and living in California.  For his part, Mortensen added to the confusion by years later claiming to friends that he was Norma Jeane’s real father, but in reality, it is extremely unlikely – and certainly not the belief of Marilyn or her mother.

At irregular intervals, the young child would travel to her mother’s home in Hollywood, and stare quietly at a photo of Charles Stanley Gifford, which hung on the wall despite Gladys’ claims of hatred towards him.  Gifford bore a striking resemblance to Clark Gable, and from that moment on, Norma Jeane always thought of the actor as something of a surrogate father.  Unfortunately, looking at the photo was the only thing Norma Jeane enjoyed about her visits to her mother, who was so uptight that she would often chastise her for turning the pages of a book ‘too loudly’.  As a result the child spent most of her time hiding in the closet, waiting to be taken back to the Bolender’s house.

Gifford, meanwhile, was living just miles away at 3014 Chesapeake Avenue, in a house that he jointly owned with none other than Raymond Guthrie, the Laboratory Technician whom Gladys had dated in 1925.  How the two men ended up buying a home together is a mystery, and we can only imagine the interesting conversations that could have occurred within those four walls.  The two shared the house for several years before Guthrie moved on, but Gifford was to stay put throughout Norma Jeane’s childhood, and well into her first marriage.  It is not known if he ever tried again to gain access to his daughter, but if he did, Gladys kept very quiet about it, and never discussed it with Norma Jeane.

Taken from 'Marilyn Monroe: Private and Undisclosed' (UK title) and 'Marilyn Monroe: Private and Confidential' (USA title).  (c) Michelle Morgan, 2012.  All rights reserved.

To order please visit Amazon:

UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Marilyn-Monroe-Private-Undisclosed-expanded/dp/1780331282/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1344163457&sr=8-2

USA: http://www.amazon.com/Marilyn-Monroe-Confidential-Michelle-Morgan/dp/1616087196/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1344163507&sr=8-1&keywords=Marilyn+Monroe+Private+and+confidential

Marilyn in The Daily Telegraph

The piece in The Daily Telegraph has been put off once again... To Monday.

Apparently it has now evolved from being a straight forward feature about Marilyn, to one about the reporter's personal reflections on what Marilyn means to her - but she has still mentioned me and the book which is a definite plus!

It does sound like a very interesting article, so hopefully it will definitely run on Monday so we can all finally see it.  I can't wait!

The Daily Telegraph

Just an update on the Daily Telegraph article....  Because of Gore Vidal's death, it will now go in on Saturday 4th August.  That's probably more fitting at the end of the day, since that is the anniversary of Marilyn's last day and death of course.

I will keep you updated.

Daily Telegraph

If you're based in the UK, or if you have an English book store near you, pick up a copy of The Daily Telegraph tomorrow, as they are doing a feature about Marilyn in it.

I was interviewed by the newspaper yesterday about my book, Marilyn and her lasting legacy.  I don't know how much of the interview will appear in the finished piece, but hopefully I will make the final cut!  I will post more details when I've seen the article for myself tomorrow.

Emirates Woman

I am thrilled to tell you that I have written the cover story for Emirates Woman this month, entitled 'The Real Marilyn Monroe.'  This is my first ever glossy magazine cover and I'm thrilled to pieces about it.

Here is a sneaky peak at the cover:

Marilyn Monroe 50th Anniversary

I have been contacted by various members of the media regarding Marilyn's 50th anniversary this week, and of course I am always happy to be interviewed in my capacity as biographer, former fan club president (for 16 years) and huge fan.

If you are a member of the press and would like to interview me for a feature, or have me on your radio/TV show, please get in touch.  My email is Michelle[at]MichelleMorgan[dot]co[dot]uk or leave a comment here and I'll get back to you.

Thanks.

Best and Grazia

I popped up town this morning to run some errands with my daughter, and as I waited for the bank to open, I suddenly remembered that both Best and Grazia were doing items about my book today!

I have no idea how I had temporarily forgotten, but thank goodness I remembered before we'd returned home, and so rushed to WHSmith to pick up both copies.

I am really thrilled with the results.  Best magazine gave me a whole page, while Grazia mentions my book and quotes me in an article they wrote about Marilyn.  Both have given great publicity for the book, so I'm very happy about that.  My daughter even jumped up and down and screamed wildly about mummy being in a magazine, though I don't think the old lady next to us was too impressed by it.  She just looked at us as if we were crazy; picked up her TV Times and made a hasty exit!

I'm not sure I blame her!

Marilyn Monroe in the Huffington Post

I wrote a small article about Marilyn for the Huffington Post last week, which I've only just got round to telling you about as I was on holiday when it was published.

It is short but sweet and has increased publicity for my book in the USA so I'm very happy about that.  Here is a link:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michelle-morgan/marilyn-monroe-new-photos_b_1694639.html

Best and Grazia

UK friends - Don't forget to rush out to the shops tomorrow and pick up the latest copy of Best and Grazia. 


I have a whole page feature in Best, talking about my Marilyn collection (written by them from an interview with me) and it also includes some photos, including the one below, which is me aged 27, standing outside the Lawford Beach house with a very dodgy hairdo and a bum bag!!  Yikes!!

As far as I can figure, I also have a teeny mention in Grazia, during an article they've written about Marilyn.  It started off as a big mention, but by the end of the day I'd shrunk to a few lines, or maybe even a sentence or two....  I'm still a little sketchy on the details with that one, but hopefully it will be worth picking up!


I have more media appearances coming soon.  I'll post details when I get them....

Marilyn Monroe on Kindle

My Marilyn book is currently part of the Kindle Reading Marathon at the moment and selling for just over a pound in the UK/Europe.  So pop along to the Kindle store and grab yourself a bargain!


http://www.amazon.co.uk/Marilyn-Monroe-Private-Undisclosed-ebook/dp/B005RYLUX0/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1343560199&sr=8-2

Possible upcoming interviews/mentions....

Some news just in..... My book MIGHT be mentioned in Grazia Magazine, in the issue that is on sale between 31 July and 6 August.  I say might because while I've definitely been quoted in the copy they've written (and the reporter says I should stay in there), something could happen in the meantime and I could end up on the cutting room floor....

But fingers crossed all will be well and my book and me will be mentioned/quoted.

I have also given an interview with Best Magazine for an upcoming issue, which should be out around the first week of August.

More news on interviews, as and when I get it! :-)

Waterstones Northampton

Here are a few photographs from the recent signing I did at Waterstones Northampton.  I had the best time and was thrilled that we sold all but one of the books in the space of two hours!!

When I arrived the staff made me feel so welcome, it really was amazing.  Then when the readers started gathering, I couldn't have been happier.  I had a terrific day and would like to thank all the staff who looked after me and the wonderful readers who came to meet me and buy a copy of the book.  You were all awesome.

Next stop.... Market Harborough on 7 July!

Fabulous Review

Here is the most amazing review for my book, from my friend and fellow Marilyn author, Roger Taylor. Roger's was the third Marilyn book I ever bought and to think that he has now read and reviewed mine, is mind-blowing. Here it is: 

"I have just finished reading the most extraordinary book, Marilyn Monroe, Private and Undisclosed by Michelle Morgan. For any fan or admirer of MM this book is a must, as for the first time you get to meet the real woman, not just the clichéd sex symbol. This book had me wide eyed at some of the facts that I had never known before, I felt like I was reading about a completely different woman, one I had never met before. I started researching Marilyn many years ago(early 1980's) for my first book, Marilyn On Marilyn and felt that over the years, with all the further reading of the plethora of biographies that have been published, I had a 'handle' on the woman that was Norma Jeane/Marilyn Monroe. But this book has made me realise how little I really knew. 


Of course all the major landmarks of MM's life are here in full detail but it is the lesser known details of her life that make this book so fascinating. Day to day events bring her to life in a startling way. For the first time I now understand Marilyn's progression through the movie industry from starlet to major star, revealing stints in live theatre. Her childhood too takes on a new light as caring and loving foster families and relatives are revealed. Michelle's research has brought her into contact with Marilyn's friends and family, more casual friends and acquaintances and work colleagues, their thoughts and opinions concerning Monroe give us a rounded portrait of a sensitive and caring woman who also craved attention, admiration and acceptance. 


Also revealed are some character traits that a lot of Marilyn fans may not want to acknowledge but it is this honesty that makes the book so revealing, truthful and valuable. Rather than alienating the Monroe fan, it is these traits related honestly and factually that make you understand and admire her struggles so much more. If you have not bought and read this book already I absolutely urge you to. It is so good I want to read it again, I want to digest all this new information even more, and I am going to. Michelle, Marilyn Monroe would be so proud and happy to have had her story told so honestly and lovingly. Thank you from myself and, I am sure, a myriad of MM fans worldwide....."

Radio Northampton

I will be interviewed on BBC Radio Northampton tomorrow, 15th June, some time between 2 and 2.30 pm. I will be talking about what's been happening with the new Marilyn book and my Saturday book signing.

You can listen in here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/england/northamptonshire/

Waterstones Northampton

I will be signing copies of 'Marilyn Monroe: Private and Undisclosed' on Saturday, at the Northampton branch of Waterstones.

I will be there from 11 am to 1 pm and if you're around town it would be great if you could pop in and say hello!

Cocktail Nation

I am very happy to say that I have taken part in an interview for the Australian radio show Cocktail Nation, where I spoke to Koop Kooper about Marilyn, and of course, my book.

Please see below to work out the times it will be broadcasting in your area:

• The interview will go live at 6pm New York time Saturday night on WXLV  www.wxlvradio.com
  
• Sunday at midday New York Time it goes live on the Penthouse Fm network www.penthouse.fm
  
• Monday night at 10 pm London time it goes live on Smile 101 www.smile101.net
  
• It will also go out to 300 radio stations via the Comrad satellite service in Australia but please check your local listings for times.
  
• Finally, it will then be released as a Podcast for those who may miss the actual broadcast.  

I  hope you get to hear it!!

http://thecocktailnation.wordpress.com/

Hollywood Scandals - Exclusive news!

On this, what would have been Marilyn's birthday, I have some very big news to share.

For the past three months I have been working on a secret new book. The title will be The Mammoth Guide to Hollywood Scandals and will cover stories that made Hollywood headlines from the silent movies, all the way to the present day. There will be 170,000 words; I've written 41,000 words so far and I'm on track for my 1 February 2013 deadline. The book will be published in the UK by Robinson and the USA by Running Press and I think the publication date will be summer 2013.

For you Carole Lombard and Thelma Todd fans out there, don't worry. I am still working on books about them too. Carole will be published by BearManor late next year or earlier if possible, and Thelma is looking for a publisher as we speak.

I am very happy to share this news with you all, at long last!!

Immortal Marilyn

I'm very happy to say that Marilyn Monroe: Private and Undisclosed is now up to 3 five star reviews on Amazon.co.uk and has received an awesome review on the Immortal Marilyn website.

To say I'm thrilled would be an under-statement!

Here's the review:

http://immortalmarilyn.com/FrasersBookReview.html

Marilyn Monroe Private and Confidential

I am very happy to say that my Marilyn book is now on sale in the United States, under the name Marilyn Monroe: Private and Confidential. It should be in stores soon (if it isn't already) but I know it is definitely available on Amazon by clicking here: http://www.amazon.com/Marilyn-Monroe-Confidential-Michelle-Morgan/dp/1616087196/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1338124518&sr=8-1

Waterstones Piccadilly

Remember I told you that the flagship Waterstones store in Piccadilly were refusing to stock my book? Well I am ecstatic to announce that they have now changed their mind! Reader Gabriella wrote to them to voice her concern and they are now stocking the book!! I am absolutely thrilled that they have been persuaded to change their mind. Thank you to anyone who wrote to them during my campaign, and thanks so much to Gabriella who has made me very, very happy indeed. 

My book signing

Here is a lovely article by a reader I had the pleasure of meeting during my recent book signing in Kettering.

http://networkedblogs.com/y0so7

New Marilyn Monroe Documentary

I am thrilled beyond words to announce that film maker Ian Ayres is making a Marilyn Monroe documentary, and I am acting as consultant on the project.  Not only that, but I will also appear in the film and will watch it before it is released, to give my feedback and thoughts.


Ian has interviewed many people for the film - some of which were interviewed for my book, 'Marilyn Monroe: Private and Undisclosed' and has worked very hard so far.  He is determined to treat Marilyn with the respect she deserves, and I for one think it's about time Marilyn had a worthwhile documentary.  There are very few around!


I am really happy the secret is now out, as I've been keeping it for months and was busting to tell you all!  You can find out more about the project here:

http://networkedblogs.com/xWYET

Book Signing

Here are photographs of me and some of the readers who came to see me at the Kettering Waterstones book signing on Saturday.  I had a fabulous time and the day was so successful they have asked me to come back in December.  Yay!!

Thanks to everyone who came!!

Marilyn in Waterstones

The flagship Waterstones store in Piccadilly has decided they do not wish to stock my book.  I think this is a wrong decision. Do you? If you would like to see the book in the biggest Waterstones store, please feel free to suggest they stock it by going in store or emailing a polite request to the address that appears on their site: manager@piccadilly.waterstones.com Thanks!

Northampton Book Signing

I am happy to announce that I have just arranged to do a book signing at the Northampton branch of Waterstones on Saturday 16th June.

I hope to see you there!

Michelle on the Radio

I've just recorded an interview for BBC Radio Tees which will be broadcast tomorrow during the morning show.  So if you'd like to hear me talk about Marilyn, and also hear Betty the Bichon barking at the neighbour in the middle of it(!) just tune in tomorrow.  The link is below:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/england/tees/

Book Signing

Just a reminder that I will be at Kettering Waterstones tomorrow, from 10 am to 4 pm, signing copies of 'Marilyn Monroe: Private and Undisclosed.'  If you are going to be in the area, please pop in and say hello - I'd love to see you!

Look out for some photographs from the event over the weekend.

First Amazon review

I am very happy to say that my book has received its first review on Amazon, and it is 5 stars!

Here is what the reviewer had to say:

A Truly Definitive Biography 17 May 2012

By Bookaholic

Format:Paperback

Michelle Morgan's 'Marilyn Monroe: Private and Undisclosed' is a fully revised, expanded update to her earlier Monroe biography, first published in 2007. This new paperback highlights her research and writing, with a more comprehensive text.

Morgan lives in Britain where, for twelve years, she headed the Marilyn Lives Society. She approaches Monroe's life from a different time and place, with compassion. However, Morgan's attention to detail is rigorous, allowing a broader view of the subject.

Morgan chronicles the making of Monroe's films; her creative ambitions and triumphs; marriages and lovers; her agonising struggle to have children, and battles with addiction and depression. In each case, Morgan shares her findings and clarifies past mistakes, adding her nuanced perspective to a story so often retold.

The subtlety of Morgan's portrayal comes to the fore in the chapters surrounding Marilyn's untimely death. She pinpoints errors made in the official investigation, and considers less-explored possibilities while allowing readers to draw their own conclusions.

Some may find this grounded, scrupulous approach unsuited to an enigmatic figure like Monroe. But with 'Marilyn Monroe: Private and Undisclosed', Michelle Morgan has completed a biography as complex and appealing as Marilyn herself.

If you have read the book, please review it on Amazon - it will really help spread the word to other readers.  Thank you!!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Marilyn-Monroe-Private-Undisclosed-expanded/dp/1780331282/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337255962&sr=8-1

Marilyn Monroe: Private and Undisclosed

Today is the official launch date for Marilyn Monroe: Private and Undisclosed in the UK, though it has actually been out for a number of weeks already.

It is available to buy from Amazon:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Marilyn-Monroe-Private-Undisclosed-expanded/dp/1780331282/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337245106&sr=8-1

As well as many Waterstones stores and most WH Smith Stores, where it is still in the top twenty non-fiction paperback chart.

Marilyn in Bulgaria

I am very happy to say that my Marilyn book has been sold to a Bulgarian publisher and will be published there at a later date.

This is my first ever translation, so it's a very big thing for me.  I can't wait to see what it looks like!!

Michelle on the Radio

I had a terrific time at Radio Northampton this afternoon, and the interview, John Griff was extremely interested in the book which is always a wonderful discovery.

You can hear the interview for the next week, by clicking the link below and selecting the John Griff show.  My interview starts 15 minutes into the show and runs for 15 minutes, so I got some good air time.

Hope you enjoy it!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radionorthampton/programmes/schedules/2012/05/16

Marilyn Monroe: Private and Confidential

For my USA readers, my new Marilyn book is entitled 'Marilyn Monroe: Private and Confidential,' though all other details remain the same as the UK edition.

It can be ordered through Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Marilyn-Monroe-Confidential-Michelle-Morgan/dp/1616087196/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337165326&sr=8-1-spell

The book due to be released in June but can be pre-ordered now.

Twitter and FaceBook

If you're not already a member, please join The Official Michelle Morgan Author Page on FaceBook:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/124973377514850/

You can also follow me on Twitter: @MMWriterGirl

Thanks!

Marilyn in the media

I have had lots of media attention for 'Marilyn Monroe: Private and Undisclosed.'  Here are a few I can share at the moment:

• BBC Radio Stoke: I spoke to Paula White on 15th May.  You can listen to the show by clicking the 'Listen Again' button on their website.
• BBC Radio Northampton: I will be speaking to John Griff on his afternoon show, on 16th May.  You can listen on their website live or by clicking 'Listen Again.'
•  BBC Radio Tees: I will be on the Breakfast Show on 19th May.  Once again, you can listen on the website or click 'Listen Again.'
• I will be signing copies of the book and launching it officially on 19th May at the Kettering branch of Waterstones from 10 am to 4 pm.  Please feel free to pop in and say hello!
• I will be interviewed on the Koop Kooper show for the Cocktail Nation on 2 June 2012.
• I will be signing copies of the book on 7th July at the Market Harborough branch of Waterstones, starting at 10 am.  I hope to see you there!

There are various other appearances and media mentions coming up.  More news on those soon!

Marilyn Monroe: Private and Undisclosed - OUT NOW!

I am thrilled, excited and happy to tell you that Marilyn Monroe: Private and Undisclosed New Edition is out in the UK now, slightly earlier than expected, and is currently riding high in the WH Smith non-fiction charts.  As you can see from the photograph, yesterday it was number 17, though rumour has it that today it has sneaked up to number 16!


The book is also available via Amazon (which says that it is pre-order but they are definitely shipping now!) and many other outlets.


If you see it in the shops, please snap a picture for me and email it to Michelle[at]MichelleMorgan[dot]co[dot]uk.  Thank you!

Rave Review!

I'm very happy to say that my new Marilyn book received 4.5 stars from reviewer Tara Hanks on the FBS site. 


You can read the review in full, here:


 http://forbookssake.net/2012/04/26/marilyn-monroe-private-and-undisclosed-by-michelle-morgan/

Countdown to publication day...

My new book, entitled 'Marilyn Monroe: Private and Undisclosed New edition' in the UK and 'Marilyn Monroe: Private and Confidential in the US, is published in the UK on 17th May and in the US in June/July.  However, I've been told that Amazon (UK) has quietly started to send out the pre-orders already, which means many people will have the book before the official day!


The UK Amazon store is also offering the book at almost half price at the moment, which is good news.  So if you'd like to order a copy, please click here:


http://www.amazon.co.uk/Marilyn-Monroe-Private-Undisclosed-expanded/dp/1780331282/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1336139235&sr=8-3


And the US version can be found here:


http://www.amazon.com/Marilyn-Monroe-Confidential-Michelle-Morgan/dp/1616087196/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1336139318&sr=8-1

First Publicity!

I'm very happy to say that my book has been featured prominently in The Bookseller this week. Only eight weeks to go until publication! Yay!!!

COMPETITION TIME ONCE MORE!

Congratulations to Lorraine who won a signed copy of the forthcoming 'A Brief Guide to Marilyn Monroe'.

Now it's time for another competition to win another signed copy!

All you have to do is buy a copy of my book, 'Help I'm a Grown-up' (link above) and then send me your order number by Monday 20th February. The first person out of the bag on that date will win the signed book. Don't forget - I know how many copies of 'Help' have been sold, so no cheating!

Thanks and Good Luck!!!

Help! I'm a Grown-up! has arrived!!

My book of newspaper columns, 'Help! I'm a Grown-up!' has arrived!

The book has approximately 200 of my columns from 2007-2011, and covers four years of my life... If you are a fan of my column this could be just the book for you!! And if you're a member of my friends or family, well there's a good chance that you'll be mentioned in the book so you really should buy it for your 15 minutes of fame! ;-)

For those who may not be aware of my column, it is my weekly ramblings on positively millions of subjects, including motherhood, crazy folk, irritating drivers, and generally surviving this thing called life!!

Available by clicking the link above....

Help! I'm a Grown-up!

I'm very happy to say that my newspaper columns (2007-2011) have now been compiled into a book called 'Help! I'm a Grown-up!'.

If you'd like to buy a copy, please click the link above. Thank you!!

COMPETITION TIME!

I am very happy to announce that anyone who orders my 'Marilyn's Footsteps' book by Friday 3rd February 2012, will be automatically entered into a draw to win a signed copy of my new biography 'A Brief Guide to Marilyn Monroe' which will be published in May. All being well, you might even get it a bit earlier than everyone else too....

To enter all you have to do is email me your 'Marilyn's Footsteps' order number and you'll be entered. My address is Michelle(at)MichelleMorgan(dot)co(dot)uk.

No cheating now - I know how many people have ordered so far, so only genuine orders will be entered. Thanks!

Just click on the link above to go straight to the 'Marilyn's Footsteps' order page....

Jean and Marilyn

I am a huge fan of Jean Harlow as well as Marilyn Monroe, and so imagine my delight when the postman came this morning and put two books through my door... one about Jean and the other Marilyn!

These books are both written by Richard Kirby and are available from www.Lulu.com or you can click the link to his website above for more information. Both books are illustrated throughout with rare photographs - some of which I had never seen before, and I've seen quite a few in my time!!

Obviously I have not read the text yet as the books have only arrived today, but based on the photographs and Richard's enthusiasm towards his subjects, I can certainly recommend them.

Sneak peak Number 4

Time for another sneak peak at the Marilyn book! This time it concerns the lady sitting at the back of the boat, with Marilyn in the middle. I had interviewed a lady called Annabelle for the book, and then later thought I recognised her in this photograph by an unknown photographer.

I sent it to her and she has confirmed that she believes it is indeed her in the boat. This lady modelled and acted in Los Angeles at the same time as Marilyn. She has shared stories of modelling jobs she went on with Marilyn and has also told me that she went out with Bill Pursel's brother when Marilyn went out with Bill. The information on this and lots more is all in the book!

PS - If you know who the photographer of this photograph was, I'd love to hear from you, as I'd like to credit them in the book. Thanks!

Sneak Peak Number 3

It's time for another sneaky peak into my new Marilyn Monroe book.....

There are 402 pages, and 21 chapters, starting with 'The Lady with the Red Hair' and ending with 'Say a Prayer for Norma Jeane.' After the last chapter there is also a postscript, Remembrance chapter (tributes from those who knew Marilyn), and many pages of references, sources, bibliography etc.

Other chapter titles include: Chapter 2: Dreams and Nightmares; Chapter 11: 'I'm trying to find myself'; Chapter 15: High Hopes; Chapter 18: Catastrophe... and many more.

BBC Radio Oxford

I was very happy to be asked onto the Malcolm Boyden show again this morning, by my friends at BBC Radio Oxford. I have spoken to them many times in the past and I enjoy it every time.

During the interview I spoke about Marilyn and her professional relationship with photographer Eve Arnold who passed away several days ago. If you would like to listen, the audio will be online later today (6th January) and remain on the site for several days. You can click on 'Listen Again' and I appear about 40 minutes before the end of the show.

Just click the link above and you'll be taken straight there!

Keep in Touch

You can keep in touch with me via FaceBook and Twitter....

FaceBook - I have two pages, The Official Michelle Morgan Author Page and Michelle Morgan which is listed under writers.

Twitter - I am @MMWriterGirl

Hope to see you on there!

Sneak Peak Number 2

Here is part two of the new Marilyn book sneak peaks! This one was actually cut out of the book because of my word count, and isn't directly related to Marilyn but it is a fun little story nevertheless.... When Gladys moved in with Grace McKee, they lived at the Rayfield Apartments at 237 Bimini Place. This apartment block was quite colourful and around the time the women lived there, it made headlines when a neighbour, Fay B Simpson, phoned the police to claim he had just murdered his wife. Officers swarmed the block, only to find Mrs Simpson alive and well and denying all knowledge of ever being murdered by her husband. The story made the pages of the Los Angeles Times..... I wonder what Gladys and Grace thought about it and if they ever knew?!

http://www.constablerobinson.com/?section=books&book=a_brief_guide_to_marilyn_monroe_9781780331287_paperback

Photographs in the new book....

I have looked around for the photographer of this photograph for many, many months and have been unable to find him or her. I know that Bernie Abramson took some photos of Marilyn which appear to be from the same trip, but he doesn't seem to be the photographer of this particular snap.

I think it may be a private photograph taken by a friend, but if you know more, I'd love to hear from you as soon as possible. I bought a copy from a private collector who was unable to tell me who took it. I am using the photo in my book and I'd really like to credit the person who took it if at all possible. (If the information comes too late, I will credit the photographer in any subsequent editions.)

If you can help, please email me at Michelle@MichelleMorgan.co.uk Thank you!

New Marilyn Book.... Interesting Fact Number 1

Leading up to the publication of my book, I am going to be giving you some little facts and stories to whet your appetite! Here is fact number one: Remember Aunt Minnie who Norma Jeane stayed with in Las Vegas?

Well up until now we've only ever known her name. In my book you will find out a whole lot more about her, including how she was related to Norma Jeane/Grace Goddard and several very interesting stories...

Look out for Fact Number Two.... Coming soon!

Walking in the Footsteps of Marilyn Monroe

Don't forget that I have an e-book for sale called 'Walking in the Footsteps of Marilyn Monroe'. You can find it on all Amazon sites, including the UK site for just 2 pounds, and the USA site for about 3 dollars.

You don't have to have a Kindle to read e-books - they can be read on your computer and other devices too!

Here is a link to the UK site: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Walking-Footsteps-Marilyn-Monroe-ebook/dp/B005Q9FSWK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325518549&sr=8-1

And the USA site: http://www.amazon.com/Walking-Footsteps-Marilyn-Monroe-ebook/dp/B005Q9FSWK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325518754&sr=8-1

Olivia Newton John Interview

I am very happy that my interview with Olivia Newton John has been printed in Thrive In Life Magazine. We chat about yoga, her walk on the Great Wall of China, and much more. Olivia is a true inspiration and I was very honoured to do this interview with her.

http://www.thriveinlife.ca/thrive/index.php/an-interview-with-olivia-newton-john/

My Week With Marilyn

Last night I went to see 'My Week With Marilyn'. I had decided from very early on that I most likely wouldn't go to see it, but I'm glad I did, as it has now enabled me to have a valid and informed opinion of the movie.

First of all, I thought that Michelle Williams did a grand job at being Marilyn with the material she had. No, she doesn't look particularly like her, but I thought she did a very good job at trying to adopt her characteristics and voice. There were times during the scenes from 'The Prince and The Showgirl' that I could just about believe that it was Marilyn up there on the screen - she really had studied the part of Elsie in great detail.

The parts of 'My Week With Marilyn' that covered the making of 'The Prince and The Showgirl' were mainly fine in my opinion. I have spent 16 years researching every detail of the trip to England and of course the shooting of the movie, and it is no secret that Marilyn was difficult to work with and had trouble learning her lines. She walked off set in temper at times, and had the odd day off when she really shouldn't have, and all of this is documented in 'My Week With Marilyn'. The making of the movie corresponded well with what I have found by talking to cast members, crew and friends over the past two decades.

What I did have a problem with was the part of the movie that dealt with the flirtation or romance between Marilyn and Colin Clark. It is a fact that he was indeed on the movie, and this is confirmed by production records, but there is nothing in the records that indicates any kind of flirtation between the two, and according to 'My Week With Marilyn', just about everybody seemed to know about it on set. This can not be the case in 'real life' judging by the people I have spoken to over the years. Nobody has remembered any kind of romance either on set or off, so either it happened in complete secrecy or not at all. In my opinion it did not happen and I'm not saying that to be controversial towards the film-maker or the author; it's my opinion based on the research I have done and the people I have spoken to over the years.

I actually spoke to Colin Clark many times in the 1990s by telephone and I still have his letters. At the time I found him to be a charming man; very friendly and always happy to help me, but he never told me of any romance between him and Marilyn at all. Instead he spoke highly of her as a person, and at one point said something which I found very interesting at the time and indeed now: that often memory plays tricks on a person, and he demonstrated that by revealing to me that he had recently been in trouble with journalist Donald Zec. Apparently he had written in the book that Marilyn did not know who he was and hadn't met him before, but Zec had proven to Clark that that wasn't the case at all; Marilyn did know him and had actually posed for photographs with him.

My research into the making of the film has revealed discrepancies between the dates in the diary and a document compiled at the end of shooting, which showed the dates and times that Marilyn was on set for the entire shoot. It does show that Marilyn was off set sometimes, but did she spend that free time with Colin? In my opinion she spent the days off biking in Windsor with her husband; being genuinely ill; pottering around Parkside House; doing costume fittings for parties; shopping in London and going to the theatre with her husband. I do not believe she ever went to Windsor Castle or Eton. Why? Because in all the years of researching, I have heard from people who saw her in Brighton; cycling in Egham; driving in the lanes of Surrey... I've had letters from students who serenaded her from her garden; people who saw her at the theatre; even people who saw the infamous 'fake Marilyn' at Shakespeare's house. But never have I heard from anyone who saw her actually in Windsor castle or at Eton, and so that's a real sticking point for me.

But ignoring the parts of the film that were 'off-set', I did think it was a worthwhile effort by those involved. The casting was very good, and thought all of the actors made great attempts to get close to those they were playing. The only one I didn't like was the portrayal of Milton Greene. He wasn't portrayed in the best light and was not the person I have found him to be in my research.

The costumes were fabulous; the make-up wonderful and the sets were lavish and beautifully designed. I love period films anyway, so that was a great treat for me and in all I did indeed enjoy watching it and think that there will probably be quite a few awards for Michelle William's portrayal. I was very concerned with the way Marilyn would be played, and how she would come across, but I didn't have many problems with that side, apart from her being portrayed as rather more naive than she ever was in real life. But putting that and the 'romance' aside, I would say the film is still worth seeing. Just take the cornier parts of the script with a big pinch of salt and make your own mind up.

'My Week With Marilyn' and my trip to Pinewood Studios

I was really thrilled recently to be asked to film a segment for 'The One Show', for the BBC. I was even more excited when I discovered that the filming would take place at Pinewood Studios, home to many, many wonderful films but of course the biggest one for me being 'The Prince and the Showgirl' with Marilyn Monroe.

I travelled to and from Pinewood in a mixture of train and chauffeur driven Mercedes (I could get used to that!) and once at the studios, I was presented with a map to try and find the TV building, which is where I was filming.

Pinewood Studios is like a huge industrial estate and to say I was confused by the map would be an understatement. I wandered around, trying to follow the hand-drawn directions, but it was no use. I eventually had to phone for help but not before I stumbled across a large castle and a medieval soldier; both of which were for the new Snow White film that is currently being shot there. Now when I see the film at the cinema, it will be my claim to fame to say I saw the castle before anyone else did!

I arrived at the TV building and was hurried into a dressing room where the interview was to take place. I brought a handful of Marilyn books with me and after spreading them out it was time for the questions to begin.

I was asked various things about Marilyn, such as the usual - was she a dumb blonde, through to could she act and everything in between. Eventually I was asked what I thought of the Colin Clark diaries which were the basis for the new movie, 'My Week with Marilyn'. I explained that the research I have done over the past 16 years doesn't necessarily correspond with Clark's book and that I had dedicated a huge amount of time to researching Marilyn's trip to England and the events that took place during the time. I always try and be diplomatic with my answers so began as so:

"Whether or not they are true or if he embellished them we'll never know, but..." I then went on to explain about my research once again. Unfortunately on the night of the broadcast, the last part of my answer was cut so that my answer only went up to the words 'we'll never know'.

I was a little disappointed to be edited this way, but the producers only had a few moments to include my comments, so maybe it was to be expected. I do hope though that viewers could see how very passionate I am about Marilyn and her contribution to this world. I have had very positive comments so far, so hopefully that did come across.

Incidentally, while I did say 'we'll never know', in regards Colin and Marilyn's friendship, I didn't mean we'll never know if they had an affair, because I whole-heartedly believe they did not. I don't even think they had a flirtation, based on the research I've done. What I did mean was that we'll never know the extent of the relationship - i.e. if they were friends; if they ever spoke in great detail to each other; etc. etc. I do believe that comes across in my answer; and thankfully have had some very positive comments from viewers in this regard.

I haven't seen the movie yet, so will reserve my judgement on that until I have. In the meantime, I would like to say that I did offer my research to the producers of the movie before it went into production, but never received a reply....

MM Private and Undisclosed

I am very pleased and proud to unveil the cover for my new book, out Spring 2012. As most of you know, while it has the same name as the last book, this one is completely revised and expanded and will have many, many new interviews, stories and memories in it.... Someone who recently read it described it as 'Hugely impressive'. I hope you will think that way too!!

Until then, I hope you enjoy the cover!

MM Private and Undisclosed

At long last I am very happy to announce my MM biography will be republished as a paperback next year.

The publication date will be approx March or April 2012; it will be published as part of the Brief History series by Constable in the UK and by Running Press in the USA and the title will be 'The Brief History of Marilyn Monroe: Private and Undisclosed'...

There will be more information, stories and memories than previously, with some new photos too.... Feel free to spread the word or ask any questions too! Thanks for your support!

New FaceBook group

I have created a FaceBook group dedicated to my work as an author. I decided to do this as many people ask to become my 'friend' through reading my work but for personal reasons I prefer to keep my FaceBook account for people I know or have been in contact with for some time.

So I am creating the page so that readers can keep in touch with me and hear all about my writing news in the future.

The name of the group is The Official Michelle Morgan Author Group and everyone is welcome to join.

News and updates

I haven't updated the blog in quite some time as I've been very busy working on numerous projects. Namely:

1. An updated version of Marilyn Monroe: Private and Undisclosed
2. A project dedicated to a 1930s actress (more information soon)
3. A screenplay with a Hollywood scriptwriter
4. A play with a Hollywood scriptwriter

There will be lots more news on all of the above projects soon.

Storytime Yoga

STORYTIME YOGA COURSE

A Review by Michelle Morgan

Storytime Yoga is the brainchild of yoga teacher and mother Sydney Solis, who set up the company after the death of her husband, in order to make a living and future for her children. She began teaching Storytime Yoga classes to local children and in no time at all her hard work paid off and her company became not only successful in the area of teaching children, but also she was able to branch out into books, lectures and a series of E-courses.

Sydney offers three different courses: Awakening the Storyteller, Stories from the Heart and Mythic Yoga. All of these courses are run over the Internet, and you have to complete all three before you are eligible to become a member of the League of Yogic Storytellers and go onto live training with Sydney herself.

I recently undertook the first part of the E-course: Awakening the Storyteller, and I greatly enjoyed my experience.

The course lasts four weeks and during that time each student has access to Sydney’s knowledge through emails, podcasts and two live tele-conference calls. However, if you are not able to take part in the calls, Sydney’s very efficient assistant Gina will send you the MP3 version, so that you don’t miss anything that is said. This makes it very easy for International students like myself, who can’t take part in the call due to time difference and expensive call charges.

There are a maximum of 15 students on each course and a special forum is set up so that you can keep in touch with each other, share notes, questions and ideas. I found this very useful and inspirational, to be able to hear from other like-minded people, and I was very glad to share my own knowledge of teaching children over the past four years.

Preparation for the course involves posting your introduction to the forum, taking part in the telephone call and listening to a specially-prepared audio lecture, which explains the course and goes into the benefits of telling stories both for children and adults. You should also purchase a copy of Sydney’s beautiful book, ‘Storytime Yoga: Teaching Yoga to Children Through Story’, which is not only insightful and informative, but also acts as the course manual throughout the four weeks of study. Alternatively you will receive the E-version of this book, though of course it’s always nice to hold the hard-copy in your hands when working.

You will also receive some MP3 recordings of stories and songs, along with a video download of a Storytime Yoga class. The MP3 audios were great, but unfortunately for me I couldn’t get the video to work, though I’m sure this was merely a technical problem on my part, rather than a problem with the file itself. (Incidentally, when you go onto course two, you will receive Sydney’s second book, ‘The Treasure in Your Heart: Yoga and Stories for Peaceful Children’, but I would suggest you don’t wait until the next course to buy a copy, as it is a very useful investment for anyone interested in stories and yoga.)

When course one started I was terribly excited, and for good reason. I found the coursework to be varied and insightful, with notes and tuition on setting up classes, how to find stories, techniques for teaching children of all ages including teenagers, meditation, warm-ups, games and so much more. I decided to try out one of the stories, ‘The Peddler’s Dream’ to my older yoga children one Friday afternoon, and the response was amazing. They sat enthralled as I told them the tale of the Peddler who kept dreaming he should go to London, and at the end of the story every child was eager and happy not only to tell me what specific yoga postures they would use in each part of the story, but also what dreams they have – either night dreams or life dreams – and the whole class turned into a lively discussion with many smiles, and much applause along the way.

The coursework is send out without fail every Monday morning, which was terrific for me because I teach yoga to junior school children every Monday afternoon, which gave me time to print the material and read it before taking the ideas into my classroom later in the day. There are assignments to undertake which are voluntary, but if you choose to do them as I did, you will definitely get a lot more out of the class. You need to do lots of reading too, but if you’re anything like me, it just gave me a good excuse to dive into the library and also order a few tomes from Amazon too!!

Each week Sydney sends a podcast to explain specific points and answer any questions students have brought up through the week. I thought this was really useful and really made me feel part of the Storytime team when I heard Sydney refer to me by name and answer a query or thought I had brought up.

When the course finished last week, I was really sad because I had enjoyed it immensely and will certainly miss receiving my coursework and notes every week. Being involved in the course certainly gave me a reason to get up every Monday morning!!

I would recommend part one of the Storytime Yoga course to anyone. I sincerely enjoyed taking part in it and hope that one day I’ll be able to do the second and third parts too.

The next course starts on 5 April and you can register at www.storytimeyoga.com Also on the website you will be able to find out much more about children’s yoga, Sydney, the courses and her books. It is well worth taking a look, especially if you have an interest in stories, children or both!

Yoga 4 Teens

‘Yoga 4 Teens:
An instructor’s guide for teaching yoga to teenagers’

By Christy Brock and Jennifer Lightsey

Published by Yogaminded, P O Box 3072, San Clemente, CA 92674-3072
Year: 2005
227 pages
Price: 49.95 US Dollars


I have bought many (MANY!) yoga books in my time. Some are read and placed on a shelf forever more; others are dipped into every now and again; and one or two are forever on my coffee table, ready to be thumbed, read and digested whenever I’m getting ready for a yoga class.

‘Yoga 4 Teens’ is one of these books. After reading the information on Christy Brock’s website, I knew it would be good, but nothing could have prepared me for just how wonderful it really is.

The book is described as spiral bound, which brings to mind a flimsy, paper-backed manual which will soon start to curl at the edges. However, that is NOT the case with this book; it is spiral-bound with a difference. If you have David Swenson’s Ashtanga book, you’ll know what I mean when I say it is spiral-bound, but then covered with a hardwearing board cover. This ensures that the book can be carried around without getting damaged, which is good news for a teacher’s manual.

The book is divided into three parts: ‘What to know’; ‘Poses and teaching them’; and ‘Sample classes’. It is followed by an Appendix which includes charts, lists of postures, resources, quotes and more.

The three parts of this book are everything you could ever wish to know about teaching yoga to teenagers. (And incidentally while it is aimed at the teenage market, it is also a wonderful resource if you teach younger children too). Chapters in Part one include: Establishing a teaching position; Classroom space and props; Principles of teaching teens; Yoga philosophy in the teen classroom; Practicalities; and Class planning.

This part of the book is a fantastic resource for preparing yourself to teach teens, while part two is everything you need to teach the postures themselves – from standing postures to relaxation and everything in between. This part of the book takes up over 100 pages and is illustrated throughout with hundreds of photographs demonstrating all of the postures. There are even extra sections on menstruation, breath awareness and special cases.

Part three includes five sample classes and three objective-specific classes, all of which are illustrated and described with both the English name and the Sanskrit.

After spending an afternoon in the company of ‘Yoga4Teens’, I can truly say that I have never come across a teacher training manual like this one. It is concise, informative and hugely descriptive. As a yoga teacher I have spent many years teaching either young children or older adults, but I have always shied away from the teenage market, fearing I might not be cool enough for them! However, now that I have this book by my side, I really do feel as though I am now equipped with the answers to every question I could possibly have, and I’m now looking forward to teaching teenagers in the future.

As for the authors - Christy Brock and Jennifer Lightsey – their enthusiasm and love for teenagers comes shining through. Many, many hours must have gone into writing this guide and this really shows in the text. I think it is their passion for teaching (and for teaching teenagers in particular) that really makes this book so worthwhile.

And talking of passion for teaching, Christy has also compiled an e-book for those interested in teaching teenagers, entitled “Teaching Teenagers Yoga”. It is a combination of practical advice and inspirational guidance from many yoga teachers, all recalling their experiences of teaching teenagers and what has worked (and hasn’t worked) for them. At 19.95 US dollars, it is a great addition to your bookshelves – particularly because it’s an e-book so you don’t have to wait days or weeks for it to be delivered.

I’d recommend Christy’s books to anyone not only interested in teaching teenagers, but also anyone who actually has a teenager at home. The information contained in both books is tremendous and I for one am very proud to have both manuals in my collection.

‘Yoga4Teens’ and ‘Teaching Teenagers Yoga’ are both available from Christy’s website: www.yoga4teens.com and www.yogaminded.com while ‘Yoga4Teens’ is also available at www.Amazon.com

Look out for an exclusive interview with Christy coming soon! If you have any questions you’d like to ask Christy, please let me know as soon as possible. Thank you.

Googies: Coffeeshop to the Stars

Googies: Coffeeshop to the stars
By Steve Hayes
Vol One ISBN 1593933061
Vol Two ISBN 159393307X
BearManor Media
www.bearmanormedia.com

Have you ever heard of The Corner? No? What about Ah Fong’s or Black Watch? Still confused? Well what if I add in the names Schwab’s or Greenblatts? Ahh, now I’m making sense. We all know Schwab’s and Greenblatts were a big part of Marilyn (and Hollywood) history, and together with Ah Fong’s, Garden of Allah and Black Watch, they made up an area known as ‘The Corner’, where people came to see and be seen in the 1950s. But while Schwab’s might have been the most famous of these locations, there was another coffee shop on ‘The Corner’ which was not so well-known but just as popular with the up-and-coming stars of the day – and that was Googies.

Googies was designed by architect John Lautner in 1949, with the idea that by using lots of glass, it would give the illusion of eating outside. It worked and was immediately popular with the Schwab’s crowd and those who hung around ‘The Corner’.

Many stars and starlets walked through Googie’s front door over the years, including James Dean, Errol Flynn and of course, Marilyn Monroe. Another budding movie star was Steve Hayes, who not only hung round ‘The Corner’, but also ended up managing Googies himself.

Some fifty years later, Steve opens the doors of Googies once again, by writing the highly entertaining two-volume book, ‘Googies: Coffeeshop to the stars.’ In the book Steve tells his own story of trying to make it big in Hollywood, and spills the beans on some of the secrets, stories and scandals surrounding his friends and acquaintances from ‘The Corner’.

Of course Marilyn was one of the people he encountered during this time, and she features in several chapters. Steve talks about the time he gave her a lift home to North Palm Drive, along with several stories from her days at Schwab’s and Googies.

The book doesn’t just concentrate on the famous people who haunted ‘The Corner’; it is also an autobiography of Steve himself. Married and divorced on more than one occasion, the book takes the reader on a ride through Hollywood and it’s history, while all the time telling tales of Steve’s life and loves.

The book is illustrated with loads of black and white photographs of old Hollywood (including some fantastic ones of Googies and Schwab’s), and many actors and actresses too, including Marilyn.

In my opinion, this book is a very entertaining read and is great either to dip into, or read from cover-to-cover. I would recommend it to anyone interested in tales of old Hollywood. It really is a journey through the ups and downs of the Golden Age of Movies, and since most of the people and places mentioned in the book are long gone, it is the nearest we will get to hanging around ‘The Corner’ ourselves.


Both volumes of ‘Googies’ are available from BearManor Media or at www.Amazon.com

Happy New Year

Hi Everyone

I just wanted to wish you all a very Happy New Year! May all your dreams come true and may all be fine in 2009!

My plans for 2009 include continuing to write my column for the Evening Telegraph; continue my Carole Lombard research and carry on with all my yoga classes and studies.

Please keep checking into the blog for further details throughout 2009!

Love
Michelle

Busy, busy!

It has been ages since I last updated my blog, but let me share my latest news with you all:

• Yoga teaching - I am now a qualified adult yoga teacher and have spent the past few months setting up a variety of classes. They are all going well so far!
• Carole Lombard - I am still researching the Carole Lombard book, but taking my time, planning it around the other projects I am doing. It will take a few years to complete this mammoth task, but I will get there one day!
• Novel - My novel is coming along slowly but surely. I am still working my way round some questions and structure within the story, but I am definitely enjoying working on it.

Yoga News

I am happy to say that my yoga teacher training course is going very well - in fact I have just completed the last assignment and am about to sit my exam. Eek! All being well I should be fully qualified very shortly and after that I am starting a series of adult yoga classes, and classes for teenagers too.

As well as that I am also attending a Foundation course in a town close to where I live, which will lead to a certificate and will also lead to another teacher training course starting next year. In my opinion you can never have too much yoga training, so I am really looking forward to the next teacher training course. In the meantime the Foundation course is wonderful and I am learning loads and enjoying every minute of it. Long may it continue!

My Brother met Kiss!

My brother has been a huge fan of the rock band Kiss for many, many years and last week finally got the opportunity to meet them. I'm so happy that I just had to post one of the pictures here!