Tumbling Dice

Book excerpt: AS SERIALISED IN THE MAIL ON SUNDAY AND THE TIMES, AND AS FEATURED ON BBC RADIO AND LONDON LIVE TV "Hilarious, revealing, shocking and hugely enjoyable account of the wild, weird world of celebrity and even wilder, weirder world of tabloid journalism." Piers Morgan, TV presenter, journalist and former Editor, News of the World, Daily Mirror, mailonline, Mail on Sunday"LAJ has always shone her light brilliantly, if sometimes too accurately, on others. She now turns it articulately and entertainingly onto herself - a scoop!" Sir Tim Rice, author & Academy Award-winning lyricist, 'Jesus Christ Superstar', 'Evita', 'Chess', 'The Lion King' "Brilliant, unputdownable, a tour de force. The best book about celebrities that I have ever read. I wish I'd written it." Simon Napier-Bell, rock manager, the Yardbirds, Marc Bolan, Wham!, Sinead O'Connor, George Michael "Lesley-Ann was both the glamour and the guts of rock journalism. No one got closer to the story, nor nearer to the core of a crazy time. She was there and she was all there." Robert Elms, broadcaster, BBC Radio London"Boy oh boy, Tumbling Dice is sensational! The stories are amazing and the storyteller, Lesley-Ann Jones, brings such intelligence, self-knowledge and honesty to a life recollected, that by the second page of the introduction, I was hooked." Matthew Parris, The Times columnist, broadcaster and former politician "It was almost impossible to be at a gig, party, reception or other rock-related shindig from the late '70s, '80s and beyond without seeing Lesley-Ann. She was everywhere, and seemed to know everyone, from rock stars to hotel doormen." Martin Townsend, former Editor, Sunday Express"In the world of celebrity journalism, Lesley-Ann Jones can confidently claim to be an A-lister herself, with a reputation and a glamour to match many of the stars she's encountered. She's shared their fast jets, luxurious hotel suites and VIP booths, kept a few of their secrets and spilled a lot of others." Sarah Oliver, journalist, Mail on Sunday"Searing, raw, vivid, compelling! This is as real and as outrageous as memoirs get. Do yourself a favour and read this book: all human life is here." Stuart White, former US Editor, News of the World, and best-selling author, 'Death Game' and 'Kiss of the Angel'"Lesley-Ann Jones has long been regarded as the doyenne of showbiz writing and reporting. No one got closer. No one saw more." Mike Parry, broadcaster and former Fleet Street executiveIn this startling, funny and agonizing book, Lesley-Ann Jones relives the glory days and walks again on the wild side with tears, laughter and a whole lotta love. LAJ, the acclaimed biographer of Freddie Mercury, David Bowie and Marc Bolan, began her career as an intern at London's Capital Radio, and worked with Debbie Harry and Blondie, Spandau Ballet and Leo Sayer at Chrysalis Records. She experienced 15 minutes of fame as a television presenter at the inception of Channel 4. She subsequently reinvented herself as a reporter and celebrity interviewer on the Sun, the Daily Mail, the Mail on Sunday and the News of the World. She was directly involved in 3 of the most explosive celebrity scandals of the age: Bill Wyman's affair with schoolgirl Mandy Smith, Gary Glitter's exposure as a paedophile, and Hugh Grant's arrest in Los Angeles following his dalliance with a prostitute. The Gloria Gaynor of the written word, she survived not only the toughest street on Earth and near-fatal illness but also life-changing divorce, culminating in the killing of her lawyer. TUMBLING DICE offers, at its heart, the evolving psyche and growing awareness of a green-gilled hack on a quest for exclusives and a thrilling lifestyle, but essentially, of course, for love.