New Book from Theatre/Film/Art Publicist Now Available: THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER NEWKIRK by Walter Newkirk. Backstage stories about Lena Horne/LENA HORNE: The Lady & Her Music, Sheryl Lee Ralph/ DREAMGIRLS, Grey Gardens The Musical and The Broadway Annies including Sarah Jessica Parker, Andrea McArdle, Shelley Bruce, Alyson Kirk and Alyson Smith are featured in the new book The Secret LIfe of Walter Newkirk.
In the new memoir THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER NEWKIRK, a veteran publicist confronts all aspects of his life including bouts with depression from 1978-2013, 4 hospitalizations between 2004-2013, the paralyzing and overwhelming fear of becoming homeless in 2011, his gay relationships from 1978-present day, in addition to his PR career in the fine and performing arts with backstage stories.
Newkirk states: "The title of my book refers to the 1947 film THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY starring Danny Kaye. The book has backstage stories with actors and celebrities including Academy Award winner Olympia Dukakis, Louis Zorich. Eartha Kitt, Academy Award winners James Ivory & Ismael Merchant, Ron & Betty Galella, Quentin Crisp, Paul Cadmus, Arlene Dahl, Deborah Gregory (THE CHEETAH GIRLS). Connie Francis, Kim G of THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF NEW JERSEY, Pat Loud, Edie Beale, Bob Paris, Celeste Holm, Richard Dupont, Richard Wesley, Nikki Haskell, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Sarah Jessica Parker, Andrea McArdle and Lena Horne.
The book includes Newkirk's interviews for The Rutgers Daily Targum ,his college newspaper, with Edie Beale Pat Loud of the landmark TV series "An American Family"( PBS 1973), Jon Voight (1978) and Divine (1974). "It's funny, sad, and goes all over the place. Ithas a happy ending which is my life now without medications," said Mr. Newkirk
A graduate of Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ , Walter Newkirk spent his wonder years in Mt. Laurel NJ and is now a resident of Chatham, NJ. He is the author of 2 books memoraBEALE A Private Scrapbook about Edie Beale of Grey Gardens and Letters of Little Edie Beale. www.greygardensbook.com
His book memoraBEALEIa has endorsements from Bryan Batt, Michael Korie, Christine Ebersole, Scott Frankel, Doug Wright, Joey Arias and Sheryl Lee Ralph. His interview with Little Edie at Grey Gardens in 1976 is available on CD - Little Edie Live! A Visit To Grey Gardens www.greygardenscd.com
He is the owner of Walter Newkirk Public Relations LLC and will present a program about Grey Gardens the musical the HBO film and documentary at the Library of the Chathams on 11/11. On 11/15, he will sign copies of his new book at the Larry Edmunds Bookshop in Los Angeles THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER NEWKIRK is now available for $30.
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