Celeb Steps Up with New Book to Help Prevent Bullying

Though there are a number of headlines that swept the publishing blogs today--eBook release controversies, self-publishing successes, etc.--I want to talk about 50 Cent.

Yes, that's right. The rapper.

I've never been much a hip-hop/rap fan, truth be told, and I can't really even think of a single song by 50 Cent that I would recognize. But when I saw on Galley Cat today that he just signed a contract for a book about bullying, I wanted to applaud:

Hip-hop artist Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson will write a semi-autobiographical novel called Playground. The young-adult book stars “a thirteen-year-old schoolyard bully who finds redemption as he faces what he’s done.”

Penguin Group (USA)’s Razorbill imprint will release the title in January 2012. Laura Arnold will edit the book. Agency Group agent Marc Gerald brokered the deal.

The rapper (pictured, via) had this statement: “I wanted to explore how a kid becomes a bully. I drew on events from my own childhood and adolescence, but was excited to see the story take on its own life. This book would have been very helpful for me growing up and now that I have a teenage son, it is my goal that this will have a positive influence on all teenagers.”

See the original post HERE

I love the fact that one of today's celebs is taking such an active approach to helping reduce such a prominent problem. It's so refreshing.