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Serena Williams has a 2-book deal, starting with an ‘intimate’ and ‘open-hearted’ memoir

Serena Williams (210448)

NEW YORK (AP) — Now that she’s stepped back from the sport she dominated like few others, Serena Williams is ready to reflect.

The tennis great has a two-book deal with the Random House Publishing Group, starting with an “intimate” memoir in which she will open up about everything from her childhood and early tennis training, dramatized in the 2021 film “King Richard,” to her extraordinary career and the obstacles and setbacks she endured along the way. The book is not yet titled and does not have a release date.

“For so long, all I was focused on was winning, and I never sat down to look back and reflect on my life and career,” Williams, who in August gave birth to her second child, said in a statement Wednesday. “Over the last year I’ve really enjoyed taking the time with my growing family to celebrate my accomplishments and explore my other passions. I couldn’t be at a more perfect place to be able to take-on such a personal intimate project, and there’s no one I would rather do it with than the team at Random House.”

The second book, also untitled, will be an “inspirational” work, according to Random House, which announced that “Williams will offer rules for living that draw on her experiences as a philanthropist and advocate, her career as an investment unicorn with Serena Ventures, and someone who has long sought to lift a diverse and emergent generation of young women whose aspirations are not confined to the court.”

Williams, 42, announced her retirement — famously eschewing that term and saying instead she was “evolving” away from professional tennis — shortly before the 2022 U.S. Open. She has not played since that tournament, which included a second-round victory over No. 2-ranked Anett Kontaveit before a third-round loss to Ajla Tomljanovic.

Williams left the sport with 23 Grand Slam titles in singles, another 14 in doubles with her sister Venus, more than 300 weeks at No. 1 in the rankings and four Olympic gold medals. She also has been widely cited for breaking down racial barriers in tennis and racial and gender barriers in sports and beyond.

In an essay published in Vogue last year, she wrote that she hoped that because of her success “women athletes feel that they can be themselves on the court. They can play with aggression and pump their fists. They can be strong yet beautiful. They can wear what they want and say what they want and kick butt and be proud of it all.”

Her previous books include a memoir from 2009, “On the Line,” and a picture story, “The Adventures of Qai Qai,” released last year.

In its press release Wednesday, Random House announced that her new memoir would be an “open-hearted exploration of the experiences that have shaped her life.” Williams will share her thoughts on “overcoming scrutiny and attacks in a predominantly white and male-dominated sport, navigating devastating losses on and off the court, falling in love with tech entrepreneur Alexis Ohanian, celebrating body diversity and expanding the confines of style in sports and pop culture, bringing awareness to maternal health disparities, and being a devoted mother to her daughters, Olympia and Adira.”

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AP Tennis Writer Howard Fendrich contributed to this report.

The post Serena Williams has a 2-book deal, starting with an ‘intimate’ and ‘open-hearted’ memoir appeared first on New York Amsterdam News.

* This article was originally published here

Experience The New Hip-Hop Museum For A Limited Time Before Its Official Opening

If you’ve been anticipating the opening of The Bronx’s Hip Hop Museum, you are in for a treat! Before the museum’s grand opening in 2 years, a CÎROC sponsored pop-up of the attraction is hitting the road! 

It’s more than just a tour; it’s a musical journey through time.

It all starts in the heart of Hip Hop, New York City, on October 14th. This epic journey will take you to Atlanta, Houston, Charlotte, Los Angeles, and finally, Miami. It’s a whirlwind of excitement, and you won’t want to miss it. 

But what’s the buzz all about? We’re still celebrating a remarkable milestone – Hip Hop’s 50th anniversary

Mass Appeal and CÎROC Ultra-Premium Vodka, the official vodka of Hip Hop 50, have joined forces with the Hip Hop Museum to tell the incredible story of the pioneers who created a musical genre that sent shockwaves around the globe.

And here’s the best part: Before the museum’s grand opening in 2025, this touring exhibit will showcase early hip-hop artifacts from 1973 to 1990. It’s like a time machine that takes you on a journey through the birth of hip-hop, from block parties to sold-out stadiums. Each tour stop highlights the cultural and social achievements of a community that persevered and fought for their voice, pushing the boundaries of what Hip Hop was and could become.

Rocky Buccano, the Universal Hip Hop Museum Executive Director, couldn’t be more excited about this. “The Hip Hop Museum is thrilled to be in partnership with Mass Appeal and to have the support from CÎROC Ultra-Premium Vodka as we celebrate Hip Hop 50,” he says. “Fifty years of growth and the global impact of Hip Hop culture in all its expressions.”

The exhibit, curated by Hip Hop historians Pete Nice and Paradise Gray, delves into the genesis of Hip Hop, from its humble beginnings to the first worldwide tours. It’s a historical journey showcasing how this genre disrupted fashion, art, language, and politics, challenging generational thinking.

Hip-hop has evolved into one of the most influential cultures in the last fifty years. It’s given voice to the silenced and purpose to the oppressed, fostering creativity in often overlooked communities. It’s time to join this incredible journey back to where it all began.

Don’t forget to mark your calendars with these tour dates:

  1. New York City: 10/14
  2. Atlanta: 10/21
  3. Houston: 11/4
  4. Los Angeles: 11/11
  5. Charlotte: 11/18
  6. Miami: 12/5-12/9

The Hip Hop Museum Tour is part of the Mass Appeal-led #HipHop50 initiative, a campaign celebrating the birth and rise of the most enduring musical movement of the last half-century. This partnership will continue to honor Hip Hop in the most authentic and globally impactful way possible. So, what are you waiting for? Get ready to experience Hip Hop history like never before!

Find tickets and more information here!

The post Experience The New Hip-Hop Museum For A Limited Time Before Its Official Opening appeared first on Secret NYC.

* This article was originally published here