HarperCollins Acquires First Official Book From Global Superstar Cody Simpson

NEW YORK, Feb. 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- HarperCollins Publishers announced today the acquisition of the first official book from music sensation Cody Simpson.  WELCOME TO PARADISE: MY JOURNEY, scheduled to publish in the US on October 22, 2013, is jam packed with never-before-seen photos and exclusive gossip about life on and off the stage.  From the beaches of Australia to touring with Justin Bieber, WELCOME TO PARADISE: MY JOURNEY will reveal all about sixteen-year-old Cody Simpson's spectacular rise to fame. 

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Cody Simpson gained notoriety in 2009 when he began uploading songs to YouTube and quickly became a viral hit.  He was signed by Atlantic Records and, by 2010, had released the massive chart-topping single "iYiYi" featuring Flo Rida, which has over 23 million views on YouTube.

Now his YouTube channel has more than 155 million views, he has over 4.2 million Twitter and Facebook followers, has released two bestselling albums and has embarked on a global arena tour supporting Justin Bieber. His third album is scheduled for release in spring 2013.   

Cody Simpson says, "It's incredibly exciting for me to be partnering with HarperCollins to tell my story.  I hope that my journey inspires kids from all around the world to pursue their passions and work hard for their dreams."

"Having recorded his first hit song at just twelve years old, Cody Simpson is more than just a breakout star with millions of devoted fans. He's an inspiration," says Susan Katz, President and Publisher of HarperCollins Children's Books.  "He's continued to produce hit after hit and performs to sold-out venues all across the world.  We are proud and incredibly excited to be publishing the story of his amazing rise to fame."

Anna Valentine says, "Cody Simpson is one of the most exciting up-and-coming artists of his generation and I'm thrilled to welcome him to HarperCollins. Having toured the world with Justin Bieber, Cody has thrilled millions of teenage fans with his chart-topping music -- and I'm excited for him to do the same with his debut book."

World rights for the book were bought by Anna Valentine, Publishing Director, Harper Non-Fiction and David Linker, Executive Editor, HarperCollins US from Matt Graham at Scooter Braun Projects, Primary Wave and CAA.

ABOUT HARPERCOLLINS CHILDREN'S BOOKS

HarperCollins Children's Books is one of the leading publishers of children's books. Respected worldwide for its tradition of publishing quality, award-winning books for young readers, HarperCollins is home to many timeless treasures -- Charlotte's Web, The Chronicles of Narnia, Goodnight Moon, Where the Sidewalk Ends, the Ramona series, and Where the Wild Things Are -- and popular new classics -- The Graveyard Book, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Warriors, and Fancy Nancy. Consistently at the forefront of digital innovation, HarperCollins Children's Books delights young readers through engaging storytelling in all formats, including ebooks and apps. HarperCollins Children's Books is a division of HarperCollins Publishers, one of the leading English-language publishers in the world and a subsidiary of News Corporation (NASDAQ: NWS, NWSA; ASX: NWS, NWSLV). Headquartered in New York, HarperCollins has publishing groups in the US, Canada, the UK, Australia/New Zealand, and India. You can visit HarperCollins Children's Books at www.harpercollinschildrens.com and HarperCollins Publishers at www.harpercollins.com.

SOURCE HarperCollins Publishers