DANIEL O'DONNELL: MY STORY
TO BE PUBLISHED BY VIRGIN BOOKS IN APRIL, 2005

A Gripping Journey From the Tiny Irish Village of Kincasslagh To Worldwide Success - Over 7 Million Albums Sold

Singer Daniel O'Donnell has enjoyed worldwide success over recent years with his unique blend of easy listening, country western hits, 60's pop, inspirational songs & Irish ballads. He commands an international fanbase, a large discography of best-selling albums, sold-out shows around the world, and four very successful Public Television specials... a far cry from the day Daniel used his own savings to record and release his first song, over twenty years ago.

Daniel O'Donnell: My Story (with Eddie Rowley) (Virgin Books; Paperback April, 2005; HB released in 2004; $12.95 Paperback / $24.95 HB) is a fascinating tale of humble beginnings and a journey to musical success, describing how people and events shaped the singer and his chosen path. Daniel shares his most intimate thoughts on life with his new wife, his unbreakable faith, and his dedication to charity, as well as the heart-wrenching breakdown that he suffered in 1992, and how it marked a turning point in his life. An honest and inspiring autobiography flavored with charming anecdotes and gentle humor, this new book promises to update fans of old, and fill in the new.

Since the first publication of My Story in the U.K. in 1999, (selling over 150,000 copies), Daniel O'Donnell has undergone a number of life-changing events, all described in detail in this fully revised edition. His star-studded wedding in 2002 attracted massive media attention, and fans receive a behind the scenes look, complete with exclusive wedding photographs. O'Donnell turned 40 and was awarded an MBE for his charity work all in the same year. He has also begun writing his own songs after an emotional experience during a pilgrimage to the Bosnian village Medjugorje.

Daniel O'Donnell hails from the tiny village Kincasslagh in Donegal, Ireland. As he relates in the book,

"My first home was a lovely old house... There were pots hanging from a crook over the open fire in the sitting room, bubbling away before mealtimes... There was no water and no toilet when we lived there, which is quite incredible considering it's not all that long ago... Our toilet was across the road - a tin hut!"

O'Donnell was six years old when his father passed away. Yet, his childhood was idyllic ("when I recall those early days, I can't honestly say there was any cloud hanging over them"), and Daniel feels the pull of home to this day, setting up his off-stage life in the very area in which he was raised.

Finally, after years of hard work and grueling gigs across Ireland and the U.K., Daniel O'Donnell became the household name he is today. In his words,

"If there is one thing I set out to do through my career, it was to have my place in the history of music, and that is something I have achieved... I am eternally grateful to all the people who helped me to get this status... no matter what happens in the future, it is something that can never be taken from me."

One of the secrets of his success?

"I've never sung to make money. When I'm performing I never think about how much I'm making that night. I sing because I love it and the money is just a by-product of what I do. My biggest payment is being on the stage and that is a big part of the secret of my success."

Another secret is his unshakable faith in the music, itself. From the beginning of his career, O'Donnell was confident an audience existed for his unique brand of music - an audience that is still expanding year by year, country by country.

Daniel O'Donnell will be appearing on a North American tour in May & June, 2005. (Go to www.rspublicrelations for more details.) His new Public Television special, Daniel O'Donnell Branson Encore airs throughout 2005, and the companion DVD / CD / VHS will be released in the U.S. in April, 2005. Virgin Books will publish a paperback version of Daniel's picturebook Daniel O'Donnell My Pictures & Places in October, 2005. O'Donnell was recently nominated for CMA's Global Country Artist Award.

DANIEL O'DONNELL: MY STORY
By Daniel O'Donnell with Eddie Rowley
Virgin Books; Publication Date: April, 2005 (U.S. & Canada); $24.95/HB ($38.95 Canada) $12.95/Paperback ($19.95 Canada)
ISBN: (1 85227 069 1) HB / (0 75350 978 4) Paperback
At your local bookstore, or call 800-343-4499 (U.S.) or 416-516-0911 (Can.)

"I was twenty-four years old and it was time for tough decisions. Life was moving on, many of my friends were in secure jobs, getting married, starting families and getting on with their lives. It seemed to me that I wasn't really going anywhere... I had no car, no money and I was in debt." From Daniel O'Donnell: My Story

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