Chart hit memoir is by Taylor Swift, say fans
‘Swifties’ claim that clues indicate mystery celebrity book with million-copies print run is by the singer
‘She is not gearing up to release a memoir with her next album and in the middle of a national tour’
THE literary world has been scratching its head over the latest celebrity memoir soaring up the pre-sale charts because its author has not yet been revealed.
Taylor Swift’s famously dedicated fanbase of “Swifties” believe the 33-year-old singer has revealed herself as the author in a series of subtle clues, so have been placing their orders before the book’s publication.
The memoir, which bears only the title 4C Untitled Flatiron Nonfiction Summer 2023, has been published by
Flatiron, an imprint of Macmillan. It has risen to as high as second on Amazon’s sales chart and is top of Barnes & Noble’s pre-orders chart, where it retails for £35.
The rush was triggered after a document, supposedly from Flatiron, began circulating on social media about a book that would have “global appeal” and draw “massive publicity”.
“This is not a political book. It is a fun, celebratory title and will skew slightly younger, but is for people of all ages,” the document said, before likening it to Spare by Prince Harry.
It announced a massive initial print run of a million copies, with 40 colour photos, suggesting it was by a global star.
The plot thickened when fans spotted that the book’s title and author would be announced on June 13. Any
Swiftie worth their salt knows the singer’s favourite number is 13 and that she peppers her work with easter eggs – secret messages for her army of fans.
They noticed the book came in at a hefty 544 pages, which makes 13 if you add five to four and four.
But, according to the cyber-swifties, concrete proof that the $570million (£450 million) songwriter has turned to literature was found on the icon’s Instagram.
In a post announcing the release of a new version of her third album, Speak Now, Swift addressed those viewing it as “dear reader”.
If that was not confirmation enough, the book is set to be released globally on July 9 – a date mentioned in the lyrics to Last Kiss, from the Speak Now, which is set to be re-released in Swift’s preferred version, following a row with her old record label. Expectations are now at fever pitch that Swift, who is in the midst of a world tour, is to take the book world by storm in the same way that she has conquered the charts.
The hashtag #Taylorswiftbook has more than one million views on Tiktok as Swifties share theories.
The singer has not addressed the speculation around the book and publishers in Britain were tight-lipped when asked if Swift was going to release a memoir.
Pan Macmillan told The Daily Telegraph there was no mention of Swift in their upcoming titles.
Booksellers also said they had not seen any information about a UK listing for the title.
Flatiron has not confirmed whether it has worldwide rights to the upcoming mystery book, or if it has sold the UK and Commonwealth rights to other publishers.
Variety, the Hollywood bible, has poured cold water on the theories of the music business’s most dedicated fanbase, saying: “All these things are apparent coincidences.”
“She is not gearing up to release a memoir almost simultaneously with her next album and smack in the middle of a national stadium tour, which might count as an excessive exercise in synergy, even for someone as capable of project multitasking as Taylor Swift.”
So, if it isn’t Swift, who is the mystery author who could justify a millionstrong print run?
Speculation in the publishing world suggests it could be a book by Korean pop band BTS, but sources close to the K-pop sensations have played that down.