RANDOM HOUSE CANADA TO PUBLISH MEMOIR OF SERENA WILLIAMS, CULTURAL ICON AND ONE OF THE WORLD’S GREATEST ATHLETES
Toronto, ON (10/18/23)—Random House Canada, an imprint of Penguin Random House Canada, in partnership with the Random House Publishing Group, will release two books written by cultural icon Serena Williams, a 39-time major tennis title winner, four-time Olympic gold medalist, and advocate for equality and justice in sports. VP and Executive Editor Jamia Wilson and Random House Publisher Andy Ward acquired the North American rights from Suzanne Gluck at WME. Both books will be edited by Wilson, with audiobook editions simultaneously published by Penguin Random House Audio. Global publishing rights have been sold in 11 territories, with more to be announced.
The first book will be an intimate memoir by one of the most inspiring figures of our time. Williams will provide a full and candid account of her extraordinary life, from her childhood in Compton, California, where she learned to play tennis under the guidance of her parents, to her years at the academy in West Palm Beach, and her decision to turn professional at the age of 14. The memoir will also explore the experiences that have shaped her life, including overcoming scrutiny and discrimination in a sport dominated by white males, dealing with significant losses on and off the court, finding love with tech entrepreneur Alexis Ohanian, promoting body diversity and expanding fashion boundaries in sports and pop culture, raising awareness about maternal health disparities, and being a dedicated mother to her daughters, Olympia and Adira.
“For a long time, my focus was solely on winning, and I never took the time to reflect on my life and career. In the past year, I have enjoyed celebrating my accomplishments and pursuing my other passions with my growing family. Random House is the perfect partner for this personal and intimate project, and I couldn’t be happier to work with them,” said Serena Williams.
In her second book, Williams will provide guidelines for living based on her experiences as a philanthropist, advocate, and investment unicorn through Serena Ventures, as well as someone who aspires to empower a diverse and emerging generation of young women whose ambitions go beyond the tennis court.
Both books will be united by a strong belief in perseverance, overcoming adversity, and daring to dream without limitations.
“I am honored to collaborate with Serena Williams on her candid, inspiring, unflinching, and soulful books,” said Jamia Wilson. “Through untold stories, Serena will provide new insights into her experiences both on and off the court, revealing what it took for her to make such an indelible impact on sports and culture.”
Random House Canada Publisher Sue Kuruvilla added, “We at Random House Canada are excited to publish Serena Williams’ work. As one of the greatest athletes of all time and an inspiration to many, Serena has always lived an extraordinary life. A devoted mother, phenomenal athlete, entrepreneur, and trailblazing agent of change, she consistently expects the best from herself and continues to deliver. We are honored to support Serena as she fulfills her literary aspirations and shares her inspiring stories with Canadian readers.”
There is currently no set publication date for either book.
