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Updated with Photos and New Interviews

CENTER CITY, Minn., July 25 /PRNewswire/ -- We're all fascinated with the notion of "celebrity." The idea of fame and all its trappings can be very seductive -- the money, the glory, the glitz and the glamour are very exciting. But there's a downside to fame that doesn't get covered on tabloid television or in the pages of fan magazines. The complete loss of anonymity and the seemingly constant media scrutiny can be overwhelming. In order to cope, some celebrities have turned to alcohol and drugs for help, only to find that what they thought would make their time in the spotlight easier is actually killing their career, and many times, their lives as well.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20061128/CGTU038LOGO )

The Harder They Fall (Hazelden; August 2007; $13.95), tells the captivating stories of celebrities rise to fame, descent into addiction, salvation in recovery, and their new, extraordinarily successful lives in sobriety. Now in paperback with updated photos and additional interviews, The Harder They Fall reveals the intimate thoughts, feelings, regrets, and beliefs of celebrities in recovery. Among those profiled are comedians Richard Pryor and Richard Lewis, musicians Grace Slick and Alice Cooper, media pundit Glenn Beck, and many more.

About the Authors

In 1967, Gary Stromberg co-founded one of the most successful public relations firms in the entertainment business and represented music industry superstars including The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Barbra Streisand, Elton John, The Doors, and Earth Wind and Fire. Co-author Jane Merrill has written articles about art, style, and popular history for dozens of magazines, including Cosmopolitan, The New Republic, Redbook, and The Christian Science Monitor. She is the author of books on child rearing, relationships, and beauty. Stromberg and Merrill are also the authors of Feeding the Fame (Hazelden; 2006; $21.95), which chronicles the lives of those in the spotlight who have struggled with eating disorders.

About Hazelden

Hazelden Foundation, a national nonprofit organization founded in 1949, helps people reclaim their lives from the disease of addiction. With nearly 60 years of knowledge and experience, Hazelden's comprehensive approach to addiction addresses the full range of patient, family, and professional needs, including treatment and continuing care for youth and adults, research, higher learning, public education and advocacy, and publishing.

Available at bookstores nationwide and online. Or to order directly from the

publisher.
Telephone: (800) 441-5569
Web site: http://www.hcibooks.com/

THE HARDER THEY FALL
Celebrities Tell Their Real-Life Stories of Addiction and Recovery
By Gary Stromberg and Jane Merrill
ISBN: 978-1-59285-476-9
$13.95; August 2007; 368 pages, trade paper

First Call Analyst:
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Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20061128/CGTU038LOGO
AP Archive:

http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Hazelden Foundation

CONTACT: Kim Weiss, 1-800-851-9100, ext. 212, kimw@hcibooks.com, for
Hazelden Foundation

Web site:

http://www.hazelden.org/

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Profile: Media News