About the book

A real-life fairy tale: Michael Jackson and me is a 285-page memoir by Irish fan Talitha Linehan, in which she describes seeing Michael perform at 17 HIStory concerts, meeting him at hotels and venues across Europe, the US, and Asia, spending a day with him at Neverland Valley, and becoming a daily presence around him during his final years. The book includes never-before-published photographs of Michael and Talitha, and messages he wrote to her, from her private collection.

“You're my fairy tale, Michael.” “Oooh,” said Michael, and he brushed my cheek with his hand, making me flutter.

This was the moment, under a starry sky in Las Vegas, when Talitha Linehan told Michael Jackson how she’d viewed him since childhood, not just as a man but as a magical being.

It was a perception that never wavered, throughout hundreds of encounters she had with him over more than a decade, in public and in private, at venues and hotels across the world, inside his most famous home, Neverland Valley, and inside his final home, in Los Angeles.

In this deeply personal memoir, Talitha recalls a journey that began when she discovered Michael, while growing up in the Irish countryside, and that ended when she last spoke to him, at a rehearsal studio in LA, on the last night of his life.

By drawing on diary entries, she reveals the joy and heartache of loving and losing the most famous star on the planet, and a man she simply loves with all of her heart.

The book is created in its entirety by people who love Michael. It is beautifully designed by Arus Tashchyan and illustrated by Ariel Aguire (@arielaguire on Instagram, @ariel_aguire on Twitter, and @arielsartwork777 on Facebook). A portion of all proceeds will go to charity, in Michael’s name.

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What people are saying

★★★★★
The Michael Jackson Book Club

Loved it! Talitha has a way with words that makes you feel like you're along the journey; the anticipation, a glimpse of what it was like in the inner circle surrounding MJ & reflects the love Michael Jackson had for his fans.

-The MJ Book Club, Twitter

★★★★★
A must read! An emotional rollercoaster!

So beautifully written! Talitha is not only one of the luckiest Michael Jackson fans to have met him and spent time with him over and over again, but she also happens to be a fantastic professional writer. So this is not only a unique story but it’s also written flawlessly.

I went through an emotional rollercoaster. Sometimes I thought I was reading a fiction like Harry Potter, other times it felt so real like I was right there with Michael hugging him. This book should come with a box of tissue, you’ll need it for the overwhelming excitement and the deepest heartache.

Important to note that the book design is beautiful, includes a couple of gorgeous illustrations + many photos of Talitha and Michael hugging so closely that the photos alone will make you cry.

-Talin Shajanian, Amazon

★★★★★
Absolutely Amazing! A Very Special Book.

I highly recommend this book as it gives beautifully-detailed insight into who Michael Jackson was and the true love and adoration he held so deeply for his fans. He truly had a unique relationship with his fans (especially Talitha) and thankfully she wrote this book to give people a glimpse of that. What a treasure!!!

-Ms_penny, Barnes and Noble

★★★★★
HIGHLY recommend this magical book.

What a FANTASTIC book! This book takes you on a magical journey that just happened to be a real life adventure! Hearing how Michael treated his fans and how much he loved them really puts a gigantic smile on my face. The way this book is written made me feel like I was there reliving all the encounters with her. I felt all her joy and happiness throughout, and, unfortunately, I also felt her immense sadness and grief surrounding his death. I cannot recommend this book enough. This really gives you an idea of the TRUE Michael Jackson and I can’t thank Talitha enough for writing this.

-Stacey W, Amazon

★★★★★
A Beautiful, genuine and heartfelt tribute that only the luckiest of fans could pen

Talitha was one of, if not the luckiest Michael Jackson fan ever and enjoyed many, many special moments with the iconic king of pop. She generously takes you on her journey, which started when she was 13 years old and lasted right up until Michael's tragic passing. Her experiences give you a rare glimpse into what it was like to follow the most famous superstar on earth and have it all pay off with every little kind gesture that Michael Jackson did for her and other fans. Unlike most superstars, Michael was kind, loving, down to earth and generous toward his fans and this true nature of Michael is captured beautifully in intimate details. This is what every fan needs to read and the public needs to know as the tabloids will never acknowledge the kind natured, innocent and beautiful human being that Michael Jackson was.

-Mitzy, Amazon

 
 

Watch MJFanGirl’s review of Talitha’s book!

 

In the media

 

Watch Talitha’s video chat with the MJ Book Club and with the Moonwalkers Chat Podcast!

 

About the author

Talitha Linehan grew up in the Irish countryside, loving Michael Jackson from afar, before travelling the world to see him. In her memoir, A real-life fairy tale: Michael Jackson and me, she focuses on the period from 1996 to 2009, during which she spent time with him in public and in private. Here is a list of the dates and places where she saw Michael, and coinciding events, if any.

 

1992

July; Dublin, Ireland; Dangerous concert

1996

September; Prague, Czech Republic; Opening concert of the HIStory tour

July – September; Nine European countries; Sixteen HIStory concerts

1999

July; Munich, Germany; Michael Jackson & Friends concert

2000

May; Monte Carlo, Monaco; The World Music Awards

May; London, England; Elizabeth Taylor Tribute Concert

2001

February; New York, New York; Heal the Kids seminar

March; London; Oxford University speech

September; New York; 30th Anniversary Special concerts

October; Washington, D.C.; United We Stand concert

November; New York; Virgin Megastore signing

2002

February; Los Angeles, California; Art for Aids – A Tribute to Rock Hudson

March; New York; Liza Minnelli’s wedding

April; Los Angeles; American Bandstand's 50th Celebration

April; New York; A Night at the Apollo

June; London; Sony protest & Killer Thriller party 

August; New York; MTV Video Music Awards

November; Berlin, Germany; Bambi Awards

2003

February; Neverland Valley

May; Indianapolis, Indiana; Scheduled court hearing

August - September; Los Angeles and Neverland Valley; 45th Birthday Party

October – November; Las Vegas; Radio Music Awards

December; Neverland Valley; You Are Not Alone event

2004

April; Santa Maria and Neverland Valley; Court hearing

April; Washington, D.C.; Ethiopian Embassy

September; Santa Maria and Neverland Valley; Court hearing

2005

April – June; Santa Maria and Neverland Valley; Trial

2006

November; London; World Music Awards

2007

February; Las Vegas

March; Tokyo, Japan; VIP & Fan parties

March – June; Los Angeles and Las Vegas

November; Los Angeles; Jesse Jackson 66th Birthday

December; Las Vegas

2008

June – October; Las Vegas

October – November; Los Angeles

2009

February – April; Los Angeles

April; Las Vegas; 3-day visit

April – June; Los Angeles

Follow on social media

A beautiful smile: Michael holding me in his arms at Los Angeles International Airport, where I went to greet him on his return from London in March 2007. Read what happened moments later, when he invited me into his SUV for a chat, in my new memoir,
A verse from a poem I wrote and gave to Michael in late 2008, called “Loving an Angel.” He told me he loved it so much that he read it to his children. You can read the poem in its entirety, as well as some of the notes and letters Michae
A special moment: Michael taking to me, outside the Hotel Bel-Air in October 2008. I remember what he was saying to me in that moment, telling me repeatedly, in his soft, melodious voice, “You’re so sweet,” and the love shining in h
This is what Michael said while we were watching the full-length video of “Smooth Criminal” together at his movie theater at Neverland Valley. Find out what else he talked about during that magical visit in September 2003, in my new memoi
Inside a limo: Four friends and me inside a limousine with Michael at Neverland Valley, February 2003. Read about our encounter with Michael on that magical day in my new memoir, ‘A real-life fairy tale: Michael Jackson and me.’ michaelja
This is a line from a letter that Michael wrote to two other fans and me in Las Vegas in the summer of 2007. You can hear about how this line became more meaningful to me over time in my interview with the @booksaboutmj team, on Facebook and YouTube
Out and about: Alberto, Michael and me on the streets of Beverly Hills, California, in April 2009. Read what it was like to be out and about with Michael during that time in my new memoir, ‘A real-life fairy tale: Michael Jackson and me.’
I’m very excited about my live video interview with the @booksaboutmj team next weekend, at 2pm Pacific (PST) on April 3rd, to discuss all things relating to my book, ‘A real-life fairy tale: Michael Jackson and me,’ and my experien
Michael’s favourite photo of us together: Locked in a tight embrace, inside a studio at CenterStaging in Burbank, April 2009. Read about my visit with Michael that day in my new memoir, ‘A real-life fairy tale: Michael Jackson and me.&rsq
Thank you to @EliseCapron for hosting the episode and for @Talin613 for joining me for the interview, you are both beautiful, sweet souls. You can listen to our two-hour interview on episode 129 of @themjcast now, at the MJCast.com - just visit my we
I’m very excited to announce the release of the ‘deluxe’ edition of my book, which is in hardback and in full colour, on Amazon.🎉 But I’m more than a little embarrassed by the high price, of $49.99, and feel the need to expla
Thank you to YouTube sensation and megafan @mjfangirlblog for the amaaazing review of my book, ‘A real-life fairy tale: Michael Jackson and me.’ ♥️🙏♥️ Watch her video review now on MJFanGirl TV on YouTube - just visit my we

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