Craig Ferguson set to pen memoirs

HarperCollins to publish 'Purpose' in fall 2009

By MICHAEL SCHNEIDER

Latenight talker Craig Ferguson is taking his act to the page.

Ferguson has inked a deal with HarperCollins to write his memoirs. "American on Purpose" is set to be published in fall 2009.

Book will follow Ferguson's journey from a small town in Scotland to the U.S., with stops along the way as a punk rocker, a dancer, a bouncer and a construction worker. Host will also elaborate on his battles with drugs and alcohol -- addictions he's frequently discussed on "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" -- and his suicide attempts.

Ferguson cleaned up and eventually landed a role on "The Drew Carey Show," which led to his gig on the "Late Late Show" (which he's hosted for more than three years).

The host has been on a roll recently, garnering headlines for his decision to become a U.S. citizen and his recent perf as host of the White House Correspondents Dinner. Last month, a week of original "Late Late Show" episodes beat rival "Late Night With Conan O'Brien" among total viewers for the first time ever.

Ferguson said the book will focus on "how and why I became an American."

"(I) hope that it will inspire other alcoholic punk rock drummers from Scotland to find their true place in U.S. latenight television," Ferguson said. "I wanted to get the story down before I get so old I forget it and start believing the crap on Wikipedia."

Harper senior VP-executive editor David Hirshey is aboard to edit the book; HarperCollins retains world English and audio rights.

" 'American on Purpose' reads as if Ferguson had snorted 'Angela's Ashes,' " Hirshey said.

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