Martin Roach, from Cunnery Road, Church Stretton wrote the book Westlife – Our Story, after spending days with the band and listening to their own reminiscences.
The account went straight to the top of the UK non fiction, hardback book chart.
Martin was commissioned by Harper Collins to write the book – and was given just 13 weeks to come up with an 80,000-word manuscript.
He went on tour with the famous singers, and interviewed them between shows in their dressing rooms, on the tour bus and in hotels.
Martin speaks very highly of the four Irish millionaires, as well as their manager Louis Walsh.
He said: “The reason why they are so big is they work extremely hard. They have a real Irish work ethic.
“But Westlife are also four Irish lads who like a drink and to tell a tale.
“I was shocked how normal they are. Two of them have got kids, and that’s a great leveller.”
Martin, who has a degree in historical research, self-published his first book in 1992 about West Midlands bands The Wonderstuff, Pop Will Eat Itself and Ned’s Atomic Dustbin.
He then set up Independent Music Press, and still publishes 10 books a year from his Church Stretton home.
Publishers Harper Collins approached Martin about ghost writing, and since then he’s written more than 100 books and had five bestsellers, in the top 20 national book chart.
Formula One racing driver David Coulthard even flew Martin, his wife Kaye and kids Alfie and Korda out to Monaco during the production of his book.
Westlife – Our Story, came out on June 16 and charted straight away at Number 1 on June 24.
One reviewer described it as “Crammed with candid, personal revelations.”
The band has sold 40 million albums worldwide and have had 14 UK number one singles and seven number one UK albums.
Next in the pipeline for Martin in a book about one of the Dragon’s Den entrepreneurs – but he is keeping tight lipped about the details.
EXCLUSIVE by Liz Tinsley
Picture by: Andy Compton.
