Anousheh Ansari sold Be the Change! The Memoirs of Anousheh Ansari (which she’s co-writing with Homer Hickam) to Airie Stuart at Palgrave Macmillan. Agented by Frank Weimann of The Literary Group International, the book will discuss her escape from Iran, her experience as the first Muslim woman in space, how she fell in love and attained her fortune, and the life lessons she discovered along the way.
In September 2006, Ansari became the fourth paying space tourist, the first who was female. She made her fortunes founding electronics and telecommunications companies such as Telecom Technologies and Prodea Systems, and is part of the X-Prize Foundation’s Board of Trustees.
Co-author Hickam has written eight best-selling books, including fiction and non-fiction. His memoir Rocket Boys, also titled October Sky, was a New York Times notable book of 1998 and a finalist in The National Book Critic’s Circle awards. His most recent work has included the historical fiction novels The Keeper’s Son and The Ambassador’s Son.