Towards The Dream
Paolo Hewitt
For the first time, Sorrento Books presents Towards the Dream, bringing together both of Paolo Hewitt’s acclaimed memoirs, The Looked After Kid and But We All Shine On, into one definitive volume - two deeply moving accounts of childhood in care, resilience, friendship, and the enduring power of the human spirit.
With new material by the author. Signed copies available.
Sorrento Books
Sorrento Books is an independent publisher dedicated to reviving the spirit of chapbooks, with a focus on popular culture from our leading contemporary voices.
Our chapbooks echo the rich tradition of these small, accessible booklets that once brought stories, ideas, and commentary to the masses.
We’re proud to launch with three chapbooks by acclaimed journalist and author Paolo Hewitt, part of his When My Soul Was in the Lost and Found series. Hewitt’s work captures the essence of music, culture, and personal reflection—perfectly aligning with the ethos of chapbooks as a platform for unique and compelling narratives.
Historically, chapbooks emerged in the 16th century from broadsides, offering folk tales, ballads, religious texts, and political commentary. Sold by itinerant “chapmen,” they were a lifeline between cities and rural communities and played a key role in making literature accessible.
Morning Glory Prosium
La Famiglia
Paolo Hewitt
Paolo Hewitt was born in 1958 in Redhill, Surrey, spending time in care and fostered by a woman who made Cruella de Vil look like an angel. At ten, he was placed in a children's home, where he learned important life lessons about loyalty and non-discrimination.
Books, music, and football became his escape, and at fourteen, reading the NME sparked his desire to pursue a career in music journalism. By twenty-two, he was writing for Melody Maker, and by 1983, he joined the NME, and amongst many landmarks, is truly humbled he spent time with Motown's Holy Trinity - Stevie, Marvin and Smokey.
In 1990, he went freelance and became a bestselling author, writing books on Bowie, The Beatles, Oasis, Steve Marriott, and a celebrated biography of the footballer Robin Friday. His most acclaimed works are the trilogy based on his childhood in care: The Looked After Kid, But We All Shine On, and Colour Me Father.
Now focused on scriptwriting, Paolo continues to have a passion for soul music, Robert De Niro, Italian-American culture, and Tottenham Hotspur. He co-hosts the But We All Shine On Podcast, remains deeply devoted to writing and says his children are the best therapy he could ever ask for.
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Neil Sheasby
Neil Sheasby is a founding member of the band Stone Foundation and has enjoyed a career in music spanning over four decades. Born and raised in Atherstone, Warwickshire—where he still lives—Neil is a lifelong music obsessive with an extensive vinyl collection that’s rarely out of reach.
He is the author of two previous books: Boys Dreaming Soul (2019) and Bass Notes: Life and Times on the Road with Stone Foundation (2023), an illuminating chronicle of life on the road with Stone Foundation, with whom he continues to tour the world, playing bass guitar and cowriting and producing a string of Top 40 albums.
Away from the stage, Neil is a proud father to three sons—Lowell, Sonny, and Mason—and has shared his life with his partner Claire for over 30 years. He’s a passionate DJ, hat collector, and devoted Leeds United supporter.
Neil divides his time between performing, writing, contributing to Paninaro magazine, and in his spare time helping out at Urban Village Records in Henley-in-Arden.
Janette Beckman
British-born photographer Janette Beckman began her career in the punk rock era working for music magazines The Face and Melody Maker. She shot bands from The Clash to Boy George as well as three Police album covers.
In 1983 she moved to New York to document the underground hip-hop scene photographing pioneers Run DMC, Salt-N-Pepa, LL Cool J, Slick Rick and many more.
Her work has been shown in galleries worldwide and is in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, the Museum of the City of New York and the British National Portrait Gallery.
She has published five books, including Rap Portraits & Lyrics of a Generation of Black Rockers (1991), Made in the UK (2005), The Breaks Stylin’ & Profilin' (2008) and The MashUp (2018) a collaboration with iconic New York graffiti artists reinterpreting her hip hop images. Her monograph covering 40 years of photography Rebels From Punk To Dior was published by Drago in November 2021.
Janette continues to chronicle sub-cultures as well as photographing campaigns for brands like Dior and Levis . She is represented by the Fahey Klein Gallery.
Latest playlist
It's no surprise - we love music.
Every week we publish a playlist of what we're listening to in the Sorrento Books office.
Check out all our playlists on our Spotify page.