People talk 03/06/03

Giuliani's 'Leadership' still selling strong

NEW YORK -- Former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani's best-selling book, "Leadership," has exceeded more than 1 million copies in print since its release in October.

Jonathan Burnham, president of Miramax Books, which published "Leadership," said Giuliani has authored a collection of quotations that will be sold alongside copies of the book beginning May 7.

"I think what's remarkable, as a publishing phenomenon, is not just that there are now one million copies in print, but also the rate of sale has been steady since the beginning of the year," Burnham told the Daily News for Wednesday's editions.

Through a spokeswoman, Giuliani told the newspaper he was "truly honored and humbled" to have reached the milestone of 1 million copies.

His book of quotes, titled "Leadership Through the Ages," will include sayings from historical figures like Eleanor Roosevelt, Winston Churchill and William Shakespeare.

Burnham said the former mayor's next book will be a memoir about his career as a federal prosecutor in Manhattan.

Shields looks forward to life as new mother

NEW YORK -- Brooke Shields is ready for motherhood.

"I'm in for a real life change, and I'm ready for it, as ready as I can be," she told AP Radio in an interview. "It doesn't scare me, it excites me, and yet I just know that there will be so many things that I will really be getting a quick education on."

Shields and writer-producer Chris Henchy, who were married in April 2001, know the baby due in May will be a girl. They haven't picked out a name.

"There's just too many cooks in the kitchen. When you start showing the list you have to your family, everybody has something to say about it, so we're kind of shelving it for a little while," the 37-year-old actress said. "Hopefully one of the names we have will stand out."

Shields provides the voice of the title character in "Miss Spider's Sunny Patch Kids," based on the children's books written by David Kirk. The animated special airs March 31 on Nickelodeon.

The actress, who began modeling as a toddler, has appeared in films including "Pretty Baby," "The Blue Lagoon" and "Endless Love." Her NBC sitcom, "Suddenly Susan," ended in 2000 after four years.

Shields and tennis star Andre Agassi married in April 1997 and filed for divorce two years later.

High-priced wig stolen from Cher's company

RICHMOND, Va. -- Cher's production company has reported the theft of a wig valued at $8,000 to $10,000, apparently stolen from the singer's collection of tresses during a sold-out concert stop.

"The wig is described as half-black and half-teal, and it was braided," said Christie Collins, a police spokeswoman.

While police did not release the wig's value, they have classified the case as a grand larceny -- meaning the value exceeds $200.

Cher's tour manager estimated the value between $8,000 and $10,000, said Larry W. Wilson Jr., general manager of the Richmond Coliseum, where the "Living Proof -- Farewell Tour 2003" made a stop Feb. 25.

Cher took off the wig after singing "All or Nothing" and put it back in a room where her other wigs were stored, Collins said.

"We're still not 100 percent sure the wig was stolen out of our facility," he said.

-- From wire reports