Writer Felicity Britton hails originally from Down Under and is a longtime citizen of the United States—and an enthusiastic Gleek.  She wrote The Glee Cast: Inspiring Gleek Mania for TFCB’s Fall 2012 USAT Lifeline series. I have to say it’s one of my favorite Lifelines to date, in part because of Felicity’s nose for the memorable tidbit and also because each of the cast members has such an amazing personal story, filled with overcoming obstacles to achieve a dream. I invited Felicity to write a little bit about the book. Here’s what she has to say:

Calling all Gleeks! Glee Season 4 premieres on September 13, 2012, with lots of new storylines and characters. I just returned from three weeks in Australia where Aussie Gleeks were all atwitter about news from Comic-Con 2012. Producers and members of the cast were featured on a panel at the San Diego popular arts convention where they answered fan and a mediator’s questions. In between ripping on Darren (Blaine) Criss’s beard (below), they spilled the beans on Season 4. Sarah Jessica Parker is slated to appear in a multi-episode story arc as a mentor to Kurt (Chris Colfer). Kate Hudson will join the cast for several episodes as Rachel (Lea Michele) Berry’s dance teacher.  The show will alternate between McKinley’s familiar choir room and the locations that are now home to graduates Rachel, Finn (Cory Monteith) and Santana (Naya Rivera). Taking their place in the rehearsal space will be a number of new voices, including a younger brother for Puck (Mark Salling). And if that isn’t exciting enough, the creators have promised that the second episode will be another Britney Spears tribute, featuring eight Britney songs.

The Glee Cast: Inspiring Gleek Mania gives you the scoop on how the actors got to where they are now. I found doing the research fascinating. You probably won’t be surprised to learn that Chris Colfer was bullied in high school. But would you believe that Lea Michele felt rejected at her school (by both students AND teachers) and that Dianna Agron (Quinn) and Naya were unpopular–and hated their hair? You’ll be shocked to read which show sent Amber Riley packing and why. And even more shocked to hear how many boy bands Matt Morrison (Will Schuester) was in before joining Glee.  If you’re a Gleek like me, you’ll love reading about how Broadway veterans and novice singers came together to make this inspiring show! My Brisbane-based sister, a non-Gleek, read the book and said to me, shocked, “Wow, it’s really good!”

Be sure to check in again in two weeks for more from TFCB. And let us know what you think about Darren Criss’s beard. Thumbs up or thumbs down?

[Darren Criss image from tumblr.]