News Archive
Irish Number One Bestseller
Cynthia Owen's memoir Living With Evil is the number one bestselling hardback in Ireland for the third successive week, beating Steig Larsson's The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo to the top spot in the charts. Cynthia's book is a horrific story of brutality and loss, but ultimately, it is an account of love, immense bravery and her fight for justice.
Four shortlists at British Sport Books Awards
Mulcahy Conway Associates is delighted that the agency's authors are shortlisted in four categories for the British Sports Book Awards 2010. Kenny Logan's Just For Kicks is shortlisted in the Best Autobiography and Best Rugby Book categories, and Jon Henderson's The Last Champion: the Life of Fred Perry is shortlisted for Best Biography and Best Publicity Campaign. The Awards are announced on March 11th.
"War Child" in Washington Post's Best Books of 2009
"War Child", the memoir of internationally-acclaimed rap artist and former Sudanese child soldier Emmanuel Jal, has been named as one of the best books of 2009 by the Washington Post. On publication Time Magazine stated that 'Unlike many of the Lost Boys... Jal finds salvation through the grace of two women who steer him toward education. His subsequent life as a rapper and philanthropist trying to save other children from similar pain and anguish leaves hope for the possibility of redemption. The Verdict: Read.' "War Child" was witten with Megan Lloyd Davies.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/artsandliving/features/2008/holiday-guide/gifts/best-books-of-2009/
Two agency titles make The Guardian's sports books of 2009
Both Jon Henderson's 'The Last Champion: the Life of Fred Perry' and Kenny Logan's autobiography 'Just for Kicks' were included in the Guardian's sports books of 2009. Henderson's biography was described as "the class act" of tennis books for the year, "a finely researched and perceptive life of Fred Perry, timed for the centenary of his birth." Logan's "engaging autobiography" offered "an extra dimension with the story of his dyslexia."
Bumble to HarperSport
Jonathan Taylor, Publishing Director of HarperSport, has acquired world rights to two books by cricket broadcaster David Lloyd, best known as Bumble. The first book, 'Start the Car: the World According to Bumble', will be published in June 2010. Taylor said: "Cricket fans have a very special place in their hearts for Bumble . . . He's a splendid addition to our roster of sports authors."
Simon & Schuster acquires 2 new Mark Robson titles
Venetia Gosling at Simon & Schuster has bought world rights to two new books by children's adventure writer Mark Robson. The novels, the first volumes in a projected new series, THE DEVIL'S TRIANGLE, were acquired from Ivan Mulcahy at Mulcahy Conway Associates.
Robson's stories will "take the legends of the Bermuda Triangle and give them a surprising new twist", blending fact with fiction in a series of high science, action thrillers, where the abuse of planetary resources causes more than global warming.
Gosling said: "I'm delighted to have acquired The Devil's Triangle and its sequel for the S&S fiction list. It's the first contemporary-set fiction we've published from Mark and is an exciting new departure for him, focusing as it does on a missing persons mystery and the intriguing mythology of the Bermuda Triangle. It's a great commercial read, and I'm looking forward to working on it."
Robson, a former RAF pilot and now a full time author, is writing his fourth series of books for the YA market, and his previous books are being translated into six other European languages. Publication is scheduled for spring 2011 and 2012.
Evie Wyld wins John Llewellyn Rhys Prize
Mulcahy Conway Associates are delighted to say that our author Evie Wyld has seen off competition from an outstanding shortlist of writers to win the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize 2009. The prize, for UK and Commonwealth authors under 35, is one of the oldest and most prestigious literary awards in the UK, launching formidable careers including those of VS Naipaul, Angela Carter, David Hare, Andrew Motion and AL Kennedy.
Evie Wyld was signed from Goldsmiths Creative Writing MA and was one of Granta's New Voices of 2008. The 29-year old bookseller's first novel AFTER THE FIRE, A STILL SMALL VOICE was published to spectacular reviews in August, by Jonathan Cape (UK), Random House Australia and Pantheon (US). Set in eastern Australia, it tells the poignant, sometimes funny story of fathers and sons, the wars they fought and the things they cannot say. Louise Doughty, chair of judges, said: 'It's a fantastically mature book, never showy, a slow burn that drags the reader in.'
This year's shortlist included Booker winner Aravind Adiga and Orange Prize winner Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
Evie Wyld will be live on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour this Friday at 10-11am.
Read a review of AFTER THE FIRE, A STILL SMALL VOICE at http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009/aug/29/after-fire-still-small-voice
Buy it at http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=after+the+fire+a+still+small+voice
http://www.thebookseller.com/news/105136-bookseller-wins-john-llewellyn-rhys-prize.html
David Mitchell and Robert Webb nominations for The British Comedy Awards 2009
David Mitchell and Robert Webb have been nominated in several categories at the 2009 British Comedy Awards. Robert Webb has been nominated for Best Television Comedy Actor for his performance in 'Peep Show', and the programme has also been nominated for Best TV Comedy. 'That Mitchell and Webb Look' is nominated for Best Sketch Show.
The Awards will be hosted by Jonathan Ross and broadcast on ITV1 and ITV2 on 12th December.
http://www.britishcomedyawards.com/nominations.html
"Buzzing" Bill Turnbull to Sphere
Sphere has has bought the rights to a "buzzing" book by beekeeper and co-presenter of BBC Breakfast Bill Turnbull.
Antonia Hodgson, editor-in-chief for Sphere, fought off competition from four other publishers to buy UK and Commonwealth rights at auction from Jonathan Conway of Mulcahy Conway Associates.
The Bad Beekeepers' Club: How I Stumbled into the Curious World of Bees and Became (Perhaps) a Better Person will chronicle Turnbull's beekeeping mishaps - and brief moments of beekeeping triumph. The book will be published in hardback in May 2010.
http://www.thebookseller.com/news/103457-buzzing-bill-turnbull-to-sphere.html
Mulcahy Conway Associates success at the The Frankfurt Book Fair
The Bookseller magazine at the Frankfurt Book Fair in October announced the deal ranking of all UK book agencies for the past year. The rankings were calculated from total deals reported to Publishers Marketplace, the primary source of information about English language publishing. We are delighted to report that in the UK non-fiction category, Mulcahy Conway Associates took 2nd place.
Alexandra Heminsley is "Book Club Expert" on new Sky1 show "Angela & Friends"
Sky is to introduce a book section that will feature on a new Sky1 and Sky1 HD daytime show "Angela & Friends", which begins on 9th November. Journalist and author Alexandra Heminsley will front the books "lifestyle section" as "Book Club Expert" with presenter Angela Griffin every Wednesday. The daily show will also be amalgamated into a Friday night compilation show at 8pm.
'When the Richard & Judy Book Club disappeared from our screens in May, its absence caused more tears in publishing than if Harry Potter married Katie Price and told her to pack in the autobiographies. So will Sky One's new offering fill the gap? As of 11 November, Alexandra Heminsley, of Radio 2 books fame, will appear weekly on Angela Griffin's Angela and Friends to "open up books" to new audiences. She may not boost sales by 1.1 million, as Richard and Judy did; but she is brighter, more thoughtful and an awful lot prettier than her current biggest book-club rival, Jonathan Ross.' Katy Guest, the Independent.
http://www.thebookseller.com/news/101163-sky1-unveils-new-book-show.html
HC acquires David Mitchell memoir and novel
HarperCollins has acquired a memoir and novel from "Peep Show" comedian David Mitchell for a "very significant sum".
World rights for the memoir were bought by Carole Tonkinson, publisher of Harper Non-Fiction and Hannah Black, Harper Non-Fiction publishing director. The novel was bought by Nicholas Pearson of Fourth Estate. Both books were acquired from Ivan Mulcahy of Mulcahy Conway Associates. They will be published in 2012 and 2013 respectively.
Black said: "David Mitchell has always made me laugh, and in everything he does there's a care for
language which is for me the mark of a natural-born writer." Pearson added: "I am delighted to be working with David on what I feel sure will be the start of a successful career as a novelist."
Tonkinson said Mitchell's profile had reached "a massive pitch" after appearances on BBC2's "Who Do You Think You Are?" and Channel 4's "Peep Show". "We see him as the next generation Stephen Fry. He has intelligence, understated humour and people just love him," she said, adding: "I think his humour translates around the world. Ricky Gervais and Russell Brand are increasingly popular in the US and Australia. I don't see why David should be any different."
Mitchell said: "I'm looking forward to working with the brilliant team at HarperCollins and Fourth Estate, who are apparently impressed by my neurotic world-view. There's a saying that everyone's got a book in them. Assuming that's a mean, I will be reducing some poor sod to zero, but then that's nothing to Barbara Cartland, who made hundreds voiceless."
Fourth Estate has just published This Mitchell and Webb Book, a collection of comic writing from Mitchell and his comedy partner Robert Webb. A second Mitchell and Webb title is lined up for Christmas 2010.
http://www.thebookseller.com/news/99974-hc-acquires-david-mitchell-memoir-and-novel.html
Clare Brown's new novel in translation
International publishers have snapped up rights to Clare Brown's new novel Mother's Day, represented by Laetitia Rutherford at Mulcahy Conway Associates. Belfond in France and House of Books in Holland will publish this compelling psychological drama in 2010. The novel tells the story of a young woman who abducts a child, then has to reconstruct her identity to fit this in. The Guardian has acclaimed Clare Brown's 'Clever, funny, high-concept story-telling with bucketfuls of social comment.'
Picador acquires two from Ian Kelly
Picador has acquired two non-fiction projects from biographer and actor Ian Kelly. Publisher Paul Baggaley acquired UK and Commonwealth rights from Ivan Mulcahy of Mulcahy Conway Associates.
The first book is focuses on Samuel Foote, an 18th century dramatist, actor and theatre manager. The title is yet to be confirmed and the book is due out in early 2010. The book is a collaboration between Kelly and Lee Hall, as Hall is writing a play based on the same character and on Kelly's book.
The second is a biography of William Shakespeare which looks at his time spent as an actor. The book is provisionally titled Shakespeare: The Biography of an Actor and is due to be published in 2014.
Baggaley said: "I believe Ian Kelly has found two projects which will bring his great talents as a writer of popular history with a feel for the dramatic in every way to reach a wide readership. Ian will bring his flair for recreating a colourful milieu to two of the most fascinating periods of social history and of the stage. Picador is delighted to have such a talented and promotable popular historian to the list."
Ebury signs tasty title by Fraser Doherty
Ebury Press has acquired The SuperJam Cookbook by Fraser Doherty, an "imaginative" and "irresistible" cookery title for its 2010 list.
Editor Imogen Fortes acquired world rights from Jonathan Conway at Mulcahy Conway Associates.
The SuperJam Cookbook will include jam, marmalade, chutney and jelly recipes, as well as more unusual ideas for spreads, such as Banana and Rum Curd, Dulce de Leche and Chilli Jam. The book will be published in August 2010 as a 12.99 trade paperback. Doherty is a 20 year old entrepreneur and created the SuperJam range, which has now sold more than 1m jars nationwide.
Fortes said: "Fraser's cookbook couldn't be more timely: as we all get back into our kitchens and rediscover the homely traditions we knew as children, jam-making has seen a resurgence in popularity. This inspiring, utterly irresistible book will have us raring to get creative."
HC gives backing to Hannah Jones's choice
The memoir of a teenage cancer sufferer who took the decision to have a heart transplant at the age of 14 has been bought by HarperCollins.
Hannah's Choice, by mother and daughter Kirsty and Hannah Jones, will be published in March 2010. Carole Tonkinson, publisher of Harper NonFiction, and editor Anna Valentine bought world rights from Ivan Mulcahy at Mulcahy Conway Associates for an undisclosed sum.
Jones was diagnosed with leukaemia aged four but the drugs given to her to help battle the illness damaged her heart. During the next eight years, doctors felt Jones's body could grow to accommodate the heart defect as she grew stronger. However, she suffered from sudden heart failure at the age of 12 and was told she needed a heart transplant to live. Jones was adamant that she did not want the transplant.
Two years later, the right side of her heart stopped working and her kidneys began to fail. As she reached her 14th birthday, she agreed to the transplant.
Valentine said: 'Hannah and Kirsty's relationship is an inspiration. This compelling memoir shows us the trust, quiet strength and sense of humour that have sustained them both.'
http://www.thebookseller.com/news/95622-hc-gives-backing-to-hannahs-choice.html
Ha-Joon Chang to Penguin
Will Goodlad of Allen Lane (Penguin Press) has acquired UK & Commonwealth rights to Cambridge economist Ha-Joon Chang's 23 Things They Didn't Tell You About Capitalism at auction from Ivan Mulcahy at Mulcahy Conway Associates for a good five-figure sum.
Ha-Joon Chang's book is a clever and witty dissection of the myths and falsehood that are promoted about capitalism, the operation of free markets and neo-liberal policies.
Will Goodlad said: Ha-Joon Chang is brilliant, courageous and incredibly, inspiringly thought-provoking - this book is going to demolish the received wisdom and knee-jerk ideology that we are normally subjected to. We know it is going to be an exhilarating read and we can't wait to publish it.
Ha-Joon Chang has worked as a consultant for many international organisations, including various UN agencies such as UNDP (United Nations Development Program) and UNCTAD (United Nations Conference on Trade and Development), the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, and a number of governments on development policies. He was awarded the 2005 Wassily Leontief Prize for Advancing the Frontiers of Economic Thought.
North American rights were acquired by Peter Ginna of Bloomsbury USA, South Korean rights by Bookie with a six figure pre-empt and Chinese Traditional rights by Goodness Publishing House. Bloomsbury USA, Bookie and Goodness all published Ha-Joon Chang's previous book Bad Samaritans, which has sold over 200,000 copies to date in South Korea.
TV's Phil Spencer to Vermilion
Vermilion has signed a two-book deal with property expert Phil Spencer as the Location, Location, Location presenter prepares to helm a new series in 2010.
UK and Commonwealth rights were acquired in auction by Julia Kellaway, commissioning editor at Vermilion, from Jonathan Conway at Mulcahy Conway Associates for an undisclosed sum.
Spencer will be launching his own series of books in 2010 based on his years of experience working in the property industry. The first title, Adding Value to Your Home, is published in April 2010. It will inform readers how to make their peoperty a better place to live, and also how to enhance its value in the housing market; it will include practical projects and also instruct what to do and what not to do to make your house more attractive to potential buyers. The second title will follow in 2011.
In early 2010 Spencer will front four-part primetime series "Phil Down Under" on Channel 4, following several British families as they move to Australia.
Kellaway said: "Phil Spencer is a household name when it comes to property. I confess I'm a huge fan and everyone at Vermilion is thrilled to be working with him on building a new series of books."
http://www.thebookseller.com/news/92514-tvs-phil-spencer-to-vermilion.html
Ebury Press acquires TV vet Marc Abraham
Ebury Press has acquired the memoirs of TV vet Marc Abraham, known for presenting the Pet Clinic on Channel 4's Paul O'Grady Show.
Charlotte Cole, commissioning editor at Ebury Press, bought world rights from Ivan Mulcahy at Mulcahy Conway Associates for an undisclosed sum. The title, as yet unnamed, is due to be published in spring 2011. The title will focus on Abraham's endeavours to set up the Priory Emergency Treatment Services, a 24-hour animal emergency clinic in Brighton.
Cole said 'there will be a lot of drama because Marc operates in an emergency services environment. When he's not saving animals' lives he's out in the community teaching people how to look after their pets and there's great scope for humour. He's a 21st-century James Herriot.' She added that the title would be in 'the heart-warming vein' of previous Ebury animal titles such as Rescue Me, One Dog at a Time and titles by Jon Katz.
Abraham is known for his media appearances as veterinary expert, on shows such as The Paul O'Grady Show", Animal Rescue Live" and CNN. He is resident vet on BBC Sussex radio, and has written for Our Dogs and the Veterinary Times among others.
http://www.thebookseller.com/news/92437-ebury-press-acquires-tv-vet.html
'The Last Champion: The Life of Fred Perry' by Jon Henderson longlisted for William Hill Sports Book of the Year
Jon Henderson has covered every Wimbledon since 1969, and was tennis correspondent and deputy sports editor of the Observer for many years. 'The Last Champion: The Life of Fred Perry' (Yellow Jersey Press) is the first biography of this sporting and fashion icon, and has been longlisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year 2009.
Now in its 21st year, the prize is the most prestigious sports book award. The shortlist will be announced on 15th October, and the winner on the 26th November.
'The Last Champion' received widespread critical accliam. Ronan Sheehan, in his review in the Irish Times, reported 'This is a labour of love, intelligence and exemplary literary skill by a veteran tennis correspondent.'
Jon Henderson's previous book, 'Best of British: Hendo's Sporting Heroes', also published by Yellow Jersey Press, is a celebration on the nation's 100 greatest sporting heroes.
http://www.thebookseller.com/news/97254-random-dominates-sports-book-longlist.html
Daddy's Prisoner highest new entry in top 20 paperback non-fiction chart
Daddy's Prisoner, Alice Lawrence's moving memoir of growing up a victim of a father's abuse and finally escaping and bringing him to justice, has entered the Bookscan top 20 paperback non-fiction chart at number 8, having sold 3,865 copies in one week.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Daddys-Prisoner-Megan-Lloyd-Davies/dp/1847398073/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1253005946&sr=8-1
Jon Henderson's biography of Fred Perry, 'The Last Champion', is this week's BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week.
As the second week of Wimbledon gets under way, we are delighted that Jon Henderson's excellent biography The Last Champion: The Life of Fred Perry will be broadcast as this week's BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week.
Fifteen minute excerpts from the book will be read on Radio 4 all week at 9:45am, repeated each evening at half past midnight. You can also hear all excerpts on the BBC i-player.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qftk/episodes/upcoming
Charles Clover's film 'The End of the Line' causes M&S and Pret a Manger to ban bluefin tuna
Pret a Manger's founder and chairman Julian Metcalfe has announced that in future the chain will only sell skipjack tuna after seeing Charles Clover's film 'The End of the Line', which he described as 'brilliant'. Also following screenings of 'The End of the Line' at 50 cinemas across the country on World Oceans Day, Marks and Spencer has claimed that it is switching to using pole and line caught tuna in its entire food range. Waitrose, who sponsored the screenings, also no longer sells bluefin tuna.
Celebrities who turned out to support the film included Stephen Fry, Gretta Scacchi, Alan Rickman and Colin Firth.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/jun/08/pret-a-manger-sustainable-tuna-film
French website launched for Alexandra Heminsley's 'Ex And The City'
French publisher Les Editions Belfond has launched a website dedicated to Alexandra Heminsley's 'Ex And The City'. It includes games, travel tips and much more info to help after a break up.
http://www.exandthecity.fr
Jon Henderson's biography of Fred Perry to be serialised in the Daily Mail
Jon Henderson's book The Last Champion: The Life of Fred Perry, the first biography of Britain's best ever tennis player and the first truly international sportsman, will be serialised in the Daily Mail, prior to its hardback publication on 7th May.
David Mitchell wins BAFTA for best comedy performance
David Mitchell has been awarded a BAFTA for best comedy performance in 'Peep Show'.
Widespread critical acclaim for paperback edition of Henry Hemming's 'In Search of the English Eccentric'
The paperback of Henry Hemming's 'In Search of the English Eccentric' has received critical acclaim from The Times ("An entertaining, intelligent account of the author's meetings with an eclectic assortment of famous and obscure cases"), The Sunday Telegraph ("Hemming makes some good points, for example about the eccentricity of the monarchy, especially Prince Charles."), The Observer ("It would have been easy to set these people up for ridicule, but Hemming sensitively delves into their psyches to offer a witty narrative.") and The Guardian ("Hemming keeps up a stream of comic patter, dropping in quotes from Hazlitt and Orwell.")
Film 'The End of the Line' launches in the UK on World Oceans Day, June 8th
'The End of the Line', the first major feature documentary film revealing the impact of overfishing on our oceans and based on investigative reporter Charles Clover's book of the same name, premiered at Sundance Festival in January 2009 and launches in the UK on World Oceans Day, June 8th. Voiceover by Ted Danson, sponsored by Waitrose, and supported by WWF, Oceana, Marviva, Greenpeace, Marine Conservation Society and many other ngos. Filmed across the world - from the Straits of Gibraltar to the coasts of Senegal and Alaska to the Tokyo fish market - featuring top scientists, indigenous fishermen and fisheries enforcement officials, 'The End of the Line' is a wake-up call to the world.
http://endoftheline.com/
Robert Webb wins Let's Dance For Comic Relief
Comedian Robert Webb has won charity show Let's Dance For Comic Relief with his leotard-clad performance of What A Feeling from 80s movie Flashdance.
Webb narrowly beat Keith Lemon and Paddy McGuinness who performed a routine from the film Dirty Dancing.
The Peep Show star's victory came after a public vote that will boost the amount already raised for Comic Relief.
Webb said: "I feel fantastic. It's been marvellous, it's been like falling in love with myself all over again."
Head panellist, Strictly Come Dancing's Anton Du Beke, said he wished there could be a tie, but colleagues Denise Van Outen and Michael McIntyre both came out firmly in favour of Webb.
The show, hosted by Claudia Winkleman and Steve Jones, will add to the £57m raised by the end of Comic Relief night in the early hours of Saturday morning.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7944395.stm
Mark Robson's Longfang to feature in children's Summer Reading Challenge
The 2009 Summer Reading Challenge will be the 11th annual challenge. We will be inviting children all over the UK to embark on a fantastical adventure and become a Questseeker.
The theme is all about the power of the imagination. It will take young readers into a mysterious and wondrous land where they can discover the joy of reading and nurture a life-long love affair with books. It also promotes the library as a place of wonder and excitement, where librarians can offer children invaluable advice and guidance to help them through their quest.
http://www.readingagency.org.uk/children/summer-reading-challenge/
'trappedbymonsters.com' launches - new children's website featuring Mark Robson
It started out innocently enough...
Eight children's authors planned a get-together where they would write the ultimate book of monster pain and slaughter - but the monsters got to them first!
Now trapped in a dark, damp cave - the authors are forced to blog about brilliant books, post exclusive poems and stories, reveal secret writing tips and more.
If the monsters like what they produce - the authors will be allowed food, decent loo roll and the freedom to visit the occasional school or book shop.
However, if the monsters are not impressed...
...it doesn't bear thinking about!
Trapped By Monsters Are:
Barry Hutchison
Sam Enthoven
Ali Sparkes
Joe Craig
Andy Briggs
Tommy Donbavand
Mark Robson
David Melling
http://www.trappedbymonsters.com/
Henry Hemming's In Search of the English Eccentric named one of Metro's non-fiction books of the year
'Unexpected treat of the year was Henry Hemming's quest to discover whether Britain's proud tradition of social non-conformism is dying out. In Search Of The English Eccentric (John Murray, £16.99) included delightful encounters with modern-day oddballs, from fashion designer Vivienne Westwood to the landowner who uses a medieval trebuchet to hurl dead cattle. Hemming argues that true eccentrics are historically stout defenders of civil liberties who enhance Britain's messy yet rich social tapestry.'
http://www.metro.co.uk/metrolife/books/article.html?Non-Fiction_Of_The_Year&in_article_id=447571&in_page_id=28
Bridget Whelan's A Good Confession longlisted for the Romantic Novel of the Year Award 2009
Bridget Whelan's A Good Confession has been longlisted for the Romantic Novel of the Year 2009, which has just been announced by the Romantic Novelists's Association.
The 2009 prize will be awarded at a lunch at the Royal Garden Hotel, Kensington on February 10th to coincide with Valentine's Day. Originally read and selected by a panel of 80 readers from all over the country, aged from 20 to 70, the longlist will next be reduced to 6 novels by a panel of RNA members.
The shortlist will be announced on 13th January and the winner on 10th February.
http://www.rna-uk.org/index.php?page=article&id=155
Emmanuel Jal in Amnesty music video
Emmanuel Jal appears in a new music video The Price of Silence that brings together 16 of the worlds top musicians - some of whom have fled oppressive regimes - in a rousing musical plea to guarantee human rights for all.
The track, donated by Aterciopelados and arranged by fusion music guru Andres Levin, combines the voices of Hugh Masekela, Julieta Venegas, Stephen Marley, Angelique Kidjo, Yungchen Lhamo, Aterciopelados, Yerba Buena, Natacha Atlas, Rachid Taha, Kiran Ahluwalia, Chiwoniso and Emmanual Jal with those of U.S. artists Natalie Merchant, and Chali 2Na of Jurassic 5. Introduction by Lawrence Fishburne.
AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD ON ITUNES
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZ...
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=xevGz8_MBKk
Ian Kelly's Casanova named The Sunday Times biography of the year
The Sunday Times has named Casanova, by Ian Kelly, the biography of the year: 'Much more than a serial seducer, Casanova was a great European intellectual, a romantic, a trickster and a writer of tremendous skill and energy. He was probably, as he would be the first to admit, the most interesting man who ever lived, as this vivid and vibrant biography suggests.'
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/non-fiction/article5292440.ece
The End of the Line to premiere at Sundance Film Festival 2009
The End of the Line is to have its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival 2009, the leading showcase in the US for independent films. Directed by Rupert Murray, the film is based on the book by Charles Clover about the devastating effect that global overfishing is having on fish stocks and the health of our oceans. It was one of 16 films selected from 744 submissions in the World Cinema Documentary category.
http://festival.sundance.org/2009/press_industry/releases/2009_sundance_film_festival_announces_films_in_competition/
Mark Townsend wins Foreign Press Association award
Mark Townsend, Observer journalist and author of 50 Ways to F**k the Planet, has won The Foreign Press Association's award for Print/Web News Story of the Year along with Afif Sarhan and Caroline Davies for "The Iraqi teenage girl killed for loving a British soldier".
http://www.foreign-press.org.uk/showarticle.pl?id=293;n=14
Emmanuel Jal film wins Best Documentary award at Bergen International Film Festival
The American film WAR CHILD, directed by Christian Karim Chrobog, was given the Award for Best Documentary at the Closing Gala Tuesday evening. In BIFF's documentary section 72 films were screened, of which 15 were in the International Documentary Competition Programme. The Documentary Award of NOK 50.000 will secure Norwegian DVD distribution.
http://www.biff.no/2008/index.php3?ID=Nyhet&Eng=Ja&ID2=Vis&counter=40
Mulcahy Conway launches award for unpublished children's and young adult fiction
Mulcahy Conway Associates has established a new prize of £1,000 to be awarded to the best piece of unpublished fiction written for children or young adults.
The prize is being offered in conjunction with The Northern Writers' Centre, the partnership between New Writing North, the writing development agency for the North East of England, and The School of English at Newcastle University.
Professor Linda Anderson, Associate Dean of Creative Practice at Newcastle University and co-Director of The Northern Writers' Centre, said "we are delighted to put in place this sponsorship from such a dynamic agency as Mulcahy Conway Associates. They, like us, are committed to finding and supporting talented new writers."
The directors of Mulcahy Conway Associates said: "The market for children's books is very healthy both in the UK and internationally. We are always searching for authors with the potential to have successful long-term careers writing children's books. In recent years we have been very impressed by the work being done at The Northern Writers' Centre and are pleased to have this opportunity of formalising our relationship with them."
To be eligible for the award, writers must be either living and working in the North East of England or past or present students of creative writing at The School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics at Newcastle University. Picture books or illustrated books are not eligible. The closing date for entries is the 31st January 2009. Entry forms and full conditions of entry are available from the Northern Writers' Centre website: www.northernwriterscentre.com.
Mulcahy Conway appoints new agent Laetitia Rutherford
Mulcahy Conway Associates literary agency is pleased to announce that Laetitia Rutherford will join them as a Literary Agent from 1st November 2008.
Laetitia joins the agency after five years at Toby Eady Associates, where she developed her own list of authors whilst working closely with key agency clients. She will bring her diverse list of authors with her, including Ben Obler (Hamish Hamilton), Mandy Haggith (Virgin), Robin Harvie (John Murray), Samson Kambalu (Jonathan Cape), Samia Serageldin (HarperCollins) and Evie Wyld (Jonathan Cape).
Before becoming an agent, Laeitia worked for three years in publicity at Harper Collins, and at Prospect magazine. Her book We of the Future: Apollinaire and the Making of Modernism will be published by Constable in 2009.
Agency directors Ivan Mulcahy and Jonathan Conway said: "We have been looking for the right person to join us and help build the agency's fiction list. Laetitia is the ideal candidate, combining excellent taste and strong editorial skills with commercial instinct."
Ha-Joon Chang's Guardian article: The economics of hypocrisy
Guardian.co.uk,
Monday October 20 2008.
Back in July, the Republican Senator Jim Bunning of Kentucky famously denounced the $200bn nationalisation of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the mortgage lenders, as something that can only happen in a "socialist" country like France.
France was bad enough, but now Senator Bunning's beloved country has turned into the Evil Empire itself. The US government is using $700bn of taxpayers' money to buy up the "toxic assets" choking up the financial system and - horror of the horrors - partially nationalising the US banking system.
President George Bush, however, did not see things quite that way. Announcing the bail-out package, he argued that, rather than being "socialist", the plan was simply a continuation of the American system of free enterprise, which "rests on the conviction that the federal government should interfere in the market place only when necessary". Obviously, in his view, nationalising a huge chunk of the financial sector was one of those "necessary" things....
Click on the link below to see the whole article.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2008/oct/20/economic-policy-us-bailout
The funniest case of brain-freeze I've ever heard about
The funniest case of brain-freeze I've ever heard about.
IT IS A weird thing to say out loud, but I laughed heartily when I recently read a book about a man's incredibly dangerous brain infection that rendered him totally paralysed.
You may think me heartless, but it is one of the funniest books I've ever read. It is called I Think There's Something Wrong With Me. It is described as a comedy trauma and is written by Nigel Smith. This amazing real-life account of his hospital stay and slow progress after his brain shut down was totally hysterical.
I read the whole book in one sitting and the man is now one of my favourite writers.
http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/janeygodley/Janey-Godley-Sick-of-banks.4583867.jp
Nigel Smith longlisted for Spread the Word: Books to Talk About 2009
Nigel Smith's I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH ME has been picked as one of the titles on the Spread the Word: Books to Talk About 2009 longlist. Linked to World Book Day, a new website will be launched on 17th October and will include public voting for the shortlist. The Spread the Word: Books to Talk about Supplement will appear on Firday 23rd January featuring the shortlist supported by GUARDIAN online activity.
www.spread-the-word.org.uk
Tim Etchells play Drama Queens to be staged at Old Vic
The Old Vic is to collaborate with leading international artists Michael Elmgreen and Ingar Dragset to stage a new production of their acclaimed work, Drama Queens (text by Tim Etchells) for a special Gala event on Sunday 12th October, 2008. Drama Queens features six famous sculptures as its protagonists. Trapped on a theatre stage are icons inspired by 20th century art history. A specially cast group of actors, including Old Vic Artistic Director Kevin Spacey, will voice the sculptures, which will be performed live for the first time. All proceeds from this event will go to The Old Vic Theatre Trust Creative Development Programme, including a special new initiative to bring visual artists and theatre practioners together.
VIP Gala Tickets £250
For more information please call +44 (0) 20 7902 7590
http://www.oldvictheatre.com/whatson.php?id=48
Bridget Whelan at LitCamp - A writers' unconference at London Metropolitan University
Bridget Whelan is involved in three sessions at LitCamp - A writers' unconference at London Metropolitan University on Friday 12 September 2008, 11am to 8pm.
11.30am-1pm The first page - Bridget offers a confidence-building session full of imaginative exercises to help prose writers at all levels find inspiration in the ordinary and create characters that live and breathe.
3.30-4.15pm How to make a living while you write - Bridget leads a session on how to earn a living while drafting and revising your magnum opus.
6ish-8pm The Evening Session - An eclectic mix of writers featuring: Paul Ewen, Jay Bernard, Farahad Zama, Vanessa Gebbie, Bridget Whelan, Anne Mullane, Nicholas Hogg, Maggie Butt, Bilal Ghafoor...
http://www.litcamp.org/
Melissa Lane interviewed on prestigious Philosophy Bites
Melissa Lane is interviewed on the prestigious Philosophy Bites podcast series about Rousseau's critique of civilisation.
http://nigelwarburton.typepad.com/philosophy_bites/2008/07/melissa-lane-on.html
The Broken World by Tim Etchells: 'Unmissable'
The Broken World by Time Etchells is Peter Begen's 'I'm Loving' choice in The Bookseller, 18th July 2008. 'This is a subtly constructed and oddly engaging novel... Unmissable.'
10,000 downloads for Davey Spens, the first Costa Coffee Writer-in-Residence
Davey Spens, appointed the first writer-in-residence by Costa Coffee, has now had 10,000 downloads of his short stories, called Frothy Tales, which are being published on his own and the Costa website. Davey is currently finishing his bedut novel, Teach Me To Swim.
http://www.daveyspens.com/costa.html
Alloma Gilbert number 2 on bestseller list
Alloma Gilbert's memoir Deliver Me From Evil reached number 2 on the non-fiction bestseller list in May 2008 and has sold 75,000 copies to date (Bookscan).
Robert Webb stars in West End play
Robert Webb of Mitchell & Webb is currently starring in the West End production of Neil Labute's play Fat Pig.
Trish Deseine second TV series commissioned
A second series of Trish Deseine's Trish's Paris Kitchen has been commissioned by RTE for broadcast in Ireland during 2008.
Excellent reviews for Ian Kelly's Casanova
Excellent reviews for Casanova have appeared in The Times, The Telegraph, The Indpendent, The Daily Mail, The Financial Times and The Spectator. All available online.
Emmanuel Jal July gigs
July 10th: The Black Ball - St John Smith's Square, London
July 12th: Rising Styles Block Party - Old Paddling Pool, Brighton
July 13th: Rise Festival - Africa Village Stage, Finsbury Park, London
Emmanuel Jal at Nelson Mandela concert and the United Nations
Emmanuel Jal performed at Hyde Park on 27th June 2008 to celebrate the 90th birthday of Nelson Mandela, and will take part in Conflict of Interests: Children and Guns in Zones of Instability at the United Nations, New York, on 15th July 2008.
Ian Kelly's Casanova is BBC Radio 4's Book of the Week
Ian Kelly's magisterial new biography Casanova: Actor, Spy, Lover, Priest has been selected as BBC Radio 4's Book of the Week
Bridget Whelan's Good Confession to Severn House
Bridget Whelan's debut novel A Good Confession has been sold to Severn House, who will publish in Christmas 2008. The novel traces Cathleen's relationship with Father Jerry, her dead husband's cousin, and bears comparison with Colleen McCullogh's The Thorn Birds. Bridget began the novel whilst studying for an MA in Creative Writing at Goldsmith's College, London
Book deal for Ellie Levenson's debut
Ellie Levenson's first book The Noughtie Girls' Guide to Feminism has been bought by Oneworld publishers.
Mitchell & Webb sign two-book deal with Fourth Estate
Nigel Smith memoir just published
Leslie Ash memoir just published
New website launched for the publication of "Mirrorscape" by Mike Wilks
http://www.mirrorscape.co.uk
John O'Donoghue's memoir "Sectioned" sold to John Murray at auction