Major launch for Lisa Faulkner's debut cookery book
Congratulations to Lisa Faulkner on the publication of her stunning debut cookery book Recipes from my Mother for my Daughter, the first in a two-book deal with Simon & Schuster. In the week of publication there were 50,000 copies in print.
When Lisa Faulkner won Celebrity MasterChef it was the culmination of an emotional journey that began with her mother's death from cancer when Lisa was 16. Lisa's clearest memories of her mum are of her cooking delicious meals for the family, and in recreating her recipes in this book Lisa is not just keeping her mother's memory alive - she is also able to pass on to her own daughter, Billie, the love of cookery she inherited from her mum.
Lisa's book was published with a serial and selection of recipes in the Daily Mail's Weekend Magazine, and blanket media coverage has followed, from BBC Breakfast to the front cover of Red Magazine.
http://dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-21…
Mum's List reduces Holly Willoughby to tears on This Morning
From the Daily Mail
She's usually known for her vivacious and bubbly nature, her beaming smile a near-permanent fixture as she presents This Morning alongside co-host Philip Schofield.
But caring Holly Willoughby broke down in tears today after hearing a heartbreaking tale of a family rocked by cancer.
The 31-year-old dabbed at her eyes as she listened to guest St John Greene's story of losing his wife Kate at the age of 37 to breast cancer.
St John, known to his friends as Singe, has written a book inspired by Kate's loss.
He landed a £100,000 book deal to publish Kate's list of 100 instructions to guide him through parenting young Finn and Reef without her.
The wish list ranges from 'kiss the boys goodnight x 2' to 'take the boys diving in Belize' and to make sure they 'never smoke'or 'ride a motorbike'.
The mother of two had left a list of things she wanted her young family to do after she was gone.
As she spoke to her guest and his two sons Reef and Finn, Willoughby was unable to control her emotions, and dabbing away her tears, told the boys: 'I'm a very silly lady.'
Her husband has published the story in a book called Mum's List, and there is interest in bringing it to life as a film.
Gone but never forgotten: St John and his late wife Kate Greene on a trip to Disney Land, Florida
He told the ITV1 presenters: 'I was very proud to have her as my other half.'
St John, who is a qualified paramedic and lifeguard, runs a sailing school called Training Saints, which specialises in teaching extreme sports to young people.
Willoughby was still wiping her tears away with a tissue as the interview came to a close, sitting next to the two boys.
She later admitted that the programme's make-up team had to fix her face afterwards.
Slightly abashed at her display of emotion, Holly tweeted after the show: 'Sorry about that! What a wonderful family xxx'
http://dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article…
World Champion Chrissie Wellington's autobiography published in UK
Congratulations to Chrissie Wellington on the publication of her autobiography A Life Without Limits, published in the UK by Constable. US publication by Hachette follows in May.
Chrissie's inspirational story of her journey to become four time ironman triathlon World Champion and World record holder has received huge media attention, including pieces in The Guardian, The Independent, The Financial Times, The Sun and The Express. The Daily Mail wrote: 'What emerges from this book is the portrait of a thoroughly nice woman. Her exceptional qualities have led her to achievements that her readers can scarcely imagine. But she still remains touchingly connected to that ordinary girl from Norfolk. It is a winning combination.'
As well as significant print media coverage, Chrissie has appeared on BBC Radio 4's Saturday Live, and at a number of signings.
The image above shows the queues for her signing at Waterstone's Leadenhall Market.
http://guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/feb/20/…
Mark Townsend shortlisted for the Paul Foot journalism award
The Observer journalist Mark Townsend was nominated for his investigation into modern-day slavery and exploitation of women and children trafficked into the UK. Townsend is credited with prompting a public outcry so great that it influenced the government pledge to support child victims in its proposed anti-human trafficking strategy.
Mark Townsend's new book Point Man tells the story of Kenny Meighan, who was the longest-serving point man in Helmand province. Based on Townsend's own reportage from the war and extensive interviews with Kenny and his family, Point Man vividly conveys the terror and intensity of the life of an ordinary soldier and the heart-wrenching struggle to adjust to civilian life, while exposing the wider political implications of the war. Faber and Faber publish on 5th April 2012.
http://guardian.co.uk/media/2012/feb/21/…
Jonathan Cape buys second Wyld novel
Jonathan Cape has acquired a second novel from the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize-winning author Evie Wyld.
Senior editor Alex Bowler acquired UK and Commonwealth rights to Wyld's All the Birds, Singing from Laetitia Rutherford at Mulcahy Conway Associates, and will publish in February 2013.
The book tells the story of damaged Australian sheep farmer Jake who has started life again on an English hill farm, yet is still haunted by the traumas of his early life.
Bowler said: "Very simply, Evie wrote a truly beautiful debut novel, has now written a glorious second, and will continue to write addictively beautiful books for a very long time to come—it's a thrill to be able to work with someone so gifted."
Wyld's first novel After the Fire, A Still Small Voice won both the John Llewelyn Rhys Prize in 2009 and the Betty Trask Award in 2010, and was shortlisted for the Orange New Writers Prize and IMPAC Dublin Literary Award. She was recently picked as one of the 12 Best New British Writers by BBC2's "The Culture Show".
Pan Mac wins 'Dragons' Den' memoir
Pan Macmillan is delighted to announce they will be publishing Hilary Devey’s autobiography in spring 2012. Editorial director Ingrid Connell acquired the book from Jonathan Conway, of Mulcahy Conway Associates, in a heated auction that involved ten publishers.
Hilary Devey is an award-winning businesswoman who took Britain by storm when she appeared on the BBC’s Dragon’s Den in autumn 2011, with her unique style, gravelly voice and warm down-to-earth manner. She has not talked in any depth about her life but now she’s ready to tell the full story of the girl from Bolton whose talent, resilience and determination have seen her overcome devastating hardships in her personal life and numerous obstacles in her business career. With no financial backing, she battled to set up a revolutionary haulage business, taking Pall-Ex from tiny beginnings to a company with an annual turnover in excess of £100 million, and which has now expanded into Europe.
Ingrid Connell commented: ‘Hilary’s story is extraordinary – powerful, moving and funny. I love the material I’ve seen so far and I know the finished book will be as inspirational as the woman herself.’
Hilary Devey commented: “Writing this book has brought back so many memories, and I have to say it’s been one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I hope that readers will enjoy the account of my professional and personal journey from a tough Bolton childhood to being the new girl in the Dragons’ Den. But this isn’t going to be a ‘Look what I did so you can too’ book, because not everyone can. And not everyone should try. Building a business from scratch brings huge rewards but there are sacrifices too and I’m not going to soft soap what they are.”
http://thebookseller.com/news/pan-mac-wi…
Helen Berry's The Castrato and His Wife longlisted for the Longman-History Today Book of the Year Award
Congratulations to Helen Berry whose book The Castrato and His Wife has been longlisted for the Longman-History Today Book of the Year Award. Helen's book was published to exceptional reviews, and was recently Book of the Week on BBC Radio 4.
The award is organised jointly by the publishers Longman and History Today to foster a wider understanding of, and enthusiasm for, history. A prize of £2,000 is given for an author’s first or second book, written in English, on any aspect of history. The winning book will have contributed significantly to making its subject accessible and rewarding to the general reader of history and will display innovative research and interpretation in its field. Books must have been published during the year October 1st, 2010 to September 30th, 2011.
A shortlist will be announced in December.
http://historytoday.com/blog/2011/11/lon…
© Mulcahy Conway Associates Ltd, 2012
