Blog
What’s your favourite first line?
10 May, 2012
There seems to be a trend in the book world lately for ‘best first lines’. I first came across this article from the Guardian listing ten of the best opening lines, including of course ‘It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of […]
Wednesday Cover Story: A taste of Unrest for Rachel Caine
9 May, 2012
This bank holiday Monday, I spent the day with Morganville Vampire author Rachel Caine and her husband Cat, as they headed to the next stops on the Black Dawn Book Tour. We had a lovely booksigning at Waterstones Oxford, had planned to enjoy a pub lunch at The Turf Tavern (wonderfully signposted with the strapline […]
Bookswapping in central London
4 May, 2012
I’m usually the most oblivious person to trends and news, my dose of what’s going on in the world is most likely to be gleaned from a Thursday or Friday night flip through The Evening Standard. So, it’s with some trepidation that for the second week running, I give you lucky, literary-loving people a hot […]
If only we had DogBooks instead…
3 May, 2012
In yesterdays Stylist I came across the story about the launch of DogTV. Quite literally, TV for Dogs. Yes, that’s right, a digital channel broadcasting programmes specifically for pooches. It is a known and depressingly accepted fact that we, humans, spend far too much time sitting in front of the TV. We have a child […]
Wednesday Cover Story: The Marriage Plot
2 May, 2012
When I first came across The Marriage Plot (in the form of a very large poster in the London Underground) I thought, ‘Here we go, another cover design trying to ride on the back of One Day‘s success’. They had blown up the silhouette of the girl and the boy on the poster for a […]
My Top 5 Funny Books (to cheer you up in this weather)
1 May, 2012
It won’t stop raining, the news is full of corrupt politicians and press moguls, and apparently we’ve sunk into a double-dip recession. At this point, I think we all need cheering up. So it seems the time is right for my top five funny books, to keep you chuckling as you take refuge from the […]
Notes from the weekend press
30 April, 2012
The abysmal weather made it a particularly good day to sit indoors reading the weekend papers and on Saturday it was lovely to see two pieces about Allison & Busby authors, Jessica Mann and Michael Bond. In Saturday’s Guardian, Jessica Mann – author of the bestelling non-fiction book about child evacuees Out of Harm’s Way, […]
Not an average day in the office
27 April, 2012
Two hours ago we got a text from A&B editor, Lara Crisp (currently on maternity leave) which read, “You all ok? Just seen the news.” Which, of course, prompted us to suddenly notice the sound of a helicopter above us, stop whatever we were doing and to check Twitter (#TCR) and the BBC News online […]
Would you like a hat à la Maisie Dobbs?
26 April, 2012
Last week, Jacqueline Winspear (author of the acclaimed Maisie Dobbs mystery series) came into the office for lunch and to sign copies of her new hardback A Lesson in Secrets. As I passed watched her sign the pile of books, I caught myself thinking (as I looked at the drawing of Maisie Dobbs on the […]
Wednesday Cover Story: Where would you find Barnard’s mansion?
25 April, 2012
A few days ago, reader John Milner from Essex, submitted this review about Mansion and Its Murder, by Robert Barnard and the following comment about the cover: ‘An enjoyable book, mainly as a result of the highly unusual life, personal and professional, given to the main character and narrator. A deft touch with the changing […]
“Lurverly books, two for a paaand”
24 April, 2012
Shockingly bad Mockney accent à la Dick Van Dyke aside, I am the bearer of great news. The news being of a brand new, Sunday market for new and second hand books. “Oooooo” I hear you coo, and rightly so. There’s something lovely about picking up fruit, veg, flowers etc from an outdoor market (weather […]
It’s UK Coffee Week!
23 April, 2012
These days every week of the year seems to have some kind of special theme – and this week, I’ve discovered, is UK Coffee Week. My first thought was that it’s probably all organised by Starbucks in an attempt to herd more highly-caffeinated commuters into their stores, but when I checked the UK Coffee Week […]
More reflections on LBF2012
20 April, 2012
London is a great city. It’s even greater when there aren’t hailstones bouncing off your head and you aren’t being eviscerated by pointy elbows on the tube, but that’s beside the point. In a similar way, the London Book Fair is a great gathering of bookish minds made superlative when you remember to grab a […]
Quotes from a day at the London Book Fair
19 April, 2012
So yesterday was my day at the London Book Fair – a slightly more subdued experience than usual given it was the first time I had attended on the last day of the fair. You can feel a palpapal difference on the last day. The fair kicks off with a buzz of adrenalin (something akin […]
Marking the 100th anniversary of the Titanic tragedy
17 April, 2012
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, and many of you may have watched the commemorations this past Sunday morning (the ship hit the iceberg at 23.50 on 14 April 1912). There are plenty of things marking the centenary, including the launch of The RMS Titanic Centenary £5 coin, the […]
Personal picks from the upcoming World Shakespeare Festival
16 April, 2012
Earlier in the year I mentioned the World Shakespeare Festival, which forms part of the ‘cultural Olympiad’ taking place across the UK. Now, as the beginning of the Festival nears – it launches on 23rd April – there’s much more information available on the events. Below are a few of my highlights (see here for […]
A lighter note on gender equality…
13 April, 2012
Gender equality remains a constant topic of discussion and debate. Last month the Insitute for Public Policy Research revealed that women still do more houswork than men, this week’s Stylist ran a feature on the gender gap including how women get paid less for the same job (Women: Is it time to strike?) and recently […]
Exploring Chinese publishing
12 April, 2012
Next week publishers across London will be flocking to Earl’s Court to attend the London Book Fair. Each year the LBF chooses a country for its ‘Market Focus‘ programme, with the aim of establishing international publishing links. This year the chosen market is China. Until I did a little reading, I have to say that […]
Sneak peek: New look for Charlie Fox
11 April, 2012
This summer sees the launch of the new paperback in Zoë Sharp‘s Charlie Fox series, Fifth Victim. And with this new release comes a brand new look for the cover. Our heroine, Charlie – ex-Special Forces soldier turned bodyguard – continues to excite critics and readers in the know, who constantly proclaim her to be […]
Space to read / advertising space
10 April, 2012
Anyone who spends time on Facebook will have an inkling of the way targeted advertising is headed. One small tweak of a relationship status and you’ll find your page overflowing with ad boxes for bridal hair, hen party ideas and rings. I understand that FB isn’t slow on the uptake when new parents use the […]
COOK(ing the)BOOKS…
5 April, 2012
In a week where we’ve had book-sized blocks of chocolate everywhere around the office (see Sara’s post), I now have come across a mention of an actual edible cookbook in my Emerald Street email. Click on the picture below and click through to see the stages of ‘composition’. How utterly wonderful is that? It has […]
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