Blog
Save the libraries
25 November, 2010
None of us are going to escape the budget cuts but one of the saddest consequences is the effect this is going to have on libraries nationwide. As Joan Bakewell recently explored in her column for the BBC , how can the ‘happiness index’ research the government is undertaking conclude that taking away the opportunity […]
Wednesday Cover Story: The 3D Effect
24 November, 2010
No matter what kind of cover design is chosen for a book, the goal is for it to stand out. And this clever design has taken that goal very seriously…and indeed literally, with a brilliant 3D effect. I take my hat off to the designer who has managed to make a striking cover out of […]
Here comes the bride and book tie-in
22 November, 2010
So, Will and Kate are getting hitched, yawn. Predictable as the announcement was, along with the ridiculous wall-to-wall news coverage, so was the rush to cash in. For those of you interested (I won’t think less of you…much), you can get a bargain version of the engagement ring and while there’s a bit of a […]
Really get into Get Carter…
19 November, 2010
Spotted in this morning’s Metro – an ad for a special viewing of Get Carter, the classic cult film starring Michael Caine. A title which always catches my eye since it is based on the novel by Ted Lewis which, I can proudly say, we publish. The special screening will take place on 2nd Dec […]
Dedicated to…
18 November, 2010
Have you ever wondered who is behind the dedications that authors add to their books? And who would you mention if you were to publish a book? I’ve often thought about it and always enjoy hearing the stories associated with the named individuals. So, it’s with very great pleasure, that I introduce young Imogen Rose […]
Wednesday Cover Story: Making a ‘serious’ statement with statues
17 November, 2010
Statues are a recurring feature in cover designs for modern classics, or books which want to position themselves as such in my mind. There was the cover I chose among a few different editions when buying a copy of Donna Tartt’s The Secret History, which perfectly suits the story superficially (a group of students brought […]
In search of the innovative bookshelf (bookshelf series, 2)
16 November, 2010
Following my recent bookshelf-building exploits, and the fact that I’m still short of space, I’ve been on the hunt for innovative ideas as to how I could store more books in my flat. And there are plenty of interesting ideas out there, albeit some more useful than others (considering a few assume you must reside […]
Vote for creativity!
15 November, 2010
Did you know that last week London hosted Internet Week, Europe? No, me neither. But apparently, around the city, events were taking place with such fascinating names as: Protein Forum: Data Visualisation, Urban Computing and the Virtual Goods Summit. Most interesting though was a workshop where the talents of 10 year old kids were pitched […]
And what if we could trade places…
12 November, 2010
Today, after emailing a reader who bought one of our books, I was greeted with this charming response: ‘You’re obviously not the daughter of Commissario Brunetti in the Donna Leon novels!‘ He was, of course, referring to Chiara Brunetti – whose Christian name I share. Ah, if only I could say that I was indeed […]
Wednesday Cover Story: Popular images…
10 November, 2010
In The Bookseller last week, it was noted that The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, by Mary Ann Shaffer and Anne Barrows and The Island, by Victoria Hislop used the same image of the pale-skinned brunette on their covers. The image in question is obviously a popular choice as we too considered using […]
A walk on the Sunnyside
9 November, 2010
My most recent read from the inter-office library system (read: box of jumbled books behind my desk) was Sunnyside by David Glen Gold. A really interesting, if slightly unwieldy, story set in America during the Great War. One of the (many) strands follows Charlie Chaplin; his life, his relationships, his neuroses, and his movies at […]
Battle of the Bookshelf (bookshelf series, 1)
8 November, 2010
This Sunday, I spent the day building IKEA bookshelves. Two Billy bookshelves to be precise, in the way all IKEA instructions inevitably are. (Love those Swedes – even I feel DIY worthy. Tack very much.) Basically, there comes a point were you can no longer choose to send a book to Oxfam in order to […]
Friday fun…and a reason not to hate Mondays.
5 November, 2010
I’m usually depressed at the number of adverts I see on the tube which generally project the image that we are all leading very unsatisfactory lives. It would seem that the majority of us need more sleep (Take Pro-Plus!), need more energy (Red Bull Gives you Wings!), need a holiday (shot of the Maldives with […]
Halloween has gone, but zombies are here to stay…
4 November, 2010
Sweeney Todd, Mrs Lovett, Cruella De Vil and Where’s Wally (that was me, simplicity being paramount in my costume choice) were just some of the people who gathered on Saturday night to celebrate a good friend’s birthday (Mrs Lovett’s of course). Among the tasty treats were pies with fingers sticking out of them (read, sausages), […]
Wednesday Cover Story: The secret behind Every Secret Thing
3 November, 2010
How does a girl from a Northampton indie rock band end up on the cover of a Canadian author’s book? By chance? Or cosmic choice? It is a question that has arisen following our reissue of Every Secret Thing – with a new cover below: We settled for the photograph of this particular woman because […]
Simple step by step instructions…
2 November, 2010
I’m not terribly confident at reading recipes. For some reason, I have a mental block when it comes to absorbing the entire recipe in one go and literally have to check every word as I go along, terrified I’m going to miss a crucial step or ingredient and end up with something inedible. I fare […]
Everyone wants a little Happiness At Work…
28 October, 2010
Tomorrow marks the opening of a new exhibition at the Print House Gallery in Dalston, featuring work by past and present members of the studio Happiness At Work, and including work from illustrator Harriet Russell… She also happens to be one of our authors… ‘Author of what book?’, I hear you ask… Author of Envelopes: […]
Wednesday Cover Story: Pink is only for girls…?
27 October, 2010
There are two books in my house which stand out on our livingroom bookshelf for the mere fact that they are – pink. One is the book One Hundred Shades of White, by Preethi Nair – with a beautiful hardback cover that evokes the vibrant colours of Indian saris… and yes, that luscious pink, inequivocally […]
An Olympic Job?
25 October, 2010
As I go back and forth each day out of Liverpool Street station I have seen the stadium for London 2012 taking shape. I’ve been more interested in the progress of the Aquatics centre myself, as a regular(ish) paddler, and because it looks like it’s going to be a very cool building. What I’m not […]
Halloween starts October 23rd…
21 October, 2010
I know it’s over a week until the 31st but in London at least, Halloween’s starting early…specifically in my case on Saturday 23rd October. I’ve already marked the date for Dr Dale‘s return to London with his hit comedy-seminar How to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse RELOADED – back at the Riverside Studios in Hammersmith this […]
Wednesday Cover Story: Revamping the Republic
20 October, 2010
The acclaimed Republic trilogy, by Jack Ludlow – including The Pillars of Rome (a Top Ten bestseller), The Sword of Revenge and The Gods of War – has been a great success for us. Now the Romans are getting a revamp and so far, the first two books in the trilogy have been released with […]
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