Blog
What an Art Editor buys off Amazon…
16 July, 2009
I am, and always have been, an internet binge shopper: I won’t buy anything for months but then I’ll log on to some site (Amazon being the one-stop port of call of choice at the moment) and test my credit card for endurance over a couple of hours, usually during a rainy afternoon. So, during […]
I chose the wrong job
15 July, 2009
I should have been a Computer Animator. How cool would it be to spend your working day creating something like this? (View with sound on.) My 10-month-year old nephew can just about stand up on his two little legs whilst holding precariously onto the coffee table – and we are so proud. If only I […]
Who ever said typesetting was easy?
13 July, 2009
I am struggling with the typesetting of one of our upcoming titles. There are so many ways to layout a recipe book and deciding on the right format is a bit of a nightmare. The margins aren’t working, some recipes fit the page so neatly, others have just one line that flows on to the […]
Happy Green Britain Day!
10 July, 2009
Today is Green Britain Day – a day to get together to do one green thing for the planet. Can’t say it started off well for me. In the process of making my first cup of tea in the office this morning, I opened the cupboard and proceeded to get hit in the face by […]
An evening with Matt Lucas and other nice freebies
9 July, 2009
Ah, how nice to enjoy a freebie in these very credit crunchie times (there must be a better adjective than that for the current climate, that makes me think of breakfast cereal). Last night I was one of about 90 lucky people who got free tickets to watch a recording of a new comedy panel […]
This July it’s all about crime…
8 July, 2009
No, I’m not talking about knife-wielding hoodies – I’m talking about crime fiction. There’s a lot to look out for this month so here’s a list for all you crime-fiction fans out there… 1. This Friday 10th July – Sandi Toksvig will be investigating the mysterious lure of crime fiction on BBC TV’s The One […]
Flippin’ heck, free copy of Flipping Out (signed to you!) up for grabs
7 July, 2009
Flipping Out, the new book in the acclaimed Lomax and Biggs crime series by Marshall Karp is out now. It follows The Rabbit Factory and Bloodthirsty and if I had a pound for every critic, blogger and reader that has raved about these books, well, I’d have paid for a nice holiday in Bermuda by […]
The post-wimbledon slump
6 July, 2009
After past two weeks of Wimbledon-mania, today feels a bit – well, blah. For one, I’m still feeling a bit forlorn over the fact Roddick lost to Federer in the final. He SO deserved to win the match – for all of Federer’s talents, I do think he was lucky this time. Plus, even though […]
Photos from The Hidden Dance launch
3 July, 2009
I promised you I’d soon be posting some pictures from last week’s launch of The Hidden Dance, by British actress Susan Wooldridge at Hatchard’s. And what better day to do so than the day Susan graces the stage as Lady B in the new production of The Importance of Being Earnest – opening tonight (previews) […]
Meeting Richard Jay Parker
2 July, 2009
Too much of our day is spent looking at our computer screens, having conversations with authors, agents, printers, reviewers and retailers by email. Efficient it may be, but sometimes you miss hearing a voice, seeing an expression. It can tell you so much about a person. So, after months of email chat, it was an […]
Happy Canada Day!
1 July, 2009
I have to admit I wouldn’t have known it was Canada Day were it not for all the tweets about it. But considering I’ve often been mistaken for a Canadian because of my mid-Atlantic accent (which comes from growing up in Europe with an American mother) I am taking the opportunity to spread the cheer […]
How I got to see Hewitt, Roddick and Murray yesterday…
30 June, 2009
I was not in the office yesterday. I was at Wimbledon. I made the executive decision to take the day off and together with my boyfriend, Anthony, I set off at noon on Sunday to camp out for tickets. When we arrived at the queue we knew we’d already missed out on Centre Court (only […]
A doubly memorable evening
26 June, 2009
Yesterday evening, we had the pleasure of celebrating the launch of actress Susan Wooldridge‘s debut novel The Hidden Dance at Hatchard’s. It was a wonderful and star-studded affair, and it was of course a special delight to be mingling with literary celebrities and marvellous actors I’ve watched on film and TV screens over the years. […]
Top Brit thriller writers touring UK airports
25 June, 2009
Just came back from a Publishing Publicity Circle (PPC) meeting with various editors from the Observer including Jane Ferguson on the Review, Oliver Marre on the Books Desk (standing in for Books Editor Will Skidelsky – where were you, Will? I was hoping to finally meet you in person), and Louise, editor of the Woman […]
Proof that gym is not good for you.
24 June, 2009
Today’s a little cooler than yesterday and I felt it was just about comfortable enough to hit the gym – I’ve been rather lazy of late and it’s starting to show. So, after my workout and feeling absolutely exhausted I headed for the change rooms. But it seems someone had a more hectic session than […]
The inside scoop from Wimbledon
22 June, 2009
Today is the first day of this year’s Wimbledon Tennis Championship. I happen to live in Wimbledon and this weekend I passed Jamie Murray in the vegetable aisle at Sainsbury’s. I thought it was Andy at first, but then noticed the bigger hair. Anyway, he was chatting to a man I can only assume was […]
Beauty talk
19 June, 2009
I’ve just had a lovely tea with Australian beauty guru Tali Shine (of Tali Shine Cosmetics for Girls on the Go) who is friends with another Australian beauty guru, Zoë Foster, the author of the debut chick-lit novel Air Kisses we’re publishing this August. (My, that was a mouthful.) And may I digress for a […]
A couple of reasons why a person might buy a magazine
18 June, 2009
On Tuesday I got to the office early to find I had left my office keys at home. I hate moments like this. There I am, crouching by the front door, swearing profusely at myself, with the entire contents of my A&B bag strewn across the pavement – it’s not a pretty sight. Then some […]
A must-see for art lovers
17 June, 2009
The celebrated British artist Keith Coventry held a private view of his work last night at Haunch of Venison in Mayfair which I was lucky enough to attend. I particularly loved his Echoes of Albany series which takes as its inspiration the mysterious Albany apartments in Burlington Gardens which have been home to numerous distinguished […]
Summer events
15 June, 2009
Summer is upon us and after the hibernation of a long and snowy winter, so is the party season! It’s one weekend after the other of birthdays, weddings, hen nights, baby showers and just-becauses. And then there’s the work parties… The lovely Victoria Connelly popped in to the office last week. She’s very excited about […]
Mad for Muddy Boots & Silk Stockings!
12 June, 2009
I write this blog in haste because I probably have about another 5 minutes before the phone starts ringing again. Today, from the moment we stepped into the office, we’ve been inundated with calls from readers wanting to buy a copy of Muddy Boots & Silk Stockings, by Julia Stoneham which featured in this month’s […]