Being half-Italian, I do love my olive oil. Give me some bread to soak it up with and I pretty much down the stuff. Give me a rich extra virgin olive oil – be it Greek, Spanish, Italian (I’ve also been seeing a lot of oils from Israel lately which I will have to try) […]
We’ve showcased The LIterary Gift Company on this blog before – and rightly so, as it presents such a lovely array of inspiring gifts for book lovers. One of the things they offer are posters of book jackets, and amongst them the very stylish poster (so stylish that it was actually spotlighted in Stylist magazine’s […]
Yesterday this little note popped through my letterbox. Clearly someone forward-thinking little soul has been staying up past their bedtime and watching The Apprentice. And to have embarked on such a venture on the first day of school holidays is particularly impressive. Unfortunately though, whoever’s behind this enterprise has neglected to include their business card […]
When I was a young, impressionable teenager and had dozily watched ‘Summer Holiday’ on a lazy Saturday afternoon, I was seized by the idea of how cool it would be to convert a bus and live in it. The open road, the panoramic views, Cliff Richard… ahem. Somehow this idea seemed exotically cool while the […]
We already knew that Susie’s brother, Rob Dunlop, was a talented man. A freelance web designer, editor and writer (he wrote the story for the popular Tozzer comics) he also happens to be a talented photographer (for the Rob Dunlop Photography facebook page click here). He’s made quite a name for himself photographing weird and […]
A few weeks ago, I was thrown a surprise baby shower, complete with an inventive Alice in Wonderland Mad Hatters’ theme. Not only were the amazingly colourful foodstuffs decorated with ‘Eat me’ and ‘Drink Me’ instruction labels but everyone was in a wacky hat or white rabbit ears, drinking suspicious-looking punch out of mismatched teacups. […]
Last night I had the pleasure of attending the annual crime extravaganza, Bodies in the Bookshop at Heffers in Cambridge – which we were delighted to sponsor this year. The event attracts a plethora of established and exciting debut authors, who like moths to a flame, come flocking to the bookshop every year to meet […]
This weekend I strolled along the Southbank which is celebrating the Festival of Britain and the atmosphere was buzzing. There’s a beach bar, a small fun fair, a temporary mini croquet court, a sandpit for children to play in along a good portion of the waterfront railing, and on the Queen’s Walk (infront of the […]
The Guardian have done something of a real public service, in my humble opinion, with their recent article on the best summer reads and where to read them. We’re now in the thick of that time of year when, whether it’s your Kindle or your suitcase you’re filling with books, some recommendations don’t go amiss. […]
Last night I simply could not sleep. I was extremely and unequivocably tired, and yet I could not sleep. After almost three hours of tossing, huffing and turning in bed, picture me at about 1.30am, curled up on the couch with my LED Book Light (nifty little thing), a blanket and a World Book Night […]
Saturday 6th August, 1.00pm WATERSTONE’S, BLACKPOOL Come and meet local author Margaret Thornton who will be signing copies of her new book Time Goes By as well as her other books at Waterstone’s, The Tower Shopping Centre, Bank Hey Street, Blackpool FY1 1QN. For more information call the bookshop on 0843 290 8157.
Following on from the huge success of the Morganville Vampire series, we have been searching for other worthy addition to our YA list. So I’m delighted to announce that we have recently signed up the brilliant writing pair of Yvonne Collins and Sandy Rideout! We will be publishing the hugely entertaining LOVE INC. in September […]
Posh has called her newborn daughter Harper Seven… Never underestimate the Beckhams; who’d have thought To Kill a Mockingbird was one of their favourite books? My own baby-naming task is coming up, and while I don’t have the celebrity or financial clout to allow my poor child to bribe the would-be bullies who would tease […]
I’m a fan of most technology and the internet (having the word ‘Digital’ in your job title does tend to demand that) particularly when it saves me time, money and inconvenience. Ordering groceries online – check – saving me from an interminable route around the supermarket on a Saturday morning, sidestepping toddlers and cutting the […]
Get yer eye-patch, stuffed parrot and wooden leg out – it’s time to talk PIRATES. We know many of you are anxiously waiting for the next installment in the Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes series by Laurie R King, and you won’t have to wait too long. Pirate King (which sees Russell investigating the criminal […]
The School of Survival’s hit cult seminar How to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse has won the coveted FREAK award for Best International Show at the Hollywood Fringe Festival. The show will be hitting the Edinburgh Fringe this year for the last time with a final seminar: THE END IS NIGH.
It’s the middle of the working week, I didn’t win the Euromillions yesterday and the clouds over London are threatening to ruin the bout of summery weather we’ve been having, and so I feel it’s time to cheer things up with some fun and games and a chance to have you win some free books! […]
One of our lovely authors, Susanna Kearsley has just returned from the Romance Writers of America (RWA) conference – a week-long event, which this year was held in New York. She’s reassured me she’s still in one piece despite a no-doubt gruelling schedule of socialising with other like-minded romance authors. (If you are interested in […]
Wednesday 13th July, 2.00pm – 3.00pm JEDBURGH LIBRARY Come and meet crime writer Alanna Knight who will be talking about her writing including her new release The Seal King Murders, and signing copies of her books at Jedburgh Library, 15 Castlegate, Jedburgh, TD8 6AS. For more information contact the library on 01835 863 592.
Saturday 27th August, 12noon WATERSTONE’S, LANCASTER Come and meet Anna Dean, author of the delightful Dido Kent mystery series, who will be signing copies of her books, including the new paperback release A Woman of Consequence at Waterstones, 4-6, Cornmarket, Marketgate, Lancaster, LA1 1AL. FOr more information call the bookshop on 01524 842561.
Former Allison & Busby author Francis King passed away on 3 July at the age of 88. He was the author of over 30 novels and many short stories, including ‘Ash on an Old Man’s Sleeve’, ‘Dead Letters’ and the short story collection ‘A Hand at the Shutter’.