Legend Press

Here or There author makes school homecoming

We send our authors out to lots of events and while it can be initially unnerving and difficult to openly discuss something that is so personal, all do a great job. Though I think it was with extra trepidation that Rebecca Strong, author of the fantastic Here or There, answered the call from her old school to return and speak to the students. After all there can be few tougher audiences than a school, particularly one you went to yourself before becoming an author.

Luckily, and unsurprisingly to us, the event went extremely well and Rebecca's novel proved a big hit (click for write-up). Additionally, both students and teachers commented on how inspiring it was to hear Rebecca talk and listen to her story. Well done to Rebecca, and we may have to do some research on all the writers' schools now to arrange a 'back to school' type tour.

In the meantime, order a copy of the great novel yourself and report back your own thoughts:

Buy now £7.99

Tom

Queer Fish author profile on Waterstone's

With the hotly-tipped Queer Fish in God's Waiting Room hitting the shops this Saturday 2nd February, the excellent Waterstone's website has further pushed the book by posting a profile page on Queer Fish author Lee Henshaw.

Lee, recently named in 'The Future 500 Rising Stars' by The Observer, reveals more on his successful background, including founding Way to Blue, now the largest online press and promotions company in Europe, and also his reading likes and dislikes in a question and answer session.

With the novel just days away from launch, comedian Dom Joly describing it as 'Like some stoned new Kerouac, simply brilliant', order your copy now.

Tom

Queer Fish off to a flying start...

We had a fantastic launch party for Lee Henshaw's Queer Fish in God's Waiting Room last night. We were lucky enough to hold it at the very cool Riflemaker Art Gallery on Beak Street, Soho, which is an amazing building -- an gun maker's house dating back to 1712. The orginal wooden floors and dimly-lit small rooms, coupled with the striking modern art on display, made a very fitting venue for the launch of such a quirky book.

Much sparkly stuff was consumed (by me too I'm afraid, even though I was serving it!) and after a brilliant reading and short talk, Lee signed the very first copies for guests. Thanks to everyone who came along, it was great to see you there.

If you couldn't make it but like the idea of a signed copy then we can arrange that for you, complete with personalised message. It will only cost you £1 more than the RRP for the book. Not bad eh?

Queer Fish in God's Waiting Room   
by Lee Henshaw
‘Like some stoned new Kerouac, simply brilliant...’ Dom Joly.
ORDER NOW £6.99           Buy signed copy for £1 extra

                                 

And of course it will also be in shops from Saturday, including in Waterstone's and Borders' multibuy offers, so you won't be able to miss it!

Emma

'Too enthralling to put down' - Salt & Honey

I was delighted to see this morning that Juliet Doyle has posted an amazing review of Salt & Honey by Candi Miller on her great Musings from a Muddy Island blog.

Juliet describes how the African-set novel, featuring Koba, a young Bushgirl displaced from her Kalahari desert-tribe, 'contrived to transport me into a vast world of enormous beauty, terrible horrors and, for me at least, discovery on many levels, and its effect as 'really quite overwhelming'.

Its is a wonderful review and well worth a full read. If you haven't already bought, borrowed, read by any means a copy of Salt & Honey then I suggest you do so immediately. It's a truly memorable book and deserves to be read by everyone. Just click on the link below to order:

Buy now £7.99

Tom

News at Legend Press

For once sad news as, after much consideration, Emma will be leaving Legend Press mid-February. She has been offered a fantastic job at the UK headquarters of the NGO organisation she worked for previously, Riders For Health, involved in developmental work in Africa. She did say she would do both jobs if she possibly could (which isn't possible - I checked) but it's a great opportunity and a very important job and so she goes with the absolute full support of everyone involved with Legend Press and I wish her luck, which she won't need as she's (sometimes annoyingly) brilliant at everything.

Emma is still keen to help out where she can and will always now be an official Legend. We will be looking to recruit shortly, a role at a very exciting time for the company, and full details to be released shortly.

Emma will be hugely missed professionally (again, brilliant) and also personally (fantastic working together and realised the other day we had known each other for nearly ten years..) -- she has played a vital role at a key time for Legend Press and we wouldn't be where we are without her. There have been some tough and challenging times as the company has looked to survive and grow starting out with no capital and in one of toughest markets for a business start-up, but we will hopefully look back on the last 15 months as the most important time in Legend Press's history in which Emma has played an absolutely vital part. I look forward to her continued support which I'll know she'll offer and, I'm sure also from the many authors and others she has tirelessly helped, thanks again.

Anyway, not used to being nice to her but deserves more than a few words in this case. And will be a very good leaving party.

Tom

More Coles coverage

William Coles and his fantastic novel The Well-Tempered Clavier seem to be in the papers more that Pete Docherty these days. Which would appear to be some achievement. Latest in the publicity sweep of the country is a full feature in the Southern Daily Echo. Included is a mention of the many celebrity experiences Mr Coles had as a journalist and also further suggestion as to which 'high-profile' person the novel may well be based on...

Copies are still flying off the shelves and so if you haven't already done so, I recommend you order immediately this 'searing story':

The Well-Tempered Clavier
by William Coles

Buy now £7.99

Number three in 'The Short Story Reinvented' series

We are delighted to announce that Eight Hours, the third in our short story series, will be launching at the end of March.

We had hundreds and hundreds of remarkably strong entries and had the extremely hard task of whittling them down to just eight. We'll look forward to giving readers of this blog some sneak previews as the launch date gets nearer and nearer and we'll be arranging some exciting events around the country too, as well as being very involved with the upcoming 'Get London Reading' project.

I'd like to take this opportunity to welcome six new faces to the growing team of Legend Press authors and also to welcome back two of our short story writers from previous collections.

So - a warm welcome to Daniel Gothard, Hilary Lloyd, Kevin Chandler, C L Raven, Nick Tylor and Jackie Blissett. And an equally warm welcome back to Josie Henley-Einion and Emma Seaman, it's great to be working with you both again.

Eight Hours looks set to be a fabulous collection, the fact that each of the eight stories take place in just one hour gives the collection a very immediate, almost 'real-time' effect -- though Jack Bauer doesn't make any appearances here (I'm referring to the hit series 24 in case anyone was wondering?!).

As I say, more details will follow soon and the book will be available to pre-order shortly too. Exciting stuff! And if you'd like to wet your appetite by reading the first two books in the series then just click on the links below and we'll get them sent to you. And if you want to take advantage of our short fiction offer in our January Sale and get them both at a reduced rate, you've got a few more days to do that too!

Emma

Seven Days
published in February 2007

Buy now £7.99

The Remarkable Everyday
published in October 2006

Buy now £7.99

Buy the Short Fiction Gift Set NOW   Special offer for just £10.99 

A crucial click of a button

Sorry to keep going about this but below is part of an email I just received from the World Book Day 'Spread the Word campaign' organisers. Read it and you'll understand just how crucial your vote is. Winning something like this would be a massive coup for a small independent press. Massive. Please please please vote now to give Salt & Honey the best chance possible.

Click here, register, go to 'See books', press 'Where in the world', select 'Africa', and then find S&H on the page ready and waiting for you to cast your vote. It's that simple!

Emma

Dear Publisher

There are less than 24 hours in which to vote in this first round.  Much has changed in the last week, with a healthy flurry of votes.

I will be in touch with those of you who have titles in the StW Books to Talk About Top Ten shortlist tomorrow afternoon, after the vote has closed at noon sharp.

Please note that voting is currently very tight at the lower end of the Ten, with only six votes between eight titles competing for positions nine and ten.

Just 24 hours left to vote - do it, do it now!!!!!!

At Noon on Friday (tomorrow) voting closes on World Book Day's 100 Books to Talk About. We'd had a fantastic response but desperately want to announce tomorrow that the magnificent Africa-set Salt & Honey by Candi Miller has made the top ten!

Just click here, quickly register and then make your all-important vote!! Salt & Honey is the third book down when you search under 'where in the world' and select Africa.

From all the comments its seems to have deservedly gained great recognition but every vote is needed to make that top ten (books which will be promoted nationwide and make up a major part of World Book Day, which we'd love to have a key part of).

So, if you haven't already there's no excuse, we need your votes, please just take a couple of minutes out to support the author, the book and us - much appreciated about will hopefully, hopefully lead to good news tomorrow!

Tom

PS it goes without saying to also pass onto others to vote as well - even more huge appreciation!

Two bestselling authors...well shortly

As some may know, our author, one William Coles of The Well-Tempered Clavier brilliance, is also a successful journalist and worked for a number of years as a 'hack', in Bill's words, for The Sun. And here is a picture from that time (a pleasing moment from the 'cat and cream'-esque look on the face of Mr Coles) and many may recognise one Jordan (now AKA Katie Price) on the immediate left of Bill.

Glamour model, TV series, perfumes and bestselling author - she has done very well for herself and hopefully on at least one of those counts William Coles will be joining her shortly. I am assuming it will be as a bestselling author due to his brilliant writing but then you never know what plans Bill may have in front of him!

Tom

Lee teams up with hip-hop artist for exclusive mp3 recording -- listen to it now!

If you want to get a sneaky taster of the hot new book you've been hearing lots about, then here's your chance. Just a simple click of this link and you will be transported to the surreal world of Queer Fish:

Download queer_fish_in_gods_waiting_room.mp3

Lee got together with hip-hop artist Akira the Don who provided the music as a backing for this brilliant reading.

Bring on the launch!

Emma
PS -- You can find out more about Akira the Don here.

Queer Fish ready to invade...

With the official launch of the hotly-tipped QUEER FISH IN GOD'S WAITING ROOM by Lee Henshaw 10 days away (2nd February), we've seen the orders come in with increasing regularity and size over last week or so. Of course, can't wait to see it in all the shops, and going through all the tills, but the first real buzz (and nervous) moment for a publisher is seeing it when it first arrives from the printer.

The copies go to our distributor, LBS, and they send numerous large boxes packed full to the office for our review/promotion/author copies etc and for miscellaneous use. Whoever opens the box always has a slightly unsteady hand, and nothing to do with a hangover. (I recently had a dream the night before that copies would come back wrong from the printer...a potential nightmare.) But to date, and hopefully to continue, the copies have always been fine.

It is also very interesting as for all your work and research you never quite know how they are going to look until they arrive. So, here is the moment shortly after the nervous moment a few weeks ago when copies of Queer Fish arrived. Funny to think that these copies will soon be in people's hands being read.

Can't wait for the novel to hit the shelves and if you haven't ordered a copy yet of the fantastic comedy, you'd better do so now:

Pre-order now - just £6.99

Tom

Ten days left of our January Sale!

It's nearing payday for most of us so why not treat yourself to a late January bargain in our online sale? Just click here and you could snap up a whole new year reading list of nine books, yes NINE!, for just £30, or alternatively get signed first edition copies from all our authors by paying a mere £1 more than the RRP. Just imagine how exciting it will be to get a package of brand shiny new books through the post, all waiting for you to curl up with them on a dark evening with a glass of wine...

Well, we all need something to cheer us up in January don't we? My choice, as you can probably tell by this rather odd photo choice for a blog post about books, is a hot bath with loads of bubbles and a book (oh yes, and that glass of wine!). And you know what else reading in the bath does for you?  It forces you to keep your hands out of the water most of the time which means your fingers don't go all horrible and prune-like. Genius!

Emma

Reminder that entries for the Luke Bitmead Bursary are now open

Hopefully lots of you have already looked at the criteria for the Luke Bitmead Memorial Bursary and are thinking about entering your novel and personal statement for consideration. For those of you who haven't come across it yet, you can read more on our webpage here or at www.lukebitmead.com

The bursary has attracted media interest both inside the world of publishing and outside, with Luke's local media continuing to show his family and the Memorial Fund wonderful support.

If you have any queries about the bursary simply send an email to bitmeadbursary@legendpress.co.uk and one of the team will get back to you.

We've already had several fantastic-looking entries in that look great and we're looking forward to starting the judging process in March. We know how proud and excited Luke would be about this bursary and it's great to feel we're still working with him.

Emma

Something to encourage writers

I know it can be disheartening for a writer, having put so much into their work, and after sending it around at best to get a series of rejections and often not to hear anything back at all. Writing rejections, to sometimes very good work and often submissions that have literally involved years of work, is definitely one of the worst aspects of this job though of course we can only publish a certain amount and with so many potential writers out there it is an inevitable task.

So, to provide some kind of encouragement, here is a sample of some 'famous rejections' I happened to come across in a friend's book of funny quotes (a bit hit and miss but a few classics) which he received for Christmas, called They X-Rayed My Head and Found Nothing.

'A period Novel! About the Civil War! Who needs the Civil War now? Who Cares?' Herbert R. Mayes, editor of Pictorial Review, rejecting the serialisation of 'Gone with the Wind'.

'I haven't got the foggiest idea what the man is trying to say.' Rejection of Joseph Heller's Catch 22.

'I think the verdict would be, 'Oh don't read that horrid book'.' Rejection of H.G. Wells's War of the Worlds.

'It is not interesting enough for the general reader and not thorough enough for the scientific reader.' Rejection of H.G. Wells's The Time Machine. (Poor old Wells...)

'It has no reader interest.' Rejection of Frederick Forsyth's Day of the Jackal.

'This will set publishing back 25 years.' Rejection of Norman Mailer's The Deer Park.

'We are not interested in science fiction that deals with negative utopias - they do not sell.' Rejection of Stephen King's Carrie.

'We regret to say that our united opinion is entirely against the book as we do not think it will be suitable at all for the juvenile market.' Rejection of Herman Melville's Moby Dick.

'You're welcome to [John] le Carre - he hasn't got any future.' Rejection of The Spy Who Came in form the Cold.

So basically, what the hell do we know?

Tom

Bringing football and books briefly together

People who know me will be aware that outside of Legend Press I am also a big football fan, managing and playing for the mighty Shepherds Tuesday in my spare time and supporting the recently-less-mighty-but-I'm-sure-the-glory-days-must-be-just-around-the-corner-once-again Leicester City. So, to celebrate the fact I am off see the Foxes on Saturday for a first time in a while (though 'restricted view' tickets which I'm hoping won't turn out to be a good thing) and with the Emma away today who would probably try to veto it, I will prove that the two can occasionally exist together with the Football and Literature Quiz

Go on, have a go and let us know how you got on. And no cheating. My prediction for Saturday: 2-1 win to the Leicester. We'll see...

Tom

Legend Press appearing at a London library near you

We were interested this morning to see discussion of an article from The Independent on The Bookseller website about the role of libraries being in question...again. Here's the article, I definitely agree with the point that many library visitors go now not just to borrow books, or even DVDs, but for unique (and cheap or free!) events and the chance to join stimulating groups. Libraries are really opening up their minds and accomodating the changing needs of book lovers to provide something that you can't get elsewhere. At Legend Press we're always keen to support this new element that libraries are striving to provide and readers of this blog will know that many of our authors have enjoyed hosting interactive and interesting library events. (Candi Miller is pictured above at Walsall Library with the Black Reading Group.)

The next run of events we have coming up is as follows:

Monday 28th January - 7pm-8pm - Kenton Library, Harrow.
Rebecca Strong, author of Here or There
   and
Lee Henshaw, author of Queer Fish in God's Waiting Room

Thursday 7th February - 6.30pm-8pm -- Kensal Library, Kensington.
Jae Watson, author of Journey
William Coles, author of The Well-Tempered Clavier
    and
Lee Henshaw, author of Queer Fish in God's Waiting Room
>> Q&A panel about writing and publishing. Tom Chalmers will also be answering questions.

Tuesday 12th February -- afternoon and evening -- Hornchurch and Collier's Row Libraries, Havering.
William Coles, author of The Well-Tempered Clavier
    and
Lee Henshaw, author of Queer Fish in God's Waiting Room
>> Romance theme, a chance to get signed copies as special and different Valentine's Gifts!

Friday 29th February - evening - Stoke Newington, Hackney.
Jae Watson, author of Journey
    and
Lee Henshaw, author of Queer Fish.
>> Both Lee and Jae are Stoke Newington residents.

Email info@legendpress.co.uk if you're interested in finding out more about any of the above, or simply turn up on the night and we'll see you there!

Emma

Legend Press chosen for Shashoua Fund

Some exciting news for Legend Press. In October it was announced a €20m fund had been set-up by Roger Shashoua to support independent publishers. I was pleased to work with the fund before Christmas and delighted to announce that Legend Press has been chosen as the first publisher to be supported.

This will mean initial support with the way open for future work together and possible investment as the Legend Press empire grows. As I say in my official-sounding media quote:

"In the rapidly-changing face of publishing we are keen to build new routes and partnerships and The Shashoua Fund could not be better timed in its mission to help small companies grow and maintain their independence. We look forward to a long and prosperous relationship as Legend Press grows and develops further."

There you go. And it's great that of all the independents out there striving, we have been selected – hopefully showing we are very much on the right track.

Will supply further details going forwards...but a very positive start to 2008, which we're hoping will be the year of the Legend (Press), and the independent sector generally.

Tom

Still a fan of Borders...

As those seasoned blog readers (as in having read it for a long while rather than those having just prepared themselves for cooking) will be aware, over the last year I have became a big fan of Borders bookshops. Being vocal in the fact the high-street chains need to drastically alter their approach and heave their huge structures into line with the modern market, Borders seemed to be first on the ball with fast-moving initiatives such as the Best of Independents bay and a selection of Polish titles.

It was therefore of great interest to hear that they will shortly be trialling an on-demand facility in some branches. With so much talk of the move to digital, it is great to see a company working with the trend and being imaginative rather than sticking their head in the sand, or bookshelves in this case, and hoping that if they ignore it, it will go away. I hope the initiative will work very well for them.

And at the time of writing I have just heard that they will be launching their new website with Gardners. I look forward to finding out more and hopefully working with their new offering. Hopefully many more positive initiatives are ahead from all in the publishing industry in 2008!

Tom

Queer Fish approaches at lightning speed!

Finally I have been able to haul myself ever so slightly back into the land of the living and have returned to work. Poor Tom, I'm sure that's just what he wanted to start the new year with -- a week being left in the lurch by his sick right hand man (or woman in this case). Luckily Tom knows me well enough to know that if there was anything I could have done to keep soldiering on I would have done it.

As you can all imagine I am now frantically trawling through my list and emails in catch-up mode -- suddenly the launch of our next novel, Queer Fish in God's Waiting Room, seems only milliseconds away. It is in fact just over two weeks until it hits the shops and we're holding a fabulous launch party for it in Soho on Tuesday 29th Jan -- two weeks tomorrow.

We're still confirming numbers but if you're interested in going then drop us an email at info@legendpress.co.uk and we'll see what we can do. Alternatively there will be lots of chances to hear Lee read from the hotly-tipped comedy and sign copies 'hot-off-the-press' at several events coming up very soon. We'll keep you informed of details right here with the blog.

Right -- off to do some more furious fast-pedalling to get through everything today -- can a week's work be done in a day do you think? Hmmm, I think optimism is overrated...

Emma

Not content with book domination, we're now helping those looking for romance!

Move over Cilla Black. We're constantly looking for new initiatives and promotions and recently in an Edinburgh pub, our William Coles and I were discussing how important it is to create word-of-mouth and that this is fundamental to the future success of the book in society.

He praised the Book Crossing initiative and fuelled by normal drive not to do anything by halves, and also several pints of reassuring Duchers, I suggested that why shouldn't we start our own version? Out of this came the idea for 'Book Lovers', a whole series of initiatives to drive the importance, enjoyment and value of reading.

One other point that came out, initially as a joke but then given serious consideration, was that the book could be the perfect 'ice-breaker' in starting conversation - a little sophisticated and doesn't involve tripping over a bar stool, spilling coffee or making up some dreadful 'line'. And out of this we were approached by UK dating expect Lorraine Adams, owner of dating agency Gorgeous Networks, and came up with the fist initiative - ' branded Fiction Flirting'. (Feel free to ignore my quickly made-up picture...) To help its launch, we' agreed to offer two free copies of The Well-Tempered Clavier for each one ordered for the promotion (all signed and marked with their unique message and tracking code).

We're already had a huge amount of interest in this unique initiative and for full details just see our Legend Press' Book Lovers page. If you're single, give it a go. With Valentine's Day and 29th Feb approaching, we're hoping to be able to buy a collective Legend Press hat in the very near future.

Oustanding? Quite Brilliant? Coles?

The Well-Tempered Clavier machine continues. Following rave reviews, top sales and a host of 'household names' such as Piers Morgan and Boris Johnson lining up to provide endorsements, the latest paper to get behind the hugely-popular and unique love story is the Sunday Express.

To quote Louise Robinson, 'The Well-Tempered Clavier is an outstanding debut novel. A wonderful story of first love. Few male authors can write about romance in a way which appeals to women - but Coles has managed it quite brilliantly.'

Can't say much more glowing than that though we hope this is only the start of the Well-Tempered Clavier's growth into greatness. So if you haven't already ordered a copy, why the hell not? And if you have, why the hell haven't you bought copies for others?

Kindly rectify immediately below. It will probably be the best decision you've made in this New Year of 2008.

The Well-Tempered Clavier
by William Coles

Buy now £7.99

Poor Jane Austen

I know we're an increasingly materialistic society and how things look are seemingly more important than ever - in possessions, clothes, personally, people wanting to fit into a chosen pre-packaged 'image', the celebrity obsession providing an outlet etc etc - but I was slightly disturbed this morning to hear of the fate of poor Jane Austen. The publishers of a new edition have decided to give one of the most famous British writers in literary history a makeover for the cover, as the original image was deemed 'too ugly'.

I know about books judged by covers etc, but surely this is one step too far? Personally, I would be more interested in seeing what Austen actually looked like (see right, makeover version on left), having heard so much about her writing, and would probably be more likely to pick up a cover depicting her actual likeness out of interest.

If we do, as a public, prefer the 'madeover' version then that highlights an even more worrying fact - that we would prefer delusion and to be shown what fits into what we want to see, apparently, than the actual truth. This would be a very worrying trend but one that sadly does seem to be sneaking into aspects of society. I could go on but will leave it there, you may be relieved to hear, though am tempted to launch a one-man campaign to re-publish with the original picture.

If you have any thoughts on this, please let me know them!

Tom

Have you voted for Salt & Honey yet??

As you cannot have missed, the unforgettable Salt & Honey by Candi Miller has been selected in the top 100 'Books to Talk About' for World Book Day 2008. A vote is taking place and the ten to receive most votes will be promoted via the chains and across 3,500 libraries, before an overall winner is selected. So big prize at stake and Salt & Honey deserves to be in that top 10 - it is a unique, beautifully-written, unforgettably set and very important book and one that deserves as much attention as it can possibly get.

Therefore, if you haven't already please vote and also feel free to add your comment to the many already posted about the novel. Simply click on the icon on the rights and it will take you through to the World Book Day site. Then simply register (to avoid duplicate votes) and vote - and pass on to all friends, family and work colleagues to encourage to do the same. Deserves to be in that top ten and we really want to do everything to ensure that happens.

Thanks,
Tom

New Year bugs

Seems like at least half the population are down with illness at the moment. Poor Emma (and I only say that when she's ill) is very much on her sickbed this week, Rachel, who has been a great help doing some work experience here, has called in sick today and several people I've spoken to this morning have either just been off ill or sound like they're about to be very shortly.

I had a dodgy cold through Christmas but luckily didn't come down with anything much worse (despite youngest sister having some type of full-blown fever - she was needless to say locked in her bedroom by myself and my brother to avoid any contagion). One of the issues with being a small company is that illness can hit hard so will be doing everything I can for next week or so to avoid catching anything that's going round myself. Hope anyone ill gets better soon and glad it'll soon be Spring...

Tom

A change of distributor

Some publishers will rightly say the public forget about them, as the actual producer, when picking up a book on the high-street - the author's name is the brand to the consumer. Well, if the publisher is forgotten about, the people along the chain who actually get the books into the shops are definitely not paid any attention.

But from within the company it is absolutely vital. From assessing how to take Legend Press forward last year we immediately highlighted that setting up an infrastructure to rival, in quality at least, the major publishers was paramount. Not the most glamourous side to the outside world but we can produce the greatest, most potentially popular books in the world, but if they're not available to order in the right places and got to the outlets at the right time and in the right form, we might as well camp outside the bankruptcy courts now.

Having put this target in place, we've made several changes over the last 3 months or so, with several more in the pipeline. One of the most fundamental was a change of distributor and we were delighted to get taken on by Littlehampton Book Service (usually referred to as LBS), via an agreement with Vertigo Communications. To be taken on by LBS, one of the major and most recognised UK book distributors, was quite a coup for us and you can see us listed on their publisher list here

So one piece in place, and a very important one at that. Hopefully a solid foundation block to the Legend Press Dynasty!

Tom

Times' 50 Greatest British Writers Since 1945

Always like a bit of debate to liven things up and was interested to see The Times' list of the 50 Greatest British Writers Since 1945. Haven't quite woken up yet so brain is still chugging away with writers I like that I think have been missed though please let us know your own opinion of the list.

For a warm-up, here was my reaction to the top 5:

1. Philip Larkin (pictured) – Poetry has never really been my thing so can't really say too much though through my English days have obviously heard his name come up repeatedly so must be something about him. Slightly disappointed to hear he wasn't always the greatest person according to what The Times writes but never mind.

2. George Orwell – Legend. One of my favourite writers, shown by the fact he is one of the few of which I have read several of his books and even requested his complete works from my brother for a recent birthday. I got a t-shirt.

3. William Golding - Only read Lord of the Flies, which I really liked though is hard to separate the actual novel from its common reference and what it symbolises and the film(s) etc. For some reason Piggy having his glasses crushed is now the first, and sad, image that comes to mind. But he clearly had a major effect on the 20th Century.

4. Ted Hughes - Again poetry so not really read, although in the literary circles realise he has many fans. Always been slightly biased against him in what I heard about this relationship with Sylvia Plath (though if that's wrong, I don't wish to be sued).

5. Doris Lessing – Don't think I've read anything of Doris Lessing although I know she has a big reputation. Was amused by her response to winning this years Nobel Prize - I've won every award in Europe and now the royal flush - though wasn't sure quite how to react to that.

Right, that's what I think, which probably isn't much, but look forward to hopefully arguing about the list shortly.

Happy Monday.
Tom

Author branding

Very interesting dialogue on author branding from Danuta Kean's blog - have read a few of her blog entries and she offers some very interesting and often refreshing views. Particularly like the discussion of the publishing industry's understanding of the general public. It's one the main threats to the industry but we seem to often keen to overlook it to hold onto some form of 'status quo'. Not one to stay quiet for too long so you'll notice I left my own comment.

Tom

PS At the other side of Legendary Towers, Emma will be furious at this post as she is far more proactive at keeping up with the best online blogs and sent this one to me to read. And now I've made it look like my own idea. That makes a change I can already hear being said.

Mystic Meg's predictions for Legend Press in 2008

Coming back to my desk today after a lovely long Christmas and New Year break I've just been scouting around and updating myself on publishing news headlines and various blogs to make sure I'm not too out of the loop. In doing so I came across this poll on the Bookseller's homepage asking viewers to vote on which thing they think is more likely to happen this year out of such eyebrow raising options as Katie Price (aka Jordan) winning the Booker Prize, Katie Price judging the Booker Prize and Crockatt & Powell buying Waterstone's (that's the one my money's on!). Plus, I also enjoyed reading Scott Pack's predictions for 2008 on his blog Me and My Big Mouth. He says some are serious and some not so serious and that we have to work out which are which -- they are:

No high street book chain will make a profit during 2008.

But many independent book shops will.

A publisher will sign up a debut novel for a £2m advance.

It won't sell very well.

The Man Booker Prize shortlist will feature at least two books from independent publishers.

Waterstone's new distribution centre will experience 'teething problems' (to be fair, all distribution centres experience teething problems) leading publishers to voice their 'concerns' to the trade press.

Limited edition copies of The Equivoque Principle by Darren Craske will be selling for £100 on eBay.

The independent books on the Man Booker shortlist will turn out to have been completely ignored by the broadsheet press when they were first published.  The papers are then forced to review them and discover (surprise, surprise) that they are better than most of the stuff they review by default.

Borders will radically overhaul its head office team following a review of Christmas.

Sebastian Beaumont's superb novel Thirteen will eventually be stocked by more than the current seven Waterstone's branches (I am betting on a final tally of 13, funnily enough).

Kate Swann will leave WH Smith to head up HMV Group.

The eventual Man Booker winner will be a huge commercial success, outselling the Richard & Judy titles for the year.

Haruki Murakami will win the Nobel Prize for Literature.

An online retailer will offer weekly free book downloads for customers.

But Amazon Kindle will make no real difference to sales of e-books.

Bloggers will overtake reviewers as the publishers' favoured tastemakers.

Richard & Judy will divorce prompting a huge slump in all book-related share prices.

Marie Phillips will be signed up as TV columnist for The Guardian.

John Self will be signed up as a reviewer for the same paper.

I won't be signed up for anything.

So, what are the potential options for Legend Press in 2008? (All non-serious by the way, before you start worrying about our sanity...)

• The publishing world discovers that Tom is actually 38, not 28 as previously publicised, and realise that he is in fact not eligible for all the 'young people' awards he's been shortlisted for.
• Having said that children's books and boy wizards just aren't Legend Press' thing we suddenly have a change of heart and with misguided £ signs in our eyes encourage all our authors to refashion their sequels and second novels into a series suspiciously titled 'Henry Porter'.
• Tom will actually take a holiday (as laid out in his New Year's Resolutions) but, being the first one in 3 years, it causes such a shock to his system that he has to be surgically removed from his pina colada in order to be escorted home and back to his desk.
• Richard & Judy's next book club will consist soley of Legend Press titles -- why bother with anyone else?
• The winning titles of the next Man Booker Prize will consist soley of Legend Press titles.
• I could go on here in this theme, but I think you get the picture...
• Legend Press buys a digital TV channel to publicise and dramatise all its books.
• Our online shop sales starts rivalling Amazon in total books bought per month....ok now I'm just getting silly. Wishful thinking is allowed in the first week of January though!

Happy New Year to all and, on a serious note, I know that a great many things are in the pipeline for Legend Press and its authors this year - so bring on 2008!

Emma

Luke Bitmead Bursary in the Bookseller

We were very pleased to announce just before Christmas details of the Luke Bitmead Memorial Fund, which has been set-up by Luke family in the amazing author's memory to support fledgling writers. We were delighted to be able to offer a publishing contract to the first winner of the annual award, in addition to the £2,500 prize. Details have now been sent around and we hope there will be a fantastic response to this great opportunity. It was also nice to see it featured in The Bookseller headlines This is a fantastic initiative and I hope it goes from strength-to-strength.

Tom

Author Coles once a student himself...

Happy New Year to everyone by the way! Was interested to note that William Coles, author of hugely-popular The Well-Tempered Clavier, had had some more coverage and this time through the University of Bristol Alumni - see here I think I noticed this particularly as the novel features the love affair between a student at Eton College and his female piano teacher. Seeing this mention in the Alumni is a reminder of Bill's own student days. Secondly I noticed – 'BA 1986'. Sure Mr Coles described himself as late-twenties on first meeting... Only joking of course.

Tom