Legend Press

Now or never - vote, vote, vote!!!!

And so today is the final day of voting for the top 'Book to Talk About' for World Book Day. The frankly amazing SALT & HONEY by Candi Miller was at number 2 in the original voting but those votes no longer count and we need to go one better, we must, for this great books, for Candi, for Legend Press, and for all that is right in this world.

So if you haven't voted since the Top Ten was announced, do so right this minute (simply register or log-in and search for SALT & HONEY in 'See the Books'). And even that should only be the initial gesture - get all your friends, family, colleagues, pets, enemies, lovers, passers-by, travellers, anyone who stops in the street for a single millisecond  to vote, and to get some further votes themselves.

This time next week we want to be celebrating with everyone, a momentous moment and an important one for this fantastic book. Now is the time - make sure this happens.

Thank you.

Tom

Leap Day event

If you happen to be around London, don't forget the Leap Day event at Stamford Hill Library tomorrow night. Starts at 6.30pm and there is a great line-up of Legend Press authors, three top poets and a chance to review the London Libraries Limited Edition Collection.

With great publicity, a large audience is expected - so make sure you come along if you're around.

Tom

...And now Europe

Well, not quite but never mind. Due to the wonderful world of Tim Berners-Lee (only found out last year that was the name of the guy who invented the internet revolution), we find Legend Press appearing in the most random of places.

In this case it was amusing, and also quite pleasing, to see that we made one of last year's European Booksellers Federation newsletters – 'United Kingdom: Half of Readers Buy Online', which was from the results of a survey we ran that got a lot of trade press etc.

Funny to think that from little Legend Press, the company was being read about through the European Booksellers Federation - things have moved very fast and will hopefully continue to do so as the Legend Press word spreads!

Tom

Legendary author blog in the Telegraph

We've had a fantastic response so far to our Legendary authors blog - seems to be proving a big hit and rightly so (thanks to the authors for making it so interesting and entertaining). And I was pleased to see details even made it into the Telegraph (of of the few papers we haven't been covered in before - so another ticked off). Nice to see it making such a mark and hopefully it will continue going from strength-to-strength and grow into something very unique and special.

Tom

Some pictures from my Ireland trip

Had a great, though very busy day-and-a-half in Dublin. Some exciting developments and look forward to Legend Press's great titles, current and future, making a big splash in the Irish market as well as here in the UK. Though of course, particularly being first time in Dublin and not getting the chance to visit new places as much as I would like recently being so busy, I found time for a brief bit of exploring. Doesn't really do it justice, but just as a brief taste...

From the Tu'penny Bridge (for some reason always like views down the rivers - must be the water meant to be calming...)

I wanted to Legend Press to make it's mark, but a very welcoming someone had even carved my initials into the concrete. Well, after rushing around it amused me (maybe just me).

Couldn't come to Dublin and not hunt out Oscar Wilde's house - one my all-time most wittiest heroes. Well, here it was.

Hope to be back again in Dublin very soon and promise I will record more this time!

Tom

Off to Ireland

I'm flying to Ireland first thing tomorrow morning (Sunday) for meetings all day Monday with the Irish book chains and some of the main independents. The Irish book market is very interesting at the moment and with Legend Press's growing list and profile it is time the Legendary publishing revolution spread to Ireland in addition to the UK. Should hopefully be a big step forward for the company.

Look forward to meeting all the buyers, to working with them and seeing our great books in the shops, and also to a pint or two of the Irish speciality while I'm over there.

Tom

Have you voted yet for Salt & Honey?

Right, time to be direct. We have an important and wonderful book in the World Book Day Top 10. As all who've read it have said (and just view the many comments) - it deserves to win. We have thousands of regular blog readers every week. We should therefore have thousands of votes. Be honest now, have you voted yet?

If you haven't, please do so right now. We need every single vote, it only takes a minute of your time and if this book doesn't take the crown it will be a travesty of legendary proportions.

If you have voted, feel free to comment below so I can strike you off my list.

Tom

And unveiling.... Silence

We are delighted to announce the acquisition of ‘SILENCE’ by Josie Henley-Einion, the latest novel added to our rapidly-growing list. The author was signed-up having written two exceptional short stories for our ‘Short Story Reinvented’ series. With high media interest, SILENCE is to be pushed through to launch 26th July.

SILENCE is a hard-hitting and topical novel portraying Jackie Harris, prison counsellor and ex-drag king, who kills her female lover's rapist in what she insists is self-defence. The powerfully-written and originally-styled novel is an examination of sexual violence and its repercussions and questions the right of the media to scrutinise and pronounce judgement on a person’s individual life choices.

We knew we had uncovered a rare writing talent in Josie through our short story series. She was immediately keen for us to look at her completed novel, and now we can see why – it a stunning, stylish and unique novel that we expect to take the book market by storm. It's also so relevant and timely for the current reading public and society that we simply had to bring it forward to a July launch.

Josie - can't wait to work on this and it should be a very exciting, and hopefully successful, few months ahead!

Tom

Legend Press in proposal library event

As I may have mentioned previously, I'm excited to say we're taking part in a special proposal-themed evening organised by Hackney Libraries on Friday 29th February – that one day every four years when it’s apparently considered acceptable for a woman to propose to a man.

The event is to take place at Stamford Hill Library with doors opening at 6.30pm. It is to feature Legend Press writers Lee Henshaw, author of current hit short novel QUEER FISH IN GOD’S WAITING ROOM, and Jae Watson, author of hugely-popular India-set novel JOURNEY. In addition there will be three Hearing Eye poets – Sara Boyes, Jacqueline Gabbitas and Jo Roach – who’ve produced a wide and eclectic range of poetry and short stories between them.

Hackney Libraries is also to offer the opportunity to explore the current Limited Editions book collection – chosen by the London Libraries Development Association (LLDA) as a selection of the best current books from independent publishers (of which we have two books included - Journey and HERE OR THERE by Rebecca Strong). 

Looking forward to it - there will be a mix of everything you could want and, who knows, maybe even a proposal at the end of it. Come along if you're nearby.

Tom

Launching an 'independent creative group'

I was please to announce this morning the launch of an ‘independent creative group’, which is to hold its initial meeting tomorrow (Friday 22nd Feb). Further meetings will be held on a monthly basis.

To quote the official release (not often you probably hearing me sounding 'official'):

The group is a reflection of the increasing need to work across creative platforms and also the wide array of exiting start-up enterprises run by dynamic, talented individuals. The initial group will be made up of representatives from publishing, film, theatre, literary magazine and agencies, music, PR and online advertising. Each will have begun their own enterprise and will have their own area of experience, skills and networks to add into the general discussion and planning.

One of the items on the first agenda is to discuss prospective new members and areas of the creative industries to add into the group. Anyone interested in joining should email tomchalmers@legendpress. All enquiries are welcome.

Chalmers commented: “The consumer now has access to countless mediums simultaneously through the online world and rapid advances in technology, and we as a sector now need to cater for this – something publishing is striving towards but still a long way short of. This means across-platform work is more important than ever and, while there can be an element of hit-and-miss at this stage, there are huge opportunities, new forms and ways of communication, out there waiting to be grasped.”

“There is also a wealth of enthusiastic and talented people making great strives, often against tough odds, in their respective sectors and this groups aims to bring many of them together to explore the partnerships, knowledge bases and ideas that can be formed. We want to keep a clear and efficient structure to the group but we hope it is set to develop significantly in scope and use.”

Quite right too - should be a very interesting initiative. Any suggestions welcome as always!

Tom

More from Queer Fish/Lee Henshaw...

There's no stopping QUEER FISH IN GOD'S WAITING ROOM by Lee Henshaw this week. Following reviews and sellings out, there's more coverage:

1. WriteWords have interviewed Lee in addition to yesterday's excellent review

2. Hip hop artist Akira The Don has written about the novel on his blog

3. More video footage on Lee's blog from recent events

4. Author to appear at another upcoming Legend Press event at Stamford Hill Library in London

5. And don't forget you can read the whole first third right here

If you haven't already, order this great little book right now:

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

                                 

Harrison Dextrose - receive an exclusive review copy!!

As the most ardent of Legendary followers will know, we're very excited about publishing IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF HARRISON DEXTROSE by Nick Griffiths (author of Dalek I Loved You) in April. It's a fantastically entertaining and brilliant book, which left me in a giggling stupour on a train journey back from Stockport, and with major support already expressed we're expecting it to be a huge success (fingers etc crossed).

Anyway, after a bit of a kerfuffle, three of the review copies (which we send out in advance to major buyers, reviewers etc) were slightly damaged so we couldn't send. They are now sitting like advance golddust on my desk and so I thought I'd offer a very special opportunity - the first three people to order advance copies from now (see link below) will receive one now, in addition to receiving their finished copy when the novel launches.

Three very important and exciting reasons:

1) You will be the only members of the general reading public who will have had a chance to read this potentially huge novel - definite bragging rights and can annoy all and sundry with the information at dinner parties, bus stops etc for numerous months to come.

2) Nick has kindly signed the copies so even more room for bragging and they will make an exclusive set of which there will be just three of its kind - a great addition to any bookshelf.

3) For the cynical/businessy people among you, these copies will be worth a small fortune once the book is a major hit (note: Harry Potter fan selling first editions today for £40,000...though if you take that route I want a cut!)

So, a unique opportunity and act fast before I order them myself to keep reading this brilliant novel:

ORDER NOW £7.99           Buy signed copy for £1 extra

                                 

'Hysterically funny', 'brought me to tears' - Queer Fish

It's been a great couple of weeks for QUEER FISH IN GOD'S WAITING ROOM by Lee Henshaw - promotions, national reviews, selling out on Amazon, and now there is a further review to add to the growing list of rave support - this time at Writewords, one of the UK's top writer sites.

In fact, I'm also going to pate it here:

Queer Fish in God’s Waiting Room is essentially a love letter to author Lee Henshaw’s girlfriend notably referred to throughout as ‘My Claire’. It is also hysterically funny and the ultimate in Lad Lit as the writer brings as much sensitivity to his male MC as he does macho bravado.

The reader also learns the step by step recipe for the infamous ‘Blackberry bath bong’ which is already a hit on You Tube, catch Lee reading that passage on the site. This hilarious holiday road story takes our three lads from Macclesfield to New York, Mexico City and Venezuela. They get drunk, sober up, throw up, eat, get drunk again and end up at a pole dancing club where a naked woman asks if they’d like to lick cream from her nether regions. One of the lads responds, ‘Full fat or Low fat?’. The heat rises from the page as the author paints a truly authentic picture of life on the beach and seedy fan fuelled motel rooms. One is almost reaching for an icy beer with a slice of lime or a Margarita cocktail to compliment the read .Fortunately the MC, Liam Kerby, is a sensitive lad and there’s a very touching scene at the end of the book when he confronts his younger brother James, called throughout – ‘Brother James’ about his sexist attitude toward the lovely Claire that brought tears to my eyes.

QFIGWR is indebted to Hemmingway and gratefully acknowledged, but Henshaw is anything but in the great man’s his shadow. I look forward to reading more from this very promising author. Bring them on.

Review by Julie Balloo

Need I say any more? If you haven't already, order right now - you can't miss out on this new hit.

Tom

Guardian review leads to Queer Fish selling out on Amazon

Following The Guardian review of QUEER FISH IN GOD’S WAITING ROOM by Lee Henshaw on Saturday (16th February), we were delighted to see the novel sold out within 48 hours on Amazon and at their supporting wholesalers.

This is the latest sign that the short novel, launched 2nd February, is proving a major hit among readers and in response we've decided to post a third of the book available to view:

Download Queer Fish

Along with a trailer video from the author:

Following the fantastic review in The Guardian and with the high-street chains throwing their full weight behind the novel, we wanted everyone to have a chance to see what the fuss is about – so we decided to post the extract for all to read. Digital content in increasingly demanded by the consumer and we hope to see this further driving sales among hooked readers! So if you like it, order your copy of the fantastic novel right here:

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

                                 

Queer Fish reviewed in The Guardian

With Queer Fish in God's Waiting Room by Lee Henshaw starting to make a major mark since it's recent launch, it was very exciting to see it chosen for review this weekend by Nicholas Clee in The Guardian - and an excellent review at that.

As well as liking the entertaining novel and the author's very skillful craft, it was also nice to have positive comments about Legend Press. In fact, while it being the first of our titles to really catch his eye (fair play at least for honesty - everyone entitled to their view) he believes with Queer Fish 'Legend may be on its way'. Therefore, let's hope this book is the major hit is deserves to be.

I will be fascinated to see the hopefully very positive effect this has on sales, having spoken recently about the changing relationship between the broadsheets and the book market. But first of all, make sure you've ordered your copy - in fact, you can do so right here:

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

                                 

Salt & Honey - the word is spreading!

It has been all go since the fantastic, wonderful, memorable, evocative, powerful, unforgettable, adjective-defying Salt & Honey by Candi Miller was named in the Top Ten Books to Talk About for World Book Day. We've constantly been contacted by bookshops, libraries, media and event organisers, all of whom are realising the gem that is and always has been this amazing novel.

It was also nice to see recently that there is large local support for Candi as well – even the council have got behind her (view here).

So if you haven't already voted since the Top Ten was announced, please do so now. If you don't I will get your council to up your tax, cut your power, and have the borough's rubbish dumped on your doorstep. We have powerful friends now [cue some form of evil laugh].

So, do it, do it now. This book deserves this prize and therefore we must ensure it wins.

Tom

Legendary Authors proving hit

We were very excited to launch our Legendary Authors discussion blog this week, formed from a fantastic idea from Top Legend Candi Miller. We thought it would be a new and unique online forum (think I am safe in saying there is nothing like it elsewhere) but the reaction has been fantastic – visitors are coming in their droves to hear and join in the fascinating and entertaining discussion of all things writing, publishing and, well anything that comes to mind really.

If you haven't already make sure you visit now (though will be keeping a close eye to make sure everyone is still nice about Legend Press).

Tom

How The Well-Tempered Clavier can solve your Valentine inadequacies...

If you already think that you might get yourself in the bad books for forgetting Valentine's Day, or for not buying a good enough present, why not buy your loved one a copy of the beautifully moving love-story The Well-Tempered Clavier? And because we're feeling romantic and generous, we'll send you a signed copy at no extra cost. How about that for a thoughtful, extra-special gift? Click on the links below for quick, easy and secure online payment.

The Well-Tempered Clavier
by William Coles
Buy now £7.99

Even better still, if you live in Edinburgh that it is, you can take your better half to Waterstone's on George Street on Saturday to meet the author in person and get your signed copy direct from the gifthorse itself, personalised in what ever way you'd like. Bill will be in store from 11am -- see details on the Waterstone's website here.

Emma

Queer Fish the perfect alternative Valentine’s gift

For those still struggling to decide on that all-important Valentine’s gift, there is an alternative offering making a major mark – the novel QUEER FISH IN GOD’S WAITING ROOM by Lee Henshaw. Written to ask the author’s then-girlfriend to marry him, QUEER FISH is a surreal and hilarious trip through the cities of New York, Caracus and Mexico.

Comedian Dom Joly has described QUEER FISH as ‘Like some stoned new Kerouac, simply brilliant’, and the novel is currently being price-promoted front-of-shop in both Waterstone’s and Borders. For that extra special touch, exclusive signed and messaged copies are available at direct at www.legendpress.co.uk 

Buy now!

Our Legendary authors grab a piece of the blogosphere

The Legend Press group of authors have today started their very own group blog, as an offshoot of this website. They'll be running it themselves and posting insights, thoughts and experiences about what it's like to be newly published authors, and they'll also be discussing tips and ideas about getting published and what's going on in the publishing industry from a writer's point of view.

It's going to be great stuff and we're really excited at the thought of watching how it develops!

Click here to visit the 'Legendary Authors' site now and get involved...

For future reference, and so you can add it to your web favourites, the url for the site is http://forward.legendpress.co.uk/legendary_authors/ . On the page itself there's also an option to subscribe to the blog so you'll know exactly when it's been updated.

Emma

Your 'to-do' list...

As tomorrow is my last official day at Legend Press I am currently surrounded by lists of things I want to do before I go, whether or not I'll physically be able to achieve it all is another matter but I'm giving it a damned good go...

I also keep giving poor Tom lists of reminders for things when I'm gone, I'm sure he won't need them but it makes me feel (probably illogically) a bit better about going. So, to satisfy this current list-obsession of mine, I thought I'd give you blog readers a little reminder/to-do list of your own:

1. Don't forget that there's only a couple of weeks left for entries to be made to the Luke Bitmead Memorial Fund. Details here. Deadline is the 1st March.

2. (NB - If you don't do this one, or haven't already done it, I'll be angry!!) Vote for Salt & Honey to give it the best chance possible in the World Book Day top ten books. I truly believe it deserves to win, and not because I'm biased but because it's one of the best, most moving and, I feel, most important books in the modern mainstream book market. If you can get  your friends, family and work colleagues to vote too this would be even better, remember that I put an extract on the blog the other day for people who want to read a bit before voting, click here to view it.

3. If you're interested in working for such a brilliant, fresh-thinking and exciting company as Legend Press and you're based in or very near London then why not think about applying for the current job vacancy? Tom needs all CVs and covering letters in by a week on Monday (25th) but if you can send them before then please do -- thanks to everyone who's already been contacting us about it, it's great (although not surprising) that the post has generated so much interest.

4. After each great Legend Press book you read (and there are many more fabulous ones already in the pipeline for this year) don't forget the ways you can help us to make it a hit. See here for the three easy steps that could make all the difference: Download the_legendary_word_of_mouth_campaign.pdf

5. Don't be afraid to talk to us on this blog! We love nothing more than getting comments on our posts and getting discussions going, about anything and everything, so do get in touch. When I'm no longer an actual staff member I'll be one of the commenters too, and I don't want to be having a dialogue only with myself... so come and join me.

6. Keep an eye on the blog for news of all upcoming author events and try and come along to one or two of them, I know that Tom and the authors would be really thrilled to meet more of our blog readers. There are lots coming up over the next few weeks. Plus, if you're in a bookgroup or anything similar and would like one of our authors to come and visit you for a reading/Q&A session then just email info@legendpress.co.uk with details and the team will be very happy to try and arrange something for you.

7. (And I'll finish on 7 because it's my lucky number) if you ever think of any ideas for promoting/getting publicity for any our titles, however small, please do let us know as, although we try to discover every possible avenue, there are always bound to be new or different ones we might not have tried and any suggestions are massively welcome. Either comment on the blog or email info@legendpress.co.uk. Thanks in advance for your help!

Can't believe it's my last day tomorrow, these past few weeks have been like a whirlwind. I'll post again tomorrow though I still won't really say 'bye' as, like I say above, I'll be commenting on and reading this blog regularly as well as being kept up to date with all happenings from Tom. We've been friends for over eight years now so I don't think the fact that I won't be working for him anymore will mean I hear from him any less... in fact I might be more willing to answer my phone to him on evenings and weekends now that I won't be scared he's going to ask me to do some urgent work!

Emma

PS -- have a look at this photo but don't tell Tom that I've shown you....

I've always asked him if I can put it up on the blog and he always says he looks awful but I think it's nice, everyone seems to be embarrassed of their graduation photos anyway and I've seen much worse than this! Just looking at it reminds me of how Tom took the p*ss out of me all day for having my hat at a tilt - he said I was trying to be daring. Right, if I don't upload it now I never will...so here goes:

Tom Chalmers and Emma Howard (nee Kent)
Graduation day, University of Liverpool, June 2002

At the risk of sounding cheesy it's been really great working with you Tom, an inspiration some might say!, and I know you're going to carry on taking Legend Press to amazing heights.

If you happen to be around Stoke Newington tonight...

If you happen to be around Stoke Newington tonight, I will be giving a talk at the Stoke Newington Bookshop on surviving as a new writer. I will be joined by the great Charles Beckett from the Arts Council and there may even be a surprise visit from QUEER FISH and legendary author Lee Henshaw. Event starts at 8pm and I believe there's free wine should it be needed for when I'm speaking.

Tom

Eight Hours is off to be printed

Getting our next short story collection Eight Hours off to the printers has been a bit of a whirlwind due the immense number of submissions we received this year and the extra time we had to find to read through them all and select the final eight. But we've done it (or, at least, we will have done by the end of the day) and now we can look forward to all the promotional activities and events that we've got planned for each of our wonderful new authors.

But there's plenty of time to tell you about all that, first I wanted to show you the cover and a bit more information, and also give you all the first opportunity to pre-order your copy!

A continuation of the successful ‘Short Story Reinvented’ series, Eight Hours is a dynamic cross between the novel and the short-story, showcasing new writing from eight talented authors.

Each story follows a different main character for a single hour and, from a fifteen year old girl who is so tormented she can’t sleep, to a man who experiences counselling for the first time, the collection reveals an intriguing mix of powerful snapshots. This is modern-day fiction at its immediate and vigorous best.

Pre-order Eight Hours now

£7.99   

And, for those of you that don't already know all about it -- here's a bit more information about the series as a whole:

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Legend Press’ unique short fiction series, ‘The Short Story Reinvented’, is designed for today’s busy, but discerning, reader. Short fiction is a perfect answer in a world where everyone wants things to be easily accessible, sleek and tailored to fit their needs.

High-quality, thought-provoking short fiction can perfectly fill what before may have been an enforced gap of ‘dead-time’ in a daily routine. Dipping into short fiction on a commute or during a lunch break is not as daunting as delving into a thick novel when you know that you might soon be interrupted mid-chapter; yet the subject matter in this popular series is weighty and meaningful, providing something new to think about and feel inspired about for the rest of the day, week, month and year.

Legend Press receives hundreds of submissions for the collections, from all over the UK and around the world including the US, Norway, Italy, New Zealand and South Africa. The successful entries for each book are chosen so that the stories combine and contrast compellingly to make the most varied, yet at the same time the most cohesive, collection possible.
--------

It's something I've been very proud to be involved in, and I can't wait for Eight Hours to hit the shops (on 29th March) so everyone can see just how great it is!
Emma

PS -- you can find out more about the eight authors on our Authors biographies page - just scroll down to the short fiction section.

Need support of the book chains

As you will probably know, Queer Fish in God's Waiting Room officially launched last weekend and in recognition of its huge potential and interest both Waterstone's and Borders put the novel into their front-of-shop price promotions. Quite a rare coup for a first novel and promises excellent things for a great book.

However, having dropped into a couple of branches on the way back from meetings, has been a bittersweet week. Yesterday (5 days after launch) I was told at both a Waterstone's and Borders branch that it wasn't out yet due to unpacking backlog and an unnamed Borders member of staff told me last weekend, assuming I was a random customer, that it was because they were 'bone-a*sed lazy'.

Fair play for honesty I guess but after the hard work to get the books into the promotions, and with the chains wanting major publicity to run with the launch, as a small publisher (or any publisher) we need the support and organisation all the way down to the individual shops. After all, it will cost them business but us, with so much planned and invested, a whole lot more. A bit disappointing – also as we will be judged on first week sales, taken out of our hands in this case, and February is a short promotion month after all so lost days vital.

But to end on a more positive note, put my head round the entrance (quite a feat) of the major Charing Cross Road Borders today and there is was, the first book I noticed on the front table. Hopefully will now make up for lost time.  Actually, as it's Friday and a nice day - a special weekend promotion: if you buy a copy, take a picture in the store and send it in I will send you an extra signed copy absolutely free. Email to tomchalmers@legendpress.co.uk

Have a good weekend and take those pictures.

Tom

Want to know more about Salt & Honey?

If you're visiting this website because you've heard about Salt & Honey being in the top ten World Book Day 'Books to Talk About', then hello and welcome!It's great to have you here.

Seeing as you're interested in the Spread the Word campaign, you might like to join in our discussion further down the page which stems from the recent Guardian blog post about what it is that makes a book one 'to talk about'.
Things have been getting quite heated...

But if you're simply here to find out more about Salt & Honey, the stunning Kalahari-set novel by Candi Miller, then you've come to the right place. There's lots of information about the book in easy-to-view posts, all gathered together under Salt & Honey's own category page. You can click onto it here, or via the category list in the sidebar.

We also thought that as potential 'Spread the Word' voters, you might enjoy treating yourselves to a free sample from the book -- so here's a pdf download of the first chapter. Download salt_honey_first_chapter.pdf

I'm confident that a quick read of this will secure your vote, so just click here to get to the right page and prove me right...

Of course you can buy the book direct from us too, and we'll get it sent to you in just a few days' time:

Salt & Honey
by Candi Miller

Buy now £7.99   

Just follow the Nochex payment instructions (it's all done securely). Enjoy, and thanks for your support of Salt & Honey!

Emma

PS -- both Dove Grey Reader and Scott Pack have specifically picked Salt & Honey out of the top ten list as one to watch...

The Big Question: Want to work for Legend Press?

Not something that is often asked but, with Emma very sadly leaving, we have a brand new position available. With so much going on, big plans ahead, and a publishing company very much on the up, we hope this represents a fantastic opportunity for the right person.

As one of our blog readers you are already one step ahead and so get in touch if interested in applying. Full details:

Publishing Assistant at Legend Press

A bright, energetic and passionate publishing assistant is needed at London-based publishing company Legend Press. Entrants must be educated to degree level and have strong writing and IT skills. The role will involve a wide range of exciting, demanding and often time-pressured tasks, and methodical and efficient admin skills will also be required.

Legend Press is a fast upcoming, dynamic young company currently doubling its list year-on-year and with major plans for its growth. To find out more about the company and its books see www.legendpress.co.uk. To apply for the position, please email a covering letter and CV to info@legendpress.co.uk by 25th February.

Tom

Join the debate

Couldn't help but join in an interesting Guardian blog yesterday, in which Richard Lea questions the Spread the Word Top 10 announced that morning (including the Legendary Salt & Honey by Candi Miller). Well, not so much questioning as unsure of the criteria and uneasy with the absence of any of the 'traditional prize-winners'. I wanted to point out that this was the idea - whether they got it all right is slightly irrelevant; the point is selecting new books for the public to discuss and there is no doubt that there are many, many worthy ones out there.

Feel free to add your own views - very interested whether other people agree or disagree and to hear others' thoughts.

A final point as part of a new game I've devised – out a t*sser. I wrote the comment very quickly as, while very busy, wanted to hopefully add to the discussion with my own reaction to the blog. While confident that I can write very well, I thought that this was more important in this case than making myself aroused at my own writing style. Though apparently that isn't 'lucid' enough for one sarcastic commenter. Sadly for him I reside in the modern world of publishing and such pathetic and irrelevant pretense (to part-steal a line from Frank Debin & Police Squad - that's culture for you) is either dead or dying. And thank goodness for that. 'SeanMurrayDublin' - idiot.

Tom

Salt & Honey storms into top ten for the much talked about World Book Day Award

We're thrilled to be able to tell you all this morning that Salt & Honey was voted into the TOP TEN World Book Day "books to talk about". You can view the list of ten here and, as you'll see, voting for the number 1 World Book Day winner has already started.

Thank you to everyone who voted to get Salt & Honey this far, I think you'll all agree looking at the full list that it MORE than deserves to be on there, and it really does have an excellent chance of going all the way. To me it really stands out, and I know I'm biased but still...see if you agree? It certainly seems to be the most fitting winner in a 'world sense' for a World Book Day accolade.

So, if you've got a second and can log back-in to cast your vote, just one more time, that would be fantastic! Waterstone's and Borders and a host of other shops and libraries across the UK are going to start promoting the top ten list hopefully as of this week so we're looking forward to lots more readers being able to discover the joint wonder that is Candi Miller and her novel Salt & Honey.

We'll be following up over the next couple of weeks with lots of additional information about Candi and her eventful research trip to the Kalahari desert. For a taster, here's a photo of her in her 'writing lair' under a huge Baobab tree:

                   

Thanks again for voting, keep up the good work!

Emma

Author biography: Candi Miller

Though born in Zambia, Candi grew up and was educated in South Africa. She did a Bachelor degree in journalism and then went on to work in advertising, as a copywriter, for more than a decade - in both South Africa and America. She attests to the saying that advertising is the most fun you can have with your clothes on!

      Candi moved to the UK seventeen years ago and is now a British Citizen. She’s tutored creative writing for the last seven years and loves the work, finding the students, adult or undergrad, inspiring. She believes she learns as much about writing from teaching them, as she ever did from years and years of self-study. She is currently a senior lecturer in Creative and Professional Writing at the University of Wolverhampton.

      However, it was in South Africa that she developed a keen interest in conservation and it was natural to her to extend this to the plight of the San people, driven from their traditional hunting grounds by settlers, both black and white. During the Apartheid government’s war in Angola, she learned that groups of San, used by the military as trackers, were dying from eating contaminated food supplied to them. She determined then to write about these people and unearthed further disquieting claims, such as farmers in South West Africa being able to obtain a hunting license for shooting a Bushmen, much as they could for shooting a buck.

      She undertook a very eventful research trip to the Kalahari desert: she was caught up in one of the largest veld fires ever to sweep the sub-continent; charged by a bull elephant and enchanted by Ju/'hoansi story-telling around a campfire. It was these stories that really gave her the heart of Salt & Honey as she sat in the sand, under a baobab tree, to write. In the topmost branch of this cathedral-sized old tree lived a tawny eagle with alarming table habits, Candi says. “He kept dropping his dinner from his beak, onto the sand below. The dinner was usually a live snake.”

      Salt & Honey developed slowly and many drafts and rejections later, Candi started to question whether she would ever get it right. But she remembered the little group of people she’d left behind in the Kalahari whose last words to her were: “Don’t throw us away””. In a last-ditch effort, she approached an upcoming new publisher, Legend Press. Its managing director, Tom Chalmers, loved the novel. Salt & Honey was published by Legend Press in July 2006.

      Candi has had several short stories published, but Salt & Honey is her first novel. She is currently working on a continuation of her heroine, Koba’s, story. Should Salt & Honey win the World Book Day Award and additional funding can be found, she would like to go back into the Kalahari to find the small band of San who inspired her so. “It would be good to share my luck with them."

Trip back to the beginning

It seems like light years ago since the start of Legend Press, although it was in fact still under three year ago. So much has happened since, ups and downs, and  there is a huge amount left ahead as we quickly grow and evolve.

It was therefore quite strange to come across the first interview I ever did - with Writewords.org. It's quite a surreal feeling to look back then when it was all new, I was running the company in the evening hours while still doing my old job at that point, mainly using the internet cafe next door to where I live. I had big plans and a lot of ambition and drive though you never quite know how and in which way things will develop.

It's also funny as despite lots changing it's nice to feel most of the basis of Legend Press has remained central to those original aims and also that I would probably still list The Wind-up Bird Chronicle as my favourite recent book (although I have had little time to experiment with other reading since).

But most important of all, it's great that the Legend Press journey is still continuing!

Tom

My concession to metrosexuality

Being a good village boy at heart, I don't normally go in for any of this fancy stuff though was approached by a woman outside Holborn tube in London who, clearly thinking I was looking slightly weathered that day, offered my a free sample of a new range of 'top male skincare products' - in fact a 4-step pack imported from Japan where it apparently is a big hit.

With a laugh and not thinking too much I have carried on with my week - until this getting back from the gym this morning and before getting in the shower I noticed it the pack lying on my desk - despite realising I would probably never be able to show my face (however refreshed) at home again, I thought why not? I like to give things a go and this was apparently top new Japanese technology... (Who would know? Why the hell I am writing this blog?)

And I must admit there does seem to be an extra quality to the old face this morning, or I may just be imagining it. If you happen to bump into me today let me know if you notice any difference. In the meantime I am going to have a random fight with little man just to make sure the masculinity level is massaged.

Tom