Legend Press

Introducing the Legend Press writing twins...

It was great to hear that the launch events for new short story collection EIGHT HOURS went so well at the weekend. In fact, it seems the book is already starting to make a mark with increasing orders and media interest already, so we're very hopefully that EIGHT HOURS is going to be the success it deserves to be - make sure you've ordered your copy, no excuses!

It was also great to receive these pictures from the Cardiff event where EIGHT HOURS contributors Josie Henley-Einion and writing twins CL Raven put on a great show for the large crowd that had gathered. So here are CL Raven next to the fresh of the press copies of the great collection. Particularly like the bottles of Smirnoff Ice in the picture on the left.

I reckon they must be unique (no pun intended) as the first writing goth twins - will have to look after them though hope to see them at many more events over the coming weeks promoting the book.

Tom

Alexander McCall Smith hails The Well-Tempered Clavier

The fantastic The Well-Tempered Clavier by William Coles is going from strength to strength. To add to the ongoing sales, rave reviews and overwhelming media coverage, we have what Alexander McCall Smith, author of the No1 Ladies Detective series, calls a 'triumph!'

McCall Smith has kindly added to the endorsements for the novel, stating: "What a read! Every schoolboy’s dream comes true in this deftly written treatment of illicit romance. A triumph."

A debut novel from author William Coles, The Well-Tempered Clavier is a beautifully written love story and proves to be growing in popularity by the day. With these kind of quotes, we can hear first-hand what you, the readers, think about the novel. And for those who haven't experienced the magic, that only leaves one question, what's stopping you? Order right now.

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

Guest blogger: Lauren Parsons-Wolff

I started my two week placement with Legend Press last Monday, 17th March, and already covered so many different aspects to publishing. Being a small and developing company, it's been a great chance to be hands-on, and I've been able to do tasks that require a bit more responsibility than just making tea.

Just being in the environment day in day out, has encouraged my drive to become an Editor. With a few editorial tasks under my belt now, I feel much more confident within the publishing industry, thanks to Legend Press.

Lauren

Another launch event: Huckleberry's Bookshop

As mentioned last week, we're not just having one launch event for the fantastic EIGHT HOURS, the latest in the 'Short Story Reinvented' series, we're having several. Following events at Cardiff and Newton Abbot Waterstone's, on Friday and Saturday respectively, a full evening of celebration will be taking place on Monday 31st March at Huckleberry's Bookshop in Blandford Forum, Dorset.

The event at the wonderful independent bookshop, also one one of the smartest and innovative independents we've come across, will begin at 7pm and EIGHT HOURS contributors E.C. Seaman, Kevin Chandler and Hilary Lloyd will all be there to say a few words, read from their stories, answer questions and sign hot-of-the-press new copies of the collection.

If you are anywhere in the area, then you should make it a must - will be a great evening, and all part of the launch of the best EIGHT HOURS you'll ever encounter.

Tom

Four days to EIGHT HOURS launch...

It's now only four days until the launch of EIGHT HOURS - the third in the acclaimed 'Short Story Reinvented' series and this collection looks like being the most high-profile and popular yet. Backed by a series of nationwide events and widespread support, it is expected to make the major mark for the new form of the short story and demonstrating to the reading public all the short fiction values which have over recent years been overlooked.

If you haven't already, make sure you order your copy now:

ORDER NOW £7.99           Buy signed copy for £1 extra

                                 

Tom

Second time? Shortlisted for Young Publisher of the Year

A welcome reminder that I am still just about young. That and the still lack of ability to grow convincing facial hair. Just joking, it was nice to hear this week that I've been shortlisted again for the Young Publisher of the Year Award (in fact now called the 'UK Young Publishing Entrepreneur of the Year Award' to be accurate).

Always nice to have recognition for Legend Press and for all those who have put so much work in, and is a nice reminder on those longer days of where the company has come. Congratulations to the others shortlisted and, with the natural competitive hat on (just a phrase, maybe surprisingly I don't actually own a 'competitive hat'), look forward to seeing who wins the prize this year!

Tom

Fiction Flirting starting to find the love

Following the announcement of our 'Fiction Flirting' initiative in conjunction with dating site Gorgeous Networks, it was great this week to see a feature in the London Paper.

With the aim of using the book as the perfect ice-breaking in approaching an attractive stranger, and armed with The Well-Tempered Clavier by William Coles complete with author message as the first book to be used, the London Paper ran a case study to see how the promo worked.

A pity she didn't have a little more faith in the old WTC (seeing Bill Coles at book signings is testament to the love that book can generate...) but great to see the initiative getting deserved credit and we hope it will go from strength-to-strength. Not just great books at Legend Press but we've even helping find the couples of the future. May have to buy a hat...

Remember if you email fictionflirting@legendpress.co.uk you can receive free copies of the novel to give the promotion a go...

Tom

Salt & Honey - Borders Book Group Pick of the Month

More great news for the fantastic Salt & Honey by Candi Miller. Following on from being in the World Book Day Top Ten Books to Talk About, it has been included in Borders' Book Group Choice of the Month for March - see here

This means that not only will it be being talked about by the many Borders book groups, but they are offering special discounts and free copies to all book groups around the country.

So are you in a book group? If so, please take advantage of this great opportunity and include this amazing book for your next meeting - and order now while the special offer is on.

In fact, as you may well know, we are very keen to work with all book groups and so will match Borders' offer if you prefer to order direct through us. Just email me at tomchalmers@legendpress.co.uk and I will arrange for you!

Thanks to Borders and now let's make this book the most talked about book group book!

Tom

More: is the book going to survive?

Following on with the current hot potato of whether the book, in its traditional form, is going to survive in the future or whether we'll be tripping over people engrossed in e-readers on public buses in just a few years' time, here's an interesting article discussing the matter with Scott Pack.

Scott was a great help to myself and Legend Press when first starting out and he was at the helm of Waterstone's, and I agree with a lot of what he says in the article. Again, feel free to add your own views - need to find out whether to try and put some money aside for a special, future Legend Press Reader.

Tom

Nick Griffiths interviewed as a melon

Not words I ever thought I'd write, but there they are. I introduce our latest promotional video - Nick Griffiths, author of the brilliant In The Footsteps of Harrison Dextrose (out 26 April), under a cunning disguise.

When I saw him enter the office carrying a melon I thought insanity may have taken over, little did I know it was the unearthing of a new star.

Can't wait to launch this fantastic novel and I may even invite the melon to cut the ribbon at the launch. Pre-order your copy right now:

ORDER NOW £7.99           Buy signed copy for £1 extra

                                 

Why have one launch event...

... when you can have many! EIGHT HOURS, the latest in our fantastic 'Short Story Reinvented' series launches on 29th March and we have a series of events arranged around the country to promote the superb collection. If you haven't already, you simply must give this latest book a go – a format devised as perfect for today's busy reader and new fiction at its very best. At every event we've been to and had a chance to speak to people at, these books have been snapped up like hot cakes.

Events: just for starters we have:

Fri 28th March - Cardiff Hayes Waterstone's with Josie Henley-Einion and fantastic writing twins CL Raven. Starts 6.30pm.

Sat 29th March - Newton Abbot Waterstone's with E.C. Seaman. Starts 12 noon.

Mon 31st March - Huckleberry's Bookshop, Dorset with E.C. Seaman and Kevin Chandler. Starts early-evening.

Sat 5th April - Foyles Bookshops, London, as part of the Short Story Festival, with E.C. Seaman, Kevin Chandler, Josie Henley-Einion and Daniel Gothard. Starts 3pm.

And there will be plenty more to follow - this book will and deserves to make a major mark in the hearts of today's readers.

You can get in first and order advance copies direct here - go on, you must give it a go:

ORDER NOW £7.99           Buy signed copy for £1 extra

                                 

Interviewing for Legend Press

Has been an interesting week at Legend Press. Starting out on Tuesday and all day Wednesday and Thursday I've been interviewing for the newly-created Publishing Assistant role. Has been very interesting speaking to numerous different people; certainly for me anyway, if not for them having to talk to me!

It is also incredibly hard to chose after seeing so many excellent candidates, if good for the publishing industry that there is such pool of talent available. It's also difficult over a short time to decide between people in this way. But anyway, the decision is to be made and I look forward to bringing that person into the Legend Press growing empire! Thanks to all those that took the time to come in for interview, much appreciated and good luck to everyone in their careers, whether with Legend Press or achieving great things elsewhere.

Tom

Introducing the short film of Queer Fish

Have been waiting eagerly for this and very excited now it's here. Documentary-maker Amir Jamal (Weddings and Beheadings; British, Paki and Proud; Who Wants to be a Mullah?) has made a short film about Queer Fish in God's Waiting Room. Is was filmed in the studio of hip-hop artist Akira the Don and includes Lee interviewing himself.

Unmissable, and now you've seen it, you'll have to make sure you've ordered your copy of this great book and don't need to go anywhere else to do so. Enjoy!

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

                                 

Step forward into The Footsteps of Harrison Dextrose

This is the first official look at the fantastic IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF HARRISON DEXTROSE by Nick Griffiths. We're hugely excited about launching this hilarious and brilliantly written novel (out 26th April) but I don't think I say anything better right now than the cover quote - 'This book is cooler than David Hasselhoff in a room full of otters'. Prepare yourself for the arrival of Harrison Dextrose...

Tom

The book in any form?

I heard an interesting talk yesterday from Gail Rebuck, Chair and CEO of Random House, UK's largest fiction publisher, declaring that its an exciting time in publishing on the cusp of digitalisation and 'the essence of what I am selling will be the same, whatever the technology transmitting it. I think there is an irreducible quality to reading that means the book will never die'.

I agree that we must work with these changes and think if we do there is still room for the book in 'hard copy' form, though also have some separate points with regard to how I believe publishing needs to evolve to survive and flourish. But what do you think? Would the digital form still be a 'book' to you? Does this move towards digitalisation excite or worry you? How do you see the future of reading? Would you read from an 'e-reader' as you currently see them?

Look forward to hearing your views.

Tom

More book peddling - a great day in Huddersfield

Despite the very early start for a Saturday and a suitcase disaster on leaving that was brilliantly dealt with by those working at the festival (can't discuss more now as promised I would write it up one day), had a great time at the Huddersfield event. Was brilliantly organised, a great idea, met many interesting and nice people, and Legend Press books were selling faster than umbrellas in this so-called national storm that's currently going on.

In fact, on the way back I wondered if this market trading was the way forward - forget this office malarky and chasing others to sell our books.

And to cap it all, they even put on a full buffet for lunch - I think that's the one time sales may have been temporarily down on the stall!

Sorry pictures are a little blurred, may have to pick up a job-lot of cameras for our next market day.

Tom

Linekar vs Ghandi?!

I was slightly amused/alarmed this week to hear there is a debate raging in my home city of Leicester. It's not over how many managers we can get through in the season for the briefly (I tell myself) beleaguered City or over the suggested naming of Humperdinck Way (after one of our many famous sons - crooner Engelbert), but about the latest statue to be built in the city centre.

While our Capital of Sport statue (something which amuses some of my clearly unknowledgeable non-Leicester friends - do they not appreciate we won the cricket and rugby leagues and football's League Cup in the same season?) was widely, within the city boundaries, applauded, the latest idea has caused a storm of argument. The Council announced they were going to create a statue of Ghandi, in light of his values and the city's multiculturalism - at the current rate Leicester will become the first UK city with a white minority, which I think is a very interesting prospect.

But no, some people have revolted and called for a statue of football legend, and another famous Leicester son, Gary Linekar instead. See report here. I chose this but has been across the news. Having given this thought, not too much admittedly, while it does seem a bit of a random decision, important figure that he is, to decide to build a statue of Ghandi in a city where he has no personal links, it seems somehow morally wrong to scrap him in favour of Linekar, even taking into account his goalscoring and club-saving heroics. So I say keep Ghandi and maybe rename something else, Linekar Clock Tower or Linekar Shopping Centre or something.

But let's add Legend Press into this raging hot potato of a debate - who do you choose: Linekar or Ghandi?

Tom

Boy A pips Salt & Honey for World Book Day award

Who the hell is this 'Boy A' anyway? Only joking, a deserved and I thought expected winner as has generated a huge amount of press recently, even more than most of the other contenders. It was also number one, with Salt & Honey number two, after the first round of voting. So congratulations to all, particularly the author who has the added bonus of a nice £5,000 cheque coming his way. Difficult to make money as a writer these days so richly deserved.

And it has still be great news for Salt & Honey and the promotion continues so don't think you can stop your support of it now! Will be at various events and promotions around the country and deserves all the attention it gets as is a fantastic gem of a book. Hopefully this shortlisting will see it go on and become the huge seller it should be.

Thanks for all your votes and the battle goes on! Viva la Salt & Honey, or something like that.

Tom

Another Legend Press stall... this time in Huddersfield

Everyone once in a while we've been allowed out as a publisher and have always very much enjoyed it - from South Bank stall, to Prince's Trust Fair and other miscellaneous events. And happily, the latest opportunity has arrived - we have a stall on Saturday as part of the Writers Day and Book Fair at Huddersfield Town Hall (click for details). Forms part of the Huddersfield Literature Festival 2008 and with all the efforts gone into it and excellent promotion it should be a great day.

Really looking forward to it and its always refreshing to be out in the public (not allowed too often!) discussing our books, Legend Press and anything else that comes to mind. So if you are anywhere near Huddersfield, come along on Saturday. Open 11am-4pm and they also have workshops running all day with a great list of authors appearing.

I may even see if I can find a snazzy waistcost in my wardrobe like the one sported be the guy pictured. Though maybe best not.

Looking forward to another great market!

Tom

To re-launch WHITE SUMMER!!!!

Something I've been struggling to keep quiet for a while – we are thrilled/excited/delighted to announce the relaunch of WHITE SUMMER on 28th June. It will be backed by a major publicity campaign and the huge following for the author, Luke Bitmead, who tragically died in October 2006, aged just 34. Following the hugely charismatic and talented Luke’s death, the Luke Bitmead Memorial Fund was set-up by Luke’s family to support fledgling writers, particularly those battling adversity to achieve their writing dream. The first beneficiary of the Fund is due to be announced in May.

WHITE SUMMER, a fast-paced, hliarious and stylish comedy, was originally launched in May 2006 and was the first novel commissioned and published by then newborn baby Legend Press. The novel generated a large cult following, partly through Luke’s nationwide book signing tour (many great, timeless memories from that summer with Luke). We also now expect to benefit from our own rapidly-risen profile and the widespread interest in Luke’s hugely entertaining and skillful work to take this book to the next level, which it fully deserves - to make it a major, major hit.

Luke was also the co-author, with Catherine Richards, of HEADING SOUTH, which launched in May 2007. Another brilliant novel!

We have discussed the prospect of relaunching WHITE SUMMER, with a wonderfully vibrant new package, for some time and couldn’t be more excited. Luke is widely acknowledged as one of the most talented young writers to emerge in recent years and it is a tragedy that he died so soon after the launch of his wonderful first novel (I also have a very good story about when he first sent the novel to me - will reveal shortly). At the time it was described by one of the main buyers as 'the best book of its type he'd came across' and now is the time to see the novel and Luke’s writing achieve its deserved success.

It will also be pleasing on a personal level as Luke was the first novelist I commissioned having started the company and he was an amazing part through those first key months - it was difficult to accept that my phone wouldn't ring any minute for another passionate and entertaining conversation on promoting the book or anything else that came to our minds. Later on reflection I realised how important and special his absolutely unswerving faith in Legend Press was - we probably wouldn't be here without it.

I would also like to thank Luke’s family who have been consistently supportive and amazingly active in the drive to continue to push Luke’s writing, through the most difficult of times. They also deserve to see Luke's writing reach the widespread success it deserves.

Can't wait to re-launch this book and will be calling on everyone for their support - one read of it and it will without doubt become the book of your summer!

Tom

Unique new patnership announced with YouWriteOn

We were delighted to announce on Friday an unique new partnership with the UK's leading Arts Council-sponsored writing site - YouWriteOn.com – offering a bespoke service to its many members.

YouWriteOn is offering three different packages for those looking to self-publish – Basic, Advanced, Premier – into which Legend Press has agreed to offer services ranging from cover design, editing, text-setting, book registration, to comprehensive marketing and selling packs tailored to the customer’s individual needs. There are many self-publishing services on offer but this partnership is the first to combine the production of the book with unique industry expertise to take it to that next level – something many self-publishers, no matter how good their work, often find too difficult an obstacle to surmount.

It's a partnership we’ve been discussing for a while and we’re delighted to link up with YouWriteOn – we believe two of the most exciting new companies in our respective sectors!

It can be a giant leap from having a book, getting the right looking book, to being able to market and sell it effectively within the industry. This is where we can come in to help customer’s achieve their aims and dreams, through knowledge, skills and innovation – exactly what we’ve had to use to survive and prosper as an independent publisher in the current challenging market.

Aside from our own rapidly-growing and cherished publishing list, we’re also delighted to be able to give more aspiring writers a helping hand making their mark – after all they are the basic lifeblood of a thriving book industry.

If anyone is interested in this new, exciting service, please view the link above and/or email youwriteon@legendpress.co.uk

Tom