This afternoon we will be taking part in the Prince's Trust Christmas Fayre in central London selling our fantastic books (which of course are the perfect Christmas pressies!)
The fayre is from 4:30pm at Pewterer's Hall, Oat Lane, London, EC2V 7DE. I hope some of you will be able to pop along!
Lucy
Yesterday Tom and I were at Northampton University for our second University event. The Careers Fair was really well publicised which meant the event was packed with people from different areas and almost all subjects.
Quite a few people were interested in Publishing, so we gave lots of advice - hopefully some that was worthwhile - and managed to sell quite a few books too!
Next week is Reading University for a stall and presentation, and then back to Hertfordshire, this time for a presentation.
So have a look next week and find out how the next steps of our ReadGeneration University tour are going.
For more information, have a look at the ReadGeneration page.
Lauren
The Small Press Bookfair is tomorrow!
We will be at Stoke Newington Library Gallery from 11-4pm tomorrow selling our wares as part of Hackney Write to Ignite festival. It will be a fantastic chance to meet up with other independent publishers and exhibit the books of all our talented authors!
The address of the venue is: Stoke Newington Library Gallery, Church Street, N16 0JS, ENTRY IS FREE!
We look forward to seeing some of you there!
Lucy and Tom
Sorry for my absence over the past week (if in fact it was noticed - probably not!), but I was on the annual pilgrimage to the Frankfurt Book Fair, the big Father/Mother of all the book fairs. Thousands of publishing/agent sorts, plus many members of the public (many inexplicibly though happily in assortments of fancy dress) spend several days crammed in together though the eight halls and then evenings crammed into various hotel bars, parties and stands offering free drink (maybe I am judging this on my own behaviour... though I think it is fair to say).
Although tiring, it's also a great opportunity for work and I had numerous very useful meetings with publishers and others involved in the publishing process, from all around the world. Hopefully the expense of going, and the nights out, will be covered by a deal or two to start with, and hopefully even more to make it a very successful trip.
I always enjoy it, in a slightly feeling sickly and tired by the end manner, although was definitely ready to come home by Saturday and made it back at midnight that day to play football Sunday morning - a late 3-2 loss to our long rivals, definitely back to reality with a bump.
Another memorable week but enjoying now being back at my desk trying to catch-up with everything!
Tom
Nick will be signing copies of Who Goes There (pre-release date) at an exclusive signing at the Who Shop in East Ham tomorrow from 12 noon. For those of your who aren't familiar with the shop, visit the website by clicking here to get the full address.
The book is launching in Central London next week!
Pre-order your copy now - £7.99 
Lucy
Mark Piggott and Nick Griffiths will be talking this evening at Stoke Newington Bookshop (159 Stoke Newington High Street) at 8pm tonight. Mark will be signing copies of his fantastic novel Fire Horses and Nick will be signing copies of the equally brilliant 'In The Footsteps of Harrison Dextrose'.
Hope to see some of you there!
Order your copy Harrison Dextrose now - £7.99
Order your copy of Fire Horses now - £7.99
Lucy
Unpublished author Andrew Blackman, from North London, has been announced as the winner of the 2008 Luke Bitmead Writer’s Bursary and was awarded £2,500 as well as a publishing contract with Legend Press for his novel On the Holloway Road. Two additional prizes were awarded on the night to 2nd and 3rd place writers James Higgerson and Andrew Kirby. The shortlist of 11 authors were selected by a judging panel comprising Legend Press, best selling authors Sam Mills and Zoe Jenny and Luke’s family, from hundreds of submissions.
We are delighted to announce Andrew as the first winner of this fantastic award. Life is often incredibly tough for aspiring writers if they do not have the financial backing to match their ability, no matter how talented. This award goes someway to addressing that balance and helps turn ambition into reality. From working with the unforgettable Luke, I know he will be delighted at the opportunity the bursary creates and we can’t wait to start working with Andrew on his superb novel.
Lucy and Tom
This evening we will be announcing the winner of the first Luke Bitmead Writer's bursary. We are looking forward to meeting all the shortlist in person on what will be a very special and exciting evening.
We are delighted to be working with Luke's family to ensure Luke's name and memory lives on. Luke would have loved the idea of another struggling talented author being supported on the ardeous road to securing their first publishing deal.
Lucy
Next Saturday 26th July is the official launch of Silence by Josie Henley-Einion- with the launch party being held at Waterstone's Cardiff on the night from 6:30pm. If anyone lives near this is an open event so you are all welcome to come, just email your names to lucyboguslawski@legend-paperbooks.co.uk
This event will be followed by book-signings at various Waterstone's stores across Wales in August to coincide with the front of shop promotions for Welsh Book of the Month!
The book can be pre-ordered now from the website shop!
Pre-order your copy now - £5.99
Lucy
On Thursday 24th July, at an exclusive event in London, we will be announcing the winner of the 2008 Luke Bitmead Writer's Bursary and celebrating the re-release of White Summer. The event wil be held in The Yorkshire Grey on Grey's Inn Road, Central London.
We have 20 free tickets to give away for this exclusive evening to the first people who email me at lucyboguslawski@legend-paperbooks.co.uk. (Up to 5 tickets are allowed per person).
If you are unable to make it to the event, why not purchase a copy now at the special discounted price.
Lucy
Next from our Speakers' Corner event last Saturday is a video of Jae Watson, author of the amazing Journey (order this brilliant novel at discount below). Jae cleverly tried to go incognito but can just about be recognised under the hat and glasses. Plus the slight Liverpudlian twang finally gave it away.
Tom
As part of the London Lit Plus Festival, Legend Press held it's own 'Independents Day' event (will say Lucy came up with that name, being the day after 4th July, but privately I know it was me). Appropriately for authors and publishers attempting to get their voices heard as part of the independent sector, it was held at Speakers' Corner in Hyde Park. One of the best-known areas in London, and further afield, for free-speech.
Jose Henley-Einion (pictured), author of shortly-to-be-released SILENCE, and Jae Watson, author of JOURNEY, were brave enough to stand up and talk about their books. Parts were also filmed and videos will be available shortly.
It didn't rain and was good fun - plus great to have an opportunity to get the word out there about these great books and to highlight the gems that the independent sector offers.
Tom
28th June - Re-release of White Summer by Luke Bitmead.
28th June - Catherine Richard's, co-author of Heading South will be doing a book-signing at Birstall Borders from 1pm.
5th July - UK Indepedence Day - Legend Press authors will be travelling to Speaker's Corner Hyde Park to do readings!
24th July - Winner of Luke Bitmead Bursary announced.
26th July - Launch party of Josie Henley-Einion's novel Silence at Waterstone's Cardiff.
On Saturday 5th July Legend Press authors will be going to Hyde Park Speaker's Corner to read/talk/preach in public about books (Legend Press books in particular!)
We shall be starting at 12pm sharp so come along and listen. We are not quite sure what's going to happen, so it should be interesting to say the least!
The event is part of London Lit Plus - an open literary festival for London running for two weeks from 5th-19th July!
Lucy
We're very excited about hosting a Legend Press Authors Night this Thursday at the Phoenix Artists' Club on Charing Cross Road, London (starting 6.30pm). Not just one but countless numbers of our authors will be there for this unique evening - a great chance to hear from them and celebrate all of our books published to date.
And as we want to make it as open as possible, we're offering 20 free tickets! They're already going very fast so please leave a comment or email Lucy at lucyboguslawski@legendpress.co.uk ASAP to book your place if you can make it.
Can't wait and look forward to seeing everyone there!
Tom
Mark will be talking and signing copies of his fantastic debut novel 'Fire Horses' tonight at Borders Oxford Street at 6:30pm. The book is getting lots of exciting coverage - and Mark has just been interviewed for the London Paper so look out for that in your papers next week! I thought I would slip in a nice picture from Mark's launch on Tuesday night! We had the launch at London Met University, and much fun was had by all!
Lucy
As part of the Walthamstown Literature Festival two Legend Press authors will be speaking at North Chingford Library tonight. Nick Griffiths, author of 'In the Footsteps of Harrison Dextrose' will be joined by Jae Watson author of 'Journey', who kindly stepped in at the last minute. It should be a good night, we are expecting lots of women there avoiding the Champion's League Final!
Lucy
Order your of copy of Journey now - £5.99
As it's May tomorrow I thought I would remind you all of the events coming up in May:
12th May - Candi Miller - Talk in Wolverhampton with the Wednesfield Reader's Group 2pm.
15th May - William Coles - Reading and Signing at Glasgow Waterstone's Argyle Street 6pm.
15th May - Nick Griffiths - Author 'In Conversation' Waterstone's London Piccadilly 6:30pm.
17th May - Kevin Chandler - 8 Hours Reading and signing Waterstone's Wilmslow 1-2pm
21st May - Nick + to be confirmed - Waltham Forest Festival - North Chingford Library 7-9pm
28th May - William Coles - Stall at Eton College
Mark Piggott's novel 'Fire Horses' is published on 31st May, with exciting events to follow in June!
Lucy
Mark Piggott will be speaking at the Ted Hughes Festival on 25th October at 12pm. The festival, in Mytholmroyd, Halifax where Ted grew up is set to be a big event on the literary calender this year from 22nd-28th October. Other writers speaking at the event include Andrew Motion, Keith Sager and Glynn Hughes. Mark will be reading from his novel Fire Horses published on 31st May.
Lucy
Despite two double bacon bagels, this morning at Legend Press is most politely described as a delicate one. That is the result of a great launch last night for the fantastic In The Footsteps of Harrison Dextrose by Nick Griffiths, which we're all very excited about. The Phoenix Artist Club was a fantastic venue the place was packed throughout the night.
Just realised I only took one picture, and that a badly taken one, of Nick signing the posterboard which will join all the others down the years on display. But to fill in the non-pictured gaps, it was great. And in the end late. But all worth it and onwards tomorrow for the Oxford St book signing. The book of the summer? I should hope so.
Tom
It is almost 1 week until the release of In the Footsteps of Harrison Dextrose on 26th April. To mark the launch we have organised two exciting events in central London to give people the chance to meet the author Nick Griffiths and buy a signed copy of the book.
On Saturday 26th April Nick will be talking and signing copies at Waterstones 421 Oxford Street (opposite Selfridges) at 2pm.
On Thursday 15th May at 6:30pm Nick will be 'In conversation' at Waterstones Piccadilly. Tickets cost £3, but is redeemable if you buy a copy of the book.
Both events are listed on the Waterstones website, click here to see details.
Thanks to Hackney Libraries for a couple of great events over the weekend. As part of their activities for Get London Reading Week, they declared Sat 12th April a Library Open Day with a series of excellent events. This included Nick Griffiths and Mark Liam Piggott giving a great talk and signing at Shoreditch Library and William Coles (very moderately assisted by myself) spending the afternoon at Stamford Hill Library.
There were many very interesting conversations, copies sold, which is always nice, and thanks for all those involved in organising the day. I do though have to report one of the rarest lines I've heard to date and one that had us laughing for quite a while after. Mr Coles is a salesman-extraordinaire when it comes to discussing his novel but even he had to pause for a brief second when on inviting someone over to hear of the book he had written, she promptly responded, 'What do you want, a medal?' He did recover quickly however with, 'No, I'd just like you to buy a damn copy.' Always entertaining these events, and we are now considering having Legend Press medals produced for our wonderful authors.
But a great day anyway and look forward to hearing back from those who took copies away and said they'd be in touch with their thoughts!
Tom
Legend Press and several of our EIGHT HOURS authors will be taking part in the Foyles Short Story Festival this Saturday 5th April, which is part of the Get London Reading Week - for full programme click here. Taking place at the flagship Charing Cross Road branch, our authors E.C. Seaman, Josie Henley-Einion and Kevin Chandler will have a slot to themselves at 3.30pm to read from the fantastic collection and to take any questions.
I have also been asked to take part in a panel discussion at 6.35pm, which should be very interesting (for me anyway; maybe less so for those listening to me).
So, if you're in the London area, make sure you come along - should be a great day.
Tom
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Jae Watson travelled up to Walsall yesterday for two reading group events -- the first at Pleck library and the second at Walsall Central library.
She emailed us first thing this morning to let us know what a good time she'd had at both and what an excellent turn out there'd been. Both groups had asked tonnes of stimulating questions and were really taken with the book.
Not that we're surprised!
Don't forget that you can buy a copy of the stunning Journey for yourself right here at our shop, or why not take advantage of our Christmas Sale and get one of our 'Cultural giftsets' with Journey and Salt & Honey for just £10.99 including free P&P? Lovely.
Emma
Check out the rest of our special Christmas offers here.
Jae Watson, author of the stunning India-set novel Journey, will be visiting Walsall in the West Midlands next Thursday (13th December) for two special library reading group events. The events will take place at Pleck and Walsall Central libraries, and Jae will be talking about the book, reading personally chosen extracts, signing copies of the novel and also holding indepth Q&A sessions.
The event is open to non-members of the reading groups too, so if you're anywhere near Walsall then please feel free to go along, Jae will be delighted to meet you. Email info@legendpress.co.uk for directions. You can see more details on the Walsall Libraries website.
Jae will be at Pleck library between 2 and 3pm, and at Walsall Central Library from 4.45pm.
If you're a member of a bookgroup and would like to talk to us about Jae or any of our other authors coming to visit your group please email info@legendpress.co.uk to get in touch!
Emma
Having recently been approach by the LLDA (London Libraries Development Association - great to see the work going on to boost and re-energise our libraries) about arranging a series of events across London's libraries, we were already aware that we had one title in their upcoming Limited Edition promotion - featuring the top books from small and independent presses.
But we were very pleased yesterday to find out out that we in fact have two books in the promotion - both Journey by the brilliant Jae Watson and Here or There by the equally brilliant Rebecca Strong. The fact I found this out while halfway through a whole packet of shortbread biscuits with my cup of coffee made the moment even better. These will now be promoted across London libraries and we hope the initiative is a major success. It's a great idea and we're very keen to do as much as we can to support it.
To read more: click here
All exciting stuff!
Tom
Some good news. We've just found out that we've been accepted to receive a little bit of funding to be part of next year's Get London Reading Challenge.
We're going to hold a number of author events during the March/April Get London Reading period, in particular focusing on the benefit that short bursts of fiction-reading can bring to a busy and pressured day. More details to follow early next year.
The Get London Reading Challenge was first launched in 2006 as part of Booktrust’s campaign to encourage Londoners to make more time for reading, and to celebrate London as an international centre for books. Booksellers, libraries, publishers and arts organisations will all be involved, right across the city. Already looking forward to being involved in such a great initiative!
Emma
Only two days to go until The Well-Tempered Clavier hits the shops! This stage in the publishing process is always charged with high excitement for us so forgive the amount of exclamation marks I may be tempted to use during this post! (I'll try my hardest to keep them under control and feel much better already for having got two out of my system so hopefully they won't get too wild...)
Anyway, back to WTC and what's going on for it as we approach LPLDay (that stands for Legend Press launch day, in case you were wondering). It is being stocked by every single Waterstone's shop nationwide, plus you will find it in Borders, Books etc and in loads of independent stores everywhere so if you haven't already ordered your copy online you won't find it hard to get your hands on one. There are also plenty of chances to come and help celebrate its launch and meet the author at one of the many events and book-signings we've got coming up:
Friday 26th October -- Edinburgh launch at the Valvona & Crolla deli
Sunday 28th October -- Talk and signing at the Radical Book Fair in Edinbugh
Tuesday 30th October -- London launch at Foyles, Charing Cross Road
Saturday 3rd November -- Signing at Windsor Waterstone's, the home town of Eton itself.
Friday 16th November -- Signing, talk and drinks reception at Laurence Oxley Bookshop & Gallery in Arlesford, Hampshire (Bill Coles' home town)
And there are plenty more events in the pipeline too. Let me know if you want more details of any of the above and I'll keep you posted on the rest! (ooops-- another one slipped out there, sorry.)
Also, as we showed you the article last week in The Sun, we thought you'd now be interested to see the related announcement in the book trade press here. Plus look out for an extract to be printed (fingers crossed) in the Express on Sunday 4th November.
Finally, we should mention that the book is also causing havoc in London as many desk workers are getting distracted from their jobs to get stuck in...I hope it's not just the saucy scenes that are grabbing your attention boys??
Emma
The 11th annual Edinburgh Radical Book Fair, dubbed ‘the alternative book festival’, will take place from Wednesday 24th to Sunday 28th October and this year Legend Press will be taking part in more ways than one.
We will have a stall selling copies of all our books and also our newest author Bill Coles, who lives in Edinburgh, will give a special talk to celebrate the launch of his new novel The Well-Tempered Clavier.
The festival iswill be held at Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 30-38 Dalmeny Street, Edinburgh (EH6 8RG).
Also please email info@legendpress.co.uk if you are interested in reserving a place at either of the Edinburgh or London launch parties for The Well-Tempered Clavier, held on Friday 26th and Tuesday 30th October respectively.
Our newest author William Coles, who's novel The Well-Tempered Clavier launches at the end of the month, will be joined by fellow Legend Press debut novelists Jae Watson and Rebecca Strong for a special evening event as part of the Havering Book Festival.
The three authors will host a talk and readings at the beautiful Langtons Hall in Hornchurch, Havering (Greater London) on Wednesday 17th October from 7pm. Wine will be provided while the authors read from their novels and talk about the stories both within the books and behind them, giving all guests the inside low-down. It will be the first time William Coles has read from The Well-Tempered Clavier and guests will also be given a one-off chance to get a copy of the novel before it even hits shops. Email info@legendpress.co.uk for directions.
To find out more about Journey by Jae Watson, Here or There by Rebecca Strong, and The Well-Tempered Clavier by Bill Coles before coming to the event, click here to view our books and reviews page.
People have been asking us how our stint as market traders went at the Thames festival on Saturday. Well, in a nutshell, it was brilliant. It was good fun to get out from behind our desks for once and meet potential readers, but even more exhilarating than this was the fact that we sold loads of books. We weren't at all sure what to expect, we weren't even sure how many books to take with us, but the speed with which they were snapped up showed us more than ever how effective the direct selling of our books can be. Copies of the whole range, from our first book The Remarkable Everyday to our most recent launch of Here or There, were flying off the table with loads of people scooping up our special 'on-the-day' offer of any five for £20.
It was a great way to reach a whole new audience as many people who bought from us admitted they wouldn't normally go for a browse in a bookshop so it was a nice treat for them to discover new fiction.With Tom and I on hand to describe the books and answer questions, customers got invaluable first hand knowledge of the books and the stories behind them. Once they heard a bit about each title they couldn't wait to pick at least one or two and get reading so when we said that our collection offers 'something for everyone' it seems we weren't exaggerating. I love this cheesy photo of Tom which I took (luckily he didn't pose lwith that manic smile on his face all day -- if he had I certainly don't think we'd have sold as many books...)
Emma
After hearing about Heading South following a successful book signing at the Sheffield Orchard Square Waterstone's, the Sheffield Star newspaper has shown its support for local Rotherham first-time author Catherine Richards. Click here to read their article and interview with Catherine in full.
To find out even more about Catherine and show her your support, you can visit her personal MySpace page and blog at www.myspace.com/caaahferin.
Rebecca Strong had plenty of reasons to celebrate last week at the launch party for her stunning debut Here or There as, not only was the launch a wonderful occasion with 111 books sold (the packed room at Foyles is shown in this picture on the left), but we found out that the novel had been shortlisted for Five Live Book of the Month on the Simon Mayo BBC radio programme.
The book is now officially on sale and in shops so if you haven't already got your copy now is the time to do it.
The launch party for Legend Press' latest novel Heading South was a huge success at the Crockatt & Powell bookshop, near Waterloo, last Thursday (24th May). Over 75 guests attended the launch, including many of late author Luke Bitmead's close friends and family.
Luke wrote Heading South in conjunction with debut author Catherine Richards, after they came into contact with each other on the BBC's Get Writing Forum. Sadly they never got the chance to meet in person before Luke's tragic death in October last year.
Luke's family were delighted to have the opportunity to meet Catherine at the launch and many fond memories of Luke were shared. Details of the Luke Bitmead Memorial Fund were also announced, and the first grant for fledgling writers is expected to be awarded in 2008. Luke's royalties from Heading South and also from continued sales of his debut novel White Summer (published by Legend Press last year) will all go to the Memorial Fund. More details can be found at www.lukebitmead.com.
Catherine continued promotion of the book’s launch by hosting a successful champagne book-signing at Banbury Waterstone's on Saturday (26th May), marking the first day the book hit the shops. A wealth of positive feedback from readers and reviewers is already flowing in and Legend Press expects the novel to be one of the hits of the summer.
The Society of Young Publishers (the SYP) were special guests at the Seven Days launch party and two SYP members, Kevin Mahoney and Jon Slack, were on hand to conduct exclusive video interviews with Legend Press' managing director Tom Chalmers and the three UK-based authors from Seven Days.
Order Overseas copy - £6.99 (inc P&P):
