Legend Press

Shortlist for 2010 Luke Bitmead Bursary announced

Legend Press are delighted to announce the 8 short listed authors for the 2010 Luke Bitmead Bursary. Set up to support the work of struggling unpublished authors, this year’s award in its third year, received an unprecedented amount of entries.

The winner will be announced at a ceremony in Central London on Thursday 20th January. The author will receive a cash prize and a publishing contract with Legend Press for 2011 for their submitted novel.

The eight short listed authors are:

- Alex Singer – Tea at the Grand Tazi
- Sandi Fikuart – The Fourth Chimurenga – The Uprising
- Brian Jenkinson – The Executioner
- Duncan Abel – The Way Home
- Paul Shapira – Genuine Brave Circle
- Richard Harris – Haze
- Sarah Hunter Carson – All Her Bones Were Silver
- Sophie Duffy – The Generation Game

The award will be judged by the Legend Press team, Elaine Hanson and Tiffany Orton (Luke’s Mother and Sister) and best-selling authors Zoë Jenny and Sam Mills. Previous winners of the award are Andrew Blackman (On the Holloway Road) and Ruth Dugdall (The Woman Before Me).

The Luke Bitmead Bursary was founded by Luke’s family, in association with Legend Press, shortly after Luke’s tragic death in 2006 at the age of just 34. Luke’s book White Summer was the first novel to be published by Legend Press and Luke was one of the UK’s most talented up-and-coming writers. Legend Press are delighted to be working with Luke's family to ensure that Luke’s name and memory lives on.

We were delighted to discover our two previous winners Andrew Blackman and Ruth Dugdall, and hope to build on the awards success with our fantastic eight short listed authors. We are honoured to be working with Luke’s family on this literary award, which is growing year-on-year. Luke would have loved the idea of another struggling talented writer being supported on the difficult road to securing their first publishing deal.

Lucy

The bursary's 2 previous winning novels On the Holloway Road (Andrew Blackman) and The Woman Before Me (Ruth Dugdall) and Luke's White Summer and Heading South (co-written by Catherine Richards) are available now to buy as a set for £25.00 - the perfect gift for Christmas. Visit: www.buybitmeadbooks.com

Buy Bitmead Books!

With the success of Luke Bitmead's books – WHITE SUMMER and HEADING SOUTH (written jointly with Catherine Richards) – and the Luke Bitmead Bursary, with two fantastic winners in each of the first two years, we are telling everyone to Buy Bitmead Books.

In fact we are offering all four books for a bargain of £25.00!

So go to www.buybitmeadbooks.com and get buying!

Tom

Listen to Face The Facts on BBC Radio Four at 12.30 today!

Includes details of delay of the Luke Bitmead Inquest. Make sure you listen and continue to support Luke's books!

Tom

Luke Bitmead Inquest Interview on Five Live - 8.35am (now!)

Following the adjourned inquest into the death of Luke Bitmead – author of the fantastic WHITE SUMMER and co-author with Catherine Richards of the brilliant HEADING SOUTH – there will be an interview with his mother, Elaine Hanson, on Five Live at 8.35am this morning.

This will be followed by a Face The Facts documentary at 12.30 today on BBC Radio Four.

And if you haven't already, make sure you've gone out and ordered the superb novels!

Tom

Luke Bitmead Inquest adjourned

On Friday the inquest into the tragic death of Luke Bitmead, author of the fantastic WHITE SUMMER and, co-authored with Catherine Richards, HEADING SOUTH, was adjourned, possibly until October.

However, already various concessions have been made and changes put in place relating to care in the hospital. Covered on BBC here.

In the meantime, we are going to be doing all we can as always to push Luke's fantastic writing, so go out, or stay by your computer, and buy copies today!

Tom

White Summer at no.84 in Amazon humour books...

... following on from email earlier, we want it at no.1! Therefore, buy your copies now, buy them for your family and friends, and tell your family and friends to buy copies. Get the great novel to the top of the chart where it belongs!

Buy White Summer

Tom

Inquest for White Summer author Luke Bitmead underway

The Inquest into the tragic death of Luke Bitmead began yesterday. Luke was the first novelist I signed up after starting Legend Press and showed unbelievable faith in me starting out on my venture. We also had a unforgettable time in the months promoting his novel WHITE SUMMER.

Following Luke's death, his incredibly strong family set-up the Luke Bitmead Bursary to support new writers (Luke's royalties go towards supporting the Bursary) - to date securing publishing contracts for Andrew Blackman and Ruth Dugdall, and helping many others.

There is going to be widespread press covering the Inquest, see below for examples from the first day, and inclusion in a national documentary shortly.

BBC coverage
Wilts & Glos
Diss Express
Oxford Times
Arbroath Herald

Luke's huge writing talent deserves as widespread recognition as possible and we want to make sure everyone goes out and buys Luke's fantastic books. Just click on links below to purchase, including for an absolutely bargain £3.50 direct from us while stocks last:

Buy White Summer

Buy Heading South

Tom

15th December - Advent book of the day

Each day of advent we are going to profile a different Legend Press book for sale! We want everyone to have a Legendary book in their stocking, so if you see something you like please order. The best selling book will be at the top of our Christmas tree on the blog on 25th December.

Everyone who orders a book from our site in December is automatically entered into a prize draw to win a hoard of Legend Press books!

Today's book of the day is Legend Press's first ever novel White Summer by the talented Luke Bitmead. White Summer is a fasti-paced and vibrant comedy that offers a hilarious insight into infatuation, sex, hangovers and dead-end jobs. 

'Great stuff. Wonderfully witty and sexy.' Deborah Wright, bestselling author

'A sparking debut from an author with an eye for detail and wit.' Essence Magazine

Order your copy of White Summer now - £7.99 

Lucy

Gary Davison reviews White Summer!

Gary Davison author of Fat Tuesday published by Paperbooks has written a glowing review of White Summer by Luke Bitmead on his blog http://gary-davison.com:

"Guy Chamberlain is twenty-something -years -old, has had an extremely privileged up bringing, and is in a dead-end job at a travel agents. He drinks, he gets hung-over, he struggles through to lunch time and goes to the Crown to knock the edge off, and parties, knocks the edge off at The Crown,  and all-in-all he’s having a good time of it until he falls for the gorgeous Daisy. From here on in, his love life spirals out of control, and when he gets it on with Daisy, as well as the big breasted Kathy, his sister’s best mate, and ends up in bed with Kate from the office, his summer really does heat up.

 

Here’re a couple of snippets of his wicked humour.

The plaster, like a stripper’s stocking, came of painfully slowly….

At the end of the night, my hormone levels were so high that I looked like a glow stick in a shirt…

It was Saturday night. I was drunker than a poet who hasn’t eaten for days and had chased a bottle of Absinthe with Meths…

 Luke Bitmead has the knack of pulling one liners off like no one else I’ve read before. Most of which you would have heard before, except he is cool with it. He does it unashamed and it works a treat. The biggest trouble I had with this book was putting it down. It was a scream, and I recommend it those who like a laugh.

Ratings

Sex – any amount – in the author’s words ‘ my nob was red raw’

Violence – none.

Drugs - none 

Alcohol – everything you can think of especially Stella, whisky, vodka

Comedy – laugh a minute stuff.

Writing style – easy to read bordering on man-lit

Overall – 4 out 5, I loved it."

Take a minute to visit Luke's website

A special message today - it is the 2nd anniversary of Luke Bitmead's sad death. As many will know, the superbly talented and charismatic Luke was the first novelist I signed up for Legend Press and whatever is achieved in the future of the press, Luke will have played an absolutely invaluable role.

Following the launch of his fantastic novel WHITE SUMMER, Luke sadly died in October of the same year, aged just 34. Set-up by his family, this year saw the first winner of the Luke Bitmead Bursary Prize - Andrew Blackman.

I spoke to Luke's Mum a week or so ago and she has asked that everyone visit Luke's website at some point today - www.lukebitmead.com So, please take a second or two to go and visit. Luke would have loved the staring role!

Tom

20 free tickets available for Luke Bitmead event...

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.

Order your copy now - £5.99 

Lucy

White Summer in promotion...

I dropped into Borders today on the way back from a meeting there and was pleased to see the sparkling new edition of the fantastic WHITE SUMMER by Luke Bitmead in promotion.

Launched on Saturday we feel confident that this can become the book of the summer (and deservedly so) - although it was raining at the time, but now the sun is out again, which I'll put down the the amazing effect White Summer has.

Have you ordered your copy yet? Excellent, you'll love it/why the hell not? (delete as appropriate). If you're in the latter camp, you can correct this right now! Simply order below for the top summer read:

Order your copy now - £5.99 

'White Summer' relaunched tomorrow

Tomorrow sees the relaunch of Luke Bitmead's fast-paced and vibrant comedy 'White Summer'. Here is just some of the glowing reviews the book has received:

‘Great stuff. Wonderfully witty and sexy.’ Deborah Wright, bestselling author

‘Reading White Summer is like a breath of fresh air’ Roundtable Review

‘White Summer is a page-turner, punctuated with humorous incidents that will ring true to all men and women.’ BBC Oxford Radio.

‘A sparkling debut from an author with an eye for details and wit.’ Essence Magazine.

Order your copy now - £5.99 

Lucy

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

Luke Bitmead Bursary in the Bookseller

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

Tom

The blurb and the story behind White Summer

'Six o’clock is the watershed, isn’t it? It’s the time we can crack open a beer in the sure knowledge we’re not alcoholics.’

Guy Chamberlain is getting drunk while waiting for life to happen. Then summer arrives and everything takes off. The breath-taking Daisy appears out of nowhere, his sensitive sister starts dating his best friend, his mother’s health takes a turn for the worse, and the exuberant ‘Kathy’ makes it clear she has marriage on her mind. Guy finds that once life starts, it’s not so easy to stop…

White Summer is a fast-paced and vibrant comedy that offers an hilarious insight into infatuation, sex, hangovers, dead-end jobs and making ill-advised decisions that come back to hurt. This is a story for those who have lived but won't learn.

The story behind it:

Luke wrote White Summer in just six weeks and it is set mainly in Gloucestershire, near Cirencester, where he lived with his family before moving to Oxford in 2006. Many of the local pubs and landmarks are featured in the novel and, according to Luke's Mum, half of the guys in the village are now in love with the fictional Daisy!

Luke was an immensely talented young writer and his work has been compared to Martin Amis and Nick Hornby. He tragically, and suddenly, passed away on 27th October 2006.

Why Legend Press chose it:

When Luke sent in the manuscript to Tom he said 'enjoy this with a bottle of wine' and that's exactly what Tom did - staying up late into the night reading it.  He found it to be vibrant, fast-paced and brilliantly funny, offering a satire on modern life, and knew that it would be perfect for Legend Press' first novel. It deals wittily with issues most adult readers will quickly identify with – infatuation, love, sex, alcohol, hangovers, dead-end jobs, families, and making bad or questionable decisions. The central character, Guy, is the perfect vehicle for this white-knuckle ride – every reader sees a bit of either themselves or people they know in him.

Some reviews of White Summer

'Great stuff. Wonderfully witty and sexy.'
Deborah Wright, bestselling author

‘White Summer is a page-turner, punctuated with humorous incidents that will ring true to all men and women.’
Emily Jolliffe, BBC Oxford Radio

'A sparking debut from an author with an eye for detail and wit.’
Essence Magazine

‘Reading White Summer is like a breath of fresh air.’
Roundtable Review

‘Luke Bitmead has produced a novel of wit and pace.’
Leicester Mercury