CATCH BFLA AUTHORS AT THE EDINBURGH FESTIVALS

Edinburgh International Book Festival starts this week and you can see several Blake Friedmann authors there this August.

On Wednesday 16th Anneliese Mackintosh will be talking with Dana Spiotta. Their conversation will explore identity and transformation and the different ways their books address identity in their heroines on the panel Fast Friends. Mackintosh’s latest novel, SO HAPPY IT HURTS, was published on 27 July by Jonathan Cape. See more here.

Friday the 18th finds Pippa Goldschmidt author of THE NEED FOR BETTER REGULATION OF OUTER SPACE chairing the panel Rockets to Utopia? at 18:30, where she will be talking to Nalo Hopkinson, Ken MacLeod, Ada Palmer and Charles Stross about speculative fiction’s role in imagining hopeful futures. To find out more head to link here.

Christopher Nicholson is speaking to Jim Crumley about Men For All Seasons on 16th August. They will be exploring how Scotland’s wildlife copes with the chill, dark days, and exploring wildlife in the winter. Nicholson’s latest book AMONG THE SUMMER SNOW is an account of a summer's journey through the Highlands of Scotland in search of the snow patches that remain.  Find the event here.  

On Monday 21st Henrietta Rose-Innes talks on the panel of Dangerous Dispatches, as part of Amnesty International’s Imprisoned Writers series where they will discuss the dangers of being a journalist on the front line. The freedom of the press is continually under threat and reporting the news is one of the world’s most dangerous jobs. For tickets find the link here.

Henrietta Rose- Innes is also on the panel Near and Far, where she will be talking about her latest book Green Lion with author Cynan Jones. See her event at the Baillie Gifford Corner Theatre at 20:30.  

And finally, Alan Parks author of phenomenal debut BLOODY JANUARY will be appearing at the festival on Friday the 25th August where he will be talking with Malachy Tallack and Mick Kitson about their fiction. Get your tickets here.  

The Edinburgh Festival is one of the largest Arts events in the world and takes place for three weeks every August in Scotland’s capital city.

Annalise Mackintosh Website and Twitter

Pippa Goldschmidt Website and Twitter

Christopher Nicholson Website

Henrietta Rose-Innes Website and Twitter

Alan Parks Website

Debut thriller, I KNOW WHERE SHE IS, by S.B. Caves published today!

I KNOW WHERE SHE IS, S.B. Caves' exhilarating debut thriller is published in the UK today, by Canelo, after hitting the Amazon Top 100 in its pre-publication weekend.

A heart-stopping novel, for fans of Karin Slaughter, Linwood Barclay and Karen Dionne, I KNOW WHERE SHE IS sees Francine, on the tenth anniversary of her daughter Autumn's abduction, receive an anonymous note containing just five words: I KNOW WHERE SHE IS

When a young woman approaches her claiming to be the one who sent the letter, Francine wants to dismiss it as a cruel, twisted joke. But the stranger knows things that only Autumn would know.

It soon becomes clear that Francine must go to dark places in order to learn the truth about her child’s kidnapping. She will discover that danger comes from unexpected sources. She will do things she never imagined herself capable of.

But will Francine get her daughter back – or is it too late?

I KNOW WHERE SHE IS is published today in the UK, by Canelo, reaching the Amazon Top 100 in its pre-publication weekend. It will be published in Germany by HarperCollins and in Sweden, by Modernista in 2018.

About SB Caves

Born and raised in North London, S.B. Caves is a screenwriter and boxing fanatic. He is currently writing his second novel, a thriller based in London.

Find out more about the author on Blake Friedmann’s website.

Follow him on Twitter.

MASTER OF WAR: VIPER’S BLOOD by David Gilman published in paperback today!

Viper’s Blood by David Gilman, the thrilling 4th book in the MASTER OF WAR series is released today in paperback, published by Head of Zeus. This much-praised series – described as ‘gripping’, ‘sharper than a bodkin arrow’, ‘better than Bernard Cornwell’ and of ‘bone-crunching intensity’ – is also taking translation markets by storm.

Provoked by the Dauphin's refusal to honour the terms of his father's surrender, Edward III has invaded France with the greatest army England has ever assembled. But the English lion's attempts to claw the French crown from its master are futile. After defeats at Crecy and Poitiers, the Dauphin will no longer meet the English in the field.

Mired down in costly sieges and facing a stalemate, Edward's great army is forced to agree a treaty. But peace comes at a price. The French request that Blackstone escort their King's daughter to Italy to see her married to one of the two brothers who rule Milan – the same brothers who killed Blackstone's family to revenge the defeats they suffered at his hand.

Blackstone, the French are certain, will never leave Milan alive...

Robert Fabbri, bestselling author of the Vespasian series, has described the MASTER OF WAR series as a “gripping chronicle of pitched battle, treachery and cruelty”. The series is sold in translation in Brazil, Czech, Spain, Hungary and Germany, where MASTER OF WAR recently went straight into the Top 50 Bestseller charts at No. 23. David Gilman is currently completing the fifth book in this series, SCOURGE OF WOLVES which will be released in ebook in December 2017 and in hardback in February 2018.

Earlier this year, David’s "gripping... smart and subtle" standalone THE LAST HORSEMAN, was shortlisted for Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize. The winner will be announced at a ceremony in London on 7 September,  

Praise for David Gilman’s MASTER OF WAR series

‘A thrilling, fast-moving, engaging tale, with unexpected twists, beautiful prose, excellent characterisation and dialogue, human sentiment and motivation, and graphic descriptions of war… Move over Bernard Cornwell. … Historical fiction at its best’. – Historical Novel Society

‘Adjectives like action-packed, exciting and wonderfully researched are a given. Yet only the qualities of the work stay the same; the story is as fresh and shock-filled as each of its predecessors.... Do please treat yourself if you haven't read MASTER OF WAR by David Gilman or any of the series that came afterwards.’ – Ani Johnson, The Bookbag

‘Book Four in the MASTER OF WAR series and the bone-crunching intensity of this series shows no signs of abating. ... A truly excellent book and part of an excellent series.’ – Parmenion Books

 'The fourth novel in David Gilman’s powerful and uncompromising chronicle of the Hundred Years War … VIPER’S BLOOD is an exciting, bloody and well-written tale of Europe at a time of terrible crisis. ... A fine addition to a series that continues to bring these cruel years to life in such rich and meticulous detail.' – For Winter Nights

About David Gilman

David Gilman has had many careers, including firefighter, soldier and photographer, before turning to writing full time. He is an award-winning author and screenwriter.

Find out more about David Gilman on Blake Friedmann’s website or David’s own website.

Follow him on Twitter and Facebook.

DEON MEYER STRIKES AGAIN WITH NIELSEN BOOKSELLER shortlisting FOR FEVER

The prestigious shortlist for the 2017 Nielsen Bookseller’s Choice Award was revealed on the 25th of July with Deon Meyer racking up another nomination for his latest novel, the critically-acclaimed FEVER (Afrikaans: KOORS). Meyer has been nominated twice before: in 2016 for his novel ICARUS, and in 2012 for the ground-breaking SEVEN DAYS, which won.

The Nielsen Bookseller’s Choice Award works with writers, publishers and booksellers to reward outstanding contributions to the South African literary landscape. ‘It is awarded to the book that booksellers across South Africa have most enjoyed reading, selling or promoting over the past year’. The other six books on the 2017 shortlist are: Trevor Noah’s BORN A CRIME; EMILY HOBHOUSE: GELIEFDE VERRAAIER by Elsabe Brits; MY OWN LIBERATOR by Dikgang Moseneke; JAN A BREATH OF FRENCH AIR by Jan Hendrik van der Westhuizen and KOOK SAAM KAAPS by Koelsoem Kamalie and Flori Schrikker. Previous winners include Frank Chikane, Tim Noakes and Blake Friedmann client Sally Andrew, for her novel RECIPES FOR LOVE AND MURDER.

FEVER has received international acclaim and was hailed by Stephen King as reminiscent of THE STAND and THE PASSAGE. It will be published in the US in September 2017 by Grove Atlantic.
Deon was the second highest best-selling author in South Africa in 2016. His work has won the Deutsche Krimi Preis 2009 for BLOOD SAFARI, Le Grand Prix de Littérature Policière 2003 for DEAD BEFORE DYING and Le Prix Mystère de la Critique 2004 for DEAD AT DAYBREAK, which was adapted for an Afrikaans M-Net TV series (SA). THIRTEEN HOURS was the winner of the Barry Award in the Best Thriller category 2011 and was shortlisted for the Macavity Best Mystery Novel Award. He has been shortlisted for the CWA International Dagger three times. Rights in his titles are sold in 30 territories and 28 languages and many of his books have been optioned for film. DEAD BEFORE DYING was filmed for a 6-part TV series, titled CAPE TOWN, featuring his character Mat Joubert.

Visit Deon’s website at www.deonmeyer.com and follow him on Twitter @MeyerDeon

Praise for FEVER:

'UK readers, you have a nice surprise coming. No, not Brexit, FEVER, by Deon Meyer. Reminiscent of THE STAND and THE PASSAGE. Great stuff'— Stephen King
‘Wonderful writing... It is a crime thriller, but it's far more... absorbing, emotional and atmospheric... There are shades of Cormac McCarthy’s superb THE ROAD, but FEVER grips even more.’ – Marcel Berlins, The Times Book of the Month

‘This is less a mystery than a thought-provoking, post-apocalyptic examination of the human condition …With its stunning final revelation, this is a remarkable literary achievement.’ – Booklist Starred Review

‘Compelling, action-packed and fraught with emotion. At its heart it is a powerful exploration of humanity at its best and worst and bears favourable comparison with landmarks of the genre such as Stephen King's The Stand and Cormac McCarthy's The Road. Simply stunning.’ Daily Express

‘FEVER bears comparison with landmarks in the genre such as THE STAND ...The novel explores humanity at its best and worst; the crushing loss of civilisation with everything that means for the structure of society...This great book asks us to reflect on our own hidden natures - how would we react if the world we knew came to an end tomorrow?’ — Vaseem Khan, author of The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra

‘FEVER is one of the best books of the year. Deon Meyer is a masterful writer and has created a stunning epic that brims with emotion. The mystery, thrills, and action kept me riveted to every page. Highly recommended.’ — Adam Hamdy, author of Pendulum

Praise for Deon Meyer:
‘Deon Meyer is not just South Africa’s greatest crime writer, he’s up there with the best in the world.’ — Marcel Berlins, The Times
‘A master on vintage form… He is a defining novelist of modern South Africa.’ – Barry Forshaw, Books of the Year 2012, Independent

‘Deon Meyer is one of the best crime writers on the planet.’ – Mail on Sunday

‘I’ve been reading a new book by Deon Meyer, a South African, writer of crime fiction,
‘Deon Meyer's name on the cover is a guarantee of crime writing at its best.’ — Tess Gerritsen

‘Deon Meyer is a top notch plotter and has created one of the best ensemble (and multi-racial) casts of any modern police procedural series.’ — Shots magazine

‘Crime fiction with real texture and intelligence.’ — Independent

MICHAEL DONKOR'S DEBUT NOVEL ACQUIRED BY 4TH ESTATE

Helen Garnons-Williams, Publishing Director at 4th Estate, has acquired at auction UK & Commonwealth rights in Michael Donkor's debut novel, HOLD - from Juliet Pickering at Blake Friedmann.

Set in Ghana and London, HOLD is the story of bright and sensible Belinda, a housegirl sent from Ghana to London, and the wayward Amma, born to Ghanaian parents in Brixton - and of Belinda's young friend Mary, left behind in Kumasi.

Beautifully exploring themes of home and identity, rejection and belonging, HOLD is about two young women navigating their way uncertainly into adulthood, and all the passion, despair and excitement that inspires. It is a rich, evocative coming-of-age story, marking the arrival of a powerful new British literary voice.

Michael Donkor was born in London, to Ghanaian parents, and teaches English Literature to A-level students in West London. Many of the issues in this novel are close to his heart, and his writing won him a place on the Writers’ Centre Inspires Scheme in 2014, where he received a year’s mentoring from Daniel Hahn.

Garnons-Williams says: 'HOLD is a rare and special novel, whose characters spring off the page. It is poignant, funny and fresh - and incredibly emotionally compelling. Michael is a hugely accomplished and empathetic storyteller and we couldn't be happier to welcome him to 4th Estate.'

Donkor says: 'I am so thrilled that HOLD is being published. I have carried Amma, Belinda and Mary around with me for an inordinately long time and the prospect of sharing them with others is hugely exciting. When writing the novel, one of my principal hopes was that this story would generate conversations among readers - about suffering, about the nature of friendship, about the challenges and rewards of negotiating multiple cultural identities - and I am so looking forward to contributing to and learning from these discussions.

For the novel to have found a home at 4th Estate is wonderful. They are an ambitious and distinctive house and their list of authors is luminous. Adichie and Lessing’s novels and short stories have been especially important in shaping my sense of what it means to be a writer and in underscoring my belief in the transformative power of storytelling.'

HOLD will be published in July 2018.