Six Blake Friedmann titles selected as The Bookseller’s Season Highlights

We are delighted to share that a fine array of six Blake Friedmann authors have been picked by The Bookseller in their Spring/Summer Buyers’ Guide Season Highlights. Three of our authors’ titles were selected in the Fiction guide, and a further three in the Non-Fiction guide.

Top Row: GROW WHERE THEY FALL by Michael Donkor (Fig Tree); THEY THOUGHT I WAS DEAD by Peter James (Pan Macmillan); PASSIONTIDE by Monique Roffey (author photo: Marcus Bastel).
Bottom Row: NEWBORN by Kerry Hudson (Chatto & Windus); MY FAMILY MEALS by Grace Mortimer; EVERY KIND OF PEOPLE by Kathryn Faulke (Fig Tree).

The nominated titles in fiction are: GROW WHERE THEY FALL, the stunning second novel by Michael Donkor (Fig Tree, 7 March); the much-anticipated THEY THOUGHT I WAS DEAD: Sandy’s Story by Peter James, which spins off from the bestselling Roy Grace series to uncover the long-speculated mystery of Sandy’s disappearance (Pan Macmillan, 9 May); and PASSIONTIDE, a powerful new Caribbean-set novel by Costa Prize winner Monique Roffey (Harvill Secker, 27 June).

In Non-Fiction, the titles selected are: NEWBORN by Kerry Hudson, her beautiful memoir detailing her experience of building a family without a blueprint to work from (Chatto & Windus, 1 February); EVERY KIND OF PEOPLE, a heartbreaking and uplifting debut memoir by a community care worker (Fig Tree, 11 July); and MY FAMILY MEALS by Grace Mortimer, a fresh collection of simple but delicious five-ingredient recipes (HQ, 18 July).

The Bookseller is the UK’s weekly trade magazine for the publishing industry: their biannual Buyer’s Guides, listing almost every book publishing in the UK, are highly influential catalogues, used by bookshops to select stock they want to order; by the press looking for books to feature and review, and authors to interview; and by other literary enthusiasts who want to know what’s coming out when and what to get excited about.

Congratulations to all of our authors whose upcoming publications have been selected!

Sunday Times Bestseller Grace Mortimer Returns with More 5-Ingredicent Recipes for HQ’s MY FAMILY MEALS

HarperCollins will publish MY FAMILY MEALS, Instagram sensation Grace Mortimer’s mouth-watering follow-up to the Sunday Times­-bestselling MY FIRST MEALS. MY FAMILY MEALS will be out in the UK on the 18th July 2024 in hardback and eBook – the first in a two-book World All Language rights deal agreed between Louise McKeever, Publishing Director at HQ, and Blake Friedmann’s Juliet Pickering.

Grace has a fast growing and hugely engaged following of over 425,000 on Instagram since starting @_myfirstmeals during the first lockdown in 2020. Grace creates super simple, budget-friendly family recipes that are made using five or fewer ingredients. The book will feature 100 sensational recipes from fast meals and easy tray-bakes to no-fuss one-pot meals and family-pleasing desserts. Grace will make dinner time a breeze, with helpful shopping lists and weekly meal planners included too.

‘I have loved creating this book for families just like mine,’ Grace Mortimer said, ‘with easily accessible and budget friendly crowd pleasers for everyone to enjoy. We can often get stuck in a rut creating the same dinners week in, week out because they feel easier to us than picking up a cookbook, sourcing the ingredients and potentially serving up something that isn’t to everyone’s taste. This isn’t a book to test culinary skills or challenge palates with obscure or hard to find ingredients, this is a book designed to help you through the week, add more delicious meals to your regular repertoire and keep your weekly food shop as low as possible. A quick glance at virtually any recipe and you’ll know it off by heart for next time!’

Grace’s agent, Juliet Pickering said: ‘Grace’s energetic, inventive and accessible approach to cooking dishes that the whole family can enjoy, never flags! In the face of a cost of living crisis her recipes are affordable and inspiring, and I’m so proud to represent her as she campaigns for better nutrition for everyone. MY FAMILY MEALS will be vital for every busy family kitchen.’

‘We adore working with Grace – she absolutely understands what it is to be a busy parent wanting to feed their child both quickly and well,’ added Louise McKeever. ‘Her recipes are exceptionally smart and delicious, and all are simple to make, easy to follow and use just 5 ingredients or fewer. Following the success of her first book, she has made sure that her brilliant recipes will feed everyone around the table this time, so the family can eat well and, happily, together.’

About Grace Mortimer

Grace Mortimer is mother to Harry, and lives in Gloucestershire with her long-term partner, Tom. She studied law at university and worked in sales for years, but decided to start working part-time when Harry turned one. Grace is originally from Essex and grew up with extremely foodie parents but didn’t develop her passion for cooking until her third year of university.

Grace started an Instagram page, My First Meals, to share her quick, healthy recipes with parents and carers struggling for ideas during lockdown, and it has grown into a popular feed with a keen following. Her recipes all contain five or less ingredients, require very few steps and have been shared and cooked across the globe.

Her first cookbook, MY FIRST MEALS, was published in August 2022 by HQ. She has also contributed to Pippa Vosper’s BEYOND GRIEF.

Praise for MY FIRST MEALS

‘For parents or grandparents in need of a bit of inspiration, the debut book from Instagram sensation My First Meals (@_myfirstmeals) is packed with ideas for making scrumptious breakfasts, quick snacks, tasty lunches and hearty dinners using no more than five ingredients.’ – Great British Food Magazine

‘Whether you want to cook with young family members or just give them a gift, this colourful cookbook is perfect. Each recipe contains no more than five ingredients, keeping things simple. The author first started sharing her recipes online during the lockdown, helping other parents involve their kids in cookery and feed the family at the same time.’ – The People’s Friend

‘This book is a saviour for busy parents. It’s full of five-ingredient meals that even the fussiest kids will enjoy, and there are so many clever ways with hidden veg and baked beans. I tested the baked bean bobble patties on my veg-avoiding toddler, and he ate six!’ – Good Food

‘Cooking for little ones needn’t be tricky or intimidating after all. Using 5 ingredients or less, Grace Mortimer, creator of @_myfirstmeals, is your go-to for time-saving weaning recipes with maximum flavour and minimal fuss. From baby-friendly salads to pea and cream cheese pancakes, whipping up scrumptious breakfasts, quick snacks, tasty lunches and hearty dinners has never been easier with Grace on hand, even for those of us who rarely excel in the kitchen.’ – Zoella

Follow Grace on Instagram