Essie Fox shortlisted for New Writer of the Year category of National Book Awards

2012 continues to be an excellent year for Essie Fox, who has been shortlisted in the New Writer of the Year category for the Specsavers National Book Awards. She secured the nomination for her debut novel, THE SOMNAMBULIST, a fresh and compelling Victorian mystery. The novel was also selected for the TV Book Club earlier this year and television rights have been optioned by Hat Trick Productions. Swedish, Italian and Brazilian rights have been sold.

This latest good news follows the publication of Essie's second book with Orion, ELIJAH'S MERMAID, which was launched last week. With the novel attracting glowing early reviews we look forward to more good things for Essie Fox and her novels

Praise for  THE SOMNAMBULIST:

'This book is begging to be turned into a TV mini-series…Ticks all the right boxes; historically accurate, a fascinating plot and words that paint a million pictures.' -- Angela Usher, New Books Magazine

'I loved the sense of place and atmosphere...full of twists and turns...it's plotted really well. Essie Fox has managed to capture a fantastic period in British history. Very evocative - it's brilliantly researched and very, very clever. Her descriptions are beautiful and vivid and full of colour and depth.' -- Meera Syal, TV Book Club 2012

'Vividly compelling, dark and dazzling.' -- Katherine Webb

Praise for ELIJAH'S MERMAID:

'Fox's vivid, sensual prose is -- fittingly -- as seductive as a siren's song, drawing you into a shadowy Victorian world of obsession and guilt... An intoxicating follow-up to 2011's acclaimed THE SOMNAMBULIST. Recommended to fans of Sarah Waters.' -- Heat
 
'I was very impressed with Essie Fox's debut, THE SOMNAMBULIST, and have been eagerly awaiting the next…ELIJAH'S MERMAID is even better…Essie Fox captures the essence of Victorian life in this richly textured novel…The author has created a hugely enjoyable novel that constantly trips you up when you think you know what's coming. If you love all things Victorian, you will love this.' -- Sally Zigmond, Historical Novel Society
 
'A fabulous foray into a shadowy Victorian world.'-- Fanny Blake, Woman & Home
 
'The glee with which Fox approaches her material is infectious. All Victorian life is here. … Intriguing.' -- John O'Connell, The Guardian

U.S. NOT DEAD YET by Peter James an Amazon and iTunes ‘Pick of the Month’

Peter James is leaving the competition dead in its tracks. After launching NOT DEAD YET in the UK to rave reviews and sales, and being the first title to break the E.L James 50 SHADES OF GREY sixteen week numbers one to three positions on the UK sales charts when it parachuted straight to No 1 in publication week, NOT DEAD YET is now the Amazon 'Pick of the Month' and the Apple iTunes 'Best of November' pick in the U.S. 

NOT DEAD YET is the much anticipated eighth book in the thrilling Roy Grace crime series. With James' gritty plot twisting and gripping writing he has created a huge and loyal following in the UK and abroad with over 13 million copies sold worldwide.  

Selected by Publishers Weekly in 2005 as one of the five crime writers tipped to become a new brand name in the USA, Peter James is doing just that with these major Amazon and iTunes promotions and we couldn't be more thrilled with his success.

NOT DEAD YET is published by Minotaur in the US with the hardback edition to be released November 27. For more details click here.

Praise for Roy Grace series:

'US readers deserve to know what the rest of the world has known for years - Peter James is one of the best crime writers in the business.' Karin Slaughter

'British author James dreams up a horrific intersection of extreme perversion and Internet technology in his frighteningly, expertly constructed second Det. Supt. Roy Grace novel ... The rapid-fire suspense builds to a terrifying, graphic conclusion that leaves tantalizing room for future instalments in the series.' -- Publishers Weekly (starred review)

'James has created a flawed and compelling character in his Detective James Superintendent Roy Grace series, and the tense suspense in DEAD MAN'S GRIP will keep readers turning the pages…Fans will love this latest Roy Grace thriller, and newcomers will find 'Dead Man's Grip' the perfect place to start.' -- Jeff Ayers, Associated Press

'Exceptional, knock-your-socks-off.' -- Washington Post

'This intriguing series...offers a tantalizing look at Grace's past and a mystery that will keep readers guessing until the end and anticipating James's next book. Fans of British police procedurals, if they haven't discovered James already, will want this one.' -- Library Journal

A PLACE BEYOND COURAGE nominated in 2012 Romantic Times Awards

Receiving a five star review in the RT Book Reviews and a starred review in Publishers Weekly, A PLACE BEYOND COURAGE has reached new heights and is now nominated in the Historical Fiction genre of the Romantic Times 2012 Awards. A PLACE BEYOND COURAGE is the spellbinding prequel to THE GREATEST KNIGHT. Taking readers on a royal tour of deception in 12th century England it is a brilliant depiction of medieval political intrigue.

Long time Blake Friedmann client Elizabeth Chadwick has been writing for over twenty years and her timeless novels are sold in eighteen languages worldwide.  According to a survey of the best loved historical fiction writers, Elizabeth Chadwick is the second most loved author, second only to Sharon Kay Penman, and is consistently recognised for her secure grasp on the historical fiction genre and her talent as an imaginative writer. 
 
A PLACE BEYOND COURAGE is published by Sourcebooks in the USA and Little, Brown in the UK.

Click here to read more about her nomination.

Praise for A PLACE BEYOND COURAGE:

'Chadwick's historical grasp is secure and vivid in this punchy prequel to her last two FitzGilbert epics. Assailed by dangerous strategic and moral choices, FitzGilbert cuts an honourable, savvy and sympathetic figure in an absorbing narrative that canters along.' --The Financial Times

'It has everything - drama, intrigue, and those little emotional moments that make all the difference ... a good read.'  -- New Books

'Another wonderfully written, immensely moving and immaculately researched novel from an author who grows in stature with every book she writes.' -- Wigan Evening Post

'Jean Plaidy with sex! This is absolutely thrilling and historically illuminating. Brilliantly written, Chadwick is on great form. The battle scenes are terrific, the intrigue and plotting sensational. Great stuff.' -- Gateway Review

It’s a Wrap on Greg Latter’s LET ME SURVIVE

Filming has finished on the Greg Latter adapted film, LET ME SURVIVE, directed by Eduardo Rossoff and produced by Jean-Luc Van Damme for Banana Films.

The movie tells the story of Kate's (played by Kierston Wareing) ill-advised decision to join her ex-husband on a stolen yacht, accompanied by their young daughter. Engulfed in a raging storm, the reunited family are forced to abandon ship off the coast of West Africa. Trapped in a life boat they must contend not only with the elements, but also each other.

You can see a trailer for the film here and it is also listed on IMDb.

RUNNING WITH THE KENYANS has been shortlisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award.

Adharanand Finn's RUNNING WITH THE KENYANS has been shortlisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award. This year's shortlist celebrates a wide range of sports, and was noted for being the most varied in the award's 24 year history. Other titles included in the shortlist are BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR by Simon Jordan and Rick Broadbent's THAT NEAR DEATH THING. 

The award has been running for 24 years, and in addition to the £24,000 cash prize, the winner will receive a £2,000 William Hill bet, a specially-commissioned hand-bound copy of their book, and a day at the races. The winner will be revealed on 26 November at a lunchtime reception at Waterstones Piccadilly (London). For more information on the William Hill Sports Award, please click here.

RUNNING WITH THE KENYANS is Adharanand's account of his time spent in Kenya to discover the soul of Kenyan long distance running. It is published by Faber and Faber in the UK and Ballantine in the USA.

Praise for RUNNING WITH THE KENYANS:

'A hugely inspiring story of what is possible when we dare to try.' -- Ruth Field, author of Run Fat Bitch Run 

'I've seldom read a better account of the exhilaration of running…what gives RUNNING WITH THE KENYANS its special appeal is Finn's charm…He's unusually engaging company both on and off the track.' -- Evening Standard

'engaging memoir…Part of the enjoyment of this book is the depiction of how the family takes to this new life. Finn's account of his two daughters' first day at a local school with vast class sizes depicts a blend of exhilaration and bewilderment. And the family, down to baby Ossian, moulds itself very patiently around Finn's near-obsessional six-month quest, not merely to uncover an athletic alchemical formula, but also to dramatically improve his own running in the process. For anyone who has ever run, this aspect of the book has a hypnotic aspect…Finn is good at depicting the intense focus needed for long distances…Finn's story is escapist and colourfully evocative…The book is populated with engagingly drawn characters and towards the end, Finn's quest - the burning need to attain a certain marathon time - is gripping.' -- Four Star Review, Sinclair McKay, The Telegraph