Andy Briggs writes pilot for THE DRAKE EQUATION

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Andy Briggs’ latest project THE DRAKE EQUATION, a conspiracy thriller with ‘groundbreaking interactive elements’, is being developed by Sonar Entertainment, Pure Grass Films, Connect Ventures and transmedia development company PlayThisNext to bring about this reinvention of the alien invasion genre.

Andy has written the show's pilot, and the show will air simultaneously with a real-time digital narrative, accessible through social media and interactive online gaming. Viewers will be able to access additional content such as found footage, time-sensitive clues and covert files in order to join in this immersive thriller experience.

Recently, Andy’s $12m monster movie LEGENDARY has finished shooting and the third of his rebooted TARZAN novels, TARZAN: SAVAGE LANDS, was published in February. His television credits include GHOST TOWN and DARK RELIC.

THE DRAKE EQUATION explores the effects of a mysterious signal from outer space. In order to prevent a breakdown of law and order, the world's governments create a Space Intelligence Agency to cover up news of the signal. The cover-up causes observatories and scientific institutions to shut down, as a campaign of subterfuge and disinformation is launched. However, word leaks out, and a number of people take matters into their own hands, including a mid-level government agent who allies himself with discredited scientists and hackers in order to save the world.

Lawrence Norfolk enjoys a busy and rewarding German tour

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Lawrence Norfolk is back in the UK, tired but happy, after a busy and rewarding tour of Germany. The trip began with Lawrence reading to bustling venues in Munich and Lüneburg. On the train to Cologne he was amiably accosted in the dining car by a reader avidly making his way through Lawrence's entire backlist. Scheduled for his stay in Cologne was a reading aboard the Literature Schiff, a floating (and entirely  sold-out) venue. Lawrence arrived to find a queue of 550 fans lining the pier. Their wait was rewarded with a rousing reading, which earned Lawrence a five minute-plus standing ovation and ended a very successful tour on a fine note.

JOHN SATURNALL'S FEAST is published by Knaus in Germany, Bloomsbury in the UK, Grove Atlantic in the US and many other translated editions.

 

Praise for JOHN SATURNALL'S FEAST:

'Dense in research and intellectual ambition…Norfolk's novels have always expanded their readers' vocabularies, and JOHN SATURNALL'S FEAST is no exception…What may come across as a novel indicting Protestantism's suppression of fun, sex and good food (it's Protestant groups who smash up the manor and lay waste to its subterranean kitchens where Saturnall finesses his culinary skills; it's civil war that destroys his supply lines and thwarts his surreptitious affair with Lucretia), is really a broader exploration of control.' -- Stuart Jeffries, The Guardian'
'Norfolk, the author of ornate period novels, here uses his talent for detail to evoke the life of a cook of a seventeenth century British manor.' -- The New Yorker
'Imaginative, quietly intricate and very well put together. All its strands are made to converge or mirror one another in a way that warms your heart.' -- Jonathan McAloon, The Spectator
'A feast... A groaning table laden with delicious and carefully made sweets... Those happy to gobble up Norfolk's delectable fantasies of marchpane and spun sugar are in for a treat.' -- Diane Purkiss, The Independent

TimeRiders: THE NEARLY GIRL a World Book Day eBook exclusive!

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Alex Scarrow joins the ranks of World Book Day, alongside top YA writers including Patrick Ness, Josephine Angelini and Sarah Alderson, with a TimeRiders short story exclusively available on the World Book Day App. [http://www.worldbookday.com/the-world-book-day-app]

World Book Day is the world's biggest and loudest celebration of books, writers and reading. The celebration is now in its 16th year and is marked in over 100 countries. It's main aim is to encourage children to immerse themselves in books and reading. Free books, ebooks, and book tokens are key in allowing the celebration to happen unanimously and for all.

In THE NEARLY GIRL, Liam disturbs all that the Timeriders Team seek to preserve, as he uses his knowledge of the history of the future to save a stranger from her destiny. The short story is sandwiched between the events of THE DOOMSDAY CODE and THE ETERNAL WAR and offers TimeReaders a fresh and intimate insight into Liam's character.

The TimeRiders series is sold in 16 languages throughout the world. The latest book, THE PIRATE KINGS, was published in the UK by Puffin in February and the next book, THE MAYAN PROPHECY is due later this year.

 Praise for Alex Scarrow & the TimeRiders series

 'Action packed, addictive…' -- Empire of Books

'TIMERIDERS has the quintessential ingredient that makes you crave the next book and be willing to queue at midnight for it.' -- The Booklet

'Time-travelling, post-apocalyptic world and a full-fledged war, this book packs one big punch. Initially a bit slow, the book picks up pace and you just cannot put it down until you have finished reading it.' -- Nothing Geek

'Ageless in its appeal and is sci-fi at its best…Brilliant plotting, fine writing [and] an utterly intriguing premise.' -- For Winter Nights (blog)

'A bloody good read.' -- Bristol Writers Group

Eleanor of Aquitaine trilogy sold in US

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Elizabeth Chadwick's forthcoming Eleanor of Aquitaine trilogy is now commissioned on both sides of the Atlantic: Sourcebooks have just acquired US rights and Sphere are publishing the trilogy in the UK. Chadwick chronicles the compelling life of Eleanor of Aquitaine, taking an entirely fresh approach to this Queen who was a wife to, and the mother of, kings. The first in the series, THE SUMMER QUEEN, is delivered and will be published in the UK in June. The next two novels in the trilogy are THE WINTER CROWN and THE AUTUMN THRONE.

Chadwick, who was winner of the Romantic Novelists' Association Historical Novel of the Year Award in 2011, is a New York Times bestseller. Sourcebooks have reissued a number of her backlist titles with stunning new covers, including SHADOWS AND STRONGHOLDS which they have just published. We are thrilled that Sourcebooks have continued their dedication to this brilliant author.

 

Praise for Elizabeth Chadwick:

'The best writer of medieval fiction currently around.' -- Historical Novel Review
'The author blends authentic period details with modern convention for emotional drama.' -- Elizabeth Buchan, Mail on Sunday
'No one does medieval historical fiction quite like Elizabeth Chadwick, and her latest novel, LADY OF THE ENGLISH is just one more example of her enormous talent for bringing the past to life!' -- Passages to the Past