Sheila O’Flanagan signs new two-book deal with Headline

Marion Donaldson of Headline has acquired UK and Commonwealth rights for two new Sheila O'Flanagan novels. This is the latest development in a long and rewarding relationship between Sheila and Headline, her publisher of fifteen years.

There was a lot of cheer among the parties as the deal was confirmed. Sheila said: 'I'm absolutely delighted to continue my partnership with the fantastic team at Headline. We share the same passion for books and reading, and I very much look forward to working with everyone, particularly my editor Marion Donaldson, on my next novels.'

Carole Blake, who brokered the deal, remarked:  'With her current paperback BETTER TOGETHER just out in Britain, and already in the bestseller list, and many weeks in the Irish charts, our relationship with Headline is even more exciting than when it began, 15 years ago. I'm extremely pleased to have agreed another two-book deal.'

Marion Donaldson was equally pleased. 'I'm just thrilled that we are continuing our long and successful relationship with Sheila. The reason why Sheila's books become such strong bestsellers is because she writes wonderfully compelling, insightful, life-affirming and unputdownable novels with beautifully drawn characters readers can relate to at every level. I'm very proud to be her editor.'

BETTER TOGETHER, Sheila's most recent novel, has just been released in paperback in the UK by Headline. She is published in 24 languages around the world.

Praise for Sheila O'Flanagan:

'Sheila O'Flanagan is one of the blinding talents on the female fiction scene.' -- Daily Record

'Sheila O'Flanagan writes with wit, shining an uncomfortable light on the insecurities that women carry into adulthood.' -- Candis

'Sheila O'Flanagan is one of the most popular women's fiction writers, very much in the same vein as Maeve Binchy, writing about families, relationships and finding love.' -- Driffield Leader

Kerry Hudson's TONY HOGAN... makes shortlist for Author Club's Best First Novel Award

Kerry Hudson's TONY HOGAN BOUGHT ME AN ICE CREAM FLOAT BEFORE HE STOLE MY MA is now on the highly selective shortlist for the Author Club's Best First Novel Award. The prize was first awarded in 1954, and this year's winner will be announced by guest adjudicator Salley Vickers at a National Liberal Club drinks reception on 3 June. Extracts from the shortlisted novels will be read out during a shortlist reading at Foyles Bookshop, 15 May at 6:30. For more information, please click here.

TONY HOGAN... was published in July 2012 by Chatto & Windus, and was shortlisted for the Guardian First Book Award and Scottish First Book of the Year. Kerry's second novel THIRST will be published by Chatto. Kerry is part of the judging panel for the Green Carnation Prize 2013. Follow her on Twitter here.

Praise for TONY HOGAN...:

'What a brilliant thing to turn the chaos and trauma of a hectic childhood into a debut novel as colourful, funny, joyful and compelling as this.' - The Guardian

'This is a remarkable debut novel of love and loyalty, of fierce passion and scabrous wit.' - Foyles

'From the (unrepeatable) hilarious first sentence, this debut sucks you in with its idiosyncratic style... Kerry Hudson's writing is very funny, and her deft touches give the book a reality that makes it all the more powerful. Hudson certainly has a bright future.' - We Love This Book

ARCHIPELAGO wins the OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature 2013

Monique Roffey's ARCHIPELAGO has won the OCM Bocas Prize for Caribbean Literature. The award, now in its third year, awards a prize of $10,000 and was presented to Monique at a ceremony in Port of Spain in her native Trinidad. The award was won before by Earl Lovelace and Nobel Laureate Derek Walcott.

ARCHIPELAGO chronicles the geographical and psychological journey of a man, his daughter and their dog across the sea.  Leaving a home haunted by memories, the trio travel to unknown harbours and encounter the natural world around them like never before. The novel is in part a response to tragic circumstances that befell Monique's brother, who she acknowledged and thanked (along with her mother) in her acceptance speech.

Jamaican author Olive Senior, the chair of the judging committee, spoke of ARCHIPELAGO as containing 'an exploration of the greater Caribbean space in which is embedded a real-life story of trauma, loss and ultimately redemption that is both contemporary and uplifting.'

Speaking of Trinidad, her birthplace and the inspiration for ARCHIPELAGO, Monique said 'The history, culture and politics are so rich, I can't stay indifferent. I can't not get caught up, impacted on - spiritually, emotionally, psychologically. This is not a little place I can take or leave, or outgrow. Every time I come back I get completely snared.'

ARCHIPELAGO is published in the UK by Simon & Schuster, where the paperback will be available in June. Viking publish in the US in May and Brazilian rights are sold to Bertrand.

Praise for ARCHIPELAGO:

'Roffey's stirring novel is one to place on the shelf next to Moby Dick and other notable seafaring stories... Roffey (THE WHITE  WOMAN ON THE GREEN BICYCLE) is a masterful writer whose words are subsumed in the pictures they paint and the tales they spin.' -- Publishers Weekly

'ARCHIPELAGO is beautifully done. There's a warmth to it, an exuberance and a wisdom. It's funny, and sometimes bitingly poignant. Monique Roffey writes the male central character so well, and as for the little girl at the centre of the story, it's one of the most vivid and charming portraits of a young child I can remember reading in years. A brilliant piece of storytelling.' -- Andrew Miller, Costa Prize Winner, author of PURE and INGENIOUS PAIN

'A sparkling portrayal of the Caribbean, the outer layer of the plot is a magical sea voyage through the islands between Trinidad and the Panama Canal. The real story of ARCHIPELAGO, however, is a deeply moving journey through grief…Roffey conjures up pictures of the Caribbean without glossing over the problems.' -- Kate Saunders, We Love This Book

'ARCHIPELAGO travels to new, intoxicating latitudes…The result is an adventure blazing with a lust for life… …[This is a] big-hearted Moby-Dick story for our times.' -- Kapka Kassabova, The Guardian

'Islands are everywhere in this stunningly rendered novel, reminding or teaching us anew about our individual selves against their history-mired backdrops…The novel is replete with achingly beautiful descriptions of the world that frames these seafarers…' -- Shivanee Ramlochan, Trinidad Guardian

Peter James’s DEAD MAN’S TIME to be released in an innovative interactive edition

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Peter James's latest Roy Grace thriller, DEAD MAN'S TIME, will be released in a special interactive format: this innovative edition will available exclusively in Tesco stores on 6 June. The edition will be interactive, featuring a secret video interview with the author. The content can be accessed by scanning the cover with an Apple or Android device, and will also be available on the Macmillan website, by entering the special code on the book.

DEAD MAN'S TIME, Peter's 9th in the bestselling Roy Grace series, will be available in stores on 6 June. Peter will be signing copies of the book in three Tesco stores in the Brighton vicinity on the day. He can be found at the Lewes store from 10.30am - 11.45am, before moving onto the Hove store where he will sign from 12.30pm - 2.00pm, and finally it's over to Shoreham where Peter will sign from 2.45pm - 4.00pm.

This is not the first time a Peter James novel has used innovative technology. When Penguin published his novel HOST in paperback in 1994, they also issued it on 2 floppy discs - a forerunner of the electronic book!

Praise for the Roy Grace series:

'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)

'Roy Grace is the very best of the middle aged male British detectives - there's a whole bunch, there's just tons, but he is the best.  What makes his books better than other people's books I think is that the ordinary people in these books react in the way they would react.  They have absolute emotional credibility.' -- Jeff Park, 'Front Row' BBC Radio

'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

Kerry Hudson longlisted for the Author’s Club Best First Novel Award

TONY HOGAN BOUGHT ME AN ICE CREAM FLOAT BEFORE HE STOLE MY MA by Kerry Hudson has been chosen as one of twelve longlist titles for the Author Club's esteemed Best First Novel Award. The annual prize was first awarded in 1954, and has since been won by acclaimed writers such as Brian Moore and Paul Bailey. The full shortlist of six will be revealed week beginning 29 April with the winner announced at a National Liberal Club drinks reception on 3 June. For more information, please click here.

TONY HOGAN... was published in July 2012 by Chatto & Windus, and was shortlisted for the Guardian First Book Award and Scottish First Book of the Year. Kerry's second novel THIRST will be published by Chatto. Kerry is part of the judging panel for the Green Carnation Prize 2013.

Praise for TONY HOGAN...:

'What a brilliant thing to turn the chaos and trauma of a hectic childhood into a debut novel as colourful, funny, joyful and compelling as this.' -- The Guardian

'This is a remarkable debut novel of love and loyalty, of fierce passion and scabrous wit.' -- Foyles

'From the (unrepeatable) hilarious first sentence, this debut sucks you in with its idiosyncratic style... Kerry Hudson's writing is very funny, and her deft touches give the book a reality that makes it all the more powerful. Hudson certainly has a bright future.' -- We Love This Book