Sheila O’Flanagan is No 1 in Ireland!

Sheila O’Flanagan has taken the number one spot in Ireland with the paperback release of IF YOU WERE ME last week. She’s also no. 8 in the Sunday Times chart in the UK.

Headline have sold more than 6 million books by Sheila, and her next novel, MY MOTHER’S SECRET, is published in July.  It will be Sheila’s 21st novel. She has also published 3 volumes of short stories.

Praise for Sheila O’Flanagan:

‘Sparkling and inspiring ... a must for the contemporary woman.’ – Ireland on Sunday

‘Magnificent, feel-good stuff ’ – The Bookseller

‘Sheila O’Flanagan writes with fluency as she explores territories of friendship, love and sweet revenge, and into it all, she tips a light comic touch.’ – Irish Independent

FILM ADAPTATION OF CAROL SHIELDS’ UNLESS SHOOTS IN TORONTO

A film based on Carol Shields’ award-winning final novel Unless has commenced principal photography in Toronto, Canada.

An Irish-Canadian co-production between Subotica Entertainment and Sienna Films, Unless was adapted and will be directed by Alan Gilsenan and stars Catherine Keener. The cast also features Matt Craven, Hannah Gross, Chloe Rose, Abigail Winter, Martha Henry and Hanna Schygulla. Jennifer Kawaja and Julia Sereny will produce for Sienna Films and Tristan Orpen Lynch and Aoife O’Sullivan for Subotica.

Unless tells the story of a writer and translator called Reta Winters (Keener) whose comfortable Toronto existence is shaken when she discovers her college bound daughter Norah (Gross) has been discovered panhandling on a street corner, now apparently mute.

Director Gilsenan commented: “Carol Shields Unless is her surprising, moving and angry swan-song, a book both for our time and very much of our time. It is a real honour and delight to be finally bringing it to the cinema screen with such an extraordinary cast.”

The film rights option agreement between Subotica and the Carol Shields Literary Estate was negotiated by Conrad Williams of Blake Friedmann and Aoife O’Sullivan of Subotica.

DEON MEYER’S DEAD BEFORE DYING ENTERS PRODUCTION IN CAPE TOWN

An international co-production based on Deon Meyer’s first crime novel Dead Before Dying has begun filming in Cape Town, SA. The English language 6-part series is being produced by All In Productions and Out of Africa Entertainment.

The series centres on Deon’s Mat Joubert character as he is paired with a new partner, Sanctus Snook, to investigate a series of murders in the Cape Province concerning a group of aspiring European models lured to the Cape of Good Hope with the promise of photo shoots and lucrative appearance fees.

Norwegian actor Trond Espen Seim plays Joubert, with Resident Evil star Boris Kodjoe taking the role of Snook. The series has been adapted by Anna Tebbe and will be directed by Peter Ladkani. Annette Reeker, Zeljko Karajica and Samantha Putter will executive produce.

ANY OTHER MOUTH LONGLISTED FOR THE EDGE HILL SHORT STORY PRIZE

Anneliese Mackintosh’s powerful debut novel, ANY OTHER MOUTH has been longlisted for the Edge Hill Short Story Prize 2015. The shortlist will be released in May, and the winners announced at an award ceremony on 2 July at the Free World Centre, London. Nominees will compete for the main prize of £5,000.

ANY OTHER MOUTH is a collection of powerful short stories involving a young woman, Gretchen, and her search for identity, happiness and self-discovery. It was published by Freight Books in June 2014 and has since received wonderful reviews. ANY OTHER MOUTH won the Green Carnation Prize, was shortlisted for the Saltire Society’s First Book Award and longlisted for the Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award.

Anneliese Mackintosh was born in Germany and now lives in Manchester where she writes, performs, works and teaches.

Praise for ANY OTHER MOUTH:

‘Mackintosh is a real talent and ANY OTHER MOUTH is a remarkable debut.’ - The Independent

‘Beautifully crafted snapshots… one of the UK’s most exciting new voices.’ - The List

‘Among the most important debuts of the year… by turns funny, affecting, heartening and strange, this is a hugely impressive first book.’ – Global Civilian

Allison & Busby announce acquisition of Julian Stockwin's THE CRAKYS OF WAR

Allison & Busby are pleased to announce the acquisition of a new historical novel from Julian Stockwin, THE CRAKYS OF WAR.

This is the second in a sequence of stand‐alone novels that will dramatise pivotal historical discoveries. THE SILK TREE, Julian Stockwin’s first stand‐alone novel, was published by Allison & Busby in November 2014. Publishing Director Susie Dunlop bought UK + Commonwealth rights (excluding Canada) to this much‐anticipated follow‐up from Carole Blake at Blake Friedmann.

THE CRAKYS OF WAR opens with a returned envoy to China meeting an English scholar in Oxford in the mid 13th century to share a deadly secret. They vow that the knowledge of gunpowder must die with them as the consequences otherwise are too terrible to contemplate.  The novel tells the story of its re‐discovery, one man's obsession with the powder of death, and Edward III’s determination to use it to his advantage.  He does so at the Battle of Crecy, the first full-scale battle at which guns are deployed in the field.  The nature of warfare is changed forever, and the world hears the death-knell of Knightly chivalry.

Susie Dunlop said: ‘We have been honoured to work with an author of Julian’s calibre and professionalism, and I am thrilled we will have a second novel in 2016.  Working closely with Julian, his wife Kathy and agent Carole Blake, we look forward to building on our success with THE SILK TREE, and bringing this new book to Julian’s legions of fans’

Julian Stockwin said: ‘It is a pleasure to be working with the talented team at Allison & Busby again – on this exciting new perspective on the brutal mediaeval world of war from which emerged the modern age.’

Carole Blake said: ‘I was delighted with the commitment that Allison & Busby brought to their publishing of THE SILK TREE (and to the production values of the beautiful finished book) so am very happy to have another deal with them.’

For further information please contact Susie Dunlop: susie@allisonandbusby.com

For rights information please contact Carole Blake: carole@blakefriedmann.co.uk