THE LAST HORSEMAN shortlisted for Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize

David Gilman’s riveting Boer War novel THE LAST HORSEMAN has been shortlisted for the Wilbur and Niso Smith Adventure Writing Prize. Established in 2016, the prize is an annual event celebrating the best adventure novels published in the last calendar year. The prize is open to writers of any nationality, writing in English.  

David Gilman is the author of the highly-praised MASTER OF WAR series (Head of Zeus), set during The Hundred Years War and sold in several countries around the world. Gilman’s standalone novel THE LAST HORSEMAN was described by The Historical Novel Society Magazine as ‘packed full of intrigue, adventure and excitement, while The Times said it was ‘gripping and full of action, but also smart and subtle about questions of loyalty and guilt in a war with few good guys.’ David has also written the DANGER ZONE adventure trilogy for younger readers, published by Puffin. 

The six-strong shortlist for this year’s Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize is:
•        David Gilman THE LAST HORSEMAN (Head of Zeus)
•        Frank Gardner CRISIS (Bantam Press)
•        Stef Penney UNDER A POLE STAR (Quercus) 
•        Sara Sheridan ON STARLIT SEAS (Black and White Publishing) 
•        James Swallow NOMAD (Zaffre Publishing) 
•        Graham Hurley FINISTERRE (Head of Zeus) 

The 2017 judging panel comprises: Steve Winter, award-winning National Geographic Photographer; Alex Crawford, Special Correspondent at Sky News; Kevin Conroy Scott, Literary Agent at Tibor Jones & Associates; and Corban Addison, bestselling author and winner of the 2016 Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize. The £10,000 prize will be awarded at a ceremony at London’s Royal Geographical Society in September 2017. 

Niso Smith, Founder of The Wilbur and Niso Smith Foundation, says: “The Prize is the Foundation’s flagship programme. We are delighted to have received such a high standard of submissions, from both established novelists and writers submitting their debut work of fiction. There are many talented adventure authors writing today and they need to be recognised for their outstanding work. The shortlist really encapsulates the spirit of adventure writing. Each novel allows us a glimpse into different worlds and times, from modern-day to historical settings, and each with clear threats to overcome – whether that’s a fearsome human enemy, societal conventions, or the formidable power of nature.”

Established in September 2015, The Wilbur and Niso Smith Foundation is a charitable organisation dedicated to empowering writers, promoting literacy and advancing adventure writing as a genre. 

For more information on the Foundation and the Prize, click here

Follow David on Twitter

See more on David Gilman’s website here.

Praise for David Gilman:

‘What Gilman does superlatively is heart-pounding action.’ — Amanda Craig, The Times

‘Move over Bernard Cornwell!…Historical fiction at its best.’ — Historical Novel Society

‘David Gilman writes so well, managing to stir the blood while moving the reader, at least this one, to tears.' — For Winter Nights

‘Some may notice that there are certain words that are repeated in each of my David Gilman reviews because they're so true they stick to him like a magnet to magnetic stuff. So adjectives like action-packed, exciting and wonderfully researched are a given. Yet only the qualities of the work stay the same; the story is as fresh and shock-filled as each of its predecessors.’ — Ani Johnson, The Bookbag

London, green? Rediscover the capital through Rural London, published today by Michael O’Mara

Kate Hodges’ RURAL LONDON will be published today by Michael O’Mara. Lusciously-illustrated, RURAL LONDON invites you to discover London’s windmills and farms, its wild waters, gothic castles and grand country houses. Hodges presents a new face of the City, one that is green and peaceful, in sharp contrast with popular perceptions of the metropolis. Featuring farmers’ markets, Morris dancing and the best ‘country’ pubs, RURAL LONDON persuades you to fall in love with the city once more.

Tune into BBC London today at 1pm, where Kate will be speaking about her book with Jo Good. She also did a takeover of the Emerald Street mailout, where you can find see a sample of RURAL LONDON.

Kate tweets at @TheeKateHodges. 

Look out for features in Time Out and Londonist too.

And you can visit Kate’s website for more of her thoughts and information about her books.

A STREET CAT NAMED BOB WINS BEST BRITISH FILM AT THE NATIONAL FILM AWARDS

We are delighted for our clients Tim John and Roger Spottiswode that ‘A Street Cat Named Bob’ has won Best British Film at this year’s 3rd annual National Film Awards UK. The National Film Academy’s annual awards celebrates the UK’s best films and talent both in front and behind the cameras, and this year’s event, hosted at Porchester Hall in London, was home to a plethora of stars of industry.

The award, voted for by audiences, was hotly contested, and ‘Bob’ beat off competition including ‘Our Kind Of Traitor’, directed by Susanna White and starring Damien Lewis and Alan Skaarsard, and  ‘A United Kingdom’, directed by Amma Asante and starring Rosamund Pike and David Oyelowo.

Directed by Roger, screenplay by Tim (and Maria Nation), and adapted from James Bowen’s international bestselling novel, ‘A Street Cat Named Bob’ is based on Bowen’s true life experiences on the streets. Produced by Adam Rolston at Shooting Script Films, and financed/exec produced by Prescience, the theatrical release was November 2016, and was greeted by warm reviews and strong box office. The film stars Luke Treadaway, Ruta Gedmintas, Joanne Froggatt, Anthony Head and Bob the Cat as himself. It is now available on DVD.

I KNOW WHERE SHE IS - debut thriller to Canelo

Editorial director Louise Cullen has acquired I KNOW WHERE SHE IS by SB Caves for Summer 2017 publication

I KNOW WHERE SHE IS features a mother whose child was abducted ten years earlier, and seems unlikely to ever be found until a mysterious young woman appears claiming that Francine’s daughter is being held captive. The chain of events that follows sees Francine face her worst nightmares and do things she never thought herself capable of in a quest to find her child.

Cullen said: 'SB Caves’ novel grabbed me from the first page and did not let go. I read much of it on the edge of my seat and raced through to the breathless finale. This novel has pace, tension, action aplenty and is an unsettling exploration of a dark side of human nature. Most of all, it is about a mother who will do whatever it takes to save her child.'

Caves said: 'I'm delighted that Canelo have faith in my writing and I'm really looking forward to working with them.'

The author is currently working on his second novel, a UK based thriller.

Follow SB Caves on Twitter here.

THE CRYSTAL RUN BY SHEILA O’FLANAGAN PUBLISHED in paperback today BY HODDER CHILDREN’S

THE CRYSTAL RUN, the first in a thrilling series of middle-grade novels, by bestselling author Sheila O’Flanagan, is published in paperback today by Hodder Children’s Books.

Frantic to escape from danger, Joe is transported to another world where he is plunged into the training regime of the Runners. Their mission is to protect the shield which keeps the Carcassians safe from their enemy. When he is paired with Kaia on her run, he realises how much is at stake. A Runner’s destiny is death, but he can’t let Kaia die. As they fight to escape, Joe needs to find a way to save them both...

Follow the hashtag #TheCrystalRun for more exciting info!

Follow Sheila on Twitter @sheilaoflanagan

Or visit Sheila's website here

Praise for Sheila O’Flanagan and THE CRYSTAL RUN

‘O'Flanagan's writing is crisp and concise and her plotting deft…an interesting debut which shows a lot of promise and children of 10-plus who like fast-paced, action-packed stories will certainly enjoy this book.’  Sarah Webb, The Independent

'This atmospheric YA debut from a bestselling novelist brims with all the hallmarks of a classic fantasy quest - a vividly evoked world, heart-rending conflict, compelling action - and the friendship that blossoms between Kaia and Joe makes their mission all the more powerful.' Joanne Owen, Love Reading 4 Kids

'O'Flanagan's writing is crisp and concise and her plotting deft.' - Belfast Telegraph

'Intriguing hints that all it not what it seems within Kanabia.' - SFX Magazine

'Well-written, with a strong plot and excellent characters, this book gives us an exciting, classic-style fantasy filled with intrigue' - Inis

About the author

Sheila is an ex-bond dealer and financial journalist whose novels have all been immediate No. 1 Irish bestsellers - with each publication, she breaks her record of weeks at No. 1. Her last three novels have sold in excess of 1,000,000 copies in their British editions. Her 25th book for Headline, THE MISSING WIFE, is published in hardback in June 17. She is currently writing two more adult books for Headline and a follow up to THE CRYSTAL RUN for Hodder Children’s.