SHEILA O’FLANAGAN’S WHAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT PUBLISHED IN PAPERBACK TODAY

WHAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT, Sheila O’Flanagan’s captivating tale of impulsive choices and their lasting effects, is published today in paperback by Headline in the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand today. Lola and Bey’s story will available in paperback in South Africa in late March and in Canada in June. The novel which Heat called ‘a fabulous tale with refreshingly inspiring heroines’ was released in audiobook in June 2017, read by popular O’Flanagan narrator Aoife McMahon, alongside the bestselling hardback edition.

Sheila recently signed a new two book deal with Headline, so fans of her work can anticipate two brand new titles in 2019 and 2020 from the Headline Review imprint. Younger readers have a treat ahead too, as Kaia and Joe return in SHIELD OF LIES, the second instalment of Sheila’s first Young Adult series THE CRYSTAL RUN, which will be published by Hachette Children’s Books on 8 March. THE HIDEAWAY, Sheila’s next novel for adults will be published on 31 May, just in time for summer.

Lola Fitzpatrick is bright and ambitious but she’s also headstrong and stubborn. When one evening, out of the blue, she has to make a life-changing choice, she decides quickly and rashly. And without a piece of vital information that might have changed everything.

Lola’s daughter Bey has inherited Lola’s determined nature. Yet her impulsive reactions place her in danger, leading her to run away from what she wants most. And then, one night, she’s standing in front of the man she loves, with her own choice to make…

For both Lola and Bey, everything changes in a moment. But their biggest mistakes might also turn out to be their greatest opportunities…

Sheila O’Flanagan is the author of twenty-five thought-provoking, gripping and unforgettable Sunday Times and ebook bestsellers, including THE MISSING WIFE which was published in the US this month by Grand Central following its UK success. It became a Sunday Times and Irish Times paperback bestseller in 2017, as well as becoming a No.1 ebook bestseller, and one of Amazon’s Top Ten Bestselling ebooks of the year. Her interlinked short story collection CHRISTMAS WITH YOU reached No. 2 in the Irish bestseller lists in the run up to Christmas. Headline has sold over 7 million copies of Sheila’s books.

Visit Sheila’s website, where you can also join her mailing list.

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Praise for Sheila O’Flanagan:

‘Must-read’ – Express

‘Insightful, witty and full of fun... This is touching, tense and clever writing.’ – Irish Independent

‘O'Flanagan's writing is crisp and concise and her plotting deft’ – Belfast Telegraph

'One of our best storytellers' – Irish Mail on Sunday

Harvill Secker acquires two new books from STAR OF THE SEA author Joseph O’Connor

© Gerry Sandford

Harvill Secker has snapped up two new titles by award-winning novelist Joseph O’Connor, including the author’s first thriller. SHAWDOWPLAY and MY FATHER’S HOUSE will be published in 2019 and 2021 respectively. Liz Foley, Harvill Secker Publishing Director, acquired UK and Commonwealth rights from Isobel Dixon at Blake Friedmann.

SHADOWPLAY is a masterful account of Bram Stoker’s life as a young man in London working with Henry Irving, the world’s first superstar actor, as they both fall under the spell of dazzling actress Ellen Terry. A domineering personality of volcanic charisma and mesmerizing talent, Irving hires an unremarkable Dublin clerk to help him with his daring project: to open his own London theatre, and make it the greatest playhouse in the world. Through Bram Stoker’s extraordinary experiences at the Lyceum, his tempestuous relationship with Irving and the bittersweet closeness he finds with Ellen Terry, Stoker will be inspired to pen DRACULA, the most iconic supernatural tale of all time. SHADOWPLAY is a captivating novel about desire, celebrity, the creation of art, ambition and love. Rights for SHADOWPLAY have already been bought by Natur Och Kultur in Sweden and Guanda in Italy.    

MY FATHER’S HOUSE is a powerful literary thriller set during the Second World War. It is based on the true story of Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty, an Irish priest in the Vatican who risked his life to smuggle thousands of Jews and escaped Allied prisoners out of Italy under the nose of his nemesis, the Nazi Lieutenant Colonel Herbert Kappler. A deadly high-stakes battle of wits ensues in this astonishing, unforgettable story of love, faith and sacrifice, exploring what it means to be truly human in the most extreme circumstances.

Liz Foley said, ‘We are delighted to have two such exciting projects in the works from one of our most accomplished and well-loved authors’

Joseph O’Connor said, ‘In thirty years of being an author, I have never got over the thrill that goes with a book being accepted for publication. I am truly delighted to be working with Secker and Vintage again. To see your work appear on those iconic lists is an absolute honour, as well as a joy. I have high hopes for these two novels about remarkable people who defied convention and changed the troubled world they found themselves in.’

Isobel Dixon said, ‘Two remarkable stories from a truly remarkable author – and for me the thrill of this deal is heightened by the anticipation of the pleasure SHADOWPLAY and MY FATHER’S HOUSE will bring to readers around the world. Harvill Secker have sensational plans, translation rights are already sold in Italy and Sweden, and there is much, much more to come.’

Joseph O’Connor was born in Dublin. His books include eight novels: COWBOYS AND INDIANS (Whitbread Prize shortlist), DESPERADOES, THE SALESMAN, INISHOWEN, STAR OF THE SEA (American Library Association Award, Irish Post Award for Fiction, France’s Prix Millepages, Italy’s Premio Acerbi, Prix Madeleine Zepter for European novel of the year), REDEMPTION FALLS, GHOST LIGHT (Dublin One City One Book Novel 2011) and THE THRILL OF IT ALL. His work has been published in forty languages. He received the 2012 Irish PEN Award for outstanding achievement in literature and in 2014 he was appointed Frank McCourt Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Limerick.

Visit Joseph O’Connor’s website

Praise for Joseph O’Connor:

‘A masterful storyteller.’ — Neel Mukherjee, The Times

'Like Joyce, O'Connor combines his panoramic range with a close eye to the grain and texture of the phrase ... An astonishingly accomplished writer.' — Terry Eagleton, The Guardian
‘Once again. Joseph O'Connor proves that along with Banville, Tóibín, Doyle and the others of that golden Irish generation, he's right up there alongside them.’ — Bob Geldof

‘O’Connor’s prose is satisfyingly sensitive to his protagonists and enchantingly rhythmical, his pacing is perfect, his dialogues masterful at revealing what is really swimming to-and-fro between characters.’ — Sunday Independent

‘O’Connor has a lovely touch for the nuances of important moments – he captures how relationships start, and how they fall apart, beautifully. — Evening Standard

ANDY BRIGGS FILM 'SUPERVIZED' AT THE BERLINALE

Andy Briggs' upcoming comedy Supervized has finished post production, with Great Point Media behind sales at the Berlin Film Festival.

Directed by Steve Barron (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; Mike Bassett: England Manager) and produced by Barron and Kieran Corrigan (Evelyn), the film will star Tom Berenger (Platoon), Beau Bridges (The Mountain Between Us) Fionnula Flanagan (The Others), and Louis Gossett Jr (An Officer And A Gentleman).

Supervized follows a group of senior superheroes who have been put out to pasture in a care home but decide to come out of retirement to take down one last villain.

Great Point Media’s EFM slate also includes Damsel, the Robert Pattinson and Mia Wasikowska-starring comedy-drama that premiered in Sundance and will have its international premiered in competition at Berlin.

Another film of Andy’s, CROWHURST, is out in cinemas in March.

ICON BOOKS ACQUIRES SELF-CARE GIFT BOOK BY BUZZFEED UK EDITOR, AILBHE MALONE

Kiera Jamison, senior commissioning editor at Icon Books, has acquired World English language rights from Juliet Pickering at Blake Friedmann Agency to 101 TINY CHANGES TO BRIGHTEN YOUR DAY by Ailbhe Malone, Lifestyle Editor at BuzzFeed UK.

101 TINY CHANGES TO BRIGHTEN YOUR DAY is a beautifully packaged gift book filled with practical self-care tips for when you need a simple pick-me-up. It will offer help on how to look after yourself and your mental health, in an age where we too often forget to pause and take a breath.

With small actions, you can make a big improvement to your wellbeing – whether it’s making your phone a source of positivity instead of stress, engaging in habits that make you feel healthier and more positive, or preparing for darker days. Malone’s simple tips combined with witty illustrations from Naoise Dolan to create a resource you can dip into whenever you need a helping hand.

Jamison said: ‘The self-care trend is such a positive addition to the self-help and gift market, but what really struck me about Ailbhe’s approach is how practical and forgiving it is. You don't need to subscribe to a radical new plan; it's not about making sweeping New Year’s resolutions; it's just about making life better, one tiny act at a time. I love that. We’ll be publishing in October, a time when most people aren't prioritising looking after themselves and could use a friendly guide to brighten their days.’

Malone said: ‘I'm passionate about accessible, affordable self-care tips, and about finding out what works for you. So I'm delighted to work with Icon on this project. I've been a fan of Naoise's work for a long time, so it's a dream collaboration for me all round. I hope this book can find a home on your bookshelf, in your backpack, or on your desk at work - there for you whenever you need it.’

101 TINY CHANGES TO BRIGHTEN YOUR DAY will be a totem for your bedside table, backpack, or to give to a friend in need. It believes that you are worth looking after, even when you don’t.

Icon will publish as a £9.99 hardback in October 2018.

Women who shaped the world: I KNOW A WOMAN by Kate Hodges published today

The beautifully illustrated book, I KNOW A WOMAN by Kate Hodges, is published today by Quarto Books. A celebration of the world’s most influential and inspiring women, from artists to musicians to political activists, I KNOW A WOMAN reveals the unexpected connections that link them. The book contains a thoughtful foreword by author Lucy Mangan, and vibrant illustrations by Sarah Papworth.

Behind every great woman… is another great woman. Here, the extraordinary achievements, relationships and secret histories of 84 pioneering women are revealed in inspirational stories which together show the indomitable strength of womankind. From ground-breaking scientist Marie Curie to political activist Malala Yousafzai, from feminist author Virginia Woolf to the game-changing Billie Jean King; I KNOW A WOMAN creates a gigantic web of womanhood which celebrates the relationships between the world’s most inspirational and influential women. Threading tales from across the globe and throughout history, the lives of innovative aviatrixes, gun-toting revolutionaries and women with incomparable intellects are revealed.

Kate Hodges graduated from the University of Westminster with a BA in Print Journalism. She has over 20 years writing experience on magazines, having been a staffer on publications including The Face, Bizarre, Just Seventeen, Smash Hits and Sky, and written for many more, including The Guardian, The Sunday Express, Kerrang! and NME. She has also worked for Rapido TV, makers of the cult show Eurotrash, luxury brand marketing company Noir Luxe, and P For Production films. Her first book, Little London, a guide to free and cheap, family-friendly things to do in the capital, was published in 2014. London in an Hour and Rural London came out in 2016.