News 18 January 2002

CURRENT AFFAIRS

We have just signed a new book by Adam Robinson, author of our BIN LADEN biography, for a Spring publication. BIN LADEN has already been sold to Japan, India and America.  The new book, TERROR ON THE PITCH, is timed for the World Cup 2002. Source material available at the moment includes a shocking letter translated from Arabic detailing the planned attack on the English team during their match at Marseille but the terrorist plans affected all countries involved in the last World Cup. More importantly they reveal how real the threat of terrorism could be in the next one.

Kathy Johnston, co author of MARTIN McGUINNESS is to be interviewed on Channel Four on Sunday 27th January after they show their film dramatisation of Bloody Sunday. The film has been getting lots of publicity so audiences will be high.

The Miscarriages of Justice Organisation M.O.J.O. (Scotland) is being set up to help those who have been wrongfully convicted for crimes they know nothing about. M.O.J.O. aims to raise awareness of the treatment of innocent people in Scottish jails, both before and after their release. One of the cases they highlight is that of Stuart Gair, the subject of our forthcoming book, A LAW UNTO THEMSELVES. MOJO (Scotland) will be launched on Sunday 3rd February MOJO (Scotland) with a night of ‘edutainment' at the G2 Garage in Glasgow. There will be bands, DJs and readings. Gary Lewis, star of award winning movies Billy Elliott and Orphans will read an extract from A LAW UNTO THEMSELVES and tell the story of Jim McGregor, the prison doctor who became Stuart Gair's only hope for freedom.

SPORT

On the strength of his book, BLINDED BY THE LIGHT, Richard Hakin was invited to present a paper at a recent academic conference on European sporting cultures, and has subsequently received further invitations to lecture. He has contacted us to say it makes a change from arguing in Sunderland pubs about Peter Reid's tactics!

HEALTH

Jan de Vries whose library of health books are published by Mainstream is involved in a conference on MS in June. Publication of his book, NEW DEVELOPMENTS FOR MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS SUFFERERS, will be timed to coincide with it.

And Finally....

Our competition page is receiving an increasing flow of entries for the weekly 'win a box of books competition'. This week the theme is Scotland in celebration of Burns Night on Friday 25th February.

On-line sales have been going so well that we thought it would be of interest to create a Best Seller list on the web site. Our first Top Ten is now live, unsurprisingly headed by JIHAD! And BIN LADEN but closely followed by DON T GIVE UP THE DAY JOB and THE DREAM SOLUTION.