News 17 May 2002

New Acquisitions

THE BIRD THAT NEVER FLEW by John Steele (October, £7.99. World rights). All his life, 'Johnnyboy' Steele has been running. First it was from an abusive father, then it was from the rigours of approved school and borstal and, finally, it was from the harshness of prison life. THE BIRD THAT NEVER FLEW is a compelling, often shocking and uncompromisingly honest account of how the human spirit can survive against almost crushing odds. It is a story of family love, friendship and, ultimately, a desire for justice.

THE FRENCH REVOLUTION by Alex Hayes and Daniel Ortelli, with Xavier Rivoire (October, £15.99) examines how the English Premier League has become the favourite playground for French footballers, Apart from serving as a reminder of the unprecedented number of successes that have emerged from France in the last ten years, the book provides numerous extra insights, such as the views of passionate supporters, influential agents and comforting physios, among other witnesses of this incredible journey to the home of football. Never before have so many of the French superstars and squad players felt comfortable enough to reveal what they really thought of life in England, the Premier League, the fans, the food, the press and the British way of life. This is the intimate and exclusive story of the French footballers who found fame, fortune and happiness on the football fields of England.

NEWLY PUBLISHED TITLES:

SCOTS ON SCOTCH by Philip Hills.	THE HILLS OF THE MIDLANDS AND SOUTH PENNINES by Alasdair Dibb.

TV DOCUMENTARIES

FRAMED - The producers of award winning documentary 'Eric Hebborn - Portrait of a Master Forger' for BBC1's Omnibus are preparing to rock the art world again with a sixty minute documentary that reveals the shocking truth of a hidden world. Based on the revelations in Tod Volpe's forthcoming biography FRAMED this documentary will expose the everyday scams, shams and code of dishonour the art market keeps secret. This story makes the recent Sotheby's/Christies scandal look like 'amateur hour'. For further details contact: Producers: Ben Gooder & Philip Greenacre at Tricky Film Productions Ltd. on Tel: 020 7384 1222.

Interest in the art world is at a height at the moment. In addition to the above documentary film rights for FRAMED have been picked up by FilmFour, HBO have a film on Sotheby's and Christies coming this Fall and Madonna is in rehearsals for a play about the art world which opens in London on 23rd May.

ANATOMY OF THE NEW SCOTLAND - STV are broadcasting a two part documentary based on the book at the time of publication. The book will be launched on August 25th at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, which will be sponsored, by BT and the Sunday Herald.

PETER LORIMER: LEEDS AND SCOTLAND HERO - Peter Lorimer, whose autobiography is published this Fall is going to be interviewed for a Channel 4 documentary about Leeds Football Club.

BOOKS IN THE MEDIA:

THE NEWS OF THE WORLD have purchased extract rights to ARMED CANDY. The extract and interview will run on 2nd June. On the same day the SUNDAY TELEGRAPH will make Kay (the subject of the book) the lead interview in their Review section. WOMAN'S OWN are running an interview with her in the week after publication.

THE EXPRESS are running an extract from BEATLES FOR SALE on Sunday 19th May.

And Finally...

Independent publisher, John Murray, was bought by Hodder Headline this week. It has resulted in numerous stories in the national press about the demise of independents but Mainstream are still going strong! Still wholly owned by founding Directors, Bill Campbell and Peter MacKenzie, we celebrate our 25th Anniversary next year.