News 18 July 2003

Our Jan de Vries health titles continue to sell well. Following recent rights sales of TEN GOLDEN RULES FOR GOOOD HEALTH and HEALING IN THE 21ST CENTURY we have just sold MOTHER AND CHILD to a Russian publisher. Although he trained as a pharmacist, Jan De Vries turned to alternative medicine early in his career. He has written extensively on alternative health issues and is the author of the bestselling series By Appointment Only, Well Woman, Nature's Gift and Jan de Vries Health Care. His latest book, MY LIFE WITH DIABETES, was published in May this year.

On the sport front we have just had an offer for the new edition of WHITE STORM (featuring David Beckham on the cover) from a Japanese publisher.

Still on sport, The Open has sent interest in golf soaring again. IN SEARCH OF TIGER by Tom Callahan continues to get superb reviews. The latest, in The Times, referred to Callahan as 'a gifted writer whose books on Ben Hogan and the Masters are authoritative, he (is) one of the best sportswriters in the world. Callahan could make a book about agricultural reform in mid-Wales in the 13th century sing and dance. IN SEARCH OF TIGER is wonderful, a book born from his trip to Vietnam to find the soldier that Earl Woods fought alongside and after whom Earl named his son. ...The result is compulsive reading. Callahan has a devastating combination of skills; he reports well and writes like an angel.' We are confident that it will be short listed for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award this year.

The BBC are currently preparing a season of films and documentaries about the subject of kids in and out of care. As part of the season, they are shooting a 40 minute documentary which will feature Paolo Hewitt and his book THE LOOKED AFTER KID. Filming started on Monday 7th July and the finished item will be screened in January or February of 2004. The head of the season has also sent the book to Radio 4's Book For Bedtime for them to consider transmitting readings from the book during the season. The Looked After Kid received wonderful reviews when it was published last year and the B format was released at the end of May.

Serial rights to SHANG A LANG, the autobiography of Les McKeown, have been sold to a major London based newspaper. Rights have also been sold to a leading Scottish tabloid with the first interview running in a leading Scottish broadsheet.

IN HITLER'S BUNKER edited proofs are now in. To date rights have been sold to Random House in Australia and Lubbe in Germany. Italian, Dutch and US deals are imminent.

And Finally...

Holiday season is upon us so don't be concerned if you don't get an immediate response to your e-mails in the next few weeks. If you have an urgent query contact enquiries@mainstreampublishing.com and your e-mail will be forwarded to someone who can assist you.