News 14 November 2003

Very exciting news about a new acquisition. SOLDIER FIVE is the real story of the Bravo Two Zero mission by the last soldier to tell his tale. The British Government has done its utmost to thwart publication but after four and a half years of legal battles Mainstream will be publishing on March 4th 2004. The book was acquired from Robert Kirby at PFD. Orion were the under bidders. We have UK and Commonwealth Rights only (exc NZ) but if you are interested in rights direct any queries to me and I shall forward them on.

Four lead Spring titles will be advertised in the trade press next week in an unprecedented splurge of Mainstream marketing spend! SOLDIER FIVE, THE GREAT ESCAPERS, THE TROUBLE WITH ISLAM and PICKING THE BONES will all be featured in a four-page insert in THE BOOKSELLER.

We are delighted to be re-launching HOW TO SPOT A B*STARD BY HIS STAR SIGN for Valentines Day 2004. The Mirror serialisation last month cleared out the 3000 books we had in stock so we are publishing the book with a new jacket and 50% new content in February 2004. Co-author, Adèle Lang, is now the astrologer for HEAT, J17 and MARIE CLAIRE magazines so has the young female market completely covered. She will be doing radio and TV publicity to coincide with publication.

Last week marked the launch of both MOODY by Wensley Clarkson and ATHENS TO ATHENS by David Miller. Both were well attended if by very different people! ATHENS TO ATHENS is getting some superb review coverage, THE TELEGRAPH described it as a 'fascinating trawl through the history of the sporting triumphs and political machinations of the Olympic movement' and OLYMPIC REVIEW magazine have said 'a fabulous book... an absolute MUST for anyone interested in Olympic history.' Due to a late publication date it missed the cut off for this years William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award but it must surely be in the running for the 2004 Awards.

William Hill cut their long list for this year down to a shortlist of six last week. DAYS LIKE THESE is sadly out of the competition but we are delighted that IN SEARCH OF TIGER by Tom Callahan has made the final cut. The Awards ceremony will take place at Sports Pages in London on Monday 24th November. Callahan's next book, THE BASES WERE LOADED AND SO WAS I, will be published by Mainstream in April 2004

And Finally...

The documentary about Paolo Hewitt's autobiography THE LOOKED AFTER KID will be broadcast in February 2004.