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News 23 January 2004
Mainstream have just signed the biography of INDIAN PETER,
a little known historical figure with a fascinating story. Peter
Williamson was snatched from a Scottish quayside as a young boy
and transported to the burgeoning American colonies to be sold
into slavery. He was fortunate to be bought by a humane man who
left him money when he died enabling Peter to marry and get his
own farm. In 1754, during what became known as the French and Indian
War, his farm was attacked and Peter was captured by the Indians
who forced him to leave his wife and travel with them as a slave.
When he escaped he had some sympathy for the Indians and gave evidence
in their favour but that did not prevent him joining the British
Army to fight the French and their Indian allies. His regiment
eventually surrendered and he was taken to Canada as a prisoner
of war. Eventually the POWs were exchanged for French prisoners
and Williamson found himself free. He made his way back to Scotland
and tracked down the men who were behind the slave trade. He accused
them publicly and took them to court in a landmark case that exposed
the scandal of the slave trading. 
INDIAN PETER is a true-life adventure
of abduction, war and courtroom drama. Douglas Skelton is a journalist
and author of several books about Scottish history. Mainstream
hold world rights. If you would be interested in seeing further
material please contact fiona.brownlee@mainstreampublishing.com
Four Mainstream authors will be appearing at the internationally
acclaimed Edinburgh Book Festival this year. Geoffrey Regan, author
of PICKING THE BONES (April 04); Irshad Manji,
author of THE TROUBLE WITH ISLAM (March 04); Nick
Ryan, author of HOMELAND (pbk March 04) and Carolyn
Soutar, author of THE REAL NUREYEV (Sept 04) have
all been invited to Edinburgh in August.
The transmission date of the BBC drama for which Nick Ryan has been a consultant producer has now moved to mid March coinciding neatly with publication of the HOMELAND paperback. He has already been asked to write tie in features about the state of the far right today for The Scotsman and The Sunday Mirror.
Tod Volpe continues to make waves across the Atlantic. The flamboyant,
controversial art dealer has just been signed up to assist a 71
year old Californian woman in selling an authentic Jackson Pollock
canvas that cost her $5 at a thrift store but may well bring in
over $20 million. She has struggled to get art authorities in the
US to authenticate the painting even though a forensic art expert
has identified Pollock's fingerprints on the canvas. Having read
Tod Volpe's memoirs she realised that he could help her to challenge
the art establishment and contacted his North American publishers.
Together they plan to publicise her struggle and the shady workings
of the art underworld.
On
Friday 16th January The Times ran a major review for RIDING
HIGH by Paul Howard with the headline 'Life in the shadows
proves tour de force for Howard' and concludes that after using
1.5 bottles of sun cream, consuming 11 malt loaves and completing
the Tour de France ahead of the real riders he deserves a long
rest!
And Finally...
Congratulations to Claire Rose who is rising in the company both
figuratively and literally.
She will be climbing to the top floor of our Georgian town house to take up a new position within editorial.