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News 5 October 2005
New Acquisition
Mainstream is delighted to have acquired rights to THE LAST MAN ACROSS THE ATLANTIC by Paul Heiney. In May 2005, writer and broadcaster Paul Heiney, an amateur sailor, entered the Original Singlehanded Transatlantic Race to prove that the Corinthian spirit of the transatlantic pioneers can still get you from one side of the Atlantic to the other, if you try hard enough. The race is not only accorded the greatest of respect but it is also recognised as a true test of stamina, seamanship and navigation. Heiney sailed in what would be widely regarded as a standard family cruiser, in which he had great confidence, but his trust in his own abilities was less certain. The race proved to be a greater test than even he was expecting. The Atlantic weather showed its anger as he battled gale after gale; proved that even when placid it had a potent ability to depress and confuse with its dense, enduring fog. At one point he was in danger of losing his mast in an area furthest from any rescue. More seriously, he feared he had insufficient tea bags to sustain him to the finish line. THE LAST MAN ACROSS THE ATLANTIC is an honest account of what it is like to be out there alone. Even the strongest yacht takes a battering after 3,000 miles: sails are torn, water turns sour, the last apple turns to mush and there's still three weeks to go before sight of land. And then there's the crew - the poor sod on his own, making all the decisions, taking all the blame. There is no one else to scold or praise, no shoulder to weep on, no one to joke with and nobody to argue with about who washes up. You will laugh at some of his exploits, and may join him in his tears of frustration. Paul Heiney fully expected to be the last man across the Atlantic in the 2005 race and says it didn't bother him in the slightest. 'It's enough to be able to say you climbed Everest without having to run up it as well. And this is the sailing Everest - for me anyway.' North American rights are available. If you would like to see a manuscript please contact Karen.brodie@mainstreampublishing.com
Foreign Rights
There are more great sales for UNLOCKING THE SOLOMON KEY, the latest is to Dataclub in Finland, c/o Jan Michael. Shen Li of Big Apple Tuttle Mori negotiated a deal with Shanghai Far East Publishers for THE KENNEDYS.
Serial Rights
Serialisation for YOU CAN CALL ME STAN: THE STILIYAN PETROV STORY started in the Sunday Mail on 2 October and continues this Sunday.
Serialisation of CRIMELORD in the News of the World is running at the same time.
Publicity
THE MIRACLE OF ISTANBUL was listed at number five in The Observer's Bestselling Sports Paperbacks
Jim Telfer, author of JIM TELFER Looking Back . . . For Once, will be interviewed by John Beattie for Sports Weekly on Radio Scotland on Saturday, 8 October.
Marsha Hunt's book, UNDEFEATED, continues to generate interest with interviews appearing in The Times Educational Supplement, The Times and the Sunday Times. Ireland's Image magazine is also running an extract. Marsha will be a guest on Women's Hour on 12 October and on The Wright Stuff on Five this month. On 6 November she will feature in the Sunday Telegraph's My Fashion Moment.
Ian Stafford, author of ASHES FEVER, will be doing a round of BBC radio interviews on 12 October.
Alan Jones, co-author of SATURDAY NIGHT FOREVER, will be giving an interactive talk on his book and the subject of disco on 25 October at www.homoculture.org. He has also been interviewed to appear on the television series Song of the Decade which will be aired on ITV in December.
Graham Forbes has been invited to read from his book, ROCK AND ROLL MOUNTAINS, at Banff Mountain Book Festival in Alberta, Canada, on 4 November.
And Finally...
Goodbye to Louise Williamson, who left Mainstream recently. We wish her luck with her degree. Welcome to her replacement Rebecca Bell, who joins us as Sales Administration Assistant reporting to Elaine Watt, Sales Administration Manager.