News 22 February 2006

New Acquisition:

Mainstream is delighted to have acquired world rights to THE PALACE DIARIES The True Story of Life Behind the Palace Gates by Sarah Goodall. It is a charming insight into life behind the scenes of the Royal Establishment by a young woman who bumbled her way into a job working for Prince Charles and remained with him for 12 years. Described as 'Paul Burrell meets Bridget Jones', THE PALACE DIARIES will appeal to everyone from elderly Royal watchers to young career girls who identify with the Chardonnay-fuelled mishaps of Bridget Jones. It will be the biggest personality-led campaign of 2006. Serialisation has already been sold to a leading national newspaper. Bill Campbell of Mainstream bought world rights from Peter Cox at Red Hammer. Mainstream will publish in Autumn 2006. For further information please contact fiona.brownlee@mainstreampublishing.com.

Rights Sold:

Serial rights to THE BEGINNING OF THE END The Crippling Disadvantage of a Happy Irish Childhood have been sold to The Sunday TImes. The first extract ran on 19 February and the second will run on 26 February.

Since the last newsletter we have sold rights for THE GREAT ESCAPERS by Tim Carroll to Koala (Finland) and UNLOCKING THE SOLOMON KEY by Simon Cox to N W Damn (Norway). Both deals were brokered by our sub agent Jan Michael. It brings the total rights sales for UNLOCKING THE SOLOMON KEY to 17.

Publicity:

THE BEGINNING OF THE END will be reviewed in the The Sunday Times on 26 February and the Daily Mail have promised a review. The book received an unusual plug this week courtesy of the author's son, Jamie, who is lead guitarist of Britain's biggest up-and-coming indie band Battle. He was co-hosting a spot called 'Favourite Things' on BBC Radio One and managed to mention his dad's book!

Neil Doyle, author of TERROR BASE UK has been rushed off his feet since the conviction of the terrorist Abu Hamza. He's reached millions of people, with three appearances on ITV News, and interviews on BBC News 24, BBC Breakfast and Radio Five Live. Neil and the book have also featured in The Sun and the Sunday Mirror. He's been advising several other media groups on coverage of the trial, and the fallout, as well. Neil's now been invited to give a presentation at a major anti-terrorism conference in Whitehall, to an audience comprising of military, security and government leaders.

Irshad Manji, author of THE TROUBLE WITH ISLAM TODAY, has also been in high demand. She was interviewed on BBC's Newsnight last week. Full credit was given to her book.

An interview with Les McKeown, author of SHANG-A-LANG, has appeared in both the Daily Express followed up by a mention in The Times. Pick Me Up magazine (rival to Take A Break, with a massive circulation) are keen to interview Les. All going well it will appear in early April.

Publicity for MAN INTERRUPTED continues to roll in. A two-page interview in Bizarre magazine is due to appear early next month followed by a review in BBC Focus magazine. Chat magazine are also very keen to do an interview.

Steven Preece, author of ALWAYS A MARINE was interviewed on National US Radio.

Film Rights:

Following in the vein of CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, THE PLAYERS looks as though it may actually become a film. It is currently out with Miramax, Scorsese, the Bond people and Mel Gibson's production company.

Events:

Undefeated In addition to five authors appearing at the Edinburgh Book Festival in August we have four authors supporting the Sports Readers campaign in May. Fred Eyre, Dave Hadfield, Ian Cheeseman and Iestyn Harris will all be doing events from 17-21 May. Marsha Hunt will also be giving a reading from her book, UNDEFEATED, at the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival in Belfast on 3 May.

And Finally...

We are all missing Elaine Watt who has been called up for jury service and could be away from the office for up to 8 weeks. Fortunately she nips in whenever the court is in recess.