News 18 April 2006

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New Acquisition

Mainstream is delighted to have acquired world rights to IN THE SHADOW OF PAPILLON, Seven Years of Hell in Venezuela's Prison System by Frank Kane with John Tilsley. Reminiscent of Mainstream's True Crime bestseller, THE DAMAGE DONE, IN THE SHADOW OF PAPILLON combines evocative writing with truly horrific accounts of life in a foreign jail. Following the collapse of his business and the loss of his home, Frank Kane agreed to smuggle some cocaine out of Venezuela. Almost inevitably, he and his young girlfriend were caught. The price they paid was a ten-year sentence in the hell of the overcrowded Venezuelan prison system, notorious for official corruption and abuse, and rife with weapons and gangs. At one point, Frank was held in the remote El Dorado prison, better known as the former home of Papillon. He witnessed countless murders and had to become as ruthless as his fellow inmates in order to survive. Eventually, in an attempt to dull the reality of the horrendous conditions, both Frank and his girlfriend succumbed to drugs. After enduring years of systematic beatings by guards and attempts on his life by inmates, Frank was eventually released in 2004 after serving seven and a half years of his sentence. Bill Campbell bought world rights from Robert Kirby at PFD. Mainstream will publish in September and the edited m/s is due on 22 May. For further information contact fiona.brownlee@mainstreampublishing.com

Hot News

On Wednesday 5 April we were overwhelmed with the news that Jacqueline Pascarl had been reunited with her daughter, 14 years after she was kidnapped from Australia by her Malaysian father. ONCE I WAS A PRINCESS was first published in the UK in 1999 and has since sold to Holland, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Bulgaria, Denmark, Iceland, Latvia, Czech Republic, Turkey and Estonia. I remember the only thing holding US publishers back from making an offer was the lack of a happy ending - now we have it!

We receive many letters regarding our books but some of the most emotional responses come from readers of ONCE I WAS A PRINCESS, KATHY'S STORY and THE LOOKED AFTER KID. This week we received the following for Paolo Hewitt, author of THE LOOKED AFTER KID:

'I've just got home from visiting a looked after kid. On the train I read the last pages of THE LOOKED AFTER KID; one of those books that becomes a friend as you read it. It's a great book. The best thing I ever read in my ten years as a social worker. I want to read it again. Thank you so much for sharing your life with us. You're a champion.'

Latest Sales

We are absolutely delighted to be able to confirm that Berkley, a division of Penguin US, have bought North American rights to THE PALACE DIARIES. It will be published in hardback and trade paperback by NAL and in mass market by Signet. Publication will coincide with the UK release. THE PALACE DIARIES is also being presented as a lead title at the forthcoming Random House Sales Conferences in South Africa, New Zealand and Australia.

Other sales this week are the soccer related BOTTLE by Ivor Baddiel and WHO WANTS IT? by Colin Ward and Chris Henderson to Bulevar in Serbia and Montenegro .

Publicity

Kate Barlow had an extremely successful trip to the UK to promote THE ABODE OF LOVE. She had a terrific interview on Woman's Hour, BBC Radio 4, has been interviewed in Prima and the book was chosen as Critic's Choice in The Daily Mail:

'The story she tells is every bit as gripping and compelling as the most imaginative fiction' - Val Hennessy

DON'T EVER TELL is getting some fabulous publicity. In addition to numerous reviews a major feature has just been confirmed in Now magazine, one of the highest circulation magazines in the UK.

Events

Graham Forbes, author of ROCK AND ROLL MOUNTAINS did an event at Cotswolds, Glasgow, on 10 April.

And Finally...

Our very best wishes to Lindsay Farquharson, Publicity Manager, who is getting married to Al Knox on Friday 28 April. Don't be surprised if you can't get hold of anyone that day. Most Mainstream staff will be at the wedding!