News 13 July 2006

Search News Archive:

New Acquisition:

Mainstream is absolutely thrilled to have acquired UK and European rights to AFTER THEY KILLED OUR FATHER by Loung Ung. Loung is extraordinary, young, gorgeous, articulate and incredibly resilient. Her original memoir, FIRST THEY KILLED MY FATHER, in which she described how her parents and most of her family died under Pol Pot's genocidal regime, was an international bestseller and in this new book she describes her own experiences as a refugee who escaped to the West and those of her sister who stayed behind. The most poignant aspect of the book is summed up by the following review from the Washington Post:

'Ung helps us understand what happens when a family is torn apart by politics, adversity and war. Change the names of the characters, give them another country of origin, and this story of dislocation becomes a tragedy millions of immigrants have lived through but seldom talk about.'

It is a book which is relevant to everyone. Angelina Jolie recently chose it as her favourite book in a British magazine and said, 'I encourage everyone to read this deeply moving and very important book. Equal to the strength of the book, is the woman who wrote it.' Fiona Brownlee bought the book for Mainstream Publishing from Lydia Newhouse at Abner Stein. Mainstream will publish in March 2007.

Rights Deals:

We are delighted to announce our first ever deal with Israel. UNLOCKING THE SOLOMON KEY has been sold to Glory. The deal was handled by The Deborah Harris Agency.

DON'T EVER TELL has been sold in the Czech Republic to Jota.

THE END OF TIME has also been bought in the Czech Republic by Euromedia.

THE PALACE DIARIES continues to sell well internationally, Korean Rights have been bought by The Book Company.

SHELL SHOCK is to be published in Russia, with rights bought by Vershina Publishers.

Serial rights for THE LIFE AND TIMES OF BARRY FERGUSON MBE have been sold to a leading daily newspaper for a high five figure sum.

Press:

There has been blanket coverage for MURDER IN SAMARKAND by Craig Murray. Following serial in THE MAIL ON SUNDAY we have had interviews in THE GUARDIAN, THE HERALD, THE OBSERVER, BBC WORLD SERVICE, BBC RADIO 5 LIVE, THE TODAY PROGRAMME, BBC RADIO 4, YOUNG SOLICITOR'S GROUP JOURNAL, WORLD TONIGHT, BBC TV, DAZED AND CONFUSED MAGAZINE, AL JAZEERA, ASSOCIATED PRESS (syndicated), BIG ISSUE, THE COURIER (Dundee) and SUNDAY POST. There will be a lead review in THE SUNDAY TIMES to be run this weekend, while THE TELEGRAPH, THE DAILY MAIL, THE OBSERVER, JEWISH TELEGRAPH, RSAA MAGAZINE, SCOTTISH REVIEW OF BOOKS, LITERARY REVIEW (London), BLOOMBERG NEWS, THE EXPRESS, THE SPECTATOR and THE ECONOMIST have all confirmed reviews.

In addition to a major serial deal for THE PALACE DIARIES interviews are confirmed in EVE, GRAZIA, THE DAILY TELEGRAPH, THE DAILY MAIL, THE SUN and THE SUNDAY TIMES with a syndicated review via the Press Association. Sarah Goodall will also be interviewed on Radio 4, Radio 5, Radio 2, BBC World Service, BBC Radio London and either LK Today or Richard and Judy - both are desperate to have her on!

WHERE WOMEN DIE OF LOVE continues to garner good reviews. Jeremy Paxman selected it as one of his favourite books in THE GUARDIAN ('full of lovely anecdotes and some rather good jokes.')

ROCK AND ROLL MOUNTAINS has not only had tremendous reviews from newspapers and magazines but also praise from the world of 'rock and roll' itself including Alex Kapranos of Franz Ferdinand, Paul Barrere, guitarist with legendary US band Little Feat, John Wheeler of Hayseed Dixie, Charlie Benante of Anthrax, and Onnie McIntyre of the Average White Band. More info at Myspace.com/grahamforbes

TV and Radio:

THATCHER'S FORTUNES received an additional push last week when BBC 2 dramatised COUP! Described as a 'shocking and sometimes hilarious insight into the true story of how Simon Mann found himself betrayed, arrested and confined to an African jail, following his involvement in the attempted coup in Equatorial Guinea that gripped the British public in 2004.' Robert Bathhurst played Mark Thatcher.

Events:

Mainstream very much enjoyed meeting booksellers from the North West in Manchester on 12 July when we held a dinner to introduce authors Fred Eyre, John Williams, Sarah Goodall, Nicholas Monson, Craig Murray, Darren Griffiths and Graham Johnson to the trade.

Jan de Vries will be appearing at the Alternative Lifestyle Show on 19 and 20 August at the Radisson SAS Hotel in Edinburgh. Jan will be giving an hour long signing session / talk each day and it will be featured in the Edinburgh Fringe programme.

Ottakars in Clapham are launching BATTERSEA GIRL by Martin Knight on Thursday 7 September.

TYNESIDE will be launched at the Discovery Museum on 12 October with a live VT link to Ant and Dec who will be presenting 'I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here' at the time!

And Finally...

Congratulations to Lorraine Fannin of the Scottish Publishers Association who was awarded an OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours list.