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News 29 November 2007
New Acquisition:
Mainstream is absolutely delighted to have acquired FALLING by Jeff Randall. Randall originally wrote his memoir by hand and delivered it to his former wife in an attempt to explain the demons which had haunted him for so long and been responsible for destroying their relationship. The title refers both to how he plunged headfirst into love affairs desperately looking for a permanent relationship to compensate for a childhood without love but also in the very literal sense to the thoughts which went through his head while falling from a tenement building in Edinburgh when he tried – and failed – to end his life. Jeff Randall is a contemporary of Irvine Welsh. Comparable to a real-life Trainspotting, Randall’s shocking descriptions of life on the wrong side of the tracks in Edinburgh are counter-balanced by the fact that he is so frank about his emotions, offering a unique insight into the male psyche. Fiona Brownlee bought world rights for a substantial five-figure sum from Jenny Brown Associates. Mainstream will publish in June 2007 accompanied by a major outdoor and on-line advertising campaign.
Rights Deals:
We are thrilled to have concluded a three book deal for Adam Ardrey with Juliet Grames and Peter Mayer of Overlook Press in the US. Negotations, which started over a bottle of wine in the Overlook offices in May were continued at Frankfurt and concluded this week. Overlook will publish FINDING MERLIN, followed by FINDING ARTHUR and FINDING CAMELOT.
We are also delighted to have sold Loung Ung’s wonderful memoir, AFTER THEY KILLED OUR FATHER, to yet another territory. Loung’s second book is published by Harper Collins in North America and Australia, Mainstream in the UK, Arena in Holland, Piemme in Italy and now by Bauer in Poland.
Also this month, backlist title, DAPHNE DU MAURIER, has been sold to Motto Publishers in the Czech Republic.
Marketing:
MRS MILLS SOLVES ALL YOUR PROBLEMS is going from strength to strength in the run up to Christmas. Selected for numerous Christmas promotions including the BA catalogue and Waterstones, major serial in the Sunday Times has been followed by credits featuring the book jacket at the end of the Mrs Mills column each week. She has her own Facebook site under the name of Dame Mills and a fan club ‘I heart Mrs Mills’ also dedicated to her. Our initial idea of creating a Christmas card featuring Mrs Mills inspired us to create an animated card showing ‘Mrs Mills 12 Days of Christmas’ which can now be found on Times on-line, Facebook and YouTube. Please take a moment to check it out and forward the link to friends and colleagues: http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/relationships/article2904097.ece
Publicity:
It's been a great week review-wise for Mainstream titles, with some fantastic coverage in the national press. Reviewed in The Observer, CHRISTY BROWN: THE LIFE THAT INSPIRED MY LEFT FOOT, by Georgina Hambleton , was described by Anushka Asthana as "A powerful biography... A moving portrayal of an astonishing man with a brilliant brain trapped inside a damaged body."
In the Daily Express, William Hartston gave a glowing review of Des Wilson's GHOSTS AT THE TABLE, calling it "A remarkable and hugely enjoyable romp, given a delightful personal touch by the author who has, in his time, been journalist, thriller-writer, politician and charity worker but who has never lost a passion for poker that shines through in his writing."
Great news as well for MRS MILLS SOLVES ALL YOUR PROBLEMS it was featured in The Sunday Times Style 'Christmas Gift Issue' on Sunday 25th November, and will be included in The Sunday Times Culture 'Christmas Books round-up' on Sunday 2nd December.
LEWIS HAMILTON: NEW KID ON THE GRID was also reviewed positively in the Daily Telegraph by Andrew Baker, along with the host of other Lewis Hamilton books out at the moment .
Coverage for Andy Ripley's RIPLEY'S WORLD, published in October, has also continued to flow this week. BBC South East television news put together a great package for their evening bulletin, and Andy made yet another appearance on BBC Radio London, this time on their rugby show, The Scrum.
The Press Association have also just confirmed that they would like to use Pick Me Up magazine's interview with Mary Turner Thomson, author of THE OTHER MRS JORDAN, in their Best of Pick Me Up magazine (a round up of the best interviews the magazine has run during 2007), out 4th January 2008.
Events:
Congratulations also to Andy McLaren, who hosted a wonderful charity bash, in aid of ChildLine, on Tuesday 20th November. Held at Glasgow's Hilton Hotel, the evening was fantastic fun, with a whopping amount of cash raised for a very good cause as well. Attended by sports journalists and sportsmen galore, the evening also served to raise Andy's profile still further and remind everybody what a frank and moving biography TORMENTED: THE ANDY MCLAREN STORY really is.
And Finally...
A big welcome to Iain MacGregor who has just relocated to the frozen wastes of Edinburgh to join us as Associate Publisher. We also welcome back Editorial Director, Ailsa Bathgate who has returned from her three week honeymoon in Mauritius looking sickeningly tanned and happy!