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Archive
Behind-The-Books Blog
How I got to see Hewitt, Roddick and Murray yesterday…
Tuesday, June 30th, 2009
I was not in the office yesterday. I was at Wimbledon. I made the executive decision to take the day off and together with my boyfriend, Anthony, I set off at noon on Sunday to camp out for tickets. When we arrived at the queue we knew we’d already missed out on Centre Court (only [...]
A doubly memorable evening
Friday, June 26th, 2009
Yesterday evening, we had the pleasure of celebrating the launch of actress Susan Wooldridge’s debut novel The Hidden Dance at Hatchard’s. It was a wonderful and star-studded affair, and it was of course a special delight to be mingling with literary celebrities and marvellous actors I’ve watched on film and TV screens over the years. [...]
Top Brit thriller writers touring UK airports
Thursday, June 25th, 2009
Just came back from a Publishing Publicity Circle (PPC) meeting with various editors from the Observer including Jane Ferguson on the Review, Oliver Marre on the Books Desk (standing in for Books Editor Will Skidelsky - where were you, Will? I was hoping to finally meet you in person), and Louise, editor of the Woman [...]
Proof that gym is not good for you.
Wednesday, June 24th, 2009
Today’s a little cooler than yesterday and I felt it was just about comfortable enough to hit the gym – I’ve been rather lazy of late and it’s starting to show.
So, after my workout and feeling absolutely exhausted I headed for the change rooms. But it seems someone had a more hectic session than me. [...]
Drugged up with love…
Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009
I recently read a little article that made me laugh out loud. Apparently scientists in Atlanta have developed the world’s first real-life ‘love potion’ – one that they claim really works. Mmm-hmm… I know, where’s a pinch of salt when you need it? According the article, they have created a drug that alters the chemicals [...]
The inside scoop from Wimbledon
Monday, June 22nd, 2009
Today is the first day of this year’s Wimbledon Tennis Championship. I happen to live in Wimbledon and this weekend I passed Jamie Murray in the vegetable aisle at Sainsbury’s. I thought it was Andy at first, but then noticed the bigger hair. Anyway, he was chatting to a man I can only assume was [...]
Beauty talk
Friday, June 19th, 2009
I’ve just had a lovely tea with Australian beauty guru Tali Shine (of Tali Shine Cosmetics for Girls on the Go) who is friends with another Australian beauty guru, Zoë Foster, the author of the debut chick-lit novel Air Kisses we’re publishing this August. (My, that was a mouthful.) And may I digress for a [...]
A couple of reasons why a person might buy a magazine
Thursday, June 18th, 2009
On Tuesday I got to the office early to find I had left my office keys at home. I hate moments like this. There I am, crouching by the front door, swearing profusely at myself, with the entire contents of my A&B bag strewn across the pavement - it’s not a pretty sight. Then some [...]
A must-see for art lovers
Wednesday, June 17th, 2009
The celebrated British artist Keith Coventry held a private view of his work last night at Haunch of Venison in Mayfair which I was lucky enough to attend. I particularly loved his Echoes of Albany series which takes as its inspiration the mysterious Albany apartments in Burlington Gardens which have been home to numerous distinguished [...]
As predicted…
Tuesday, June 16th, 2009
Those of you who are devoted A&B blog-readers may remember an entry I posted back in April about the development of a new breed of novel: the mobile phone novel, or keitai shousetsu (the original Japanese name) . These fast-paced, condensed novels have taken Japan by storm, selling in their millions and in some cases [...]
Summer events
Monday, June 15th, 2009
Summer is upon us and after the hibernation of a long and snowy winter, so is the party season! It’s one weekend after the other of birthdays, weddings, hen nights, baby showers and just-becauses. And then there’s the work parties…
The lovely Victoria Connelly popped in to the office last week. She’s very excited about her [...]
Mad for Muddy Boots & Silk Stockings!
Friday, June 12th, 2009
I write this blog in haste because I probably have about another 5 minutes before the phone starts ringing again. Today, from the moment we stepped into the office, we’ve been inundated with calls from readers wanting to buy a copy of Muddy Boots & Silk Stockings, by Julia Stoneham which featured in this month’s [...]
It makes perfect scents to me
Wednesday, June 10th, 2009
I recently discovered that it really is true that if you search hard enough there is a solution to just about any problem – even if you didn’t realise it was a problem in the first place. I am referring, of course, to E-book readers and their lack of ‘bookiness’ (a highly technical term I [...]
Guest Blog: Natalie, on work experience
Tuesday, June 9th, 2009
Well, my name is Natalie and I am currently in the middle of a two week work placement at Allison & Busby. So today, I am a guest blogger. For any aspiring publisher out there who didn’t know, Allison & Busby offers people the chance to experience life in a publishing house, and provides a [...]
Zoë Sharp nominated for Short Story Dagger
Monday, June 8th, 2009
Zoë Sharp’s story Served Cold has been nominated for the Short Story Dagger this year.
Sunshine on a rainy day
Friday, June 5th, 2009
Well, this week officially marked the start of summer, and didn’t it just feel like it at the start of the week? Absolutely gorgeous! Alas, it hasn’t quite lasted and this morning I got completely soaked on my walk to the train station – my sopping umbrella is still propped up downstairs to dry. So, [...]
Happy Birthday to Marshall Karp!
Thursday, June 4th, 2009
Today is Marshall Karp’s birthday. I could break out into song but no one would probably ever return to this blog again. So I’ll simply say, on behalf of everyone here at A&B:
He’ll be celebrating something else later this month - the UK release of Flipping Out, the next book in his acclaimed Lomax & [...]
My Favourite Things (in Cambridge)…
Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009
This coming weekend I’ll be popping over to see some friends in Cambridge - one of my favourite places in the UK or indeed the world. My favourite places there include the wide open space of Parker’s Piece, the cafés and restaurants at Magdalene bridge, the impossible-to-scale-whilst-riding-a-bike-bridge behind Trinity Hall and, predictably if you know [...]
The Next 100 Years
Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009
Am sending this book off to print – hurrah!
Some people are reactive, others proactive. I’d like to think I plan my life but I have a sneaky suspicion quite often it’s more a case of life happening to me.
George Friedman is clearly someone who thinks ahead and this book is the most riveting, mind-boggling and [...]
A lesson in how to make the most of bad publicity
Monday, June 1st, 2009
It can be disappointing for us publicists, when one of the books we’ve been promoting gets a bad review. We harrass and push and chase editors in the hope of getting the book reviewed at all, rejoice when we hear it has indeed been selected for coverage, and then get a big slap in the [...]
Currently we are...
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...reading
The Rose of Sebastopol, by Katharine Mcmahon Lara: Mariella is an interesting protagonist – so far, not your traditional heroine and still second fiddle to the beautiful, enigmatic Rosa. This is the author’s aim I suppose, but I’m still interested to see if Mariella does finally come into her own – or if as readers you’ll always wish the story was told from Rosa’s point of view instead.
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