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Archive
Behind-The-Books Blog
Online PR faux pas
Thursday, August 27th, 2009
Considering I’m a a relative newby in terms of exploring the realms of online PR, it’s a comfort to know there are others who don’t always have it down pat either.
I came across this interesting article - click here - which I intend to study meticulously… Why learn the hard way through your own mistakes, [...]
Killer narrators…
Wednesday, August 26th, 2009
There are hundreds of thousands of crime/thriller/mystery books in the world with murderous goings on (many of which we publish I might add…) but how many of these books are actually narrated by the killers themselves?
Well, Richard Jay Parker has come up with a few of his favourites here on Flashlight Worthy.
It’s a cool idea [...]
Post-wedding bells!
Tuesday, August 25th, 2009
Hello all! Here I am bouncing back onto the blog fully refreshed, rejuvenated and renamed! Finally I have become Mrs Crooks and am looking forward immensely to never having to give table plans or flower arrangements any attention ever again.
Phew!
With all this loved-up cheer (only slightly battered after the first encounter with my inbox) I’d [...]
The Brixton Bard and another Tap Natch Poet
Monday, August 24th, 2009
Whilst most writers give talks at bookshops and libraries, Brixton-born Jamaican writer Alex Wheatle (acclaimed author of the cult classic Brixton Rock and the more recent Island Songs) is a regular speaker at schools and prisons. Inspiring young offenders and students with his background and story and encouraging them to read books and express themselves [...]
A tribute to Catherine Lockerbie and the Authors’ Yurt.
Thursday, August 20th, 2009
The Edinburgh International Book Festival is well underway now. I’ve been lucky enough, not only to have attended several times in the past, but to have a) had the pleasure of meeting the woman behind the success of this world-class event, Catherine Lockerbie (pictured) and b) had the honour, whilst accompanying an author, of being [...]
Shall thy listen to the rules of marketing?
Wednesday, August 19th, 2009
I recently ordered a copy of Darcy Bussell’s Pilates for Life DVD off Amazon. (This is my attempt to keep fit now that I have temporarily frozen my gym membership – simultaneously contributing to Fitness First’s loss in earnings as reported in the papers this week.) Anyway, the DVD arrived in the post and enclosed [...]
Flashback to a favourite read
Tuesday, August 18th, 2009
Today I had a wonderful flashback. My Favourite Books blogger posted a lovely review of one of our titles, The Secret History of the Pink Carnation, by Lauren Willig. There, at the end of the review she likens the book to Anthony Hope’s The Prisoner of Zenda - and there it was, the sudden rehashing [...]
A minute in the life of…an Art Editor
Monday, August 17th, 2009
I have made a rather unpleasant discovery. The Pantone guide (which I use to ensure I have chosen the right colours for our book covers before they go to print) has always sported a disclaimer stating that the colours within are subject to fading and discolouration and as such the sampler should be replaced annually. [...]
The lesser known Wimbledon championships
Friday, August 14th, 2009
Yesterday I trekked up to Finsbury Park to watch my other-half run a 10K Charity Race for The Stroke Association. He came third. Me so proud. He was however beaten by a girl. He not so proud.
Anyway…inspired by his efforts and the good cheer at the event, I looked into seeing if there were any [...]
How would you survive a Zombie apocalypse?
Thursday, August 13th, 2009
Our poor earth…
First it’s Armageddon (luckily Bruce Willis sacrificed himself for us then), then we got threatened by another meteor in Deep Impact (President Morgan Freeman smoothed that one over to an extent. Well, his soothing voice kept the panic to a minimum anyway). Will Smith has saved us from everything including aliens, giant metallic [...]
Anyone fancy a half-price trip to the Maldives?
Wednesday, August 12th, 2009
I have always wanted to come across an amazing travel deal, out of the blue, and then throw caution to the wind and book it right then and there - a kind of romantic and extravagant act of spontaneity. Nothing however has quite appealed enough to warrant that kind of action.
But today I received my [...]
Thumbs up for Duet for One
Tuesday, August 11th, 2009
I am more of a film-buff than a play-enthusiast but the other week I had the pleasure of being treated to a night in the West End to watch Duet for One with Juliet Stevenson and Henry Goodman.
I have to say that I wasn’t exactly anticipating a riveting night - the entire play revolves around [...]
Love it or hate it!
Monday, August 10th, 2009
I’ve stumbled across an absolute must for all Marmite-aholics out there. To celebrate the Ashes between England and Australia, Marmite have released a limited edition version of the nation’s favourite (or most hated, depending on where you sit in the Great Marmite Divide) breakfast spread. I didn’t think it was possible to improve on the [...]
A Novel Idea …
Friday, August 7th, 2009
While all around us people are losing their jobs or finding first-time employment an almost impossible undertaking, you have to applaud the gaddy entrepreneurs. Those who seize an idea (often ludicrous) and make it profitable. I stumbled across this little gem in my book news browsing… Click here
$150 for coming up with a book [...]
The intern debate
Thursday, August 6th, 2009
While briefly flicking over to our friends at Snowbooks I came across reference to this article in the Guardian: ‘‘New inquiry into exploitation of the work for free interns’ (Read more here) - an article that is particularly relevant to me, the lady with a pile of applications to sort through for our autumn 2-week [...]
A Big Yum for Dim Sum at Yauatcha
Wednesday, August 5th, 2009
(This is why I am not employed as a writer for tabloid headlines…)
Last night I went for dinner at Yauatcha - a dim sum restaurant in Soho (on the corner of Berwick St and Broadwick St). I’d never been before but can now recommend it to anyone who loves dim sum. The selection to choose [...]
Think of life as a mayo jar & two beers
Tuesday, August 4th, 2009
I tend to be quick on the delete button when I read most of the chain FW: emails that land in my inbox - usually a bit cringe-worthy in their feel-good or holier-than-thou ness. You know the ones: “Good friends are ones who listen when you cry, Good friends are etc…”, peace to the world [...]
The play’s the thing…
Monday, August 3rd, 2009
I can highly, highly recommend going to see Hamlet, showing at Wyndhams Theatre in London’s West End. I was lucky enough to see it recently and it was an incredible night – and not just because I got to see the gorgeous Jude Law a few tantalising metres away. (I can happily to report that, [...]
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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