Jim Keeble available for author events

Jim Keeble is an acclaimed novelist and scriptwriter. He is currently working on the BBC series Silent Witness. His new novel The Happy Numbers of Julius Miles is about the impossibility of being a modern dad and the pressure of the 'have-it-all' society.
For more information about this book, you can click on:
http://www.almabooks.com/the-happy-numbers-of-julius-miles-p-387-book.html
To set up an event with Jim please contact eminervini@almabooks.com

Continue reading Jim Keeble available for author events

Danny Miller available for events

The second book in the Vince Treadwell series, The Gilded Edge follows the straight-laced yet ambitious and handsome Detective Vince Treadwell. He is sent to investigate the seemingly unrelated murders of a playboy aristocrat from Belgravia and a young black nurse from the wrong side of town. We follow Treadwell to the illegal drinking dens of Notting Hill run by self-styled Black Power leader, Michael X; the nightclubs of Soho owned by the legendary gangster, Billy Hill; and the exclusive gaming tables of the Montcler Club in Berkeley Square, where the blue-bloods and power players of England gamble thousands on their turn of a card. But as Vince Treadwell digs deeper he finds himself not only embroiled with a beautiful society girl, Isabel Saxmore-Blaine, but a world of espionage and corruption where the underworld mixes easily with the aristocracy, and no one is innocent.

jamie@constablerobinson.com

Continue reading Danny Miller available for events

DJ Taylor available for events

Autumn 1933, and for once struggling writer James Ross seems to have fallen on his feet. Not only has the Labour Exchange fixed him up with a day-job collecting rents in Soho, but friendly Mr Samuelson is employing him front-of-house in the Toreador nightclub. Even his melancholy love-life is looking up, thanks to a chance encounter with the alluring Gladys, enigmatic inhabitant of the Meard Street second-floor back.
On the other hand, Soho looks an increasingly dangerous place in which to be at large. Not only are the Mosley's Blackshirts on the prowl, but somebody is raiding the dirty bookshops and smashing nightclub windows in a quest for moral decency. Fetched up in a police cell in West End Central after and unfortunate incident outside the Toreador, and coerced into undercover work by the mysterious Inspector Haversham, James finds himself infiltrating the Blackshirt's Chelsea HQ.

Contact jamie@constablerobinson.com

Continue reading DJ Taylor available for events

James Craig available for events

Jake Haggar, barely six years old has been kidnapped by his father who is threatening to sell the boy to a child trafficking ring. Carlyle has to get him back. It's not his case but it is his problem- it was his fault Jake was taken in the first place.
Meanwhile, Carlyle has his own caseload to deal with including the murder of Agatha Mills. Her husband, Henry has been arrested for her murder but his explanation is so outlandish that Carlyle wonders if it may just be true. Agatha is the sister of William Pettigrew, a priest killed in Chile during the fascist coup in 1973 and after 30 years of campaigning, and was about to see his killer brought to justice.

Carlyle is also asked to help television reporter Rosanna Snowdon, who fears she is being stalked by a demented fan.

Contact: jamie@constablerobinson.com

Continue reading James Craig available for events

Celebrate LGBT History Month in Havering

Havering Libraries celebrate LGB History Month 2012

Catherine Hall - Author Talk
Catherine Hall's first novel was Days of Grace, Catherine was selected by Waterstone's as one of their 10 'New Voices' and by Amazon as one of their 'Rising Stars'.
'The Proof of Love', published in 2011, won The Green Carnation Prize for LGBT writing,
Come along and contribute ideas for more library events for the LGB community.

Monday 13th February at Romford Library
7pm -8pm, Meeting Room,
Romford Library, St Edwards Way, Romford RM1 3AR
FREE EVENT, Everybody welcome.
For more information, please email: jacky.logan@havering.gov.uk or call the library on 01708 432389

Continue reading Celebrate LGBT History Month in Havering

An evening with Heather Peace

Heather Peace talks about her novel All To Play For. It's time to tell our story, starting when my new friends and colleagues-to-be were all as fresh, young and wet behind the ears as I was myself. When our hearts were open, and our integrity was still intact.
Rhiannon dreams of joining the largest broadcaster in the world: the BBC. And so begins a life of highs, lows, and absurd experiences for five ambitious young people, all keen to make it in the increasingly commercial world of television.
http://www.lbhf.gov.uk/Directory/Leisure_and_Culture/Libraries/Library_facilities_incl_location_opening_hours/118251_Author_and_literary_events.asp

Continue reading An evening with Heather Peace

Hallie Rubenhold -The art of writing and researching historical fiction.

Hallie Rubenhold -The art of writing and researching historical fiction.

Chipping Barnet Library
Wednesday 25th January 2012
6:30pm-7:30pm

Hallie Rubenhold is a historian and broadcaster and an authority on British 18th-century social history.  She has written two works of non-fiction to critical acclaim: 'The Covent Garden Ladies' and 'Lady Worsley's Whim'.

Hallie will be talking about her new book 'Mistress of my Fate', the first book in her new fictional series, and the art of writing and researching historical fiction.

This is a free event - please contact Chipping Barnet Library to reserve your seat on 020 8359 4040 or email chipping.barnet.library@barnet.gov.uk.

Transport details

Bus: 234, 326, 384

Tube: High Barnet (Northern line)

Map:http://g.co/maps/t9wpm

Continue reading Hallie Rubenhold -The art of writing and researching historical fiction.

Event with Lesley Pearse

Came along to Blackheath Library to meet the bestselling author Lesley Pearse, who will be talking about her latest novel'the promise'. There will be light refreshments and book signing. Free please ring 0208-858-1131

Monday 23rd January 2012 7-8 pm

Continue reading Event with Lesley Pearse

Brilliance by Anthony McCarten

Brilliance deals with the life of the inventor Thomas Alva Edison, who - short of money - is captivated by the charismatic figure of J.P. Morgan, the 'world's banker'. He accepts Morgan's offer of almost unlimited cash in return for helping him change the way the world does business. In the process, Edison sees himself descend from being a godlike inventor of electric light to being complicit in the invention of the electric chair. This book is very topical and chimes in with the Wall Street and St Paul's anti-capitalist 'occupy movement'.

Email Elisabetta Minervini (eminervini@almabooks.com) if you are interested in proofs for your reading group (Only 8 sets of 5 available) or if you would like Anthony to visit your library.

Continue reading here - http://www.almabooks.com/brilliance-p-385-book.html

Continue reading Brilliance by Anthony McCarten

An evening with Heather Peace

Heather peace reads from her novel All to Play For: It's time to tell our story, starting when my new friends and colleagues-to-be were all as fresh, young and wet behind the ears as I was myself. When our hearts were open, and our integrity was still intact.
A story of artistic expression vs corporate gain, of how some people make a drama out of a crisis, and others a crisis out of a drama.

http://www.lbhf.gov.uk/Directory/Leisure_and_Culture/Libraries/Library_facilities_incl_location_opening_hours/118251_Author_and_literary_events.asp

Continue reading An evening with Heather Peace

Joseph Heller's Catch 22

Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Catch 22 with our open reading group. Reading Joseph Heller's classic satire is nothing less than a rite of passage. Set in the closing months of World War II in an American bomber squadron off the coast of Italy, Catch-22 is the story of a bombardier named Yossarian who is frantic and furious because thousands of people he has never even met keep trying to kill him. Joseph Heller's bestselling novel is a hilarious and tragic satire on military madness, and the tale of one mans efforts to survive it. Come and share your views and favourite passages in this informal group. Copies of the book are available for loan.

Places are limited so booking is essential. Contact Shepherds Bush library Customer Services Desk, phone 020 8753 3842 or email Library_Events@lbhf.gov.uk. www.lbhf.gov.uk/libraries

Continue reading Joseph Heller's Catch 22

Authors wanted for Cultural Olympiad

As part of the cultural Olympiad we are looking for authors willing to come along to give a talk. As we are an olympic borough this will be an exciting opportunity to promote reading for pleasure. We do have a budget available

Continue reading Authors wanted for Cultural Olympiad

Craig Taylor available for events

Londoners is an extraordinary group portrait of London today. This is no guide book to the sights of London. This is about the people, not the places and these are their stories, as witnessed by Canadian Craig Taylor, an acclaimed journalist, playwright and writer who became fascinated by the question 'what kind of person ended up in London'.

Craig is available for features and interviews and can talk about the importance of oral history, London's markets and riots

Continue reading Craig Taylor available for events

Matthew Sweet

22 November

Matthew Sweet, author, journalist and BBC broadcaster will be talking about 'The West End Front: The wartime secrets of London's grand hotels' at Mayfair Library, 6pm. A revealing, witty and scandalous snapshot of how the other half lived. Free but please book by contacting Katrina Blench.
kblench@westminster.gov.uk

Continue reading Matthew Sweet

Craig Taylor - The Londoners

Craig Taylor will be talking about his new book The Londoners - the days and nights of London now. Perspectives from the people of London. From the woman who is the voice of London Underground to the director of a Bethnal Green funeral parlour, and many inbetween. Craig has painted a vivid, epic and wholly fresh portrait of 21st century London.

Join us at Chipping Barnet Library on Saturday 19th November at 2.30pm
Please phone 020 8359 4040 or email ruth.newman@barnet.gov.uk to book your free place.

Continue reading Craig Taylor - The Londoners

Lynn Shepherd author of Tom-All-Alone's

Lynn Shepherd is the author of the captivating Tom-All-Alone's, a reimagining of Dickens masterpiece and first English detective story- Bleak House. With the bicentenary of Dickens birth on the 7 February, Lynn is available for talks, workshops, reading group sessions and readers' days.

Tom-All-Alone's aims to craft something that would not only be a compelling 'literary murder mystery' in its own right, but also a creative response to the events and themes of Dickens' text. Tom-All-Alone's was actually the original title of Dickens Bleak House.

The story of Tom-All-Alone's runs parallel to Dickens, and his characters populate her own literary landscape, whether as principal protagonists, like the lawyer Tulkinghorn and Inspector Bucket, or mere bystanders seen or overheard in London's crowded dining-houses, pubs, and omnibuses. Through the eyes of her young detective, Charles Maddox, we see these familiar episodes and characters from a new angle, and find answers to questions that Bleak House left unanswered.

if you would like Lynn to visit your library please contact Emily Burns: emily@constablerobinson.com.

Continue reading Lynn Shepherd author of Tom-All-Alone's

Author Available: Trilby Kent, Smoke Portrait

Trilby Kent is available for library events, reading groups sessions and readers' days. Children aged 10+. Trilby would also be happy to talk to classes of students.

To set up an event, please contact eminervini@almabooks.com and for more info about the book, please visit http://www.almabooks.com/stones-for-my-father-p-384-book.html

Stones for My Father deals with the second Boer war, and gives quite an uncompromisingly critical appraisal of the English repression of the Boers at the beginning of the twentieth century. It's the story of a young girl and of his family, and their trials as they are pushed away from their farm and imprisoned in a concentration camp.
The author is a descendant of the Boer war hero Danie Theron.

Continue reading Author Available: Trilby Kent, Smoke Portrait

Misha Glenny

3rd October 2011

Misha Glenny
Hammersmith Library, Shepherds Bush Rd, W6 7AT
Monday- Oct 3rd
7 - 8 pm (doors open 6.30pm)

Misha Glenny talks about his new book Dark Market - Cyber Thieves, CyberCops and You (published 15th September, Bodley Head). Misha Glenny is a journalist and historian, and the author of the Sunday Times bestseller McMafia: Seriously Organised Crime. He is regularly consulted by the US and European governments on major policy issues.

In his talk, Misha investigates the dangers of living online and explores the question 'have we become complacent about our personal security?'
Foyles at Westfield are pleased to be the bookseller for this event and will be offering £3 off the RRP of the book on the evening.

Free admission/refreshments

For more information and to book tickets contact elin.jones@lbhf.gov.uk telephone 0208 753 3812/3823

Continue reading Misha Glenny

The Magical Detectives and the Forbidden Spell

The second book in the thrilling Magical Detectives series is out this month. Author, Brian Keaney, is available for author events.

In a locked museum in the middle of the night a thief appears from nowhere, steals a priceless clay tablet from Ancient Babylon and then disappears. In the village of Harford a senior British diplomat is found strangled in his bed. And in the sleepy little town of Bridlington Chawley an internationally-famous hypnotist knocks on the door of Spinoza's Second-Hand Bookshop.

What is the connection between these three events? That's the mystery that the Magical Detectives have to solve.

The Magical Detectives and the Forbidden Spell is the second book in the Magical Detective Agency series. The first book has been chosen for the Reading Agency's Summer Reading Challenge

For more information, or to orgnise an event, please contact Sarah Bennett

Continue reading The Magical Detectives and the Forbidden Spell

Author wanted for Black history month october 2011

The brand new Woolwich Centre Library in the London borough of Greenwich will be dedicating the languages section to the late Cllr Kanta Patel during Black history month. We are looking for a gujerati author to give a talk.

Please contact sarah.davis@greenwich.gov.uk for details.

Continue reading Author wanted for Black history month october 2011

Free Posters

Looking to brighten up your Library or classroom?

Hachette Children's Books have some fabulous Poster Packs to give away!

Please e-mail sarah.mays@hachettechildrens.co.uk with your address and specify whether you would like a primary or secondary focused pack.

Continue reading Free Posters

Free copies of Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

Hachette Children's Books have 250 copies of Catherine Fisher's Incerceron to give away. Named as The Times Children's Book of the Year, this dark, powerful and compelling read is not to be missed.

Incarceron - a futuristic prison, sealed from view, where the descendants of the original prisoners live in a dark world torn by rivalry and savagery. It is a terrifying mix of high technology - a living building which pervades the novel as an ever-watchful, ever-vengeful character, and a typical medieval torture chamber - chains, great halls, dungeons. A young prisoner, Finn, has haunting visions of an earlier life, and cannot believe he was born here and has always been here.

In the outer world, Claudia, daughter of the Warden of Incarceron, is trapped in her own form of prison - a futuristic world constructed beautifully to look like a past era, an imminent marriage she dreads. She knows nothing of Incarceron, except that it exists. But there comes a moment when Finn, inside Incarceron, and Claudia, outside, simultaneously find a device - a crystal key, through which they can talk to each other. And so the plan for Finn's escape is born ...

"I loved the book. It's a crazy, cool, dark world ... it's a great story." -- Taylor Lautner, star of the Twilight movies

Please email Sarah Mays with how many copies you would like for your reading group.

Continue reading Free copies of Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

Author available: Trilby Kent, "Smoke Portrait"

Trilby Kent, author of Smoke Portrait is available for events. Smoke Portrait is a universal story of love, loss and appearances.

A young woman writes letters to a prison inmate abroad as a charitable task - these letters, however, get misdirected to a teenager who pretends to be the prisoner and who has a very troubled situation at home. This is the start of a romantic friendship between the correspondents where each one wants the other one to believe they are someone else - a correspondence which will help them through some of the most challenging years of the past century.

To set up an event with Trilby please contact eminervini@almabooks.com and for more info on Trilby and her new book, please visit
http://www.almabooks.com/smoke-portrait-p-359-book.html

Continue reading Author available: Trilby Kent, "Smoke Portrait"

Author events available with Dinah Capparucci

Dinah Capparucci is the author of the brilliant Warning! series, published by Scholastic Children's Books, and is available for events with mixed audiences aged 7+.

Dinah's events are hilarious (she was shortlisted for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize 2008) and informative - best suited to audiences of 30-40 children.

If you are interested in an event with Dinah and want to find out more information about her and her books, contact Catherine on calport@scholastic.co.uk

Continue reading Author events available with Dinah Capparucci

Author available: Danny Danziger, "We Are Soldiers"

September and October 2010

Danny Danziger is a celebrated interviewer and the author of 11 non-fiction titles. His previous Little, Brown book, The Year 1000, sold almost 130,000 copies. His long-running Sunday Times column 'Best of Times, Worst of Times' is the recipient of many award and accolades. When writing We Are Soldiers Danziger interviewed hundreds of soldiers in the British Army of all ranks, divisions and seniority, to uncover the reasons why men and women choose to be soldiers in the 21st century, giving a unique insight into the reality of modern warfare and what it means to fight for your country.

Contact: kirsteen.astor@littlebrown.co.uk

Continue reading Author available: Danny Danziger, "We Are Soldiers"

Author available: Lindsay Clarke, The Water Theatre

September and October 2010

Lindsay Clarke is available to talk about his new book, The Water Theatre, "a powerful story of loyalty and loss, of betrayal and reconciliation." This is his first literary novel after the Chymical Wedding, winner of the Whitbread Award for Fiction in 1989.

Continue reading Author available: Lindsay Clarke, The Water Theatre

Author available: Adam O'Riordan, 'In The Flesh' (London)

20/05/10 - 31/12/10

Poet Adam O'Riordan is available to talk about his new collection (London only).

Confident, seductive and assured, this collection is an enthralling introduction to one of our most exciting new poets.

Adam O'Riordan was born in Manchester in 1982, and educated at Oxford and London University, where he was awarded the inaugural Peters, Fraser and Dunlop poetry prize. In 2008 he was awarded an Eric Gregory Award and was Poet-in-Residence at the Wordsworth Trust in Grasmere. He lives in London.

Contact fmurphy@randomhouse.co.uk

Continue reading Author available: Adam O'Riordan, 'In The Flesh' (London)

Author available: Penny Rudge, Foolish Lessons in Life and Love

All 2010

Penny Rudge is available for small and medium-sized readings.

A synopsis of Foolish Lessons in life and Love

23 year-old Taras Krohe is wedged between the two women in his life: his Russian girlfriend, Katya, who is struggling to fund her way through college; and his overbearing Bukovinian mother. He is devoted to both women in different ways but then Katya leaves him for a ponytailed aesthete - and his mother, he realises, he will never be able to escape.

Ten years after an ominous scholarship took him to a top-ranking public school, the big-boned and loveable Taras and his mother now live in a small South London flat. Taras's father died, shortly before he was born, and Mrs. Krohe went on to inherit a curious benefactress in the form of Mrs. Bartlett.

But then Mrs. Bartlett passed away and her unnerving relatives arrived at the door. With eviction looming, the terminally easy-going Taras is forced to show his mother that he is a man, and uncover the secret behind his family's descent into disaster. But she has other ideas for her little pourchi: she is determined to wrestle him away from the dangerous influences his search reveals. And it is by no means certain who will come out on top . . .

Continue reading Author available: Penny Rudge, Foolish Lessons in Life and Love