Archive for January 27th, 2011

When Edward Bull says yes to directing an amateur play Death By Dying, he has no idea just how much his life and the lives of the actors involved will change over the course of the 6 weeks it takes to get the play up to scratch. First there’s sisters Ellen and Marie, one still stung with grief over the death of her boyfriend while the other stays in her loveless marriage because she doesn’t know how to leave. Then there’s Judith, whose all alone since her son headed to Greece months earlier.

Robert thinks he has the life he always wanted, until something come along to threaten everything he’s made. Harry is lonely, with only his ailing ma with him, and is shy to boot. And finally there’s Theo, happy in her relationship but struggling to come to terms with being a step-mother. As the curtain call draws closer, can these 7 people sort out their real life difficulties and manage to put on the performance of their lives in Death By Dying?

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Avon has signed a spate of new year deals with an additional four-book deal for Trisha Ashley, two new novels from Claudia Carroll, and two debut authors’ first offerings.

Commissioning editor Kate Bradley secured a further four-book deal with Ashley, acquiring world English rights through Judith Murdoch. Bradley said: “We are delighted to be continuing our successful partnership with Trisha who has just spent the six weeks up to Christmas embedded in the Sunday Times Top Ten. Trisha has the knack of creating clever and witty romantic comedies that tick all of the right boxes but don’t fall into lazy cliches—her legion of ever growing and evangelical fans are testament to this.”

In another deal, editorial director Claire Bord has acquired UK and Commonwealth rights to two novels by bestselling author Claudia Carroll through agent Marianne Gunn O’Connor. Bord said: “Carroll writes with lashings of humour and charm and is a unique voice within the genre of women’s fiction.” The first of the two-book deal will be published as paperback in summer 2012.

Bord has also bought UK, Commonwealth and translation rights to two novels by debut author Stella Newman through Cathryn Summerhayes at WME. The first book, Pear-Shaped, follows the story of Sophie Klein as she falls in love with the too-good-to-be-true James Stephens. Bord said: “I fell in love with Pear-Shaped as soon as I read the first page . . . She is a real talent.” Avon will publish in January 2012.

Taken from TheBookseller

I’m thrilled with this news! I love Trisha Ashley’s novels and adored Claudia Carroll’s latest book so I’m looking forward to more from her! I’m not entirely sure if Stella Newman’s novel is Chick Lit but it sounds intriguing and it’s definitely one I’ll be keeping an eye out for!

I am huge fan of Jane Costello’s books, so I’m really looking to her new book Girl On The Run! It’s due out on 14th April, and has already gone through a name change, initially being titled Chasing Mr. Right. I’m not keen on the white cover but the purple writing and cartoon drawings I like a lot! Here is the synopsis:

“Four white-chocolate Magnums. Three hot men. Two dress sizes. And one great big charity race…Abby Rogers has been on health kicks before - they involve eating one blueberry muffin for breakfast instead of two. Since starting her own business after one too many episodes of The Apprentice, the 28-year-old’s waistline has taken even more of a back seat than her long-neglected love life. But when she’s encouraged to join her fitness-fanatic best friend’s running club - by none other than its gorgeous new captain - she finds a mysterious compulsion to exercise. Sadly, her first session doesn’t go to plan. Between the leggings that resemble strawberry-flavoured condoms and the fact that her lungs feel as though they’ve been set on fire, she vows never to return. Then her colleague Heidi turns up at work and makes a devastating announcement, one that will change her life - and Abby’s - forever.”