Legend Press

The Remarkable Everyday re-published...

Here is the brilliant new cover of the new edition of 'The Remarkable Everyday', which is published on 30th August. This is the first book in 'The Short Story Re-invented series', and the first book ever to be published by Legend Press. The new cover fits perfectly with the whole collection, and we are looking forward to getting more publicity for this great collection. Guidelines for the 2009 short story collection will be posted up soon.

This new edition can be pre-ordered now from the shop

Pre-order your copy now - £5.99 

Lucy

Jae Watson at Speakers' Corner

Next from our Speakers' Corner event last Saturday is a video of Jae Watson, author of the amazing Journey (order this brilliant novel at discount below). Jae cleverly tried to go incognito but can just about be recognised under the hat and glasses. Plus the slight Liverpudlian twang finally gave it away.

Order your copy now - £5.99 

Tom

Great news for 'Silence'...

We are very excited to announce that 'Silence' by Josie Henley-Einion has been chosen for Waterstone's Welsh Book of the Month in August. This is excellent news for the book, which will be promoted front of shop in every Waterstone's across Wales!

'Silence' is published later this month on Saturday 26th July. This will be marked, on the day, by a launch party at Waterstone's Cardiff. The novel will be backed by a major promotional campaign, with 2 interviews on ITV Wales, which have already been filmed.

Pre-order your copy now - £5.99 

Lucy

Fire Horses shortlisted for 5 Live Book of the Month

After an excellent review in Time Out last week, Fire Horses by Mark Liam Piggott has been shortlisted for 5 Live book of the month. This well-deserved accolade is just one of many exciting recommendations the book has had since publication.

Mark will be returning to his home town Hebden Bridge to do a reading and signing session in the local bookshop at 10th August.

If you have not had a chance to read this fantastic book, then why not order a copy now!

Order your copy now - £5.99 

Lucy

Band update... vote now!

As regular readers will know, my brother is in a great band, Hansom Pilot, who have just released their first single, 'Gotta Get Outta Here'. They're talented, ambitious and deserve all the support they receive.

Following appearances on ITV unsigned bands and finalists at a national band competition, they are currently part of a vote by BMI, with the winner receiving support from one of the music industry's main unions.

And the good news is they're winning, but there is a long way to go - so please kindly vote here (only takes two seconds).

PS if you leave me a message, I'll even get them to give you a signed CD (or if they're not allowed, I will trick them into signing one of mine and will send that instead). A top offer!

Tom

Josie at Speakers' Corner

As promised, here is Josie speaking at the famous Speakers' Corner in Hyde Park last Saturday. Can't wait for her novel SILENCE to come out on 26th July - and by the sound of it the excitement is very much shared by readers across the UK (some exciting news tomorrow...)

Tom

Nick Griffiths' 'zany satire' in the Big Issue!

Nick Griffiths' novel In the Footsteps if Harrison Dextrose has had an excellent mention in the Big Issue.

"Boyish humour abounds as Alex has unruly encounters with funny-accented locals, and his final discovery is more than he bargains for."

Read more by clicking on the image to enlarge!

Order your copy now - £5.99 

Lucy

Another excellent review for The Well-Tempered Clavier

The latest issue of Small Press Review contains an excellent full page review of 'The Well-Tempered Clavier' by William Coles.

'This is a delightful story that tumbles along, building tension again and again as both Kim and India throw caution to the wind putting their illicit love affair in constant danger of exposure.'

If you haven't yet read this brilliant book it is of course available from our online shop!

Order your copy now - £5.99 

Lucy

Paperbooks News

As many of you may know Legend Press recently acquistionned fellow independent publisher PaperBooks. This is an exciting new venture for both the businesses and authors with a planned 50% increase in the number of titles published each year until 2010!

PaperBooks have an impressive array of titles including Jessica Gregson's internationally acclaimed The Angel Makers, Mark Hayhurst's comedic Friday at the Nobody Inn' and the excellent Cry of the Justic Bird by Royal Society of Literature prize winner John Haylett.

We are also pleased to announce three new titles are also to be published by PaperBooks after the Summer; Gary Davison's Fat Tuesday (30 August), Paul Burman's Snowing anf the Greening of Thomas Passmore (27 September) and Mike Martin's Three Jumpers (25 October).

Beth

Superpublishers, supermodels

In addition to our publishing work, if I told you that we also have a model in the office, no doubt you will immediately think about time I cashed in on what nature has given me - stating it can only be modesty that in the past has held me back. Particularly those few aware that as a child I won second prize in a postal modelling contest (very Monopoly-esque).Well, it's actually not me that's hitting the front covers in a variety of wicker-related poses, but our very own Lucy B(oguslawski) (pictured).

Working at a previous publisher, Lucy 'I no longer do the tube' was picked out to model for upcoming publication 'Fashion Trims' (out Sept). Not wanting to show-up others in the office, she has so far failed to bring in the advance copy that arrived last week. I am personally starting a campaign to see the pictures and post them up. Think it's only a matter of time before Legend Press/Paperbooks are a regular feature in Hello...

Tom

Independents Day at Speaker's Corner

As part of the London Lit Plus Festival, Legend Press held it's own 'Independents Day' event (will say Lucy came up with that name, being the day after 4th July, but privately I know it was me). Appropriately for authors and publishers attempting to get their voices heard as part of the independent sector, it was held at Speakers' Corner in Hyde Park. One of the best-known areas in London, and further afield, for free-speech.

Jose Henley-Einion (pictured), author of shortly-to-be-released SILENCE, and Jae Watson, author of JOURNEY, were brave enough to stand up and talk about their books. Parts were also filmed and videos will be available shortly.

It didn't rain and was good fun - plus great to have an opportunity to get the word out there about these great books and to highlight the gems that the independent sector offers.

Tom

White Summer in promotion...

I dropped into Borders today on the way back from a meeting there and was pleased to see the sparkling new edition of the fantastic WHITE SUMMER by Luke Bitmead in promotion.

Launched on Saturday we feel confident that this can become the book of the summer (and deservedly so) - although it was raining at the time, but now the sun is out again, which I'll put down the the amazing effect White Summer has.

Have you ordered your copy yet? Excellent, you'll love it/why the hell not? (delete as appropriate). If you're in the latter camp, you can correct this right now! Simply order below for the top summer read:

Order your copy now - £5.99 

New Kevin Chandler webpage now available...

One of our '8 Hours' authors Kevin Chandler has a new website out to promote his writing, which can be viewed by clicking here! Kevin has posted up two readings of his work, one from his short story 'Fifty-minute Hour' and one from another manuscript called 'Listening In' in which he sports a fetching wide- brimmed hat!

Links to all our author blogs can be found at the bottom left of this page.

Order your copy of 8 Hours now - £5.99 

Lucy

Tom back and in the news...

Tom arrived back in the office this morning from his publishing trip to Argentina - less a bike that was abandoned at Canada Water. Not a great start to the day! Tom's trip to Argentina has been featured in their newspaper El Ciudadano- so if anyone can read Spanish Click Here, otherwise take a look at the picture!

Lucy

'White Summer' relaunched tomorrow

Tomorrow sees the relaunch of Luke Bitmead's fast-paced and vibrant comedy 'White Summer'. Here is just some of the glowing reviews the book has received:

‘Great stuff. Wonderfully witty and sexy.’ Deborah Wright, bestselling author

‘Reading White Summer is like a breath of fresh air’ Roundtable Review

‘White Summer is a page-turner, punctuated with humorous incidents that will ring true to all men and women.’ BBC Oxford Radio.

‘A sparkling debut from an author with an eye for details and wit.’ Essence Magazine.

Order your copy now - £5.99 

Lucy

Future Legend Press events June-July

28th June - Re-release of White Summer by Luke Bitmead.

28th June - Catherine Richard's, co-author of Heading South will be doing a book-signing at Birstall Borders from 1pm.

5th July - UK Indepedence Day - Legend Press authors will be travelling to Speaker's Corner Hyde Park to do readings!

24th July - Winner of Luke Bitmead Bursary announced.

26th July - Launch party of Josie Henley-Einion's novel Silence at Waterstone's Cardiff.

UK's Independence Day

On Saturday 5th July Legend Press authors will be going to Hyde Park Speaker's Corner to read/talk/preach in public about books (Legend Press books in particular!)

We shall be starting at 12pm sharp so come along and listen. We are not quite sure what's going to happen, so it should be interesting to say the least!

The event is part of London Lit Plus - an open literary festival for London running for two weeks from 5th-19th July!

Lucy

mucha mucha gran hora

Just a quick note to remind you that I'm still around. Currently in Argentina on a publishing tour arranged by the British Council. A very rare opportunity (sad to report very rarely get taken anywhere exotic with work) and has been fantastic so far. We're in Buenos Aires for two weeks with the exception of three days next week in Rosario (2nd biggest city in Argentina).

We're being worked hard as lots has been packed into an unbelievably good programme but is a fantastic experience personally and work-wise. Buenos Aires is an amazing city and can't praise it enough as a place you must stay in at some point if at all possible. Before anyone calls me a jammy git, I will be back to work and the grindstone on the 30th and am still on email in the meantime should anyone need to get hold of me.

Buenos dias!

Tom

Mark Piggott week at the View from Here Magazine

The View from Here online Magazine, are having a week of postings about Mark Liam Piggott and his fabulous debut novel Fire Horses - with a review and two part interview to be published. There is also a competition to win a signed copy of Mark's book later in the week!

The first part of Mark's interview is available to read now, with the second installment to follow on Friday. Here's a tasty:

What's your ideal night out/in?

Out: a pub with friends, solving the world’s problems with humour.

In: a meal with my wife and kids, then they go to bed without a fight leaving us to drink wine and watch something funny. Boring, eh?

No I don't think so, but then I'm 41 myself! What's your favorite program at the moment?

Peep Show – absolutely brilliant writing, acting and above all its concept – that we all have this image of us that we think is how others see us and its poles apart from what they do actually see. I mean, I look like an angry, yobbish Northerner, whereas in fact I’m only an angry, yobbish Northerner on the outside – inside I’m crying.

Order your copy now - £5.99 

Lucy

Fire Horses - 'Shiny stuff from rubbish - go buy it and see for yourself'.

Another excellent review for Mark Piggott's debut novel Fire Horses has just come in from Revish.com.

"As a debut novel it shines, both in the quality of the writing and the insights into mankind and modern history."

"Blur's, Modern Life is Rubbish, sums up this book well. Yet despite this, or because of this, there is hope and redemption threaded throughout the book. Mark Piggott shows us the rubbish, but embraces it and produces art and a life for Joe that has beauty once Mark has shown you how to look."

To read the review in full click here.

Order your copy now - £5.99 

Lucy

And the Legend Press Author of the week is...

Congratulations Rob Ainsley for winning Legend Press Author of the week. Rob's book 50 Quiky Bike Rides is published by Eye Books and is out now!

How does it feel to be Legend Press Author of the week?
Hooray for small-publisher networking – there’s so much great stuff out there

Describe your book in 10 word
My favourite 50 biking experiences in England - hopefully yours too

If your book could have a theme tune what would it be?
Bach’s 48 Preludes and Fugues. Shame he was too busy to write 50

Tell us one fact about yourself that we won't believe?
I was on Blue Peter in 2001 for having been to all the places called Bath in the world

If we weren't asking you questions right now, what would you be doing?
Sitting in a pub or cafe after a bike ride, waiting for Rebecca to choose something that’s not quite on the menu.

Who would play you in the movie of your life?

Stephen Fry. Or possibly Rowan Atkinson.

Lucy

Harrison Dextrose a 'Top Mover & Shaker' once again!

Following on from yesterday's great endorsement from hugely-popular website PopBitch.com (see below), IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF HARRISON DEXTROSE by Nick Griffiths stormed up the Amazon chart last night. In fact, it was recorded as the 'No.1 Mover and Shaker' of the day - i.e. seeing sharping sales action than any other book!

Unbelievable I hear you say. Well, lightning does strike twice in the instance of this great book as just before it's recent launch it also charted number one on the chart, showing how popular it is proving. And rightly so. Plus Amazon seems the one chart that writers can regularly check and so seeing the books going like hot cakes there is fantastic.

Of course, if you haven't already, you'll want to order one now:

Order your copy now - £5.99 

Harrison Dextrose is a 'summer delight'

The spectacular IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF HARRISON DEXTROSE by Nick Griffiths has already been listed as the book to buy in the Times and today hugely-popular site PopBitch.com has listed it second in their Summer Delights - 'nice things to help you waste June'.

Have been inundated with people contacting me to tell me how much they have enjoyed/are enjoying this fantastic book and it's great to hear more superb endorsement from PopBitch.

If you haven't yet got in on the act, make sure you order your copy right now (and at just £5.99!):

Order your copy now - £5.99 

Donald Trump meets Sir William Coles

With the final of The Apprentice yesterday, a show that's been the talk of the office for a while and which I have unsurprisingly found myself getting into (although I am still in full fury over the firing of Raef), it seems timely that the 'original' Sir Alan Sugar, Donald Trump, should appear on the blog this morning. I can't resist pointing out here that as far as I'm aware Sir Alan made most of his money out of property and not those slightly dodgy computers (though he didn't do too bad out of them...).

But anyway, the reason for Trump's mention is that our very own author William Coles has written a feature on him for the Wall Street Journal. Coles, who used to be the Sun's New York Correspondent, was even kind enough to give Legend Press a plug at the end.  Very nice of him and if Mr Trump wants to invest any of his millions just let me know... Actually forget that, I'm going to get in touch with Raef.

Tom

Piggott's Porkies (or not as the case may be)

Piggott's Porkies #5: Is Piggott Batman?

Long before his novel, Fire Horses, reached the shops, Piggott was actually in the movies. In fact he even appears in the first Batman film, as he himself here explicates now below this point:

“Me brother in law was a driver at Pinewood right, and he asked if I wanted to help out on’t first Batman film (1989). So there I was driving around in the Batmobile. If you look closely, you can see me standing on the bonnet in that crowd scene.”

Sadly, Piggott’s movie career was short-lived.

“I had to call it a day ‘cos Kim Basinger, who played Robin, wouldn’t stop hassling me for me autograph and that. She were parked outsider me trailer day and night pestering me for me phone number – but she got nowt.”

Order your copy now - £5.99 

Lucy

Complete our Legend Press national reading survey...

At the moment we are conducting a survey to understand the reading habits of the UK, to aid our future marketing and publicity activities.

It would be great if you could take a few minutes of your time to fill in our short questionnaire. Results will be collated later this month. Thank you for your time.

Click Here to take survey

Lucy

And the author of the week is...

Congratulations Josie for winning author of the week! I spoke to Josie earlier to get her reaction:

How does it feel to be Legend Press Author of the week?
I’m ecstatic! And may I say about time too. I imagined that I’d be nominated a lot earlier than that Coles bloke.

Describe your book in 10 words?
Caffienated roadtrip through time&space featuring murder&mayhem, sex, politics and cats. (think I may have cheated a bit with the contractions but it was hellishly difficult to get the whole thing into ten words!)

If your novel could have a theme tune what would it be?
Victims by Culture Club.

Tell us one fact about yourself that we won't believe?
I used to be a young Christian (shocking isn’t it?)

If we weren't asking you questions right now, what would you be doing?
Going to view an allotment that we are planning to rent.

Who would play you in the movie of your life?
Pink for the earlier years, Madonna for the later, and if I could choose for the future me, that would be Sandi Toksvig.

Pre-order your copy now - £5.99 

Lucy

Free tickets to a legendary night!

We're very excited about hosting a Legend Press Authors Night this Thursday at the Phoenix Artists' Club on Charing Cross Road, London (starting 6.30pm). Not just one but countless numbers of our authors will be there for this unique evening - a great chance to hear from them and celebrate all of our books published to date.

And as we want to make it as open as possible, we're offering 20 free tickets! They're already going very fast so please leave a comment or email Lucy at lucyboguslawski@legendpress.co.uk ASAP to book your place if you can make it.

Can't wait and look forward to seeing everyone there!

Tom

Coverage from Mark's home town

It seems Fire Horses is a bit of a hit already in Mark's home town. Coverage for the book has been splashed all over www.hebdenbridge.co.uk. Mark will hopefully be returning to the town in the next month or two to promote the book further. Thank you for everyone who came to watch Mark at Borders Oxford Street last night. If you couldn't make it down, they have a few signed copies left, so go down and grab your copy before Tuesday when Mark will be appearing in the London Paper!

Order your copy now - £5.99 

Lucy

William Coles advances to Stockton tonight

William Coles will be speaking at Stockton Central Library tonight at 7pm. Tickets are £3, including wine and refreshments and can be ordered directly from the library on 01642 526522, or alternatively can be bought on the night.

Order your copy of The Well-Tempered Clavier now for just £5.99

Order your copy now - £5.99 

Lucy

Mark Piggott at Borders Oxford Street TONIGHT 6PM

Mark will be talking and signing copies of his fantastic debut novel 'Fire Horses' tonight at Borders Oxford Street at 6:30pm. The book is getting lots of exciting coverage - and Mark has just been interviewed for the London Paper so look out for that in your papers next week! I thought I would slip in a nice picture from Mark's launch on Tuesday night! We had the launch at London Met University, and much fun was had by all!

Order your copy now - £5.99 

Lucy

New title 'In dependence' announced...

We are excited to announce that we have signed author Sarah Ladipo Manyika, who is based in San Francisco. The thought-provoking novel, In dependence, is to be pushed through for publication on 27th September 2008. The novel is to be backed by a major promotional campaign.

In dependence takes the reader on a rich historical journey starting with the legacy of Empire, through the post colonial period, and onto modern day Africa and its diaspora. It is through Tayo and Vanessa’s story, each with their own references to the African leaders, writers, and artists who shaped the historical period, that the author offers a new and exciting glimpse into contemporary West Africa. Tayo and Vanessa’s tragic romance mirrors the tragedy of Europe and America’s relationship with the third world. Where mutual dependence has always existed, the unfettered love affair remains an elusive dream.

 

Tom commented to the press: “We are really excited about publishing Sarah’s novel. It is a rich story about important issues, which we feel will engage and also challenge readers. The historically important setting of the novel is particularly relevant to today’s volatile political environment."

 

Lucy

Fire Horses launching in style

The frankly magnificent FIRE HORSES by Mark Liam Piggott hit the bookshops on Saturday and included in Blackwell's Summer Read Campaign, along with cover quotes from Jonathan Trigell and John King, we have extremely high hopes for this unforgettably brilliant novel.

And to celebrate its launch, we have an event tonight at London Met University on Holloway Road, London and this will be followed by two major book signings - at Borders on Oxford Street, London (this Thursday - 5th June) and at the flagship Waterstone's, 14-16 Bold Street, Liverpool on Saturday 14th June.

If you do one thing over the next two weeks I would make sure you make it to one of these events. Fire Horses has launched. And as I know you won't be able to wait, you can order at just £5.99 right now:

Order your copy now - £5.99 

And the author of the week is...

 

David Caddy the poet poet, whose latest collection 'Man in Black' is published by Penned in the Margins. David is dubbed the ‘Robert Frost of the Blackmore Vale!'

How does it feel to be Legend Press Author of the week?
Good, now where's the champagne?

Describe your book in 10 words?
A localised study of cultural memory featuring men in black

If your novel could have a theme tune what would it be?
The Wanderer by U2 featuring Johnny Cash

Tell us one fact about yourself that we won't believe?
David is very good in bed

If we weren't asking you questions right now, what would you be doing?
Eating a brie and watercress sandwich listening to Test Match Special

Who would play you in the movie of your life?
Daniel Day-Lewis

Lucy

Harrison Dextrose recommended in the Times

Was great to see the brilliant IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF HARRISON DEXTROSE by Nick Griffiths recommended today by Simon Hills in the Times Magazine.

The book is being included in so many magazines at the moment that it's difficult to put them all up on the blog without starting to over-bombard you. Bit this novel deserves all the praise and interest it's receiving and this is a particularly major one - Times Magazine has a readership of over 3 million. So if one out of every three readers buys a copy of the novel we will all be very happy indeed!

Tom

One of world's most accomplished individuals?!

Every now and again something completely out of the blue arrives and this was no exception on Friday. Apparently I am being considered for the Princeton Premier Registry and the email included:

'The 2008-2009 edition of the registry will include biographies of the world's most accomplished individuals. Recognition of this kind is an honor shared by thousands of executives and professionals throughout the world each year. Inclusion is considered by many as the single highest mark of achievement.'

Not sure I ever thought that I'd be described in such universal terms - probably the highest compliment I've ever received! - although not sure how they select individuals. Was subject of much banter in the office and evening which all brightens up a Friday.

Tom

PS that's not me in the picture - just did a Google search for accomplishment!

Meet the author Josie Henley-Einion

Josie Henley-Einion's interview about her debut novel Silence is now available to view on the Meet the Author website. This post also marks the official unveiling of the cover, which is pretty eye-catching don't you think!

SILENCE is launched on 26th July, but can be pre-ordered now!

Pre-order your copy now - £5.99 

Lucy

Selling in the rain at Eton

For those wondering where we'd gone yesterday, we were out in the rain at Eton College along with author of note Sir William Coles selling copies of The Well-Tempered Clavier. Despite the downpour, through which no amount of re-spiking could keep the hair aloft, copies were snapped up by in their droves by students and their parents - there for the prestigious 4th of June event (on 28th May).

It was also an eye-opener for Etonian traditions, no doubt why tourists seem to be flashing cameras from everywhere, where male outfits included hats of flowers and a pink fluffy waistcoat. It is possibly the only place where, wearing a suit, I could be considered 'trouble' - Lucy noticed somewhere rush to their car as my scally self was loitering nearby. Luckily our £14.99 Argos table went without comment and did a top job.

All-in-all it was a fantastic day and great to hear that the Eton-set novel had already made a excellent mark, with a high portion of people already having read it and also such high demand on the day. The main challenge was keeping the boxes of copies dry as they were being snapped up. Thanks also to Lauren and Lily who came along to help us for the day - much appreciated.

Tom

More press for Fire Horses...

Mark Liam Piggott's debut novel 'Fire Horses' has been getting more publicity this week from the local press, in the Hebden Bridge Times and the Islington Gazette. Mark commented about Islington:

"When you say Islington, everyone thinks of sun-dried tomatoes but some areas are a very different world."

Fire Horses is launched on 31st May, but is available for pre-order now. Mark will be reading and signing copies of his book at Borders on Oxford Street on 5th June at 6:30pm.

Pre-order your copy now - £5.99 

Lucy

Piggott's Porkies (or not as the case may be)