Compass Points 45

Your weekly round up of publishing news, publicity information and trivia!

“Is the great British Dandy an endangered species? “ The Independent asked this week. What do you think – do you have one strutting around your bookshop as we speak – resplendent in his floral waistcoat and velvet jacket? A new book – The Dandy: Peacock or Enigma? by Nigel Rodgers – discusses this very question. You can read the Independent article here and there was also a great piece on the book in last week’s Daily Mail asking “Would you dare to be a Dandy?” This new hardback will intrigue and entertain the general reader as well as those fascinated by history and fashion and is an intriguing look at history through the lives of extraordinary men. The ‘Dandy’ is not just the well or even eccentrically dressed male – nor is he an exclusively English phenomenon. He is much more. Dandies hold a notable place in history. Not because they have made any major contribution to politics, economics or warfare, but because they were, and continue, to be figures of huge cultural significance – iconic and yet enigmatic. The Dandy – Peacock or Enigma? is an entertaining and erudite look at the elusive qualities that have made the Dandy so remarkable. Perhaps the best-known is Beau Brummell, acknowledged as the very first Dandy. What made him memorable was an odd mixture of qualities – wit, savour-vivre and independence as well as elegance. The book is out now from Bene Factum, and is priced at £25. It would make a very good gift for that difficult to buy for uncle or father – as well as anyone interested in style and fashion.  The big pieces in the Independent and Mail are sure to have created interest and you can order it here.

Competitive authors Titus Jensen and Eddie X are racing against each other to write the best-selling book of all time – but to what lengths will they go to outdo each other…? Welcome to The Best Book in the World – funny, gripping and a little bit crazy! This is a wonderfully quirky and hilarious novel in a similar vein from Hesperus: the publisher who brought you The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared. It is already a big bestseller in Sweden – and is published in the UK in September. It’s by Peter Stjernström, and has been described as “Spot on satire” and “Insanely funny and easy to read”. We have ten proof copies to give out – who want to be first to read the next big thing?! The first ten booksellers to send their details to pat@compass-dsa.co.uk will get one!

There’s no doubt that the historical novel is definitely having a bit of a moment. After Flodden by Rosemary Goring  from Polygon is an unputdownable story of political intrigue and romance set in the 16th century which will appeal to fans of Philippa Gregory, Rose Tremain and Hilary Mantel. It is a novel about the consequences of the Battle of Flodden (which this year has its 500th anniversary) as seen through the eyes of several characters who either had a hand in bringing the country to war, or were profoundly affected by the outcome. There have been very few novels about Flodden, despite its significance, and none from this perspective. It’s a racy adventure, combining political intrigue and romance, and is vivid evocation of a violent, pitiless era – a modern take on the lyrical and harsh border ballads of old. The author is an extremely well-know and respected journalist and there will be widespread reviews and features including the Daily Express (5.7.13) and a radio interview on BBC Culture Show (25.6.13). Andrew Miller, Costa-winning author of Pure called it “A well-told tale of a violent time; fast-moving and packed with incident.”

Order After Flodden here

Coming in August is Game of Battleships: the fourth instalment of The Chronicles of Isambard Smith by Toby Frost. This series is definitely gaining momentum, and Smith and his erudite alien sidekick, Suruk the Slayer are enjoying cult celebrity status among a growing and dedicated army of readers. The three previously published three titles were re-released with new jackets and are selling well and there are lots of fans out there eagerly waiting for this new title! Game of Battleships is set in the 25th Century when the actions of one man could save the British Space Empire, or leave Earth at the mercy of deadly legions of ant-people. Smith finds himself in hot pursuit of a mysterious vessel that can pass through dimensions, incurring the wrath of the dreaded Grand Witchfinder of New Eden –which would be so much easier if his pilot wasn’t cowering under the dashboard and his ship wasn’t infested with man-eating toads. Meanwhile, the Empire is gathering its allies to form a united front against alien tyranny. Unfortunately, the delicate negotiations have been entrusted to Major Wainscott, a man who knows no fear and very little about diplomacy or trousers. Once again, Captain Smith must summon all his courage to unite humanity behind the Empire. If this is the sort of stuff you love then you can find out more on www.spacecaptainsmith.com and on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube and there will be plenty of reviews on the specialist mags and online forums. Order Game of Battleships here

If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk’s mum they’d send her mother to jail. So seventeen year old Beth protects her mum at all costs. Until the day she can’t. Suddenly sent to live with her uncle in a small town Beth’s now stuck with an aunt who doesn’t want her, and at a school that doesn’t get her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn’t go anywhere near a girl like Beth. . . . Ryan Stone is gorgeous, a popular jock and the town golden boy – with secrets he can’t tell anyone. Even his friends. As Ryan and Beth dare to let each other in, they’re treading on dangerous ground – and the consequences could change their worlds forever. Cor – sounds pretty gritty, steamy and dreamy – and even if this young adult stuff is not for you , there are plenty of teens out there who love it. Dare You To by Katie McGarry is just out from Mira Ink and is edgy, unique and deeply affecting. If you need more convincing, then watch this short trailer on YouTube here. Katie’s debut novel Pushing the Limits has sold over 42,000 eBooks to date so there’s no doubt she has plenty of fans. The teen magazines went crazy for the first book, calling it “The love story of the year” (Teen Now) “A real page-turner” (Mizz) and “A romance with a difference” (Bliss).

Order Dare You To here

And lastly – Compass Points has now been going for over a year! Yay – as they young folk say – and Happy Birthday! If you looked back at the very first Compass Points you’d see that we were hyping up a forthcoming book by an unknown Swedish author – which of course then went on to sell gazillions of copies – that book being of course The Hundred Year Old Man who Jumped Out of a Window and Disappeared! See what happens when books get mentioned in Compass Points! And the very first featured video was the fabulous Julian Smith – always good to watch again, which you can do below!

  

This blog is read weekly by over 600 booksellers, publishers and publicists. If you would like to order any of the titles mentioned, then please click here to go to the Compass New Titles Website or talk to your Compass Sales representative.

That’s all for now folks, more next week!