Your weekly round
up of publishing news, publicity information and trivia!
Wow – I woke up this morning to find Power Trip by Damian
McBride published by Biteback all over the radio, TV and
newspapers like a rash! The serialisation of this book starts in the Daily
Mail TODAY and the media are going totally bonkers for it! The headlines all
talk of “poison at the heart of Labour… this book reveals how Brown's spin
doctor ran smear campaigns from 10 Downing Street, destroyed two ministers'
careers and 'hacked' into secret Cabinet files… a very brazen assassin… few knew
Brown had an equally amoral spin doctor… his sensational memoirs reveal the dark
heart of politics… drug use; spousal abuse; secret alcoholism; extra-marital
affairs… this book will hugely embarrass Ed Miliband and Ed Balls…“ and there’s plenty more to come! You can read
the whole thing here on the Daily Mail Online . This is absolutely
sensational stuff – and perfectly timed of course for the start of the Labour
Party Conference. I don’t think there is going to be anyone in
Britain who is unaware of this book
today – and gazillions will want to read more – so make sure you have it on
display!
Now, let’s move on from one story of deceit and
secrecy to another – in the US this time. The Godfather’s Daughter by Rita Gigante and Natasha Stoynoff is a remarkable story of deception,
violence and ultimately acceptance and growth set among the New York mafia. On the
surface, Rita Gigante's family looked
like all the other Italian Catholics in her suburban New Jersey neighbourhood.
But behind closed doors, they had a secret - her father was the notorious crime
boss Vincent 'the Chin' Gigante, head of all five New York crime families.
In The Godfather's Daughter, Rita Gigante takes us on her emotional and
spiritual journey growing up on the tumultuous fringes of the underworld. Her
struggles with deception and honesty, violence and love, and sickness and
healing finally lead Rita up to a world of light – and a life where she can
finally accept and bravely live her own truth. This book and its author had a
major feature headlined My Father: New York’s Most Feared Mafia Boss with
lots of photos in last weeks Stella Magazine (Sunday Telegraph) on
15th September – this has around half a million readers – so should have created
plenty of interest for this title, from Hay House.
Read the article from the Sunday Telegraph
here This book has just been
published (trade paperback £10.00) by Summersdale and you can
order The Godfather's Daughter
here
OK, OK –
you’re quite right, we really can’t
mention The Godfather without
having a little watch of the original – so here’s one of my favourite (although
rather violent) moments below.
But maybe you prefer your movie stars to be rather
more subtle – and possibly British? Well in that case, this next title will be
right up your street! Gielgoodies! The Wit and
Wisdom of John Gielgud by Jonathan
Croall is published in paperback this month by Oberon Books.
This book had rave reviews when it came out in hardback, and the paperback is
the ideal gift – perfect for anyone who likes a laugh. This delicious feast of
“Gielgoodies”, compiled by Gielgud’s biographer reveals a less well‐known side to this celebrated actor: his lightning
wit, his love of scandal and gossip, his wicked delight in putting down his
fellow‐artists and his relish of bawdy humour. Full of
startling new material, drawn from many unpublished letters and Jonathan Croall’s extensive interviews, the book
also celebrates the man who dropped a thousand bricks. John Gielgud’s excruciating gaffes were legendary,
and here are both the famous and the unknown, collected in all their glory.
Whether committed backstage, in the wings or in rehearsals, on film sets or in
television studios, they bring this merry and much‐loved man vividly to life. “Gielgud was
indiscreet even by the exacting standards of the acting profession… I could hear
Sir John’s voice as I read” said the Sunday Times, while Richard
Briers called it “a marvellous book, full of wonderful things. So funny – and
so outrageous.” It was shortlisted by the Sunday Times as one of its
Best Humour Books of 2012, and features a foreword by Simon Callow. As
Dame Eileen Atkins said, it is “such fun to dip into…. it will make wonderful
theatrical stocking filler for Christmas.”
And here’s a rather irreverent reminder from
Spitting Image of exactly why John Gielgud
was such a national treasure!
From one of Britain ’s best – to some of Britain ’s worst. Britain’s Worst Walks: Travels Around the UK’s Gloriously
Grim Backwaters by Ben Hinds
will appeal to fans of Molvania and the Crap Towns series and is a
tongue-in-cheek celebration of Britain , appealing to cynics and
patriots alike. From Southend to Skegness via slums, sewage works and sandless
beaches, this unique walking guide takes a look at some of the most overlooked
routes in the UK . They may not be popular, they may
not be pretty, but they’re all part of the great British landscape – whether we
like it or not. These sorts of wry humorous “this made Britain what it is today”
titles are definitely having a bit of a moment at present – knocking things down
that we’re actually very proud of is a uniquely British characteristic, and this
book is clearly written by someone who honestly loves all of Britain, even the
scruffy bits. It
features maps and full-colour photographs of the walking
routes.
Don’t forget that the Radio Times Guide to Films 2014 is out now. This
guide is very definitely the leading movie money maker for the book trade,
selling over 11,000 copies last year. There will be a significant PR campaign
for this giant £25 paperback, fronted by Radio Times film editor Andrew
Collins and Barry Norman featuring TV, radio, national and regional press with
weekly promotional features and coverage in Radio Times (readership of
2.3 million) right up to Christmas. The Radio Times
Guide to Films features in-depth listings for over 23,000 film
reviews and has 500 new entries from the latest cinema releases so it’s bang up
to date. You get a review of each movie entry from the in-house team of film
experts, plus the Radio Times’ five star rating and cast, character,
writer and director credits, plus family viewing advice and BBFC classification,
as well as DVD and Blu-ray availability for all titles. There’s an awards
section covering Oscar and Bafta nominees and winners in key categories. Plus,
winners for the Golden Globe awards, Cannes and
Berlin film
festivals. Clint Eastwood may be on the cover of the Radio Times Guide to Films 2014, but let’s think;
who would get the Compass Points Oscar for best male film actor of all time?
Well I've always been very partial to James Stewart myself – no no Marlon
Brando, Al Pacino, (back to the Godfather again) or even Charlie Chaplin I hear
you cry. But hang on a minute – isn't there someone we’re all forgetting?
Hope you enjoyed some of the most memorable (short) lines
spoken by one of Hollywood ’s finest!
That’s all for now
folks, more next week!
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.
Arnie - we love you! No doubt that he is the greatest!!
ReplyDeleteAgree - but Pacino is pretty amazing too...
ReplyDelete