We start the year reminded in the grimmest possible
way of the power of the pen, and how important our freedom to write, draw and
publish what ever we choose really is. Here’s an excellent summary on BuzzFeed of how our British
satirists and comic writers have responded so far to the terrible atrocities in
France
In other news now, here’s a round up of the new
Compass titles that are getting some good publicity at present.
Policy Press is starting the year with the publication of
potentially their best-selling title ever! Back to
the Future of Socialism by Labour MP for Neath, Peter Hain (hb, 978 1447321668, £20.00) is a
highly personal, accessibly written polemic, redefining Labour’s future. There
has just been a big article by Peter Hain
on his book in the Guardian, which you can read here, and Peter will
also be on the Andrew Marr show and Question Time – which is
certain to increase awareness and demand for this title.
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Mind of Winter by Laura
Kasischke has just been published by Hesperus Nova
(pb, 978 1843915485 £8.99) and has
been featured in Elle Magazine. This is a dark and chilling thriller with
a fab cover, which combines domestic drama with elements of psychological
suspense and horror and is perfect for fans of Gone Girl and Before I
Go to Sleep.
The Art of Being Ill: Or How to Be a
Better Patient by Jill Sinclair (pb, £9.99, 978 1908754837) which
was published last autumn by Freight; will be featured in the Telegraph
Weekend section this Saturday (10th January) with an extract included; and
also on Sat 17th January. BBC Radio London is also doing a piece on this
title on the 13th. The Art of Being Ill
is a hilarious how-to guide which will teach readers about the subtle art of
being an invalid. It covers age-old remedies for common maladies, all but
forgotten treatments, and the vital preparations that should be made to make
being bed-ridden as comfortable and productive as possible. If you’ve ever felt
that you're doing a poor job of feeling poorly, failing in your ailing and
missing out on TLC then this is the title for you!
The English Railway
Station by Steven Parrisien ( hb, £19.99 978 1848022362 )
which was published by English Heritage in November is also getting some
good coverage. This is an accessible, engaging and comprehensively illustrated
general history of the architectural development and social history of the
British railway station, from the dawn of the Railway Age to the ravages of the
1960s and the station's rebirth at the end of the 20th century. It traces how
the station evolved into a recognisable building type, examines the great
cathedrals and the evocative country stations of the Victorian era, and looks at
how the railway station has, over the last fifty years, regained its place at
the heart of our communities. Reviewers have called it “original and
informative” and it is selling well.
And if you’re just in the mood for a bit of
nostalgic reminiscing about English railway stations, then this charming
ditty from Flanders and Swan should be right up your street – or
rather line!
Another non-fiction title that is title selling
extremely well is The Official Formula 1 Season
Review 2014, published by Illustrated London News (hb, 978
0957532069 £35.00). This official Formula One Management review gives fans a
unique, access-all-areas pass behind the scenes of one of the most thrilling
Formula One seasons of recent years, throwing new light on all the headlines and
key incidents. It includes a foreword by Bernie Ecclestone and features
full race reports from all 19 races. It
is illustrated with amazing photography from LAT and with exclusive insight from
the drivers them selves, this book also contains all the official statistics
from an action-packed year.
I enjoy watching fast cars zooming around as much as
anyone – but frankly; I think it’s all so much more thrilling in the movies!
Here are the top ten most exciting movie car chase
scenes.
As well as those book we’ve already mentioned, a lot
of you can probably tell us about quite a few other titles that have sold very
well for you in recent months as; hurrah – some good news; the Bookseller
tells us today that independent
bookshops have had their best Christmas in years! A greater percentage of
independent booksellers reported that they enjoyed Christmas sales increases in
2014, compared to the previous two years, according to this survey. In a
separate survey of 80 bookshops by the BA; 55% reported sales were up – compared
with 43% last year – and of those shops, 18% reported sales were up “a lot”.
Meanwhile, 69% said they saw an increase in footfall, up from 45% who said they
had seen a decline last year.
Moving on now to new titles; you are no doubt aware
that this year is the 800th anniversary of King John’s sealing of Magna Carta.
As the first charter to grant individual liberties under the rule of law,
protecting the people against tyranny, Magna Carta is the most influential and
far-reaching legal text the world has ever known. It is the founding document of
individual freedom throughout the world, and Magna
Carta: the Foundation of Freedom by Nicholas Vincent is published by
Third Millennium Publishing in February. This is the definitive account
of Magna Carta’s genesis and subsequent impact. It is published with the
official support of the UK Magna Carta Trust and Professor Nicholas Vincent is joined by a
range of experts on Magna Carta from across the world to reflect on its enduring
significance. This is the definitive book, officially endorsed, scholarly but
lavishly and engagingly produced. It has 192 pages in full colour with over 250
integrated colour illustrations. The author is the acknowledged world expert on
Magna Carta: this is set to be the most authoritative treatment of the subject
for years to come and provides a comprehensive overview of the subject, assuming
no special expertise on the part of the reader. It contains much new research
and fresh insights into the subject and you can order it and find out more here. The hardback
(978 1 908990280, £44.95) of Magna Carta: The
Foundation of Freedom is available in February, and the paperback
(pb, 978 1 908990488 £24.95) in April.
And if you’re a bit hazy on the details of the whole
Magna Carta thing- then have a quick watch of this two
minute BBC clip giving you the low down on the whole 800 year
anniversary!
The shortlist for the Political Book Awards 2015 has just been announced
– the awards are given out at a dinner on 28th January. This is the third year the awards have been
held, after being founded by Biteback publisher and political commentator
Iain Dale. They have been sponsored each year by Paddy Power and Lord Ashcroft.
Dale said: "The Paddy Power Political Book Awards have become a permanent
fixture in the book awards calendar. The calibre of the shortlisted authors is
once again outstanding and the awards celebrate the breadth and diversity in
political writing." The winner of the political book of the year prize
receives £10,000, and a further £3,000 prize goes to the winner of the debut
political book of the year award. Other awards will be given out for biography
of the year, polemic of the year, political history book of the year and
political fiction book of the year, while others cover practical politics,
satire and humour, and international affairs. A new prize created this year will
cover publishing on the First World War. You can see the full shortlist for all
the awards here on www.politicalbookawards.com The five Biteback
titles shortlisted are: Smile for the Camera: The
Double Life of Cyril Smith by
Simon Danczuk and Matthew Baker, which is
shortlisted for Political Book of the
Year. Shortlisted for Political
Biography of the Year is Clement
Attlee by Michael Jago and
shortlisted for Debut Political Book of the
Year is How to Be a Minister
by John Hutton and Leigh Lewis. On the
shortlist for Practical Politics Book of the
Year are Sex, Lies and the Ballot
Box by Philip Cowley and Robert
Ford and also The ‘Too Difficult’
Box by Charles
Clarke.
Talking of politics, according to the predictions of
a range of insiders from the publishing
industry; the general election will dominate book publishing in 2015, Pan
Macmillan MD Anthony Forbes Watson said the general election would be of
concern, as “a year in which there is a general election is a year of
uncertainty”, while Richard Mollet, of The Publishers Association, said the
election would dominate people’s lives, “more after than before” as the
new government’s policies start to be implemented. Lots of important folk from
publishing, bookselling, agenting and writing, have shared what they think is in
store for the industry in the coming twelve months with The Bookseller,
and you can read a summary of their thoughts here.
Secrets of Chuckling Goat: How a Herd of
Goats Saved my Family andStarted a Business that Became a Natural
Health Phenomenon by Shann Nix Jones (£10.99 978 1781804704) is the
amazing true story of an American city girl who couldn't even boil an egg,
finally finding true love and happiness on a Welsh goat farm – and saving her
husband's life by inventing a solution for flesh-eating superbugs along the
way! Shann Nix Jones 's Chuckling Goat
products have been launched in Fortnum &Mason and Tesco's Nutricentre and
the film rights to this story are now being sought by several companies. The
book and Shann Nix Jones will feature in
You magazine (circ. 4 million) and the Mail Online (circ. 110
million) on 29th January. The book will also feature in the March issue of
Spirit & Destiny magazine (circ. 39,000) and the March issue of
Psychologies (circ. 73,000). Secrets of
Chuckling Goat is published by Hay House in February and you
can find out more and order it here
Never mind chuckling goats, what I want to know is
quite why screaming goats are so very popular? Here’s a
compilation of some of the ultimate screaming goat
songs...
Everyone has heard of the literary phenomenon that
is Moby Dick, but not many know about the title that inspired it.
Beneath the Heart of the Sea: The Sinking of the
Whaleship Essex is a first-hand account of shipwreck and survival
told by Essex’s first mate Owen Chase,
which now been turned into a major Hollywood blockbuster: In the Heart of the
Sea directed by Ron Howard which comes out in March. You can watch an
exciting trailer for it here. Beneath the
Heart of the Sea (pb, £7.99, 978 1843915607 tells of that
eventful morning of November 20,1820, in
the Pacific Ocean 2,000 miles from the coast of South America, when an enraged
sperm whale rammed the Nantucket whaleship Essex. As the boat began to sink, her
crew of twenty, including first mate Owen
Chase, grabbed what little they could before piling into frail boats
and taking to the open seas. So began their four-month ordeal and struggle for
survival. A bleak story, only eight men survived having endured starvation and
dehydration, giving in to cannibalism, murder and insanity. Owen Chase recorded the extraordinary account in
his autobiography, originally published in 1821, which Hesperus are now
reissuing in a stylish new edition, published in February. Readers will be enthralled to discover the
intense, original story behind the new film, and this epic true story makes for
extraordinary reading.
Socialism, capitalism, goats or trains - whatever
floats your boat or your bookshop this year; I'm sure you will enjoy this
entertaining revisit of the Mr Men Characters – we love them here on Compass
Points, and here are sixteen new Mr Men characters that sum up modern
Britain
That’s all for now
folks, more next week!
This blog is read by booksellers as well as 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.
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