LUCY DIAMOND IS A GIRL’S BEST FRIEND

Watch out for a sparkling debut this Spring from the lovely Lucy Diamond and her dark and sexy novel of adultery, motherhood and double-lives – ANY WAY YOU WANT ME. On paper, Sadie’s got it all – the partner, the children, the house. But in real life, that doesn’t feel quite enough. Sadie can’t help harking back to the time when she was a career woman by day and a party animal by night. And what happened to feeling like a sex kitten anyway? The only sleepless nights she’s getting now are due to the baby. Maybe a little reinvention is the answer? Lucy has launched a website which is well worth a visit. Check it out

U.S INVADES BRITAIN

Jason Arthur has bought for Wm Heinemann an ambitious novel by Sam Mills, whose previous books include the young adult novel A Nicer Way To Die (Faber). The Last Days of England is set a few years in the future, when America declares war on Britain. Arthur says: “I’m sure the publication of this hugely ambitious novel will be a major publishing event. Sam’s writing is assured, richly imaginative and utterly compelling.”Heinemann has UK and Commonwealth rights (exc Canada) through Simon Trewin at PFD. The novel is due in autumn 2008.

BOYNE IS TOAST OF THE TOWN

At the highly prestigious Irish Book Awards - held in Trinity College Dublin last night (March 15th) John Boyne’s novel THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PYJAMAS won IRISH CHILDREN’S BOOK OF THE YEAR and THE TUBRIDY SHOW LISTENER’S CHOICE AWARD 2007. John paid tribute to the coming of age of children’s literature where ‘books could now address grown-up issues and spark debate’. Boyne’s mesmeric novel is also up for a BRITISH BOOK AWARD at the end of March, is a finalist for three regional English awards and is longlisted for  the Carnegie Medal . For a full set of my pictures from the Irish Book Awards check this link.

THE END OF MR Y

The build up to the publication of Scarlett Thomas’ best novel to-date, THE END OF MR Y, is beginning. The wonderful team at Canongate – led by Francis Bickmore – have produced the most exceptionally striking book proofs I have seen in 13 years of being an agent. You can get a sense from this picture but the close-up detail is breath-taking. Scarlett describes her novel as ‘a thought experiment wrapped in a contemporary adventure novel that asks questions about thought, language, destiny and the very limits of being and time’.The End Of Mr Y is being published in the Uk in July 2007. I can hardly wait.

GIRL WITH A ONE TRACK MIND

Congratulations to Abby Lee author of the internationally bestselling book GIRL WITH A ONE-TRACK MIND based on the blog of the same name who has just won a prestigious BLOGGIE – for the Best British Or Irish Weblog 2007.

THREE MOTHERS LAUNCHED

Sonia Lambert’s exceptional three-generational debut novel THREE MOTHERS was launched by Piatkus Books last week at Waterstones in Islington, North London and I was thrilled to be present at this happy family occasion. Tracing the intimate lives of three women the author takes the reader on a fascinating journey from 1940s India, to a university campus in the late sixties, and a shared London house in the mid nineties. I have a copy to give away to the first email I receive that correctly identifies the names of the three women of the title.

WHSMITH CHILDREN’S BOOK OF THE YEAR

John Boyne’s extraordinary fable THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PYJAMAS has been shortlisted in the prestigious British Book Awards as one of six titles in the WHSmith Children’s Book Of The Year. The winner will be announced at a ceremony (which will be televised on Channel 4 – hosted by Richard and Judy) on March 31st. We have also heard today that filming will commence on the Disney/Miramax/Heyday Films version of the book which will be directed by Mark Herman from his own adaptation. Watch this space for casting news. John is pictured with author Jane Harris – up for newcomer of the year.

STEVEN HALL LAUNCH PARTY

Canongate and PFD hosted a launch dinner for 35 people connected with The Raw Shark Texts at the Aphrodite Greek Restaurant in Hereford Road London W2. The novel has had breath-taking reviews and is already at Number 31 on the Booktrack Hardback Fiction list. Pictured (left to right) are Jamie Byng (Managing Director, Canongate), Steven Hall, Francis Bickmore (Senior Editor, Canongate) and Simon Trewin (Agent, PFD).