Fun and photos from the London BookFair....
This year we were determined to have some fun at the London Bookfair and on Monday had two of our lovely staff members (thank you Becky and Julia!) dress up in Regency costume to give away reading copies of SCANDAL'S BRIDE by Stephanie Laurens. They both looked beautiful and here are a few photographs of them in all their Regency glory.
Tuesday was the turn of cover model Lucy Clarkson - who graces our Keri Arthur covers with her glamorous presence...Though I suspect the crowd she was attracting (mostly male!!) wasn't quite Keri's reading demographic...Though our equally glamorous UK sales director, Diane Hill, (no photos, I'm afraid!) was responsible for giving away many of our reading copies of FULL MOON RISING . (And, as she pointed out, she didn't even need a basque to help her!)
Happy reading!
Gillian
Half werewolf, half vampire, completely addictive...
This month sees the launch of our first urban fantasy author at Piatkus - Keri Arthur (as announced on the blog some time ago, in fact).
As you probably know we've been publishing paranormal romance novels for a couple of years now but this is our first venture into the dark realm of urban fantasy.
According to Wikipedia, Urban Fantasy:
'...is a subset of contemporary fantasy, consisting of magical novels and stories set in contemporary, real-world, urban settings -- as opposed to "traditional" fantasy set in wholly imaginary landscapes, even ones containing imaginary cities, or having most of their action take place in them. The modern urban fantasy protagonist faces extraordinary circumstances as plots unfold in either open (where magic or paranormal events are commonly accepted to exist) or closed (where magical powers or creatures are concealed) worlds.'So that's cleared that up then! Personally, for me Keri's books exist at a place where women's fiction and fantasy - urban or otherwise! - collide. They're set in an alternative Melbourne, very much like the real Melbourne, but peopled by werewolves and vampires, shapeshifters, and weird genetic hybrids but at their heart is Riley Jenson. Riley is a wonderfully spiky modern heroine, looking for love - and sex, she's a werewolf after all! - in all the wrong places. I've become utterly hooked on these sexy fast-paced urban fantasy novels. I think Keri Arthur will appeal to all fans of
Buffy, Charlaine Harris, Laurell K Hamilton and Kelley Armstrong.
And if anyone is going to be at the London Bookfair on Tuesday, look out for a guest appearance by our 'so stunning she's probably not human' cover model Lucy Clarkson, who will be donning her Riley guise to hand out reading copies of FULL MOON RISING...(We will try and post pictures next week!)
Alternatively, we have 5 copies of FULL MOON RISING to give away via the blog...
Happy holidays!!!!!!!
Just a quick post to wish everyone a very happy Easter break!
Happy reading!
Gillian
The art of Persuasion....
'A few years before, Anne Elliot had been a very pretty girl, but her bloom had vanished early; and as even in its height, her father had found little to admire in her, (so totally different were her delicate features and mild dark eyes from his own), there could be nothing in them, now that she was faded and thin, to excite his esteem. He had never indulged much hope, he had now none, of ever reading her name in any other page of his favourite work. All equality of alliance must rest with Elizabeth, for Mary had merely connected herself with an old country family of respectability and large fortune, and had therefore given all the honour and received none: Elizabeth would, one day or other, marry suitably.' (Chapter One, Persuasion by Jane Austen)
And so ITV's Jane Austen Season comes to an end - and I think they saved the best until last! It's always been my favourite Jane Austen novel and without a doubt Rupert Penry-Jones (gratuitous shot of him above in Spooks guise!) is my favourite hero of the three new adaptations. Thought the scenery of this one was amazing - wonderfully rugged and dramatic. I thought the cast was excellent - the actress playing Anne was great, Antony Head is always good and Rupert - as mentioned -made a dashing Wentworth.
A few niggles as before - I know Mary is supposed to be an annoying character but she was a little too annoying for me - couldn't wait for whatever scene she was in to end. (There's a tendency for any actress playing one of Austen's supporting comic characters to go over the top - and she certainly did. )
Also was it me or was there rather a lot of running on Anne's part? Most Bridget Jones than Regency miss, I'd of thought. But all in all I liked it. This may even be one I buy on DVD.
What did everyone else think?
