Bookseeker Literary Agency

Introducing authors and publishers.

Tag Archives: publication


by

Meetings, greetings, and web-sitings!

Elizabeth Mostyn

This week I had the great pleasure of meeting, once more, our client Elizabeth Mostyn, whose novel Wisp is getting closer and closer to its date of publication. Elizabeth is a prolific author, and is working on more novels, which the agency will take a look at. Be on the look-out for Wisp when it appears – it’s a corker!

*

I also travelled in to Edinburgh to meet Luka Vukos, who directed the prizewinning short Lose like a Human, all about artificial intelligence. We had a long chat about  possible projects for the future. Edinburgh has been much on my mind lately, because I have to arrange visits to events at The Fringe and the Edinburgh International Book Festival. I have all that to look forward to, but Time’s winged chariot isn’t exactly hanging about!

*

Meanwhile, Lyz Russo has just announced on her blog that P’kaboo publishers in the Republic of Ireland have a revamped web site. It has a look of the old one, but it has now been made phone-friendly. Again, it’s a case of “Watch this space,” because P’kaboo will be launching a series of books very soon – mainly fiction, but one very important work of non-fiction. At least I’d say it was. More news as and when it happens.

Paul

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Please note that the appearance of random advertisements on this web site is a feature of the platform, and should not be taken as an endorsement by this agency.


by

Another author’s contract chased down!

IMG_1376

Shaun Harbour is a forty-three-year-old Scot, the only male in a household of wife + two children + two cats, a poet and cartoonist, and a writer who wishes day jobs didn’t have to exist! As a tenor in the Scottish Police and Community Choir, he has performed for royalty, flash-mobbed at T In The Park, and sung on the streets of New York. As a contestant on TV’s The Chase, he says, he was destroyed by chaser Mark ‘The Beast’ Labbett. At least being there he got to meet ‘Graham’ from Doctor Who  (quizzmaster Bradley Walsh)!

Shaun has written and illustrated a story book for young children. It’s called The Robin and the Wish, and it is a bittersweet fable about loneliness and love. If you shed a tear at Oscar Wilde’s The Selfish Giant, then you will at this too. It does have a happy ending…

We have just closed a commercial publishing deal for Shaun, and the publisher wants to hurry the book out in time for Christmas 2018. That’ll be some sprint, but really this is a children’s book for all seasons. We wish Shaun every success!

The Robin and the Wish image

This isn’t what the cover will look like, by the way – we just thought it would be nice to have one of Shaun’s illustrations here to remind you of the title. 🙂


by

‘Miura’ by the late Hector P Cortes to be published!

panel

We are delighted to announce that a contract has been signed, for a commercial publishing deal that allows an intriguing and exciting novel to be published. The author, Hector P Cortes, was a musician who had worked in Spain, Austria, France, Italy and the UK. He was honoured by the London College of Music in which he studied, being given an Honorary Fellowship for “distinguished services to the art of music”. He was invested a Knight of the Military Order of the Temple of Jerusalem (Templars) for the same reason, and rose to the rank of Knight Commander. He is mentioned in Baron’s Who’s Who; the 500 Great minds of Europe, and was an honorary member of the University of Malaga. He was a conductor, accompanist, soloist, recording artist, lecturer, and also Founder and Bandmaster of the Regimental Band of the Royal Gibraltar Regiment.

hpcc-300When Hector decided to retire as a musician and devote his time to writing, he settled in the quiet rural town of Westbury, in Wiltshire. His wife Johanna, a soprano who has sung all over Europe, and has been given rave reviews by the Press everywhere, also decided to retire along with him. His death was a great loss to his family, and to this agency.

Miura: A story of Spain  traces the life of two boys – one a doctor’s son the other a Gitano – from the aftermath of the Spanish Civil war until the death of the dictator Franco. Part romance, part adventure, part political, part historical, the novel depicts injustices of Spain during the dictatorship. The Gitano‘s story is a rags-to-riches one, as he becomes a famous bullfighter; his story is not a happy one, however. The doctor’s son becomes one of Spain’s top surgeons, and learns at first hand the dangers of being too close to the dictator. A riveting read, it is ideal for a general adult readership.

With many thanks to Hector’s widow, Johanna, and his daughter, Daniella, the reading public will at last gain access to this wonderful book!


by

Launches and relaunches in Ireland and South Africa

By now you’re all well aware that P’kaboo Publishers has relocated from South Africa to Ireland, and is gearing up for big things. Amongst them is a writing contest for children between the ages of 8 and 18. So if you’re a young person living in Ireland, or you know someone who is, then take note and watch this space… because we’re watching their web site, and as soon as the rules are published we’ll let you know.

We do already know that amongst the prizes will be getting a story published in a book, along with all the other winning stories. And there will be a wonderful launch party in Cobh, Co. Cork.

Meanwhile, Pkaboo has retained an associate back in South Africa. Professional editor Les Noble, whom many of our clients have used, has taken over marketing and promoting their books in their ‘old country’, added to which he has started his own imprint – Noblest Publications. As you can see from the handbill below, he has planned a series of events in the city of Durban, including one that re-introduces Carmen Capuano’s excellent novel Split Decision.

poster-for-november-2018-launches


by

Publishing deal! Update.

Students-at-St-Andrews-Un-007The agency is very pleased to announce that it has secured a commercial publishing deal for its client Elizabeth Mostyn, in respect of her debut novel, Wisp. , set in and around St Andrews University in Scotland.

Over the next few weeks, Elizabeth will be working with the publisher’s editors, polishing the manuscript and getting it ready for publication. She has several more books in the pipeline, ranging from fiction to academic non-fiction, and the agency hopes to keep representing her literary efforts with equal success.

More news in due course. For now, well done Elizabeth!


by

Two new books at P’kaboo!

It’s an exciting time at P’kaboo this month as two new books have been published in rapid succession.

SplidDsmlcarmenFirstly there is Split Decision by Carmen Capuano, a new novel for the young adult readership.

How was Natalie to know that the decision she was about to make between two potential dates, would forever be a pivotal point in her life? That it would mark the time where childhood innocence ended?

How could she even imagine that the wrong decision would send her life spiraling into the stuff of nightmares where she might not come out alive?

Life takes a cruel twist of fate when Natalie, a completely average [almost] 16 year old is forced to make a split-second decision… a decision that will change her future and forever alter her perception of trust, love and the realities of life.

Following two alternate plotlines as if each were the real one, the reader is kept in suspense right up until the last moment, unable to tell which guy Natalie accepted and which she turned down. And at every step there are twists and turns which will keep you on the edge of your seat, as one thread takes Natalie on a romantic discovery where events take on a more ominous edge than expected, whilst the other takes her on a dangerous slide into the dark side of life, a shadowy world of danger, where the reader is unsure whether she will make it alive to her forthcoming birthday.

This is a book of intensities, of sweet discoveries and dark revelations which you will not want to put down.

First stop for a copy is, of course, the publisher’s web site, but if you want a Kindle version head straight to Amazon. Here’s a nice tweet from Carmen shortly after publication:

carmentweet

Then there is the children’s book Pink Wish Ice Cream by Andrea Kaczmarek, with illustrations by Eva Kuenzel.

pink2pink3As you might guess from her name Mrs Polly Pink-Witch is a witch. In the summer she makes her delicious Pink Wish ice cream and likes nothing better than traveling from town to town in her bright pink ice cream van.

Why is Mrs Polly Pink-Witch’s ice cream called ‘Pink Wish’?

That’s a very good question, and the answer is easy too: if you buy, and enjoy, her delicious Pink Wish ice cream you get a free wish!

Of course, there are conditions attached. This means there are only certain children who get a wish granted. Mrs Polly Pink-Witch can’t stand rude children, so they absolutely never get a wish granted. And you must say please and thank you. Mrs Polly Pink-Witch knows if you really mean it; she can tell if it’s a proper please and a proper thank you.

So which children get a free wish? That’s easy too, I am sure you will guess, but what kind of wishes come true?

Again, call in at the publisher’s web site.


by

News from P’kaboo

We picked up the following news of planned publications from the personal blog of Lyz Russo, who heads P’kaboo Publishers:

dsc_0446Split Decision by Carmen Capuano is only a proof-edit and a cover short of e-publication.  The cover artist will be available only at the end of June; however this gives us time to raise some publicity.  Split Decision is YA, though I’d actually like to classify it as YA crime fiction; a girl (Natalie) is faced with a choice of two dates, and decides to…  go on both.  That is, the author follows this young lady down both possible decisions, and while the one date very quickly turns sinister, the other, apparently sweet and halcyon, has its surprises too, things that in an ideal world, a young girl just short of sixteen should never have to encounter.  Capuano manages to balance these two contrasting paths with delicate skill, not losing traction in either for even a moment.  A manuscript I could not put down, even though it was long past midnight and I was overtired.

Carmen Capuano is also a popular indie author, which makes P’kaboo very proud to publish her.  Her science fiction series, “The Owners”, is regularly attracting attention.  Read more here about Carmen.

pink-wish-catPink Wish Ice Cream by Andrea Kaczmarek, illustrated by Eva Kuenzel, is due for e-publication – a last proof-edit, and then some publicity, and this lovely children’s book will be on its way.

Pink Wish Ice Cream deals with a sweet, rounded, good-natured Polly Pink Witch teaching some brats to be nice.  It is a classic kiddies book with classic morals, the type your mom, grand-mother and aunt would have instilled in you.  It’s really simple:  Say “please” and “thank you”, and your wish will be granted; be rude and obnoxious and you forfeit your wish.  This even applies if you’re a mommy trying to bend the rules a little for the sake of your kid…  I’m curious which lessons the other witches will be instilling in potential sequels.

The illustrations are simply delightful.  We’re very happy to be introducing these two fresh creative spirits to our readership.

durbslaunchles1Darx Circle by Leslie Hyla Winton Noble has been waiting far too long, and many of you have been following its development from the very first idea, on Colonialist’s blog.  It is darker and far more serious than the light-hearted YA fantasy we are used to from this versatile author.  I’m almost tempted not to place it in YA at all but into general fantasy; but it would be doing it an injustice as firstly the protagonists are young teenagers, and secondly it relates closely to the fantasy worlds he created in “Baa Baa Black Belt”, “Regina” and “Forest Circle Quest”.  Tyrannical young Tyrentia accompanies the dreamer Hugh and his friend Dengana onto a quest to discover what is going wrong in the Darx realm.  Their epic journey, laced with danger and heartbreak, leads them into the dark heart of the realm, and straight into the palaces of the evil forces trying to corrupt the very core of nature.  During this journey Tyrentia also undergoes an inner journey, coming to terms with the evil that lies in her own personal past…

morrigancoversmfrontlThe Morrigan (Solar Wind 5) by yours truly, Lyz Russo – is not yet ready.  It has been professionally edited; notwithstanding this, I am still going to go through it in the July holidays, because something about it bothers me.  I’ll find it, and then the first cycle of Solar Wind can (hopefully) finally receive its final volume – no promise yet as to the time frame!  (After all I don’t know yet what it is that I’ll find to fix.)

The Morrigan:   The Solar Wind is headed into space, on a helter-skelter trip chasing after a “Morrigan Treasure” that may or may not exist – Dana’s treasure.  But things get weird pretty quickly.  The limited experience of space the crew has from Captain’s Earth-based Space Base falls far short.  A species of “space crawlers” starts colonizing the ship; interstellar phenomena are not what they are supposed to be; and an evil entity with a deity-complex demands blood.  The politics aboard the ship get loopy as Dana, Perdita and Captain wrestle for the command.  Federi’s mission is to keep himself and Paean sane and the Captain on his toes.  The return to Earth fails to shake off the Morrigan, leaving Federi with a riddle to solve.

fmcuh-bookseeker-imageAnd then there is Marie Marshall’s gripping new YA vampire novel,

From My Cold, Undead Hand.  Two generations on, and darkness has fallen (quite literally) over the world.  Vampires rule supreme; there seems to be no escape whatsoever.  In KWIREBOY vs VAMPIRE, the grandson of the brave heroine Chevonne Kusnetsov from the first volume grasps at a lifeline that is thrown to him, and makes his near-lethal way right across the American continent to find out if there is any hope for the survival of humankind.

Drowned in the kind of bathos we have come to expect from Marshall, the ending – no, I’m not going to spoil it!  You will have to be patient – barring fires, floods and it being found by a larger house, we’re looking at October.

storm2