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Poirot Set To Make His Final Appearance On Our UK Television Screens

December 27, 2011 By 12 Comments

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It has been announced that the final new five films, based on the remaining novels and short stories, featuring Agatha Christie’s character of ‘Poirot‘, are to be adapted for television and will begin production in 2012.

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The five  films will be ‘The Labours of Hercules’, ‘Dead Man’s Folly’, ‘The Big Four’ and ‘Elephants Can Remember’, with the final film being ‘Curtain‘, which is the detective’s last tale and sees him return to the scene of his first case in a bid to prevent another murder.

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The great news is, that David Suchet, who has played the character of the dapper Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, for the last 22 years, starring in some 65 films, has already been commissioned to star in the sleuth’s final five adventures, thus bringing to a fitting completion this canon of works.

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DAVID SUCHET comments

 “I’m more than delighted to be reprising my role as Poirot. It’s been my life’s ambition to bring this amazing canon of works to completion.

“Poirot is a brilliant, yet profoundly complicated character and I’ve always loved playing him.

“He’s considerate, with a love of elegance and precision, but he is also so maddeningly frustrating to play as he’s so vain and pedantic! For all his faults he is one of the greatest listeners in literature. I’ve been so fortunate to play him.”

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The final episodes will continue to be made under the executive direction of Michele Buck, who was Controller of Drama at ITV Productions for six years, before jointly setting up new company,  ‘Mammoth Screen’, with Damien Timmer, which makes drama for British and International broadcasters.

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MICHELE BUCK comments

“We can promise the final five Poirot films will be a fitting tribute to a much-loved literary character.

When the ending comes it’ll be very dramatic and incredibly emotional.

We’ve been on a remarkable journey with Poirot.”

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Check back often for more filming and scheduling updates

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DCI Banks Will Be Back On Our Television Screens In 2012

November 16, 2011 By 2 Comments

Great news for any followers of crime writer Peter Robinson … It has just been announced that following the successful adaptation and broadcasting on television, of four books featuring Peter’s character DCI Alan Banks, the television company ITV has just commissioned another three books to be adapted for broadcasting in 2012.

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The books to be adapted this time around are :

WEDNESDAY’S CHILD – 1992

SUMMARY

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When a well-dressed couple, claiming to be social workers, appear at Brenda Scupham’s door, saying they must take her seven-year-old daughter, Gemma, into care after allegations of abuse, Brenda is confused and intimidated enough to hand the child over.

But when the couple, Mr Brown and Miss Peterson, fail to bring Gemma home, Brenda realizes she has made a terrible mistake.

As the days go by, Detective Chief Inspector Banks begins to lose hope of finding Gemma alive. Then a rambler finds a body in the ruins of an old lead mine, and the two cases begin to converge in a terrifying way, leading Banks to a showdown with one of the most chillingly evil criminals he has ever come up against. Nominated for an Edgar Award by the Mystery Writers of America.

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DRY BONES THAT DREAM – 1994

(Released in the US and Canada as ‘Final Account’)

SUMMARY

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One May evening, two masked gunmen tie up Alison Rothwell and her mother, take Keith Rothwell, a local accountant, to the garage of his isolated Yorkshire Dales farmhouse, and blow his head off with a shotgun.

Why? This is the question Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks has to ask as he sifts through Rothwell’s life. Rothwell was generally known in the area as a mild-mannered, dull sort of person, but even a cursory investigation raises more questions than answers. When Banks’s old sparring partner, DS Richard “Dirty Dick” Burgess, turns up from the Yard, the case takes yet another unexpected twist, and Banks finds himself racing against time as the killers seem to be dogging his footsteps. Only after he pits his job against his sense of justice does he discover the truth. And the truth leads him to one of the most difficult decisions of his career.

My thoughts about ‘Dry Bones That Dream’ can be read by clicking here

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STRANGE AFFAIR – 2005

SUMMARY

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When Alan Banks receives a disturbing message from his brother, Roy, he abandons the peaceful Yorkshire Dales for the bright lights of London, to seek him out. But Roy seems to have vanished into thin air.

Meanwhile, DI Annie Cabbot is called to a quiet stretch of road just outside Eastvale, where a young woman has been found dead in her car. In the victim’s pocket, scribbled on a slip of paper, police discover Banks’ name and address.

Living in Roy’s empty South Kensington house, Banks finds himself digging into the life of the brother he never really knew, nor even liked. And as he begins to uncover a few troubling surprises, the two cases become sinisterly entwined . . .

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My thoughts about ‘Strange Affair’ can be read by clicking here.

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As you can no doubt tell, I am something of a Peter Robinson fan, so although we still have no firm air dates as yet, or news regarding foreign sales, either for broadcast or on DVD …. keep watching this space for more details soon …

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Getting Started In Crime

October 9, 2011 By 6 Comments

 

  “Hooked on reading crime? Ever wanted to write in this hugely popular genre? Want to find out if it’s really for you?

This is a great place to answer some, if not all, of  those questions.

Local, best selling crime author, Tim Weaver, will be holding a workshop, where he will reveal how he got started, give tips, answer questions and introduce exercises designed to help the budding author in you create atmosphere, introduce a strong lead character and develop a compelling plot.”

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The workshop will be hosted on Wednesday, 9th November 2011, from 6.30pm – 8.30pm, by:

Mr B’s Emporium of Reading Delights

14/15 John Street, Bath, BA1  2JL

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The event is being organised by Alexandra Wilson and Jude Higgins, who are collectively ‘Writing Events  Bath’. Tickets for the event are £26 each and payment details can be found on the site, by clicking on the link above.

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‘Writing Events Bath’ are a member organisation of the cfba ‘Cultural Forum For The Bath Area’

Established in 2008, the Cultural Forum is an independent coalition of cultural and sports organisations – all producing events, festivals and cultural activities or running venues in and around the Bath and North East Somerset area – who have agreed to work with one another for mutual benefit and the benefit of the area overall.

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About Tim Weaver

Tim Weaver was born in 1977. At eighteen, he left school and started working in magazine journalism, and has since gone on to develop a successful career writing about films, TV, sport, games and technology. He considers himself lucky to have written about the things he loves for both some of the biggest magazine brands and some of the smallest specialist publications in the world.

Apart from film and sport, his love of books has helped to shape his life, although he admits to being a relatively late convert to crime and thriller writing.

Some of the most well known and biggest names in the genre have influenced Tim’s career; Stephen King, John Connolly, Michael Connelly and Lee Child, being amongst his own top ten, so he is in pretty good company.

Chasing the Dead was his first novel, which he admits probably took about ten years from conception to publication. The sequel book The Dead Tracks certainly came along much more quickly, in fact it was already started before ‘Chasing The Dead’ was even finished. Book three is on the editor’s desk as we speak, with book four on the drawing board.

He is married with a young daughter and lives near Bath UK, which is great, because this fan of crime fiction doesn’t live a million miles away from Bath (well 12 miles to be exact), so I am also promoting a local author which is fantastic.

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Taunton Literary Festival

September 14, 2011 By 6 Comments

 

In these times of austerity and with a general feeling of malaise within the country, it is great to see a new venture blossom forth, to try and lift the spirits.

 In my home county of Somerset, UK, the county town of Taunton, is this month holding its inaugural literary festival. The idea has been nurtured and is being hosted by local independent bookseller, Brendon Books, who have succeeded in attracting sponsorship from a wide source of primarily academic establishments within the local area.

The event runs for a lengthy 11 days, from 15th-25th September 2011 and has a full and diverse schedule of over 40 separate events, taking place at 9 individual locations throughout the town, with something to suit everyone.

A complete and detailed itinerary of events can be found, together with full booking instructions, on the Literary Festival website. In general, tickets are available for most events at £6.50, although there are generous discounts for booking multiple events.

The festival is opening on Thursday 15th September 2011, at the Castle Hotel Taunton, with a single event, featuring author Salley Vickers. I have only read one of her books ‘The Other Side Of You’, which I found to be most moving and poignant, however, Salley on this occasion will talking about her latest collection of off-beat love stories, in Aphrodite’s Hat

If you are between events, or just making a day of it, why not visit Taunton Castle and Museum, which lies right at the heart of the town and was built to defend it.

Or, if you want to explore the town on foot and discover some of its more well-kept and hidden secrets, why not visit the Treasure Trails site sometime before your visit, download your lost treasure map of Taunton and help Dr I. Nosealot locate the missing loot. A fun, healthy and educational way to spend a couple of hours and all for only £5.

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Great News About Authors Debut Novel

August 11, 2011 By 6 Comments

 

Earlier in 2011, I was introduced to a new author in the romantic contemporary fiction genre, Geraldine Solon, when she contacted me requesting I review her debut novel ‘Love Letters’.

I have since been contacted by Geraldine, with both a request to review her latest novel ‘Chocolicious’ and with some great new updates on the success of ‘Love Letters’.

It seems that things have moved at an extraordinary pace for Geraldine over the last few months, giving a great boost to her writing career.

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This Title Is Available From Amazon

In May 2011, ‘Love Letters’ was nominated for ‘The Global eBook Awards’, in the romanc fiction category, although we have a short time still to go, before the award winners are announced, on Saturday 20th August 2011.

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In June 2011, ‘Love Letters’ was nominated for and subsequently won, ‘The Beach Book Festival’ award, in the romance fiction category.

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The ‘icing on the cake’ however, must be the news that ‘Love Letters’ has been optioned for film and work is due to commence on Monday 22nd August 2011. Dream Real Pictures, is an independent production company, where the director is also a producer/actress and screenwriter so she wrote the screenplay herself. She has, to date, produced mostly Westerns and this will be her first love story, so there is great excitement all round.

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Geraldine, is understandably, over the moon at the prospect of watching her debut novel, rise from the printed page, to be acted out on the big screen.

“I still can’t believe all the great news and I’m so excited to watch Love Letters on the big screen. The director is currently casting for actors/actresses for the movie. She is so geared up with this project and I know she’s going to do a good job.”

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Watch this space for the rise of her second novel ‘Chocolicious’, whch Geraldine has kindly sent me an ARC for.

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UPDATE SEPTEMBER 5th 2011

I have recently received mail from Geraldine with news about the start of filming, plus a link to youtube, where you can view the first installment.

Hi again,


Take a look at this video of Love Letters’ first scene which started filming last August 22.

You can also post it on your site if you want. Enjoy!

Thanks again for your support.

Best,
Geraldine
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Meet Miranda Newboult Author Of ‘Emma’s Stormy Summer’

July 29, 2011 By 4 Comments

 

New to the scene children’s fiction author Miranda Newboult, is set to hit the streets to promote her great new book for 8-12 year olds, ‘Emma’s Stormy Summer’.

Miranda will also be carrying the flag for new publisher Tannbourne Ltd., as she becomes their first published author.

Her first signing is due to take place on:

Saturday 20th August 2011, at Waterstones of Haywards Heath, from 12 noon – 4pm.

Details of the store location and contact details, can be found by clicking here.

A great summer holiday read for any little girl and one which I would thoroughly recommend.

Come along and offer your support to this new voice in children’s fiction and lend some encouragement to  our youngsters to get them reading.

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Synopsis

This Title Is Available From Amazon

“Dad thinks I’m a nuisance” It may be sunny but Emma’s perfect world seems to be unravelling in front of her.

First her friend Becca started being horrible to EVERYONE and now Daddy is ignoring her and acting weird.

Emma can’t help but worry that it is all her fault and as the storm clouds gather over her Dad she feels more and more guilty and responsible.

If only she could get everything back to normal. This summer she realises that growing up can be a rollercoaster and maybe, just maybe, she should relax and enjoy the ride.

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Meet Miranda Newboult

Miranda Newboult grew up in East Sussex and now lives five miles from where she was born.

She spent most of her childhood with her nose in a book but did manage to find time to go to school at Roedean and then do a degree in English and Related Literature at York University.

She now works for Canterbury Christ Church University as a Consultant in Leadership and Management Development and spends the rest of her time looking after her young family and an ever-increasing number of animals.

Emma’s Stormy Summer is Miranda’s first novel.

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I have finished reading this book and can thoroughly recommend it, my thoughts about the book will be published very soon

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EDIT UPDATE – SUNDAY 21st AUGUST 2011

Miranda is to host a second signing of her book, this time at Waterstones in Croydon, on Saturday 10th September 2011, 11am – 6pm.

Complete venue information and contact details can be found by clicking here and entering Croydon in the ‘City’ box.

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My thoughts about ‘Emma’s Stormy Summer’ can be found here.

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Layton Green Hosts An Author Event With A Difference …

July 11, 2011 By 6 Comments

 

To celebrate the launch, on August 27th 2011, of ‘Dominic Grey’s’ second great adventure ‘The Egyptian’, author Layton Green is making available the download for this and ‘Dominic’s’ debut outing ‘The Summoner’, at a fantastic bargain price!!

Both downloads will be available, for two days only, on 27th and 28th August 2011, at the great price of just $.99 each on www.amazon.com.

The same offer will be available on www.amazon.co.uk, at the same low price, depending on exchange rates at the time of launch (typically, approximatey £.70).

Layton specialises in writing fantastic cult thrillers, with ‘The Summoner’ sending the character of Dominic Grey on his first mission into the heart of the Juju cult of South Africa, where he comes face to face with the N’anga, against whom he must pit all his wits and strength to survive.

His next mission finds him deep in the heart of  ‘The City Of The Dead’, Egypt, where in ‘The Egyptian‘, he is faced with a battle against eternal life, with the sacred myth of  ‘Nu’ his unseen adversary.

The third ‘Dominic Grey’ adventure is already on the drawing board and I can’t wait to see where our latest cult hero is being sent for his next mission….

 

 

 

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Salley Vickers At Buxton Festival 2011

June 19, 2011 By 2 Comments

Salley Vickers, who I was first introduced to, when I read her bestseller ‘The Other Side Of You’ (review to be published here soon), will be appearing at the Buxton Opera House, in the dramatic and picturesque Peak District, on July 16th 2011, at 10:30am.

This appearance is part of the much larger Buxton Festival , which runs from July 9th-27th 2011, with events taking place at various locations around the town. There is something for everyone in this diverse and wide-ranging festival, from opera and literature, to walks and cookery demonstrations.

Salley, will be speaking about novel-writing past and present and discussing her latest book, ‘Aphrodite’s Hat’, which is a collection of stories about love and the geography of the human heart.

This is a ticketed event, at a cost of £10 per adult, with a half price concession for under 16′s and bookings can be made direct with The Opera House.

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‘Aphrodite’s Hat’ by Salley Vickers

This Title Is Available From Amazon

 

A wonderful collection of stories from the much-loved Salley Vickers.

The stories in this long-awaited collection by Salley Vickers all deal with psychological aspects of love: love given and withheld, love craved and lost, love met and disappointed; the differing shades of loves between friends, between parents and children, between children and other adults; love even, in one case, for a pet.

Psychologically acute, sharply written in lucid and often witty prose, these stories, set in Venice, Greece and Rome as well as London and the English countryside, take us into the complex geography of the human heart. Sometimes joyous and humorous, sometimes melancholy and poignant, this collection confirms Salley Vickers’ reputation as one of our most subtle and engaging writers.

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I know that, unless you live in this neck of the woods, or are heading up to the festival, then the journey is probably going to be the prohibitive factor for this event.

This is exactly the case for myself, but I would really love to hear Salley speak about her work, as I am quite ‘getting into’ this style of astute writing about the human heart and psyche, at which Salley is such an inspirational exponent.

I love everything about the sound of ‘Aphrodites Hat’, from the title and cover art, to the content of the many and varied stories, all revolving around a single central theme.

This is a definite for the reading list!

 

 

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A Date With Ann Granger …

June 3, 2011 By 6 Comments

 

I know that I haven’t given you folks much notice, but I have only just noticed that Ann Granger will be appearing at Cotswold Bookstore, Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire, on Saturday June 11th 2011, from 10.30am.

Having lived in many different parts of the world, Ann Granger is now based permanently in the Oxford area, handy for this latest book signing mission, in the heart of the lovely Cotswolds.

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Photo Attributed To Ave Maria Moistlik

Ann is a prolific crime writer, with her latest book: ‘Rack, Ruin and Murder’, being the second in her latest series and featuring her newest characters Inspector Jess Campbell and Superintendent Ian Carter. If you are into cosy crime fiction novels, then this is definitely the author for you.

Moreton-in-Marsh, is a quintessentially idyllic English village, in Gloucestershire and at the very heart of The Cotswolds, with Cotswold Bookstore being a focal point of the village, based as it is, right in the centre of the High Street. it sounds as if the folks there have negotiated some great deals with the publishers of ‘Rack, Ruin and Murder’, so if you want to be one of the first to get a copy and meet the author into the bargain, then drop in and be sure of a warm welcome. Make a day of it and explore some of the other fantastic places nearby, in this, one of the most beautiful parts of the country.

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‘Rack, Ruin and Murder’ by Ann Granger

This Title Is Available From Amazon

‘The discovery of a dead body shatters the tranquillity of a Cotswold village in Ann Granger’s second Campbell and Carter mystery.

When old Monty Bickerstaffe finds a dead body in his drawing room it comes as a nasty surprise – the first of many. Monty lives alone in a crumbling Cotswold manor house and the last thing he wants is the police sniffing around his property. Not that he has anything to hide…

The identity of the corpse and how and why it was left in Monty’s home remain a mystery. The locals swear they’ve seen nothing unusual and Monty’s relatives claim they’ve never set eyes on the stiff before. But Inspector Jess Campbell is convinced that someone’s lying and, with the help of Superintendent Ian Carter, she must dig deep into Monty’s family history to reveal the shocking truth…’

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National Reading Group Day 2011

May 22, 2011 By 2 Comments

This is an update to my earlier post, about the ‘Independent Booksellers Week 2011′, which runs from 18th-25th June.

The organisers of the event have announced the inclusion of an exciting new concept, as the climax to the week, on Saturday 25th June 2011 … ‘National Reading Group Day’.

The idea is the personal objective of the Booksellers Association President, Jane Streeter and is, in her own words, “about capitalising on the current huge grassroots affection for Reading Groups in the UK”.

I know that many of you belong to Reading Groups, both on a formal and an informal basis and this day is set aside for you to engage with your local Reading Group and see where it takes you!

Maybe if you are the organiser of a Reading Group, you could arrange to hold a special session for this day and be part of this nationwide event.

There is also an email address included on the NRGD page, as the organisers would love to hear from you, if you are going to be taking part in the event, if you would like to participate in the event, or if you have any innovative ideas about the event that you would like to share.

There is a wealth of information, that has been pulled together from many sources, including publishers and is available for download, for your group to distribute and use … with the main poster logo being ‘MEET, TALK, GIVE’

The concept is also being run in collaboration with a fund raising initiative hosted by Book Aid International, whose main aim is to send books to sub-Saharan Africa and help change lives.



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