H E A D L I N E S

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The Messenger of Athens by Anne Zouroudi has been shortlisted for the long list of the Desmond Elliott Prize 2008

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General Sir Mike Jackson’s first book ‘Soldier’ published by Bantam Press on the 19 September 2007 shot immediately into the top 5 of the Sunday Times Bestsellers List and held a position in the top 10 for over 6 weeks. Excellent sales have continued since publication and here’s what the newspapers had to say about General Jackson’s compelling book: Insightful and valuable...In his account of his career, he has exposed the weaknesses and failures that led to the challenges facing our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan today Michael Evans The Times Engagingly recounted with both intelligence and candour...General Jackson is a man of high principles, who on more than one occasion was prepared to lay his career on the line to defend [his] beliefs. In this highly readable and fascinating book, he speaks a great deal of good sense. More importantly, he is able to publicly voice his concerns for the future and defend the soldiers he clearly cares about James Holland Sunday Telegraph His trademark blunt honesty and humour are to the fore in his autobiography...He has a very interesting story to tell...An engaging and honest account that would repay reading by all those who seek to understand the 21st century British army The Independent A very readable, personal account of a man who rose to the top of the army and gained a reputation for being a 'no-nonsense' commander Richard Norton-Taylor The Guardian

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“Cirque du Freak” by Darren Shan – Movie Announcement
The “Cirque du Freak” series of bestselling children’s novels, known in the UK as “The Saga of Darren Shan”, by the Irish author Darren Shan has been acquired by Universal Pictures and will be adapted for a motion picture of the same name. The film is due to begin shooting in February 2008 in New Orleans under the direction of Paul Weitz (About A Boy, In Good Company), and will star John C. Reilly (Gangs of New York, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story) as Lartan Crepsley; Josh Hutcherson (Bridge to Terabithia) as Steve Leonard; and newcomer Chris Kelly as Darren Shan. Weitz is adapting some of the storylines from the novels for the screen. He and Lauren Shuler Donner (X-Men) will produce for their production companies, Depth of Field and The Donner's Company. The “Cirque du Freak” series (“Saga of Darren Shan” series) has already sold over 10 million copies worldwide and has been translated into 25 languages.