This week we celebrated the publication of TRASH with a dinner at the very trendy E&O Restaurant in London. Before dinner there were the usual speeches and toasts, and then Andy Mulligan did something we’ve never heard an author do – instead of talking about his own book, the book we were all there to celebrate, he spent several minutes telling everyone about someone else’s book!

Andy had just finished a proof copy of Half Brother by Kenneth Oppel, which we’re publishing in January next year. He’d been so completely swept away by the story of Ben, a teenage boy, and the baby chimp his parents adopt, that he couldn’t stop telling people about it, and urging them to read it. The thrilling thing for Andy was that his own book shares the same list as a book of such a high calibre.

Of course, we’re very proud to have both Trash and Half Brother on our list – they might be worlds apart, but they’re both cracking stories, stories that move you, stories that make you want to talk about them to anyone who’ll listen.

Andy behind piles of TRASH

We were very excited to see that our local Blackwells has a brilliant display for TRASH in their window:

Andy will be there doing an informal stock signing on 21^st September, so if you’re in Oxford, pop in and grab yourself a signed copy!

TRASH has been garnering some great reviews – Bookbag loved it: “Trash comes highly recommended by me, and I don’t have time to say any more about it because I’m off to read it again. And after that, I might read it again. And then again. You read it too.”

Julia Eccleshare reviewed it for Love Reading 4 Kids: ‘Headlong and heart-stopping, this is an adventure you just can’t put down.’

And in the Times Amanda Craig called it an ‘outstanding, hotly anticipated thriller’, and goes on to say that the setting, ‘has the reader rooting for the kids through every twist of an exceptionally satisfying plot.”

Andy will be touring the country over the next two weeks, doing a whole host of interviews, school events and signings, so look out for him!

This is Morris, star of the most disgusting picture book we have ever published, MORRIS THE MANKIEST MONSTER:

And this is Sarah, the talented illustrator of MORRIS, reading the text aloud at Edinburgh Festival: http://bit.ly/bkzpQu

Written by Giles Andreae, the brilliantly repulsive rhyming text was rejected by five different editors before DFB dared to take it on. Needless to say, children love it! Out now in hardback, and coming later this month in paperback, the surprise ending will definitely make you squirm…

“…must be the most revolting picture book of the year!…This book needs a warning to parents – they’re going to have to read it over and over again – children will absolutely love it.” The Bookseller

“Treading the tightrope between revolting and sweet is hard but Morris does it.  What a gem!” Books for Keeps

Check out Sarah’s blog, where there are always lots of lovely things to look at, and find out more about her brand new book for the DFC Library, Vern & Lettuce.

A few of our fantastic authors and illustrators will be appearing at this year’s festival – which runs from 8th to 17th October - so watch this space for news of who’ll be there and where to book tickets! For starters, just to get your mouths watering..

John Boyne will be talking about his magical new book NOAH BARLEYWATER RUNS AWAY at the Cheltenham Literature Festival on Saturday 9^th October. The event is for a family audience. John’s appearances at the Edinburgh Festival last month sold out very fast, so do reserve your tickets now at  http://cheltenhamfestivals.com/literature-2010/john-boyne/

photographed by Mark Watkin

And if you’re keen to read up on the festival, take a peek at the Cheltenham Literature Festival 2010 website!

More to follow, so watch this space..

Andy Mulligan went on a whirlwind tour of America a few weeks ago, alongside David as his publisher, to talk to the movers and shakers across the pond about the novel, TRASH. Andy talks here about his  few days in the US…

New York, New York! – imagine, rolling in from the UK for the first time and seeing all those sights from the movies. I sat in the limo waiting to be swept up in a car chase, mugged in Central Park or at least screamed at by yellow-cab taxi-psychos. I was rather disappointed to find that the city is in fact the most organised, courteous and beautiful of places. My neck is half broken from staring upwards at the glittering skyline. Anyway, the Random House US machine is an astonishing beast, and I’ve been talking ‘Trash’ to executives, librarians, teachers and booksellers for hours now. The enthusiasm! – it’s wild!

BOSTON

I didn’t even know Harvard Universtiy was in Boston, and here I am walking its leafy lanes – how stupid am I? As a teacher, half my students want to study at this gorgeous place. What a treat to be having supper that evening with some truly erudite booksellers and library-leaders. Overwhelming again to hear that ‘Trash’ is close to their hearts.

WASHINGTON

We’re moving fast, David Fickling and me – David is my publisher and a man of infinitely more charm and sophistication than me, so I let him do most of the talking. We flew into the city early, and were picked up by a brick of a man with the robot voice of a security agent. He turned out to be one of the US President’s former drivers, so our limo swept past the White House as he told us tales of thwarted kidnaps and nabbed terrorists…I have never felt so safe in a car. I didn’t want to get out! However, we have dinner tonight with more shakers and movers of the publishing world, who all promise to throw ‘Trash’ out to the world. This is an overwhelming experience! I don’t want it to stop!

BACK HOME

It’s over, I’m sorry to say - the first ‘Trash’ US tour came to an end in the exquisite city of Chicago, overlooking Lake Mitchigan – another huge turn out of interested booksellers, journalists and publishers. More penetrating questions about the book’s origins – everyone wants to know who the children are, which means I get to talk about the various streetkids they’re based on, which inevitably brings a tear to my eye. Clearly I am going to have to toughen up. It’s also clear that out here the vast industry of publishing is still very dependent on the dynamism of individuals: I have met the most dedicated groups of librarians and booksellers, passionate about their roles in spreading good literature. It’s been eye-opening and very encouraging. I spent a few restful days in Greenwich Village, looking for the ghosts of Leonard Cohen and David Byrne – I think the Village is too gentrified for them, sadly. I had to stand still and gawp at the beauty of the buildings, and I think my love affair with New York has only just begun. But I’m back in London, hard at work…
 

Andy Mulligan’s stunning novel Trash is published TODAY - virtual champagne corks are popping in the office (well, virtual in our case, hopefully real champagne in Andy’s house). We are all thrilled to have been involved in the publication of this incredible book. Wonderful reviews have been pouring in already from book bloggers everywhere and the Bookseller called it ‘harrowing, exhilarating, humbling, and quite brilliant’. One thing’s for certain, once you pick this book up, you won’t be able to put it down…