Newsy Stuff

So who is Britain’s most successful woman author aside from J K Rowling? Martina Cole, if you please! Ian Burrell in the Independent outlines the reasons why she consistently writes and sells novels that everyone wants to read.

The Anthony Award winning website Stop you’re Killing Me has created a database rounding up all the mystery awards that have been given over the last 50 years. Perfect for when you are trying to track down information.

Debut author Penny Hancock is to be published by Simon and Schuster after a hotly contested auction. According to book2book the first of the two novels Tideline will be published as a tradepaper back as well as a bespoke limited edition hardback in Spring 2012.

The saga of Steig Larsson appears to be running and running with no end in sight. According to the New York Times, Larsson’s brother Joakim confirmed in an interview on CBS along with his father Erland that there is indeed a fifth book (not a fourth). However, the Larsson’s have also confirmed that they will not allow the book to be published.

Deal news!

Prolific legal thriller author Robert K. Tanenbaum is remaining at Simon & Schuster, signing a new three-book deal for their Galley imprint. The upcoming titles will feature Tanenbaum's best-known characters, district attorney Butch Karp and his wife, Marlene Ciampi. Tanenbaum, a trial lawyer whose background also includes serving as the chief of the homicide bureau for the New York district attorney's office, has written 22 Karp novels as well as two nonfiction works. The deal was for the North American rights.

French thriller writer Franck Thilliez is to be published by Viking in the US in a two-book deal. It will be the first time that the popular French author will be translated into English. Both novels will feature Lucie Hennebelle a middle-aged detective and single mother of two. She will be paired with Franck Sharko of the Paris police. The French title of the first novel is Le Syndrome E but it will be given a different title for the US market. The book moves from the French countryside to Egypt and Quebec.

Mulholland, Little Brown’s new imprint has added Greg Rucka to it’s already impressive lineup. Rucka best known for his Atticus Kodiak and Queen & Country series as well as his numerous comics will begin a new series for Mulholland. The first book in the series Alpha introduces readers to a former Delta Force operator who realises that his allies are not who they appear to be and are pursuing a dark agenda much different from his own. Viking have bought the world rights in a three-book deal.

We blogged here and here about the book trailer contest which had crime as its theme this year.

The winning entry above was a trailer designed by Yasmin Al Naib and Christopher Moon for The Snowman by Jo Nesbo.