Latest news from The Edge

This week Edge author Dave Cousins provides a round-up of all the latest news from The Edge.

While you've been away basking in the sun with a good book (I hope!), here at The Edge we've been busy being edgy and getting ready for lots of activity towards the end of the year. Already confirmed for November are Edge authors at the Broxbourne heat of the Kid Lit Quiz and a Pulse Panel discussion at the SCBWI conference, plus lots more in the pipeline. So, what else have we been up to?

The very strokeable embossed cover for 15 Days!

I've spent most of the summer hidden away in my attic, fighting wasps and working on my next book for OUP. Meanwhile preparations for the publication of 15 Days Without a Head are picking up momentum. I received a very strokeable embossed cover proof in the post last week along with a stack of proof copies which have gone out to readers for review. I'm delighted to say that the response I've had so far has been fantastic, including this one from 14 year old Rewan Harper.

"This book is truly awesome! It has everything a good book needs. It is funny and witty, but with a serious edge giving the novel another layer. Excellently done!" 

For more reader reviews have a look at my new website.

Katie is delighted with a wonderful mention for Someone Else's Life in The Bookseller, under the heading of One to Watch: 

“A girl who discovers she was swapped at birth triggers an unstoppable chain of events in this riveting debut about families, relationships, and long-buried secrets. A really gripping family drama that reads like a Jodi Picoult for teens.” – The Bookseller. 

Katie is now also able to share the cover artwork for the US edition of Someone Else's Life, due out in February.

Apart from the recent publication of her third novel, Lia's Guide to Winning the Lottery, which is already picking up some great reviews, Keren is busy writing her next book. In the meantime When I was Joe continues to collect awards and accolades, featuring in the Waterstone's Summer Guide to Teenage Fiction for Boys, and winning the Wirral Paperback of the Year award.

Miriam has had a busy summer, so I'll let her tell you what she's been up to.

"I spent a lovely week on Hayling in August where Hidden is set and visited a lot of bookshops. I signed books in Portsmouth Waterstone's and Blackwells University Bookshop. Both shops are giving prominent display to the book. The Hayling bookshop had sold out and has just ordered another 20 copies and so has WordSouth in Havant. So I'll be off to do another signing later on.

Meanwhile I will be at the Havant Festival in September and I have been contacted by schools and librarians in Hampshire for other events. I've also been asked to join the author panel of the Portsmouth Literary Quiz next January. 

After a quiet week or two there have been several reviews of Hidden and an interview on book blogging sites this week. My editor meanwhile is finishing her final tweaks to the second novel in the cycle, Illegal (March 2012) and will be sending me cover ideas this week. I have also sent her the third book Stuffed (October 2012) for editing. Busy summer? I suppose so. But maybe that is because I have started a new novel set in London this time and on a very specialist and extremely edgy subject. No spoilers - you'll have to wait a while!"

Paula also has a lot of news to share.

"My thriller, The Truth About Celia Frost, was published by Usborne on 1st August 2011. After a fantastic launch at Waterstones in Nottingham and a wonderful ‘author’s dinner’ in London with reviewers and booksellers, I embarked on my first ever book tour. I loved every minute of getting to talk to students, YA book groups and fellow writers. I was delighted at how enthusiastic groups were; willing to discuss reading and writing and asking a load of insightful questions.

I’ve been bowled over by the response to Celia Frost from reviewers, booksellers and readers. I’ve even received a batch of lovely letters from a whole class who read the book in school and wanted to tell me how much they enjoyed it.

The Independent On Sunday chose the book as one of their summer reads describing it as ‘riveting’, Books For Keeps made it Book of the Week and LoveReading4Kids made it a Debut Book of the Month. Numerous reviews from the press and readers can be found on www.celiafrost.co.uk but below is a taster.

"A stunning psychological thriller for young adults." – BookTime

"A page-turning thriller that's impossible to put down." – LoveReading4Kids

"A gripping psychological thriller, mixing issues of ethics with a poignant coming-of-age story." – The Bookseller

"I am a 14 year girl and I thought this book was amazing. It was so unlike anything I have read before. The story twists and turns, every page reveals something new and unexpected. I would recommend this book to all teen readers who enjoy a good story and a fast paced thriller. But it is more than that; some of the issues in this novel have made me think, long after I finished the book. I give this book ten out of ten!" – Georgie James, Reader Review.

I’m also delighted to report that the audio rights for an unabridged reading of The Truth About Celia Frost have just been bought by AudioGo (BBC audio books). The audio book is due to be released on 1st December 2011.

I’m really looking forward to going over to Belfast and Dublin in September when I’ll be doing events and talking to readers about Celia Frost. The next few months are going to continue to be a busy and exciting time for me as I’m involved in various literary events around the country and I’m working hard on my second (stand-alone) thriller which needs to be delivered to Usborne quite soon.

Celia Frost is available in all good bookshops. If you are interested in keeping up with news about Celia Frost’s progress then she’s on facebook, twitter and has her own webpage at www.celiafrost.co.uk

Sara's debut novel Dark Parties is now out in the US and received a great review in the May issue of the American Library Association's Booklist.

"It's really the heart-pounding rush of twists that will induce extreme page turning."

Also check out the great Dark Parties trailer, Sara's US publisher Little, Brown did for the book.

The publication of Dark Parties in the UK, has been moved to 29th December, and is gathering a host of great reviews, too many to include all of them here. To find out what readers are saying about Dark Parties, visit the news page on Sara's website. Here's a taster for now:

"With vivid imagery and realistically portrayed teen angst and emotions, Grant creates a believable, if horrifying, world peopled with interesting and well developed characters...There are plenty of twists and turns. The conclusion is satisfying but leaves things open for a sequel, which should seriously be considered. Grant is a debut author to watch." – Library Media Connection

“Dark Parties started out SO freaking awesome!...This book is fast paced and WICKED suspenseful! Yet really romantic, sweet and sensual... There's death, betrayal and most of all hope.” -- The Bookish Brunette

“I have to say that it was probably Grant’s writing style that truly drew me in; I was hooked by the way she was able to so perfectly captures the uncertainty, fear, and longing in Neva’s life, all in just the first chapter. Then she continued to reel me in closer to the heart of the story with such impeccable pacing and plotting until the very satisfying conclusion. Dark Parties is so much more than a mere summary of review can every do justice. It drags up old ideas and forces the reader to really examine them closely. This is one of those rare books that provides both thrilling entertainment and a good reason to reevaluate one’s outlook and values.” -- The Book Muncher

“I absolutely loved this book. I could not put it down for anything, and when I was not reading it, I was thinking about it. Grant creates a very believable world, and such strong characters.” – Books Complete Me

“Don't expect to get anything done while reading it because it's INTENSE! And fabulous. It's exactly the way any dystopian should be.” – Candace’s Book Blog

Bryony and Savita were both off promoting their books at the time of writing, so we'll have to catch up with their news next time. All that remains is to wish you all the best – enjoy the rest of the summer (of course it's raining outside as I write this!) and hope to see you soon.