Book stuff

The next James Bond book will be written by Jeffery Deaver, Simon & Schuster announced on Thursday. The novel, with the working title “Project X,” is expected to be set in the present day and take Bond to at least three “exotic locations around the globe.” It is scheduled for publication in May 2011. Jeffrey - I feel I can call him that, after all we did do dinner (an Indian restaurant in Ayr if you must ask)  - said in a statement that he was thrilled to be asked by representatives of the Ian Fleming estate to write the book. “The novel will maintain the persona of James Bond as Fleming created him and the unique tone the author brought to his books, while incorporating my own literary trademarks: detailed research, fast pacing and surprise twists.”


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Love books and love talking about them? The Telegraph Book Club is for you. Maybe. They are offering seven peeps the chance to become the founding members of their “ literary salon” – eeeesh, sounds very grand — to play leading roles in the monthly discussions and to have the unique opportunity for their views to be reported in the paper.

The club will meet once a month in the Telegraph offices in London to discuss a book of their choosing over cheese and wine. Their generosity knows no bounds. The discussion will be chaired by Genevieve Fox, whose book club column has been published in the same paper over the past year.

If you would like to join the Telegraph Book Club, send a short letter about yourself and a 100 word review of any book to bookclub@telegraph.co.uk; or to 111 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 0DT. Please mark letters Telegraph Book Club.

The final date for submissions is Friday June 18. Note that you will need to be able to travel to the monthly meetings in London and to pay your own expenses – bummer – and that you’d like you to commit to being involved with the book club for one year.

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Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award is one of the most prestigious crime writing prizes in the country. Now in its sixth year, the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award was created to celebrate the very best in crime writing, and is open to British and Irish authors published in 2009.

A major accolade in the crime writing field, the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award is unique in that it is the only one of its kind which is largely voted for by the general public. As of Friday 21st May, the public will have three weeks to vote for their favourite title  HERE   and the result of this vote will determine the eight titles that make it onto the shortlist. Previous winners include Mark Billingham, Val McDermid and Allan Guthrie.

The longlist in full:

• In the Dark by Mark Billingham (Little, Brown)

• If It Bleeds by Duncan Campbell (Headline)

• The Surrogate by Tania Carver (Little, Brown)

• The Business by Martina Cole (Headline)

• A Simple Act of Violence by R.J. Ellory (Orion)

• Until It's Over by Nicci French (Penguin)

• The Crossing Places by Elly Griffiths (Quercus)

• Cold in Hand by John Harvey (Arrow)

• Skin by Mo Hayder (Transworld)

• Vows of Silence by Susan Hill (Vintage)

• The Dying Breed by Declan Hughes (John Murray)

• Dead Tomorrow by Peter James (Pan Books)

• Target by Simon Kernick (Transworld)

• A Darker Domain by Val McDermid (HarperCollins)

• Gallows Lane by Brian McGilloway (Pan Macmillan)

• Geezer Girls by Dreda Say Mitchell (Hodder)

• Singing to the Dead by Caro Ramsay (Penguin)

• Doors Open by Ian Rankin (Orion)

• All The Colours of Darkness by Peter Robinson (Hodder)

• Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith (Simon & Schuster)

The shortlist will be announced on Thursday 1st July 2010, at which point the public will be asked to cast their votes once again. The result of this second online vote will hold a 20% share within the all-new judging panel to decide on the eventual winner. The panel includes: Jenni Murray, BBC Radio 4 broadcaster and author; John Dugdale, Guardian Associate Media Editor; Natalie Haynes, comedian and journalist; and Simon Theakston, Executive Director of T&R Theakston Ltd.

The longlisted and shortlisted titles will feature in a nationwide library campaign encouraging readers to vote, and from 8th July, the eight shortlisted titles will be promoted in 350 Asda stores across the country.

The winner of the prize will be announced by radio broadcaster and festival regular Mark Lawson on the opening night of the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate on Thursday 22nd July. The winner will receive a £3,000 cash prize, as well as a handmade, engraved beer barrel provided by Theakstons Old Peculier.

Guess who I voted for?

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Stieg Larsson's UK publisher Quercus reports strong results for the 2009 calendar year, with turnover up 75%, profits up 4,150% and a positive cash flow for the first time in the company's history...

...let me repeat that – 4,150%.

According to a statement released to the markets on the 26th May, the publisher saw revenue grow from £10.9m in 2008 to £19.1m last year, with consolidated operating profit up from £28,000 to £1.19m. Them’s some big numbers people. Just a shame Stieg didn’t live to see his amazing success.