Dr Alex George at No.1!

Following an intensive pre-order social campaign, Dr Alex George’s Live Well Every Day rocketed to the no.1 spot of the paperback non-fiction charts! Working alongside our friends at Octopus, we planned and implemented a social media campaign for the book, including an Instagram read-a-long during publication week and also working with Dr Alex himself on key messages to put out through his own social media channels.

The campaign ran through Facebook and Instagram with optimised imagery and messaging throughout.

Live Well Every Day by Dr Alex George
Published 13th May 2021
Octopus
Social media campaign planning and implementation, paid social and Instagram read-a-long an

Otherworld by Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller

The company says Otherworld is amazing—like nothing you’ve ever seen before. They say it’s addictive—that you’ll want to stay forever. They promise Otherworld will make all your dreams come true.
Simon thought Otherworld was a game. Turns out he knew nothing. Otherworld is the next phase of reality. It’s everything you’ve ever wanted.
And it’s about to change humanity forever.
Welcome to the Otherworld. No one could have seen it coming. Continue reading “Otherworld by Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller”

Review: Frogkisser! by Garth Nix

In Frogkisser! Garth Nix returns with his very own modern fairy tale, starring Princess Anya, who, with her loyal dog, must embark on a terribly important (capital Q) Quest to acquire the ingredients for a reversal lip balm, the vital item needed to change a frog back to a prince . . . oh, and save her kingdom from her villainous step(step)father. Continue reading “Review: Frogkisser! by Garth Nix”

Review: Spellslinger by Sebastien de Castell

Sebastien de Castell make his YA debut with Spellslinger, published in the UK by Hot Key Books. Spellslinger, as de Castell mentions on the book’s Goodreads page, is the first in a planned six-part series. Existing fans will be pleased to hear it takes place in the same universe as his Greatcoats series, but in another part of that world, in a place that felt – to me – a bit like a combination of the very masculine Wild West and Classical or Middle Eastern magical mythology. Kellen, our main character, seems destined not to succeed as a powerful mage like his father, while his friends gain their magic and pass trials around him. However, he discovers something more sinister is afoot, and eventually uncovers a conspiracy that could destroy his family and homeland. Continue reading “Review: Spellslinger by Sebastien de Castell”

Podcast: Sorting the Bookshelves and the British Book Awards

As the UK has a Bank Holiday weekend for May Day, Kate and Rob have been using the time to sort out their bookshelves, and they’re also looking forward to hearing the winners at the British Book Awards (or ‘Nibbles’) on Monday 8 May. Continue reading “Podcast: Sorting the Bookshelves and the British Book Awards”

Podcast: Ayisha Malik talks about Sofia Khan and The Other Half of Happiness

This week, Kate chats to author Ayisha Malik, author of Sofia Khan Is Not Obliged and The Other Half of Happiness, about her novels, characters, inspirations, and what she’s writing next.
Continue reading “Podcast: Ayisha Malik talks about Sofia Khan and The Other Half of Happiness”

Review: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Occasionally there are books that garner an extraordinary level of hype in the book community and then deliver on that hype, one hundred percent. The Hate U Give, Angie Thomas’ debut novel, inspired by the Black Lives Matter movement in the US, is one of those rare cases. The book was published a little while ago in the US and has just hit the shelves of bookshops all over the UK. I was very lucky to be given an early proof copy and I gasped, laughed and cried through this brilliantly-written story of discrimination, family, determination and personal resilience. Continue reading “Review: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas”

The Scarecrow Queen by Melinda Salisbury – blog tour!

Happy publication day to The Scarecrow Queen, the final installment in Melinda Salisbury’s fantastic trilogy which began with The Sin Eater’s Daughter. I loved – devoured? – that book and the follow-up, The Sleeping Prince, in a few days and I’ve been waiting to read The Scarecrow Queen ever since. It doesn’t disappoint; you’re in for as many twists, turns and moments of sorcery, and as much blood and lust as you could possibly wish for. As part of the blog tour, Mel and bloggers are creating vision boards illustrating various characters from the series, including their appearance, characteristics, personality and their important themes, and writing about the other’s presentation. I’m thrilled to present to you… Twylla. Continue reading “The Scarecrow Queen by Melinda Salisbury – blog tour!”

When the real world is a dystopia, here’s what to read

A lot of people have been searching for a book to make sense of the world in the last week, and 1984 by George Orwell has soared up the charts. What people looking for tips may not realise is that things don’t work out so well for the main character, despite the fact that it’s one of the best-known dystopian novels of recent times. I wanted to recommend some alternative choices from women and writers of colour whose stories will strike a chord and who deserve to be read more widely. Continue reading “When the real world is a dystopia, here’s what to read”

Podcast: La La Land, Manchester By The Sea and bookpost

This week, Rob and Kate are reviewing – pretty much spoiler-free – the first two award-contender films they’ve seen, La La Land and Manchester By The Sea. They also chat through the book post they’ve been lucky enough to receive lately, which they’ll be sharing their thoughts on as they read it. Continue reading “Podcast: La La Land, Manchester By The Sea and bookpost”