These are going to be an exciting couple of weeks at Friday Project Towers.
On Thursday 27th May we publish Like Bees to Honey
Yes, extraordinary. But don't just take my word for it, I am clearly as biased as an Olympic boxing judge at Seoul 1988, here is what Chris Cleave, bestselling author of The Other Hand, said about it:
'Haunting, heartfelt and beautiful'
He recently had the #1 book on the New York Times fiction chart. So there.
And there are lots of weird and wonderful things happening to mark publication of the book. Things such as these:
This Thursday 20th, one whole week before official publication, Caroline will be launching the book for all of her fans who live oop north. The event will be at the very swank Liverpool One branch of Waterstone's. Full details here. There will be cake.
And on the same day, in what may well be a publishing first (we'll claim it for now, that's for sure), the entire of Like Bees for Honey will be serialised across 32 wonderful book blogs and websites. Each host will have a different chapter of the book displayed as an animated browse inside widget. You can actually flick through the pages direct from the web page.
It is going to be quite something. But that's not all.
On Tuesday 25th Caroline will come down to the more civilised south of the country for a signing event at the Big Green Bookshop in Wood Green. All of us from The Friday Project will be there and hopefully quite a few of you lot. It will be lovely to see you.
And on publication day itself we will be unleashing the prettiest and most addictive online viral thingamajig you will have ever seen. No really, just you wait.
But there is even more. Artist Becky Adams, the woman who designed the cover for Bees, has created ten handmade slipcovers for the book. Each one is unique and we are going to be putting some of them up for auction for charity. Once we have picked the nicest ones for ourselves, of course. Here are a couple of them to give you an idea what they look like:
Plenty to be getting on with there. The book itself is being promoted in the Waterstone's 3 for 2 and the Smiths Travel promotion (whatever mechanic they are using these days) and has been well supported by the indies so you should be able to find it everywhere that matters.
More anon.
I'm looking forward to it all and to getting my hands on a copy of my own, plus several more for various friends and family members who can't make the London launch.
Posted by: DJ Kirkby | May 17, 2010 at 06:35 AM
It looks fab! Can't wait!
Posted by: Stephanie | May 17, 2010 at 07:31 AM
Those handmade covers are beautiful. How do we have a chance to get them please?
Posted by: jfb57 | May 17, 2010 at 08:21 AM
I'm so looking forward to reading this and those covers are absolutely gorgeous.
Posted by: Cathy | May 17, 2010 at 08:27 AM
"down to the more civilised south" - hey, cheek!! We use knives & forks and even read books 'oop here' yer know! There's even cake in Liverpool...
Can you post a link for the book cover auctions please?
Posted by: Angi | May 17, 2010 at 08:52 AM
Book covers are yum but it's what's inside I can't wait to get my hands on.
Posted by: Kathryn Evans | May 17, 2010 at 09:38 AM
A very tenuous link - ok, it's about bees - but quite interesting nonetheless, (and a very interesting blog on life in the East End) http://tiny.cc/8vk7g
I shall be doing my best to get the Big Green Bookshop. Good luck for the launch in Liverpool.
Posted by: DOT | May 17, 2010 at 11:31 AM
I am thrilled out of my wits, I am telling you! I'll be in Liverpool on Thu *AND* The Caroline is answering my questions at my online digs on 26/05. So there, I too am getting a piece of the action (and hopefully one of cake too). YAYAYAYA!
Posted by: Steph | May 17, 2010 at 11:47 AM
I am most excited to be one of those 32 blogs. I wish so much that I could be at either of the launches...
Posted by: JJ Beattie | May 17, 2010 at 01:25 PM
I can't wait to read this book. Even more, I can't wait to be part of the viral campaign by hosting one of the chapters on my blog.
I'll be doing my part, that's for sure. It's a shame I can't make the launch (as I am in Canada...sigh) but I'll be there in spirit. Yay The Friday Project, Yay Caroline!
Posted by: Jamieson Wolf | May 17, 2010 at 01:44 PM
Those covers are beautiful! I can't wait to read this book. Caroline is a legend!
Posted by: Sue | May 17, 2010 at 04:23 PM
Looking forward to Thursday and reading Like Bees to Honey.
Posted by: Debs Carr | May 17, 2010 at 06:07 PM
Me too. I am hosting a chapter, just before Jamieson.
I am going to Formby next Saturday with a bag of goodies for my friend. She is such a talented lass. I'm looking forward to reading LBTH in book form.
Posted by: Mel | May 17, 2010 at 07:12 PM