Been busier than a bee who works on the rigs through the week then does a shift on the taxis on a weekend.

Had quite a bit of press since the last blog posting. The two books that I’ve been going on about have been signed up and announced. Woohoo!

First up was Carpet Burns: My life with Inspiral Carpets by Tom Hingley. Tom was lead singer of those there Inspiral Carpets and the news was covered in The Bookseller magazine.

And what attracts me to this project is not any ‘we were better than them’ bitterness or clutching at wanting to be famous as many biog writers are criticised for. Tom’s lived through it all and is still gigging. He’s a real musician who can tell a balanced story. He’s got an English degree as well, so he uses words that I pretend to know, then I google them while on the phone. We’ve got a cover image from a brilliant rock photographer who worked with Nirvana, The Smiths and the Stone Roses too. I think the appeal of this book is not just about the nostalgia of the scene … it’s about life during an exciting time for music and also acts as a social commentary – and whatever you do, don’t get him started on politics!

There’s also been some coverage of Colin Firth: The Man who would be King biography,  - PR on that has gone around the world, so I’m a bit chuffed with it. In fact, news has gone aal awa. Writer Sadnro Monetti lives and works out of LA and breaks showbiz stories to the UK. These are two big signings for the Tontos and I’m really looking forward to getting them out. And the books.

Bookseller piece.

And speaking of LA, I’m off over there next week with Mark Allison. I’ve never been to the US of America and can’t wait to experience it. There are some writers I’m trying to hook up with while over there and a couple of producers are interested in Shakespeare & Love. There have been a fair few legal issues holding this book up, so it is being kept back by a couple of weeks while we sort it all out. I suppose this kind of thing happens with a book of this type, just have to sit tight while our people talk to their people and say peopley things, write expensive letters to each other, then nod a bit.

The online catalogue has gone errr … online recently too. There are still a couple of titles to add that are in progress, but being my first attempt at doing something like that I just wanted to get it up.

)

And here it is – 2011 catalogue.

Most books are available on pre-order now on the website.

I’m working with a splendid writer, Chris Rickaby at the moment too. We’re working on some e-book stuff and an innovative (I can never say that word) book made up of seven short stories. More news as it progresses, it’s a bit hush-hush at the moment.

And another seamless link – as Tonto’s content starts going to Kindle etc in the following weeks, we’re going to be kicking off just as we did back in the day. The first book to test the water will be a short stories collection with some stroies being pimped out as teasers. It feels fitting to have short stories out as that was how Tonto Books started and getting it together with e-technology means we can hopefully continu

Sheesh, I’ve been offline since forever getting my interweb stuff sorted out. And looka me … I’m back on line ‘n’ everything. It’s all space age … a “personal computer” that can be used to “communicate” with “people”. Who’da thunk it?

As I’ve had some time on my hands, I’ve been sorting out the new catalogue for 2011 titles, sorting out AI sheets, contracts, bringing everything together production-wise for first few titles of the year, meeting up with some splendid authors … and trying to get fit for my run with Mark Allison in LA. Running has been difficult. I knew it would be. I’ve been running, walking, biking, cross-training at the gym. It’s difficult trying to maintain a slobby bachelor lifestyle when you’ve got a 31-mile run looming – not sure how I’ll cope. My body hates me for eating fruit and low fat food and my jeans are now too big. I thought all this exercise was supposed to be good for you. I need to buy sports clothing too. I used to be proud that I’d never owned a tracksuit, now I need one. And my Alan Partridge shorts just won’t do.  I get bored within five minutes of every run. It kills my feet running in my Adidas shell toes too – I should have planned it out more instead of being a martyr … selflessly putting myself through all this pain and expense, not even being scared of running 31 miles through the Nevada desert and modestly dismissing everyone who stops me in the street to tell me what a hero I am for doing such an act to raise money for charity. Keep your blue plaques and your OBEs, it’s all about the kids.

Anywho …

Not long now until ‘The inside story of the book crime that stunned the World’ is published. Yep, Shakespeare & Love, the story of Raymond Scott and the stolen Shakespeare First Folio has had quite a bit of interest in the last few weeks. Even the FBI have ordered copies. As well as the RSC. Seriously.

I’m going to visit Raymond soon, to discus the book ahead of publication and to check all is well with him. It was last reported that he was working in the prison library (it made front page news of the Sunday Sun), so hopefully the book is on his system to order a few copies for his new friends. I thought he’d be Bard from working there. Bard – geddit? Like barred, but Bard.

Moving swiftly on …

To celebrate the publication of the book, I’m giving away 10 free copies. All you need to do is email me with some sort of Shakespearean pun and the first 10 to make me chuckle will win. I dunno, something like ‘It would be a Midsummer night’s dream to win a book, but I couldn’t give a puck if I don’t win.’ I realise that isn’t a great example of a pun – but did you see what I did there? I’m interested in cheap laughs to brighten up my day, ok?

As Alan Robson used to say – Get to those phones! Only, don’t phone me. Just email.

Oh, and look out for two big biographies to be announced this week. I’m banking on some press for them before shouting about them.

Get in! Today Zippy sponsored me for the run I’m doing in LA in May. Obviously not the real Zippy – everyone knows he can’t use a computer. But it gives me an opportunity to seamlessly link to the fact that we’ve moved ‘When Ronnie Met Zippy’ publication to 2012. We’ve been offered some brill publicity opportunities as there are some dates we can tie in with the release, so it is likely to be March. Details of the book will be back up on the website soon after tweakage has ensued.

Just booked up for LBF earlier, or London Book Fair, as I never call it. If anyone is going along (and is normal) and fancies meeting up for a coffee and a natter, give me a shout. I’m looking forward to catching up on meetings down there and am poised to sign a book up that I’ve been after for a while.  It’ll be nice to catch up with people from Newcastle I meet up with once a year in London.

I’ll be posting up news of a brill signing that was contracted earlier today. One of my musical heroes who I’ve been in touch with for a while has writeded a rather splendid memoir that we’re aiming to publish mid-September. See, this is how rock ‘n’ roll the publishing industry is in Newcastle … one minute you’ve got Zippy clicking away with his one hand to sponsor you on a run, the next you’ve got a guy from a band you followed in your late teens on the blower talking about what a crazy scene it all was and discussing his next few books … and then, you’re off down to the George Cluny to celebrate with a bowl of thai sweet potato soup and a half of peach lager.

Now I’m just waiting on a lift home cos I can’t be bothered to run. See, I’m even too rock ‘n’ roll to run. Just like Police Academy 3, I’m back in training tomorrow morning. If you own a market stall and I run past you, feel free to shout ‘Yo, Rock!’ as I pass by … I’ll turn so you can throw an apple for me and I’ll carry on, shadow boxing as I go.

S’true, I tells ya. Well, his breakthrough album I Love A Party, anyway.

Hang on … ran to work? Well, not all the way, not yet. But getting there. I haven’t gone mental, don’t panic. The reason behind it – two words. Mark Allison. He’s a crafty one, alright that Mark Allison geezer.

Within days of signing up his book Run For Home: The Geordie Who Ran Across America, I found myself booked up to go to LA and run with him. How on earth did that happen? I’m still trying to work it out.

The real reason is that Mark is doing a massive thing – as the book title hints, he’s running across America. Seriously. From Huntington Beach, LA to Coney Island in NYC (is that where the Wonder Wheel is at the end of Warriors?). He’s an inspirational bloke, Mark. He’s doing 3,100 miles. 31 miles in 100 days. That’s what he does – he trains like a mentalist and just does it. As mentioned in a previous blog, he’s doing it all for charity.

I’m going to America with him early on as he’s writing the book as he goes. I’m there as a kinda literature equivalent of Mr Motivator, to help him get started, keep him on track and focused as he finishes a day of running to sit down to a night of writing. At the moment, he’s training and writing and we’re meeting up regularly to discuss progress and to make sure it is all happening on schedule. It’s not all just about the workload … he does a day at work, runs all the time, runs on weekends, writes his book, does all his family stuff, has loads of meetings about sorting out the run (he’s handling all the logistics of the run, vehicles, support crew, flights, travel arrangements, etc, etc) … it comes down to having a great story to tell. And it just happens that his story is a brill one.

ADVERT ALERT:

*At the moment, Him Off The Viz is at £12.99 on the Tonto website and comes with a signed poster while stocks last. Get in there quick!*

So, back to Russ Abbot. Yesterday I went out to buy a few bits n pieces from charity shops. I love browsing them. I always see those Top Of The Pops albums and reminisce about them ‘Oh, I used to have that one,’ etc (the woman in a bikini playing cricket was always a fave. I think it had Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheepon). I’d just been talking to a lovely young lady about such albums and she mentioned Russ Abbot’s ‘classic’ album, so, as coincidence would have it … there was Russ, sandwiched between a 70s chick and Burt Bacharach (f’nar, f’nar). I couldn’t resist. They’ll look great alongside the new Tonto jukebox I picked up recently: an oldie worldie stereogram from British Heart Foundation. Also got the Clockwork Orange soundtrack LP for 50p! And so, after taking my bundle of new vinyl home last night, I thought they’d make a good weight to stick in my backpack so I’d think I was dead fit by running with it.

My training? S’going well. I’m only a couple of days in of proper training, but it’s going as splendidly as it could. I was out three times yesterday, trotting around Heaton’s winding streets and a few banks, passed by a bar in Jesmond and didn’t go in it, ran to the Post Office, to the shop for a jacket potato (instructed them not to sell me any sausage sarnies), and other than walking a bit like Clyde in Any Which Way today, I’m starting to feel like, fitter. Not quite able to run for yonks without wondering why I’m doing it and stopping yet.

I’m up to 80 squids on my sponsorship page!! How cool is that? And there’s some celeb names in there. Writers, publishers, agents, designers. Could do with a few actors and a newsreader or radio DJ at this point. Maybe a musician or comedian too. I’m sure it’ll happen. Forgive me for doing a Bob Gandalf, but if you fancy chucking a quid or two my way for The Children’s Foundation, my page is here: Run Tonto Run.

I better write something about books …

In production at the moment: Shakespeare & Loveis being re-tweaked by a splendid designer, Nik Barrera. A workmate of Tonto regular, Elliot Thomson, Nik is another one of those sickening types that sends a design idea and you wonder how the hell he managed to make a computer do that. It’s reassuring to know that I have a couple of amazing designers on board to do the type of covers I wish I could put together. The current cover is on here and is available to pre-order ahead of the April publication date.

Where’s Whitey is also in the final stages of production and is to be published in June. Coming from New York Times number one bestselling writers, this novel is something special. I’ve been reading through it again recently and it is so easy to get hooked by it. Even when I’m checking it over ahead of sending proofs out, it’s drawing me in every time. That’s a good sign, eh?

*At the moment, Him Off The Viz is at £12.99 on the Tonto website and comes with a signed poster while stocks last. Get in there quick!*

Anywho, back to running and publishing …

… and just last week, I signed up the brilliant Dennis Munday to publish ‘Riding on the Granzwagon’ in October. Now ain’t dat a co-inky-dink, huh?

I’ve been dying to work with Dennis for yonks. Being a fan of The Jam, I’d read his book ‘Shout to the Top’ about the band. I missed out on meeting him a good few years ago when he was in Newcastle for the opening night of Twink’s ‘The Jam Unseen’ exhibition at Mushroom Works. The link here was that Tonto Books was in its early days and I was in talks with Twink about the possibility of publishing a book based on his unseen Jam pics, but it wasn’t to be. I wrote the introduction and foreword to the book though, so I was more than happy with that! What an honour! (wiping a tear from me mince pies)

Anywho, through Twink I was introduced to Dennis via email and his book about Norman Granz has been in discussion on and off for a few years now. Norman Granz was a huge jazz producer and it has been interesting for me reading up on him over these last few years and getting into the music of those in the book. Also through Dennis and Twink, I’ve met another writer who is a big face on the mod scene, currently writing a book for Tonto on The Jam. More details to follow, as it will be released in December 2012 to tie in with an important date that fans may remember.

Also just signed up: ‘Run For Home: The Geordie who ran across America’ by Mark Allison. Mark is a true inspiration … starting on 1 May, he’ll be running 3,100 miles from LA to NYC and he’s writing a book about it as he goes. As if it’s not difficult enough running 31 miles a day, he’ll be blogging, tweeting, doing interviews, filming and writing a book to capture the whole journey. The book will be out in September.

As a comedy add-on to the book, Stu ‘I’ll do owt for a book, me’ Wheatman will be going over to run with him.

I’m not kidding. I’m going over for a couple of weeks to oversea the writing and to help motivate Mark as he’s taking a fair bit of work on. While I’m there, I’d feel way too guilty following in a crew van, so I’m now in training *coughs* to run for a day with Mark, or jog and walk. Or walk. Whichever. I’m doing it to raise money though, it’s not just an excuse to stuff burgers down my neck for three weeks. Part of me wishes it was just a case of sitting in a bath of baked beans, but I felt so inspired by Mark and want to live some of what he’s going through.

Please sponsor me if you can! Even a quid – whatever you can manage is VERY MUCH appreciated.

You can follow Mark’s progress here.

News of forthcoming titles can be found, as ever, on the Forthcoming Titles section on that there Tonto website.

Loads of publicity been going on recently as well. Snice to see authors and books getting a bit of what they deserve. Salways difficult getting mentions in the press when you are a minuscule publisher. The big worry for many at the moment is sales. It’s a bit mental to say the least. I mean, any old jerk can publish a book (and some old jerks do!), but it’s getting the shelf space that’s difficult. And bookstores are closing down all the time. Loadsa them. Buyers for stores and chains are being cautious, most publishers I know are being cautious (or looking for proper jobs) and all the time, customers want massive discounts on books. Not just that, but go to any Waterstone’s and see what the choice is … 3 for 2, 3 for 2 or like … 3 for 2. Don’t gerruswrong, 3 for 2 is nice. It’s the discounts and costs associated with being stocked on such a table that’s difficult for the small indies. Some still buy on a local level, which is fine for the self-publishers and hobbyists, but whaddabout those doing it for a living? How are you supposed to keep yourself in hair products and Clarks Originals when a store takes two of your books on at a 50/60% discount and pays you three months later after you’ve had to chase them up a few times? You think outside the box a bit. You have to.

Reallies, though. What can you do, eh?

You carry on, you plod on, you hope that having some great titles on your list will encourage buyers. You grin, you bear it, you do what you can behind the scenes. You hope for support and lots of people give it. You hope people read your blog and feel sorry for you (I haven’t had a haircut in months, have a heart). I’ve had some great submissions in recent months. My plan had been to get through them all over Christmas but I had to reserve that time for being ill. It’s a Wheatman tradition. I know there’ll be a few gems in there. I also optioned two great novels last year and can already see a brill list building for next year. And even a couple of writers have been in touch to say they’ve been picked up by publishers! Big congrats to Gary Dolman!

Keep the Faith!

Anyone living in the Newcastle area should drop in on The Cluny for scran. Their soup is billed as ‘a meal in itself’ and it is. I’m taking bribes soon for other busnii (plural of businesses, donchaknow?) to have a mention on here (is it one i or ii?). I’ve Tweeted about The George Cluny a bit recently too – it’s a kick in the pants away from Chateau Tonto and I’m convinced I’ll get a free drink if I keep saying how splendid it is there.

News just in …

I’ve signed up Hazel Plater and Carl Taylor for a new non-fiction. Who are these couple of hep cat writers, swanning around Tonto Towers with their big city ways I hear you ask. Well, Hazel worked in the box office at Riverside Newcastle and Carl used to go see bands there. The seamless link is that they are currently putting the finishing touches to ‘Riverside: Newcastle’s Legendary Alternative Music Venue’.

The Riverside, or the Riv as us cool kids used to call it, was not only a legendary alternative music venue but a way of life. If you are in a similar middle-aged state to my good self, and were into the ‘indie scene’, then the chances are that you probs saw a band play at that there Riverside at some point. If not, you were a total square or preferred the Bigg Market.

The premise for the book is that it creates a nice social history of the venue, the building and the area. The venue had so many elements to it … the way it was put together, the personnel, the driving force and mission statement, the gigs, the bands, the club nights, the controversies, the good, the bad and the uglies and … the (sniffles) final curtain. There was such a great social scene for many going from the mid 80s into late 90s: There was the Barley Mow that became the souless ‘Fog and Firkin’, catering for the townies and had a novelty phone box before becoming the lifestyle bar Stereo that had a novelty retro chair before becoming the downtrodden rotting shell that it is now and not so much a novelty. The Egypt Cottage, the link to The Tube at Tyne Tees next door … the oldie worldie bar across the road from there to play pool. Ah, the memories are flooding back.

The book has contributions from gig-goers, staff, DJs, promoters and many of the bands who played there. Nirvana played their first UK gig there, Noel Gallagher received his first on-stage punch in the boat race and my mate Spill fell asleep standing up in the mosh pit at the Pearl Jam gig.

Also in the news recently was the announcement that the Tontos have signed Robert Endeacott up for the third in his Leeds Trilogy. We may end up going down the Star Wars route at some point and bang a few prequels out. But until then, you can make do with Scandal FC: Bookseller article here. Scandal rejoins Jimmy O’Rouke as Terry Venables takes over at Leeds United and features, without giving too much away, some scandal.

Look out for more Robert Endeacott news coming soon.

The list for 2011 is still being updated and can be found by clicking here. All dates are subject to tweakage, but all can be preordered on the site.

Info on other new exciting 2011 titles to follow! I bet you can hardly wait.

Mistletoe and Wine, anyone?

As all is winding down for Christmas I thought I’d write yet another blog post. According to stats, nearly six people read the last one!

The snow is back, loads of books are getting lost in the post (or not, if you happen to know a postman and get a Tonto book for Christmas) but the mood is very positive going into the Noo Year. A few books I’ve been chasing for a few years look like they might now be happening and three new ones all came in on the same day. Fingers crossed that I’ll be able to shout about them pretty soon.

The much-anticipated Where’s Whitey?edit is complete and production will resume in January. As you can see on the link, we have testimonials from Goodfella Henry Hill, Ulrich Boser and there is another from Mr Nice himself, Howard Marks. The cover will be redesigned for the release in June, most likely featuring an image of Whitey to give it a more ‘fact-based-on-fiction’ feel. There’s quite a buzz about this book. Writers Phyllis Karas and Kevin Weeks are the number one best-selling team behind Brutal and we’re planning launches in the US of America as well as here. I’m in the process of firming up a few author events in Boston MA at the moment. I’ve just been awarded a £12,000 Arts Council grant to go to America to research possible venues to hold a launch. Which is nice. I’m starting in LA, then Las Vegas before flying to Miami and then New York to see what’s what in February. The grant includes all my spending money too – how cool is that?*

I’ve been in meetings for the last couple of weeks looking to develop e-book content going into next year. We aim to get all Tonto titles out in e-book format as well as looking into bringing a few titles out in audio book format. It’s all dead exciting! As a small indie (not even a big fish … not even a fish) it’s difficult to get up to speed with everything at once, but I’m working with some top people at the moment and all is progressing splendidly. And look out for a new imprint … publishing children’s books. Honest.*

E-books have been aal awa the industry press for yonks now. Of course, many remain septic. Some are even unsure. I doubt we have to run away from e-books like we’re being invaded by Scientologists, I reckon p-books and e-books will co-exist for a few lifetimes yet. I’ve always believed that children are the future and, if they want to download them there books and read them on those there phones, then who are wii to stand in their way, eh? We’ll always have our Ikea bookshelves to show off to our dinner guests as we sit around eating posh cheese and drinking real coffee. We don’t have that many record players around these days and most of us have flogged our LPs on Ebay but, hopefully, we’ll always have eyes. So reading will never stop – just the way we read is starting to change.

Christmas present ideas?

Get ‘Kill Your Friends’ for someone if you haven’t already.

Or ‘We Are Not Manslaughterers’.

Weller brought out a live CD recently that comes with a DVD.

And if you’re looking for a prezzie for me … Pretty Green does some lovely scarves.

WEBSITE UPDATES have started and will continue into tomorrow and the one after. Loads to get uploaded but bit by bit.

* That was a complete lie. Don’t even know why I wasted my time typing it. I suppose that’s just how I roll.

* That wasn’t a lie at all.

There’s been a load of submissions come in over the last few months. Had four in yesterday and one this morning. ‘S a bit mental. They’ll go on the pile with the rest of them, or in the ‘submish’ folder on the Tontuter (Tonto computer).

There’s been a ‘we are not looking for submissions’ thingy on the website for some time now. I’m not being rude, honest. If I don’t reply immediately it’s because I’m not looking for manuscripts. It’s great that there is so much interest and always nice to know there are so many writers out there, but when you’re not looking, you’re not looking.

I’m finalising next year’s schedule and have most of 2012 planned, so it’s just not possible to sift through stuff when we’re straight in to producing and selling next year’s titles. I’ve got four books in the edit at the moment and it’s the usual case of being a bit too busy to sit reading. My hair has developed a significant natural highlight this year. You wouldn’t think I’m only 24, would you? There’s also an imprint starting up and a whole separate list on the cards that I’m trying to set up. I’m also still actively sourcing works from people that I think will sell well (aka hassling people in the same way as I hassled Mr Donald), so it also limits what I’d be looking for in submissions.

So, you could say I’m a bit snowed under with submissions.

God, I’m too funny sometimes. Snowed under … geddit? See, cos there’s loads of snow everywhere and-

Oh, right. You got it.

Shall I do my slush pile gag now then?

If you sent a manuscript in yonks ago and ignorant Wheatman hasn’t got back to you, soz. Like last year, I’m gonna try to read through some over Christmas between stuffing my boat full of turkey and drinking gallons of wine. I’m dyslexic anyway – it takes me weeks just to get past the first page.

I’ll be tweaking the submission criteria soon and will be lifting the submission ban. I planned on doing this a while back but never got round to it.

Here’s a couple of funnies from this week:

1. From someone looking for editing/proof reading work:

‘I ahev had some experience of proofreading.’

2. An extract of a complaint about an author I published:

‘If this swearing continues I will no longer read any more of her books.’

3. The entire query letter:

‘I have written a book and I would like to ask if you are willing to publish it. It seems to be top notch and worth a fortune.’

To sum up, me luv:

I’m aiming to get through submissions by the end of the year.

If I don’t, I’m sure I’ll get back to you at some point. Probs worth punting your work around in the meantime though.

If you don’t hear back – you probs emailed it in during the ‘I don’t want any submissions’ signage on the website and it would have got cleared out of my in box to save space – aka, deleted in a ranty diva strop.

If you just sent it with no explanation why or with anything in the body of the email, it may have got deleted too.

Seriously though, sometimes emails slip past when all is busy. To do lists change by the day. Please don’t be offended if it takes a while to get to your submission in my pile – there aren’t that many publishers who read anything that doesn’t come in via an agent these days and the chance of getting published is getting more difficult by the month. Small indies simply don’t have the resources to publish all that comes in – out of a thousand, maybe a handful would be possible and whittled down to one. If I read something that is good but not something that would fit my list, I might pass it on to a publisher mate.

Keep the faith though, eh?

Happy Christmas and all that.

Another mental year for the Tontos. In all honesty, this publishing lark is quite bizarre. An up and down year is now ending on a high … even though I’m snowed in and having a bad hair day (I’m joking. As if I’d have a bad hair day).

We’re going into next year with some strong titles. Four of them were scheduled to be published this year and were postponed. It’s nice to be going into a new year with them nearing completion and already with pre-sales on them.

We’ve also got a few new faces on side for next year. It’s never easy doing everything with one person and a couple of freelancers, but with a few more good people around me and some help in the new office, we should be able to achieve some ambitious goals. Or fail miserably and die trying. Whichever.

Good stuff that happened this year:

Making it this far (five years now) in difficult times for many publishers, being amazed by the entire production of We Are Not Manslaughterers, working with a brilliant designer (Elliot at www.preamptive.com), publishing two books by Andrew Crofts, finally getting a biog from Simon Donald after stalking him for a few years, taking Zippy to London Book Fair, seeing EMTSS get published and successfully launched (phew), having the support of a splendid sales company and some brilliant authors, launching two books at Waterstone’s Piccadilly, getting two authors on the front page of newspapers, getting a third edition of Dirty Leeds out, seeing some good friends make it through a testing year and come out of it all stronger … and remaining sane throughout the bad stuff (cheers, Smailsey). I’m sure there was more good stuff … I got a great pair of Hudson shoes in June, was called ‘dishy’ by Dawn French during a book meeting (she got divorced soon after, nowt to do with me), got our first rider for a book gig (included cakes that Gok Wan didn’t consume the day before during his gig), got an advance copy of Weller’s new album and survived some nights out in Wakefield, Huddersfield, Liverpool, London and even one in Sunderland. Waterstone’s Leeds has been as brilliant as ever too. Oh, and The Trip on TV – highlight of the year. And further plans to work with the amazing Mr Floyd Hayes on at least two books (yes it will happen). And didn’t meet Pixie Lott.

Stuff I’m looking forward to:

Shakespeare & Love will be out in 2011. This one was delayed for a few legal reasons this year and is now green lit for release. Raymond Scott ended up being sentenced for 8 years for handling the stolen First Folio. He had media coverage around the world and a BBC1 documentary before getting locked up and was Sunday Sun front page news while in prison. He’s currently working in the prison library. I wonder how many copies he’ll be ordering for April …

Robert Endeacott is slaving away over book 3 in the ‘Leeds Trilogy’, Scandal FC. Might even let him out the Tonto writing room in time for Christmas. If he’s lucky. Actually, he’s signing at Waterstone’s Leeds on 4 December … better get searching for the padlock keys.

I’m currently in the process of signing up a few new titles by writers I’ve been itching to work with for yonks. Will be updating the website as they come in.

Not meeting Pixie Lott.

A good seller heading towards Christmas has been Him Off The Viz by Simon Donald. We’ve had some brilliant events for it and were just at Waterstone’s Piccadilly in big ol’ London for a launch on Monday this week. In attendance were Tonto authors Andrew Crofts, Ashley Hames and new signing Dave Thompson (Dave used to play Tinky Winky in the Teletubbies. Honest) . It was a reat turnout, regardless of the tube strike and having to get cabs everywhere. We had a drinks reception at the Sanctum Hotel in Soho afterwards where we were joined by a few others including my bezzy mate the actor Craig Conway … and some people even made it to bed before 5am. The roof garden even has a jacuzzi, though I can’t say who ended up in it.  We’re looking to set up an event for the book at the hotel in Feb 2011 that’ll be even more rock n roll. Stay tuned for updates.

Other Him Off The Viz highlights have been a gig at the Cafe Culture with New Writing North, titled ‘Fart Jokes Bought Me Sports Cars’ and a gig at Newcastle Library to 180 people. All tickets for The Journal Culture Club gig on 9 December at the Lit and Phil are now gone. Get in!

I should have been seeing Paul Weller at Newcastle Arena tonight. It got snowed off. Pesky snow!

If I don’t get round to blogging again this month, have a great Christmas and even greaterer New Year. Remember, a book isn’t just for Christmas and you can buy loads of them at MASSIVE discounts on the Tonto Books website at the moment.

Peace out, dawgs!