A busy weekend for Tonto events coming up:

Today, Friday 22 August: Sin Cities Ashley Hames author event, Clapham Books, Clapham 7.30pm.

Tomorrow, Saturday 23 August: Being Normal Stephen Shieber book signing, Borders, Silverlink, Newcastle, from 12noon.

Tomorrow, Saturday 23 August: Everything You Ever Wanted Rosalind Wyllie book signing, Borders, Team Valley, Gateshead, from 1pm.

These are Stephen and Rosalind’s first ever in-store signings, so do pop along to support them, they probably won’t bite.

P.S. Another quick mention for our Backing Stephen Miller for Gold! “minisite”. Stephen jets of for the Paralympics on Sunday. Leave your message of support here.

Paul

Obviously, here at Tonto Books we’re backing Stephen Miller for gold at the Beijing Paralympics. The Paralympian author jets off on Sunday to begin his quest for a fourth consecutive Paralympic gold medal.

We’ve set up a special website to follow Stephen’s progress and to allow visitors to post messages of support. Stephen will be following the website from Beijing. You can read a message from Stephen, get the latest news, and post your messages of support here: http://www.tontobooks.com/miller

Paul

Congratulations to Stephen, following his fantastic silver medal win at the Beijing Paralympics. He came back from fourth position to set a new personal best with a throw of 34.37m, which was only surpassed by Tunisia’s Mourad Idoudi’s new world record of 35.77m. Stephen is sure to be disappointed not to have finished first, but he has a silver medal to add to his THREE gold medals, and is sure to be back for London 2012.

Stephen said, “Silver is better than fourth, but obviously I wanted to win. Overall I’m pleased with my performance. The athlete from Tunisia threw a massive PB, but that’s sport… I am determined to come back from this and if I could get a medal, and gold, in London it would be a dream come true. I’ll be training harder and be more prepared than ever to get that.”

You can see lots of press coverage of Stephen’s medal win here.

Add your message to Stephen below!
Just click on “POST COMMENT”, and please leave your name:

What is is with Tonto book launches and torrential rain? Two years ago another August downpour threatened to wash out the Wor Al launch, but last night’s storm, with lightning flashing across the black sky and striking the construction cranes that tower over Newcastle City Centre, was something else. Thankfully the weather didn’t stop well over 100 hardy souls from turning up at Northern Stage to celebrate the launch of Stephen Shieber’s Being Normal and Rosalind Wyllie’s Everything You Ever Wanted.

Stephen, Roz and Beccy
The event was presented by New Writing North and compered by NWN’s Claire Malcolm. The evening began with music from Newcastle’s own Beccy Owen. Then actors Laura Norton and Vicky Elliot read excerpts from Everything You Ever Wanted, and Laura read from Being Normal. Roz and Stephen gave quick thank you speeches, there was a raffle(!) and then Beccy returned to the stage with more music.

Stephen and Roz sign copies of their books
Both authors then signed copies of their books for a queue of people that at one point stretched right across the room. Among those in attendance were Roz’s mentor Caroline Smailes, plus forthcoming Tonto authors Nik Jones and Sarah Shaw. At this point I should say that the venue’s moody stage lighting meant our photos are a bit rubbish. That’s my excuse anyway.

Beccy, Laura and Vicky on stage
Thanks to both Stephen and Ros, Claire and New Writing North, Beccy (visit her MySpace), Laura and Vicky. Thanks also to Jill and Caroline for helping with book sales (again!). And thanks to everyone who turned up, despite the summer weather.

That signing queue in full…
Both Everything You Ever Wanted and Being Normal are available now from all good book shops, and if you’re quick you can get both for £10 from our online shop. If you’d like to get signed copies, this Saturday (23 August) Stephen will be at Borders Silverlink from 12 noon, and Rosalind will be at Borders Gateshead from 1pm.

Paul

The double-header launch event for Rosalind Wyllie’s Everything You Ever Wanted and Stephen Shieber’s Being Normal is today, Tuesday 19 August, at Northern Stage, Newcastle upon Tyne, from 5pm to 7pm. The event, organised by New Writing North, will feature readings from the books, a chance to get signed copies, and music from Beccy Owen. There will also be some special only-available-on-the-day book offers, so roll up, roll up. Photos will follow tomorrow.

Paul

Another good weekend for Stephen Miller and his autobiography Paralympian. A signing session saw the book hit the number one spot in the instore chart at Borders in Gateshead, and meanwhile, across at Borders Silverlink – one of the biggest stores in the country – Paralympian sold more copies on Saturday than any other title.

Stephen Miller with Gateshead manager Ron Wilcox
All this despite some rare glorious weather, and the fact that Silverlink store’s popular Starbucks was closed for refurbishment, meaning ‘footfall’ was much lower than usual. (And of course Stephen’s weekend was topped off on Sunday with a ‘moral victory’ for Kevin Keegan’s Newcastle United team against Manchester United!)

Stephen, Ron, and Stephen’s mam Ros
Following great coverage in The Sun, on the BBC, and in scores of other places, Stephen is now preparing to jet off to Beijing next Monday, via the Team GB training camp in Macau. We’ll be setting up a dedicated website that will allow you to follow Stephen’s progress and send your messages of support as he chases that fourth consecutive gold medal.

Paul

A quick reminder that tomorrow, Saturday 16 August, Stephen Miller will be signing copies of Paralympian: My Autobiography at Borders Team Valley, Gateshead from 12 noon, and Borders Silverlink, Newcastle from 3pm. These will be your last chance to meet Stephen and wish him luck before he jets off to Beijing.

Stephen at The Back Page book shop last Saturday
Chances are, by the time he gets back home with his fourth (and possibly fifth) gold medal he’ll be far too famous to mix with the likes of you and me! You’ll be able to follow his progress on the BBC, and, of course, right here on our website.

Paul

Borders are offering £5 off when you spend £25 or more in-store – print out your voucher here. The voucher is valid between 12 and 18 August 2008

Into a seamless plug – why not take your voucher with you when you go to meet Stephen Miller, who, coincidentally, will be at Borders stores in Team Valley, Gateshead (from 12 noon) and Silverlink, Newcastle (from 3pm) this Saturday 16 August, signing copies of his book Paralympian: My Autobiography.

This will be your last chance to meet Stephen and wish him luck before he jets off to Beijing in the following week.

Paul

Courtesy of Andrea at Brighton’s Juice 107.2, here’s a chance to hear her interview Ashley Hames prior to his Sin Cities book event at Brighton Borders last Friday. You can listen to it here (mp3 file, right click to save as).

According to Andrea’s blog, ‘The small edited excerpt he read made my face go redder than one of Ainsley Harriott’s ‘red tomatoes’.’

Paul

Following on from yesterday, here is the first outing for the cover of 9987 by Nik Jones. Nik’s novel will be released alongside Sarah’s in the new year.

Stu