Black & White Publishing Christmas 2011 Newsletter

Hello from Black & White Publishing,

Christmas is almost upon us and if you haven’t started your present shopping yet let us help you out!

We have some perfect gift ideas so please take a look at our latest titles as well as some wonderful reviews.

LATEST TITLES

 RiverCity Quiz Book

Test your knowledge of Scottish soap opera River City in this fun, unofficial quiz about the life and times of the residents of the fictional town of Shieldinch. This quirky quiz covers everything from the birth of Madonna and the parts played by pop stars, to the only stop on Glasgow’s Clockwork Orange never to have seen a train. Whether you’re a casual fan or a loyal devotee, test how much you really know about Scotland’s best (and only) TV soap with The Completely Unofficial River City Quiz Book.

The Completely Unofficial River City Quiz Book is now available.

Watch Over Me 

An ethereal and beautifully written debut novel, Watch Over Me is a poignant story about letting go and moving on – with a little bit of help from beyond the grave.

Watch Over Me is now available.

“Pretty impossible to put down.” – Novelicious

“A strong voice in contemporary Scottish fiction” BooksfromScotland.com

 Herald Diary 2011

If all Scotsmen think they are a comedian, then the Herald newspaper’s daily Diary column is their jokebook. When true life cartwheels over into humour or a joke is cracked in a Scottish office, bar or playground, it usually ends up in the Diary. The year 2011 has brought us royal weddings, Scottish elections, tumbling house prices, headline-grabbing football matches and dire weather.

In this volume, we gather the very best tales from the column, proving that ordinary Scots are still the natural comedians of the world.

The Herald Diary is now available.

 

NEWS & REVIEWS

Debut novelist Daniela Sacerdoti was interviewed on BBC Radio Scotland’s the Book Café by Clare English about herself and her book Watch Over Me.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b017vxq0

Daniela received fantastic praise from several fiction bloggers;

Kim the Book Worm overflowed with praise saying, “This is a book that deserves to be read by everybody, such an enjoyable read… I absolutely loved it. An amazing debut novel from [a] magnificient writer who I am sure is going to be a massive success…”

The BookBag.co.uk reviewer said it was “a thoroughly enjoyable book which I was really sorry to finish.”

Novelicious.com said, Watch Over Me is a poignant and beautifully crafted story. The chapters are short and it’s pretty impossible to put it down.”

Watch Over Me was both reviewed and Daniela was also interviewed on the blog Books to Remember both of which can be viewed here;

http://books-to-remember.blogspot.com/2011/11/watch-over-me-daniela-sacerdoti.html

http://books-to-remember.blogspot.com/2011/11/daniela-sacerdoti-interview-and.html


Watch Over Me also has a book trailer which can be viewed on youtube, please check it out here;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20L_moYbUsA&feature=youtu.be

 

The Completely Unofficial River City Quiz Book by Paul English is an ode to Shieldinch proving that time spent on the sofa watching soaps is not all bad. Check out an excerpt in the Daily Record and a reader offer, as well as a brief confessional by a Scots soap anorak.

www.dailyrecord.co.uk/showbiz/television-news/2011/10/26/just-how-well-do-you-know-river-city-try-our-quiz-86908-23516837/

The Greenock Telegraph did a piece on Paul English and his River City Quiz Book as he is a former reporter of theirs.
Paul said “Most people will know someone in their family who watches River City, whether proudly or as a guilty pleasure.”

 

The Edinburgh Book Review described Sandy Macnair’s Carspotting: The Real Adventures of Irvine Welsh as,
“a rollicking good kick in the teeth, and as one would expect, a wild and punk storytelling that propels the reader forward”. High praise!


COMPETITION

** WIN a FREE copy of the 2011 The Herald Diary **

3 free copies to be won!

To enter, please send your name and full postal address to mail@blackandwhitepublishing.com

along with the answer to the following question:

What famous new animal to Scotland is featured on the Herald Diary cover?

(Competition ends Friday 30th December)

From all of us at Black & White Publishing, Merry Christmas!

Black & White Publishing Bumper Autumn Newsletter

Hello from Black & White Publishing,

Autumn is here which means it’s time to cuddle up on the sofa with a good book! And we are as always very happy to provide you with some exciting suggestions. So with that in mind please check out our latest titles, some more wonderful reviews and a super competition as well.

NEW BOOKS

Paradise&Beyond

Chris Sutton is one of the finest centre-forwards of his generation. He played for Norwich, Blackburn, Chelsea and Celtic for combined transfer fees of more than £20million. His career is littered with prizes and controversy, from refusing to play for England and his disastrous season at Chelsea, to making history with Celtic and Blackburn.

In his candid autobiography, Paradise and Beyond, he lifts the lid on it all – the family torment, the gambling debts, the incident that led to him being arrested the night before his £5million record transfer fee from Norwich to Blackburn and much more. He gives his honest assessment of managers he played under such as Glenn Hoddle, Kenny Dalglish, Martin O’Neill and Luca Vialli. Sutton also opens his heart on the truth behind his controversial departure from Celtic. This book is not to be missed.

Paradise and Beyond is available now.

Take It To The Bridge

From the early days of pop when The Beatles shook the Caird Hall, to the current day when local heroes The View shake that same hall, Dundee has had a rich and passionate connection with music.

This book takes us on a journey from the heyday of the dancehalls through to today’s diverse music scene. Dundee’s musical history is littered with famous names including the Average White Band, Billy Mackenzie and the Associates, Danny Wilson, Ricky Ross from Deacon Blue and Michael Marra. This book covers that and much more – the local heroes such as St. Andrew and Dougie Martin, figures who are respected beyond the city limits. It looks at the rich jazz and folk scenes as well as the record stores, venues and figures that have made the music scene in the city so vibrant.

Through their own words we see behind the scenes and share the stories that made Dundee music great fun.

Take It To The Bridge is available now.

Shearer PB

Duncan Shearer’s incredible rise from non-league football to the international stage was a football fairytale. Beneath this seeming fairytale, however, lies a heart-rending story of personal tragedy and a heartwarming tale of triumph in the face of adversity.

Shearer Wonderland isavailable now updated and in paperback.

 Sandison's Scotland

Sandison’s Scotland is a wonderful collection of stories and tales about some of Scotland’s most wild and evocative places, all written by a man who is clearly in love with his native land, its people, culture and history.

Sandison’s Scotland is a book for all times and all seasons. It will captivate and delight readers as they embark on an unforgettable journey through this magical land. It is available now.

 

 WeeRabbiesRhymes

A simple, funny, colourful introduction to Burns, Wee Rabbie’s Rhymes will entertain the bairns and encourage parents and teachers not only to recite the lines from the poems but perhaps also to sing the tunes to songs like ‘Ca the Yowes’ and ‘Ye Banks and Braes’, ‘A Red, Red Rose’ and, as a grand finale, ‘Auld Lang Syne’. Wee Rabbie’s Rhymes is available now.

 Franck Sauzee

From the author of There Is A Bonny Fitba Team and co-author of Pat Stanton’s Hibernian Dream Team and The Life and Times of Last Minute Reilly comes another brilliant tribute to a Hibernian legend. Ted Brack tells the story of Franck Sauze?e’s time at Easter Road and how Le God embraced the Hibs culture and quickly won over the fans.

Ted takes fans behind the scenes to document the highs and lows of Sauze?e’s time at Easter Road. With inside stories from directors, managers, players and supporters, this is a must-read book for Hibs fans of all ages who still treasure the memory of Franck Sauze?e, Hibernian superstar.

There’s Only One Sauze?e is available now.

 Willie Miller

Willie Miller is an Aberdeen legend. In a glittering career he won every domestic honour, played in two World Cup Finals for Scotland and led Aberdeen to victory in the 1983 European Cup Winners’ Cup. He played with and against some of the greatest footballers of all time and now selects his Aberdeen Dream Team of the greatest players ever to pull on the famous red jersey.

Packed full of facts and anecdotes about the club’s greatest heroes, Willie Miller’s Aberdeen Dream Team is a fascinating and entertaining read for Dons fans of all ages. But will you agree with Willie’s selections and the reasons he chose them?

Willie Miller’s Aberdeen Dream Team is available now.

 NEWS & REVIEWS

Gordon Smith: Prince of Wingers received high praise from Hibs.net reviewer John Robertson;

“It is a beautifully crafted piece of writing and is captivating from first page until last, packed full of little gems of information and anecdotes galore. It is a book that once I started to read it I could not put it down and though I never saw the great man play I held him in high esteem because of all the tales handed down from those that had.”

Maureen Reynolds’ A Private Sorrow was the October Book of the Month for the Scots Magazine and got a great review;
“This is a well-planned crime novel, its short chapters ensuring the kaleidoscope of changing scenes and characters serves to sustain suspense.”

Also Undiscovered Scotland gave Bruce’s third book this year, Sandison’s Scotland a thorough review.

One description says it has a “great deal of interest and novelty to offer even those of us who feel we know the areas covered”.

Gangsters, Killers and Me author Gerard Gallacher was interviewed by Sunday Mail journalist Norman Silvester earlier this month in addition to the printed extracts.

“A hard-working officer will always draw complaints from criminals if he is doing his job properly.” – Gerard Gallacher

Celtic Mad attended the press conference for the launch of Chris Sutton’s Paradise and Beyond

“In his autobiography, Sutton is not shy in telling it like it is – warts and all.”

Affliated site Scotland Mad has some great photos of the press conference as well.

The Independent Norwich City Supporters Club gave a glowing review of Paradise and Beyond.

“If you like something with substance rather than the all too frequent bland self-promotions that these books often are I would urge you to read this. You won’t be disappointed.”

Ken Bruce, The Herald’s arts editor reviewed Take It To The Bridge and described it as having “a compelling narrative” and that it had “the instinctive and captivating drive of a soap opera”.

The writing of There’s Only One Sauzée by Ted Brack was not an easy task as he relates to the Scotsman’s Colin Leslie. However he had no shortage of material for his tribute, with former team-mates, supporters and journalists glad to pay homage to the Gallic great.

“You have to come to the conclusion that he was deeply hurt by his departure and has maybe closed the door on the Hibs part of his life – for the moment at least,” said Brack.

Scotland Mad covered the Franck Sauzee launch party with much aplomb – see the piece covering the evening here – including some great photos from the night of the special guests, Ian Murray, Stuart Lovell, Mickey Weir and more!

See the photos here

The Sun, STV and Inverness Reds also covered the much anticipated release of Willie Miller’s Aberdeen Dream Team by WIllie Miller and Rob Robertson. A book guaranteed to be a fan favourite. Article links below.

SunSTVInverness Reds

Black & White Publishing is delighted to have acquired BBC presenter Richard Gordon’s Glory in Gothenburg. This definitive account of Aberdeen FC’s 1983 Cup Winners Cup win will be published to celebrate the 30th anniversary of that famous victory. With first-hand accounts and anecdotes from all the leading players and participants this celebration will be a must-read for all fans.

 COMPETITION

** WIN a FREE SIGNED copy of Chris Sutton’s autobiography Paradise and Beyond **

4 free copies to be won!

To enter, please send your name and full postal address to mail@blackandwhitepublishing.com

along with the answer to the following question:

With which famous Swedish footballer did Chris form an important partnership at Celtic?

(Competition ends Friday 25th November)

Black & White Publishing September Newsletter

Hello from Black & White Publishing,

The summer is over but the fun has only just begun! We’ve broken into the autumn season and you can look forward to a gaggle of fantastic titles. Please check out our latest books and our forthcoming titles, along with some stirling reviews we’ve been getting and a bumper competition to boot.

NEW BOOKS

Carspotting

In Carspotting: The Real Adventures of Irvine Welsh, Sandy Macnair presents an affectionate portrayal of his real life madcap adventures with Irvine Welsh through their twenties. A fascinating and entertaining account of one of Scotland’s best-loved authors.

Carspotting: The Real Adventures of Irvine Welsh is in shops now.

Gordon Smith

Gordon Smith: Prince of Wingers is a biographical story recounting the life of legendary ‘Famous Five’ Hibee footballer Gordon Smith and written by his son Tony. His mesmeric skills and grace gave joy to many football fans, not only during his time with the Leith club, but also whilst playing for Heart of Midlothian, Dundee and Scotland. A unique insight into the life of this very private man.

Gordon Smith: Prince of Wingers is in shops now.

It Wisnae Me

The hilarious adventures of Harry the Polis, the self-appointed Chief Constable of funny stories, continue with the publication of his ninth book, It Wisnae Me… Honest! Harry tackles the funny side of policing and introduces us to more of his zany characters and incidents. There’s the Inspector with second wife syndrome, the woman assaulted by a flying sausage, the dead donkey on the manse lawn and the private call to Prince Charles to name a few.

It Wisnae Me… Honest! is in shops now.

Law Life Laughter

Legendary Sheriff Irvine Smith QC is one of the most formidable lawyers of his generation, serving as counsel in some of Scotland’s biggest cases before his appointment to Sheriff. He built a reputation as a no-nonsense judge with a sharp intellect and a dry and ready wit. He is without doubt one of the most respected and admired men of his time and now gives his expert verdict on the law, life and laughter.

Law, Life and Laughter: A Personal Verdict is in shops now.

FORTHCOMING TITLES

Walter Smith B

After an illustrious career, Walter Smith stepped down as manager at Ibrox. In this tribute to the legend, Rangers stars past and present unite to honour one of the most decorated and successful managers in Scottish football. Ibrox favourites from across the decades, including heroes like Brian Laudrup, Ally McCoist, Andy Goram, Davie Weir, Nacho Novo and countless others, give their own unique insight into the man they affectionately call their ‘Gaffer’ as well as offering fans a behind-the-scenes look at how Smith returned for his second spell at Ibrox to deliver domestic and European success against a backdrop of financial meltdown.

Updates to this edition include contributions from Nikica Jelavic, Steven Whittaker, Vladimir Weiss and Kenny McDowall as well as a chapter covering Walter’s final championship success.

Walter Smith: The Ibrox Gaffer is published in an updated paperback edition 15th September.

Ruby B

The MacLean family has more than their fair share of secrets. They live in a close-knit community on Glasgow’s High Street and the men work on the railways. They’re hard-working, ordinary, respectable people but, behind the facade, they are a family in crisis. From the author of The Holy City.

Ruby is published in paperback 22nd September.

Gangsters, Killers& Me

Gerard Gallacher served as a police officer in Glasgow for three decades at a the time when drugs seized hold of the city and a new set of ruthless criminals were threatening to take control. There was still the usual violence of the city to deal with but it was the huge increase in drug use that defined the times and led to many of the most notorious incidents in the city’s criminal past. And Gerard Gallacher was in the thick of the action. This is a compelling account of a police career at the sharp end of the action by a detective who wouldn’t toe the line and dealt with all the major criminals of the times.

Gangsters, Killers and Me is published 22nd September.

Aye Ready

A generation of Ibrox stars fought for their country on foreign shores and while some emerged to once again pull on their football boots, others were less fortunate and paid the ultimate price for their loyalty to the cause. Aye Ready profiles the stories of a selection of the club’s war veterans – their life and times in football and in war. From the author of Pittodrie Idols and Tannadice Idols.

Aye Ready: Rangers War Heroes is published 29th September.

NEWS & REVIEWS

The Barlinne Story by Robert Jeffrey has been nominated for the Saltire Society Scottish History Book Award.
Undiscovered Scotland also reviewed the book describing it as “an informative and eye-opening read about one of the world’s most notorious prisons.”

http://www.saltiresociety.org.uk/3

Dominik Diamond’s Celtic and Me received a favourable review from ScottishFitba.net site proving even a non-partisan Scottish Football reviewer can enjoy one of the bhoys.

http://www.scotland-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/double_diamond__theres_a_thought_689119/index.shtml

Our Harry Morris aka Harry the Polis has launched his own website – packed with reviews, some videos of Harry on tour and his entire series of books – its funny stuff! Not to mention his recent interview with Janice Forsyth on BBC Scotland’s Comedy Cafe.
Listen to the interview on BBC iPlayer.

Undiscovered Scotland reviewed our new edition of Gentle Johnny Ramensky describing it as a remarkable story.

http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/usreviews/books/bwramensky.html

The People’s Friend magazine has given Maureen Reynold’s A Private Sorrow a great review;

“This is a cracking mystery story that will have you hooked and packed full of warm nostalgia for Dundee during the 1950s”.


Black & White Publishing launched it’s first book trailer for Sandy Macnair’s
Carspotting: The Real Adventures of Irvine Welsh

The Edinburgh Evening News‘s Catherine Salmond provided two pieces on Carspotting this week;

“The book reads somewhat like a Trainspotting adventure, as Welsh and Macnair pass the decades in and out of employment, but always enjoying the hospitality of bars and nightclubs – many of which they were later barred from.”

“Sandy Macnair’s new book recalls memories of time spent with Irvine Welsh, including Hibs-related fun and their days of heavy drinking in the Capital.”

The Scotsman‘s Aiden Smith interviewed Carspotting author Sandy Macnair in Leith close to the heart of Sandy and Irvine Welsh’s old stomping grounds. The feature captures the foundation of Sandy and Irvine’s friendship;

“Two rascally types who recognised a kindred spirit”.

The Daily Record’s Annie Brown interviewed Sandy Macnair shedding further light on his literal trials and tribulations with the Trainspotting author.
“Irvine gave [the book] his full approval. Many people might have baulked at having their dodgy escapades from the past dragged into the daylight many years later but he was happy to pass the book.” –
Sandy

The Scotland on Sunday‘s Paul Forsyth interviewed our author Tony Smith on his biography about his father Gordon Smith: Prince of Wingers. A wonderful two page spread that captures a loving tribute by a son for his father.
If truth be told, he probably wouldn’t have agreed to it if he had been alive. He was a very private person.”

Another Scotland on Sunday piece by Nicholas Christian also speaks highly of Gordon Smith: Prince of Wingers.
“Tony Smith cannot believe that he is the first to chronicle the story of his father, one of the most successful and fascinating players Scotland has produced

Gordon Smith: Prince of Wingers is featured in the Scottish Sun exploring Gordon’s time rubbing shoulders with movie stars and Alfred Hitchcock.
He drove a sports car, became close friends with greats of the jazz scene and golfing world — and enthralled French movie star Brigitte Bardot with his stories eating bread pudding in the Smiths’ front room.

EVENTS

Gordon Smith: Prince of Wingers author Tony Smith will be signing copies of his new book at the following locations:

Waterstone’s Ocean Terminal, Edinburgh – Saturday 10th September2pm – 3pm
Waterstone’s Fort Kinnaird
, Edinburgh – Saturday 17th September2pm – 3pm
Waterstone’s Livingston – Sunday 18th September
2pm – 3pm

It Wisnae Me… Honest! author Harry Morris will be signing copies of his new book at the following locations:

Waterstone’s Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow – Saturday 10th September2pm – 3pm
Waterstone’s Falkirk – Saturday 17th September
1pm – 2pm
Waterstone’s Livingston – Saturday 24th September
2pm – 3pm


COMPETITION

** WIN a FREE copy of Sandy Macnair’s Carspotting **

3 free copies to be won!

To enter, please send your name and full postal address to mail@blackandwhitepublishing.com

along with the answer to the following question:

What was the name of the main character in Irvine Welsh’s Trainspotting?

(Competition ends Friday 30th September 5pm.)

Black & White Publishing August Newsletter

Hello from Black & White Publishing!

Our Scottish summer is in full swing – festivals, holidays, sun and the ever present rain! We have some further summer reading for you so please check out our new titles and a special sneak peek at a couple of our forthcoming titles in September.

NEW TITLES

Last Minute Reilly

Lawrie Reilly is one of Hibernian and Scotland’s greatest ever players. As a key member of Hibs’ legendary Famous Five forward line, he played a prominent part in the most successful period in the club’s history. Now, in The Life and Times of Last Minute Reilly, Lawrie Reilly tells the fascinating story of his life for the first time.

The Life and Times of Last Minute Reilly is published 15th August in paperback and features a tribute to Eddie Turnbull.

Barlinnie B Story

Barlinnie is one of the most notorious prisons in the world and for a hundred years it has held Glasgow’s toughest and most violent men, swept up from the city’s streets. Paul Ferris, T C Campbell and gangleaders galore have languished behind its grim walls and, a hundred years on, Barlinnie still makes headlines. This is its fascinating, turbulent story.

The Barlinnie Story is published 18th August in pocket edition.

SNEAK PEEK

Carspotting

In Carspotting: The Real Adventures of Irvine Welsh, Sandy Macnair presents an affectionate portrayal of his real life madcap adventures with Irvine Welsh through their twenties. A fascinating and entertaining account of one of Scotland’s best-loved authors.

Carspotting: The Real Adventures of Irvine Welsh is published 1st September.

Aye Ready

A generation of Ibrox stars fought for their country on foreign shores and while some emerged to once again pull on their football boots, others were less fortunate and paid the ultimate price for their loyalty to the cause. Aye Ready profiles the stories of a selection of the club’s war veterans their life and times in football and in war.

Aye Ready: Rangers War Heroes is published 15th September.

REVIEWS

Another glowing review for one of our true crime titles from True Crime Book Reviews.

“Glasgow’s Godfather is a richly detailed story that is very difficult to put down”

http://truecrimebookreviews.com/2011/07/glasgows-godfather-robert-jeffrey-walter-norval/

COMPETITION

3 copies of The Barlinnie Story to be won!

To enter, please send you name and full postal address to mail@blackandwhitepublishing.

To win a copy of our book please the answer the following question:

In which Scottish city is Barlinnie prison?

Please come join us on Facebook!

www.facebook.com/pages/Black-and-White-Publishing/35624882298

Or check out our website

www.blackandwhitepublishing.com/index.php

Black & White Publishing June/July Newsletter

Hello from Black & White Publishing!

Summer is finally here and we have a great range of summer reading for you

So please check out our new titles, events, reviews and more.

NEW TITLES

PrivateSorrow

Private detective Molly McQueen heads up a new investigation and the search for a long-lost child ends up unravelling a tale of misery and revenge, laced with family secrets and heartbreak in Maureen Reynolds new book A Private Sorrow.

A Private Sorrow is published on 29th June.

GlasgowsGodfather

Walter Norval was a man marked by destiny to be a career criminal in one of Britain’s hardest cities. He honed his talent for lawbreaking and emerged in the Seventies as the first of a succession of Glasgow godfathers. Glasgow’s Godfather is a story told by the best-selling crime historian Robert Jeffrey, tracing the rise and fall of the pin-striped Glaswegian general of organised crime.

Glasgow’s Godfather is now in shops.

Celtic&MeB

Celtic & Me: Confessions from the Jungle is the funny, original story of Dominik Diamond’s very public life as a Celtic supporter. From sickening bigotry to the joy he felt at being part of the Celtic family, he is a man who refused to shut up and one who paid the price for being an Old Firm fan with a well-known face.

Celtic & Me is published in pocket edition 15th July.

GentleJohnnyB

Gentle Johnny Ramensky is the astonishing tale of a boy reared in the poverty of the Gorbals who became one of the world’s most extraordinary safe blowers. The Daily Record‘s review said “His life of crime, his escapes and his personal code would ordinarily have brought him a degree of notoriety during his lifetime. But it was his desire to serve his country in its hour of need and his escapades behind enemy lines without care for his safety that set Ramensky apart”.

Gentle Johnny Ramensky is published 15th July.

REVIEWS

Scotland on Sunday Suitcase Essentials Book reviews gives a glowing review of Walter Smith: The Ibrox Gaffer! “…author Scott Burns has meticulously compiled testimony from those closest to the Ibrox boss over the past two decades… [and] above all it is the manager’s commitment to the Ibrox club that comes across loud and clear”.

http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/sport/Suitcase-essentials-books.6779823.jp

The Scottish Story Telling Centre’s Donald Smith gave Millie Gray’s Crystal’s Song a great review. Crystal’s Song is a more focussed and strongly personal account of one life than [Millie's] previous books. It’s about how that character comes through traumas of family struggle and of war to make her own choices. Crystal is a gutsy survivor, but she wins through to do more than survive. So the story is dramatic, funny and earthy, but it’s uplifting too – a story of hope.”

http://www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk/get_involved/scottish_storytelling_news.asp


Undiscovered Scotland’s Ken Lussey has already heaped praise upon Bruce Sandison’s Lies, Damned Lies & Anglers! “His stories are suffused with humour and self-deprecation, and with a deep and contagious love for fishing and for Scotland, and the northern Highlands in particular. He brings to his observations an understanding of the natural world and a strong sense of [its] sometimes tragic history…”

http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/usreviews/books/bwliesanglers.html

SpinFish Online Magazine speaks highly of Sandison’s Lies, Damned Lies & Anglers as well; “As ever Sandison amuses, informs and inspires the reader to explore the myriad lochs and rivers of our Scottish home land reminding you, the angler, that the joy of fishing is not necessarily the catching of big fat stockies but the wholeness of fishing in wild and beautiful places and maybe, if the angling gods are with you, catching a fine brace of breakfast sized brownies (that in the telling required an extra-large frying pan).”

http://www.spinfish.co.uk/bookandarreviewsliesdamnliesandanglers.html

NEWS

A Private Sorrow Book Launch

Maureen Reynolds will be signing copies of her new book A Private Sorrow at the launch party hosted at WH Smith Overgate Centre Dundee. All are welcome.

29th June 2011, 6.00pm – 7.30pm

WH Smith, Overgate Centre, Dundee


COMPETITION

3 free copies of A Private Sorrow to be won!

To enter, please send your name and full postal address to mail@blackandwhitepublishing.com.

To win a copy of our book please the answer the following question:

What is Molly McQueen’s main case in A Private Sorrow?

(Competition ends Friday 15th July 12pm)


Please come join us on Facebook!

www.facebook.com/pages/Black-and-White-Publishing/35624882298

Or check out our website

www.blackandwhitepublishing.com/index.php

Black & White Publishing May/June Newsletter

Hello from Black & White Publishing!

The summer is almost upon us and we have some superb holiday reading for you to choose from. There are some great fiction and non-fiction titles to keep you entertained.

So please check out our forthcoming titles, events, reviews and more.

FORTHCOMING TITLES

CheekyWeeMonkey

The Cheeky Wee Monkey Joke Book is a hilarious joke book written specifically for Scottish children by Allan Morrison, one of Scotland’s best-loved humorists. It is perfect entertainment for long and short trips with kids.

The Cheeky Wee Monkey Joke Book is in the shops now.

CrystalsSong

A Leith family is torn apart by the Second World War, but peacetime reunion brings more strife as they struggle to recover from the betrayals and hardships of the past.

Crystal’s Song is published on 26th May.

KellysofKelvingrove

Nestled down, hidden behind the Glasgow Art Galleries, is a line of seven rented houses. Though quiet and out of sight alongside the River Kelvin, they accommodate seven very different families, along with their problems, schemes and secrets. Despite their efforts to retreat within separate lives, each household will soon find themselves mixed up in the problems of the others, as malicious schemes and secrets are exposed in Margaret Thomson Davis’s new thriller, The Kelly’s of Kelvingrove.

The Kelly’s of Kelvingrove is published in paperback on 1st June.

LiesDamnedLies

Lies, Damned Lies & Anglers is the latest collection of thoughts and reflections on one of the UK’s most popular pastimes, written by one of our most respected fishermen. His eclectic essays reveals some of the secrets of his success as well as how fishing has brought him much pleasure and much frustration.


Lies, Damned Lies & Anglers is published on 2nd June.

REVIEWS

The Undiscovered Scotland Online Guide reviewed Undiscovered Dundee saying it “should be considered essential reading by anyone from, or with any interest in, Dundee.”

http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/usreviews/books/bwundisdundee.html

Undiscovered Dundee was also reviewed in print by the Courier’s Jack McKeown.

“If there is a theme that emerges from Brian King’s book Undiscovered Dundee it is one of great vandalism by the city’s past fathers”.

The Scotsman’s Claire Matthews reviews Brian King’s Undiscovered Dundee saying, “A Dundonian himself, he has an uncanny ability to make a fascinating tale from what might superficially appear to be rather plain ingredients.”

http://living.scotsman.com/features/Book-reviews-Jute-No-More.6767875.jp

The Sun’s Matt Bendoris interviews Frankie Vaughan Ate My Hamster author Rikki Brown about his childhood in Easterhouse.

“Don’t get me wrong, Easterhouse was wild. There was no police station there until 1973, so it was practically lawless.”

http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/news/mattmeets/3542780/Matt-meets-Rikki-Brown-Ill-always-be-a-schemie-at-heart.html#ixzz1KoWGEJbI

The Monster Butler was given a glowing review by True Crime Book Reviews.

“A.M. Nicol has a truly deep understanding of the criminal mind as is evidenced by his ability to see through the fantasies of a killer and reconstruct the events based on indisputable forensics to get to the truth.”

http://truecrimebookreviews.com/2011/04/monster-butler-allen-m-nicol/

Radio Clyde is running a competition for copies of Walter Smith: The Ibrox Gaffer airing between 6pm and 7pm this Friday 20th May. It is part of a build up to their exclusive interview with Walter Smith during the Clyde 1 Superscoreboard programme airing at 7pm. So tune in!


NEWS

Crystal’s Song Book Launch

Millie Gray will be signing copies of her new book Crystal’s Song at the launch party hosted at Waterstone’s Ocean Terminal. All are welcome.

26th May 2011, 6.00pm – 7.30pm

Waterstone’s, Ocean Terminal, Edinburgh


COMPETITION

3 free copies of Crystal’s Song to be won!

To enter, please send your name and full postal address to mail@blackandwhitepublishing.com.

To win a copy of our book please the answer the following question:

In what city is the novel set?

(Competition ends Tuesday 31st May 12pm)


Please come join us on Facebook!

www.facebook.com/pages/Black-and-White-Publishing/35624882298

Or check out our website

www.blackandwhitepublishing.com/index.php

Hello from Black & White Publishing!

It’s officially spring – the days are longer and we’re all more awake now. Our spring line-up is looking very exciting and last month’s great start to the year continues unabated!

So please check out our upcoming titles, forthcoming events, reviews and more.

FORTHCOMING TITLES

Undiscovered Dundee is an anthology of Dundee’s lost civic inheritance; its forgotten disasters and buried heritage, the harmless eccentrics and brutal murders, the heroes and villains, and the strange events and everyday landmarks. Dundee is a city that is alive with history.

Undiscovered Dundee will be published in paperback 21st April.

This is a tribute to the legendary Walter Smith and sees Ibrox favourites from across the decades uniting to honour one of the most decorated and successful managers in Scottish football. Heroes like Brian Laudrup, Ally McCoist, Andy Goram, Jorg Albertz, and countless others all give their own unique insight into the man they affectionately call their ‘Gaffer’

Walter Smith – The Ibrox Gaffer will be published 27th April.

Extracts will appear in the Scottish Daily Express and the Scottish Daily Star on 26th and 27th April respectively.

Moving into a new home in Easterhouse in 1961 was the start of some great adventures for Rikki Brown. This hilarious account will take readers on an entertaining and riotous trip down memory lane, back to the days when getting through school was a matter of survival.

Frankie Vaughn Ate My Hamster will be published 5th May.

Extracts will appear in the Scottish Sun dates to be confirmed.

REVIEWS

Tom Hamilton’s feature on Archibald Hall provides a brief account of the murderous butler’s life -  a wee taster of the tale our book tells!

www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/editors-choice/2011/03/30/the-monster-butler-fake-toff-serial-killer-archibald-thomson-hall-murdered-for-riches-86908-23026226/

Maggie Barry interviewed The Monster Butler author Allan Nicol in the Sunday Mail.

www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/editors-choice/2011/04/03/top-lawyer-turns-writen-to-expose-astonishing-truth-behind-killing-spree-86908-23035450/

Total Fishing gave Rivers & Locks of Scotland a sterling review!

www.total-fishing.com/TackleReviews.aspx

NEWS

Undiscovered Dundee Book Launch

Brian King will be signing copies of his new book Undiscovered Dundee at the launch party hosted at Waterstone’s Dundee. All are welcome.

Thursday April 21st, 6.00pm – 7.30pm

Waterstone’s, 35 Commercial Street, Dundee

COMPETITION

3 free copies of Walter Smith: The Ibrox Gaffer to be won!

To enter, please send your name and full postal address to mail@blackandwhitepublishing.com along with the answer to the following question:

Who will replace Walter Smith as manager of Rangers this year?

(Competition ends Friday 29th April 12pm)

Please come join us on Facebook!

www.facebook.com/pages/Black-and-White-Publishing/35624882298

Or check out our website

www.blackandwhitepublishing.com/index.php

March News

Hello from Black & White Publishing!

Spring has begun and we have been very busy getting the new year’s books ready for you. We have some great books coming out over the next few months such as a shocking new true crime title, a children’s book from a world famous author and a hilarious autobiography from one of Scotland’s funniest columnists.

So please check out our upcoming spring titles below as well as a great opportunity to win a free book!

GREAT READS FOR SPRING & BEYOND

BloodinGlensB

A fascinating collection of true crime stories from the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. It features a foreword by crime writer Val McDermid.

Blood in the Glens will be published in pocket edition 17th March.

Retail price: £7.99

‘Casts fresh insight into some of the most notorious murders committed in the Highlands and islands in recent times’ – The Press & Journal

PreciousandthePuggies

From Itchy Coo comes the story of the girlhood adventures of Precious Ramotswe, founder of the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency. Written by one of the world’s favourite authors, Alexander McCall Smith, and translated into Scots by award winning author, James Robertson, Precious and the Puggies is a fantastic new book for younger readers.

Precious and the Puggies will be published in paperback 17th March.

Retail price: £6.99

Rivers&LochsPB

Bruce Sandison’s Rivers and Lochs of Scotland is the only book on fishing in Scotland that an angler will ever need. This new, comprehensive and completely revised edition describes more than 5,000 freshwater fishing locations complete with access details, flies and tactics and where to obtain permission to fish.

This updated edition will be published in paperback 24th March.

Retail price: £14.99

MonsterButler

Archibald Hall was one of Scotland’s most fascinating and enigmatic serial killers. More widely known as Roy Fontaine, the Monster Butler, he murdered five people posing as the gentleman butler, seducing, deceiving and ultimately betraying those around him.

The Monster Butler will be published 31st March.

Retail price: £9.99

UndiscoveredDundee

Undiscovered Dundee is an anthology of Dundee’s lost civic inheritance; its forgotten disasters and buried heritage, the harmless eccentrics and brutal murderers, the heroes and villains, and the strange events and everyday landmarks. Dundee is a city that is alive with history.

Undiscovered Dundee will be published 21st April.

Retail price: £9.99

FrankieVaughan

Moving into a new home in Easterhouse in 1961 was the start of some great adventures for Rikki Brown. This hilarious account will take readers on an entertaining and riotous trip down memory lane, back to the days when getting through school was a matter of survival.

Frankie Vaughn Ate My Hamster will be published 5th May.

Retail price: £9.99

NEWS

** Translation rights for I Love You, Goodbye have been sold to Russia, Italy and Turkey **

** The Italian edition, published by Leggere Editore, is just out and getting brilliant reviews **

COMPETITION

** ** WIN a FREE copy of The Monster Butler**

** 3 free copies to be won!**

To enter, please send your name and full postal address to mail@blackandwhitepublishing.com along with the answer to the following question:

Which name was the Monster Butler Archibald Hall also known as?

(Competition ends Thursday 31st March 12pm.)

Please come join us on Facebook!

www.facebook.com/pages/Black-and-White-Publishing/35624882298

Or check out our website

http://www.blackandwhitepublishing.com/index.php

December News

Hello from Black & White Publishing!

Christmas is almost upon us and we have been very busy making some fantastic gifts for you and the rest of the family. We have some great books that should keep everyone entertained all the way through the holidays and beyond. So, in these final weeks before Christmas get your shopping list sorted and head to your local bookshop or just get clicking with the mouse.

Have a look at our winter titles, upcoming events, reviews and more.

GREAT READS IN FRONT OF THE FIRE

Ramensky

Gentle Johnny Ramensky is the astonishing tale of a boy reared in the poverty of the Gorbals who became one of the world’s most extraordinary safe blowers and a wartime hero with the Commandos...

A likeable rogue, he was a gentle man who in peacetime shrank from violence but served his country with exceptional bravery and skill in the Second World War. Recruited into the army, he was parachuted behind enemy lines to break into the safes of the German High Command.

Unfortunately after the war he could not resist the excitement of a life of crime but his extraordinary story has now become legend.

HeraldDiary

Wherever Scots gather they tell jokes and stories. And the very best of these much-loved tales find their way to the daily Diary column of Scotland’s best-selling quality newspaper, The Herald.

It is the home of humour from the chip-shop queues of late-night Glasgow, to the bons mots of High Court judges, to the humour of the classroom.

In this volume Ken Smith gathers the very best tales from the column, proving that ordinary Scots are still the natural comedians of the world.

First thing each morning I turn to The Herald on my computer – first for its witty Diary, which helps keep my Scots sense of humour in tune. – Sir Sean Connery

Balls!!

BALLS!! is a hilarious new collection of football stories from the Scottish Sun. Featuring all your favourite players, it’s crammed full of insults, scandal, confessions, pranks, boozy benders, toilet humour and practical jokes. Nothing is out of bounds as players, managers and backroom staff get stuck in and dish the dirt in the funniest collection of football stories around.

ShearerWonderland

Duncan Shearer’s incredible rise from non-league football to the international stage was a football fairytale. However behind this story lies the truths of Duncan’s personal tragedy but also his triumphs over adversity.

Find out why he spurned advances from Sir Alex Ferguson in his 1980s Aberdeen glory days, read the inside story of Duncan’s time both at Huddersfield Town and at Swindon Town, and how his goal scoring exploits and incredible scoring record made him a legend with fans.

Drinkell

‘Drinks’ was one of the most sought after talents in the British game and now reveals for the first time how Grimsby Town blocked his move to some of England’s biggest clubs. Read about his goalscoring exploits at Norwich, his anger at being denied a move to Terry Venables’ Spurs and his decision to leave Rangers, a move which was to become one of the biggest regrets of his career.

Here he lifts the lid on his rollercoaster life in football – as a striker, manager and now as a top football agent.

SkeemLife

Gary Robertson takes us on a journey through the seventies where he spent his early life growing up in the Whitfield and Fintry housing schemes in Dundee.

It was a life without the restricting shackles of ‘political correctness’ where youngsters roamed with carefree abandon and sometimes got up to no good in the process. Diverse subjects such as berry-picking, skale days, Christmas in a multi-storey, drunken New Year pehrties, youth gangs, catching bees and bird-nesting are all covered in Gary Robertson’s own unique and humorous style.

Kellys

Nestled down, hidden behind the Glasgow Art Galleries, is a line of seven rented houses. Though quiet and out of sight alongside the River Kelvin, they accommodate seven very different families, along with their problems, schemes and secrets.

Each household will soon find themselves mixed up in the problems of the others in a riveting tale from one of Scotland’s much loved authors.

GlasgowFairytale

Fairytales happen. They happen in Glasgow. They’re happening now.

Alastair McIver’s debut novel weaves a surreal story set in a Glasgow through the looking glass. Featuring strangely familar characters like Reggie King and his magic mirror… Jack Cameron and his love Rapunzel… Ella McCinder who dreams of marrying footballer Harry Charmaine… Wee Red Hoodie who’s involved with a questionable Wolf… And Karl “Snowy” White who is drawn into a world more strange than he is.

United by the bonds of friendship, and in the face of a common enemy and a dark secret from Rapunzel’s past, our heroes find their stories becoming one.

HarryMurder

The hilarious adventures of Harry the Polis as recalled by ex-polis Harry Morris, the self-appointed Chief Constable of funny stories, continue with the publication of his eighth book, There’s Been a Murder.

Here is another collection of stories, jokes, anecdotes and tales that will tempt your laughter lines into making an appearance and have you flashing your gnashers.

KatiesZoo

Katie’s Zoo is the sixth title in the fantastic Katie-series. In this new book Katie spends a day at the zoo, meeting some of the bonnie, braw animals and birds that stay there, among them the tiger ‘in his strippit coat’ and the koalas with ‘hairy lugs’.

The Katie books are told in short, easy sentences containing simple Scots words. They are a joy for parents and wee bairns alike a must for your young’un at Christmas.

NEWS

One of our most popular titles this season has been The Life and Times of Last Minute Reilly, the autobiography of Hibs legend Lawrie Reilly. Some excellent quotes on Reilly show how well he is thought of.

It was the way that all Lawrie Reilly’s telling attributes came together in a dynamic amalgam that so often made him an unsubduable plunderer. He occupies a special place in my personal pantheon of Scottish footballers’

Hugh McIlvanney

‘Lawrie Reilly was very special and he is without doubt one of the greatest footballers that Scottish football has ever produced’

Sir Tom Finney

Haven’t yet read Alastair McIver’s debut novel Glasgow Fairytale? Find out what the Scotsman’s Tom Adair had to say… http://news.scotsman.com/entertainment/Book-review-Glasgow-Fairytale.6606245.jp

“Trust me, “Keep Fighting. The Billy Bremner Story” will make you smile and warm your heart.” is fantastic praise from The Daily Record’s James Traynor http://blogs.dailyrecord.co.uk/jimtraynor/2010/10/we-dont-have-bremner-but-we-ha.html

Read the Aberdeen Voice review of Duncan Shearer’s autobiography Shearer Wonderland calling it “well worth reading and it’s refresh­ing to read the life story of one of life’s good guys who appreciates the hand fate dealt him”… http://aberdeenvoice.com/2010/11/shearer-wonderland-duncan-shearer-%E2%80%93-the-autobiography/

COMPETITION

Please come join us on Facebook to enter this Christmas Competition!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Black-and-White-Publishing/35624882298

(Competition ends Friday 31st December 12pm.)

July News

Hello from Black and White Publishing!

It’s well into the summer holidays and the weather is doing it’s usual thing of keeping us on our toes but that doesn’t keep us down. Come rain or shine (preferably shine), we have a great selection of books for your summer holiday reading.

Have a look at our new titles, upcoming events, reviews and more.

NEW RELEASES

Century Bhoys

A fantastic new title from two genuine authorities on Celtic; Since Celtic’s formation in 1888, a total of seven hundred and seventy seven players have represented the club at first-team level. However, just twenty-eight players have managed to score more than 100 competitive goals for Celtic throughout those 120 years.

Century Bhoys celebrates each of these twenty-eight players, from the first player to hit 100 goals to the greatest goalscorer of all time. It’s an incredible list and each legendary player who played for Celtic gets a look-in. Entertaining and informative, Century Bhoys is full of facts and anecdotes about the greatest goalscorers in the history of Celtic FC.

Villains

New paperback edition of the bestseller Villains.

Murder, gunrunning, drug trafficking, kneecappings – Paul Ferris has been accused of many things in his life, but what’s not in dispute is that he spent twenty-five years as one of Britain’s most notorious gangsters. Out of prison and straight for five years, Paul still hasn’t forgotten the common thugs and big-time players that surrounded him or the world of violence, fear and uneasy alliances that he inhabited with them.

Now Paul Ferris recounts the stories of a tough existence that nobody knows better. The brutality you’d expect, the strangeness you might not. The stories cover the underbellies of London, Liverpool, Glasgow, Manchester and beyond, but the material couldn’t be closer to home and, as you’ll discover, when it comes to villains, it takes one to know one.

NEWS

There’s been lots of great reviews for Paul Cuddihy’s new debut novel Saints and Sinners. Here’s a quote from John-Paul Holden’s review in The Big Issue Scotland:

Saints and Sinners is a refreshingly straightforward and unpretentious historical thriller... Set in Glasgow’s whisky-addled, murderous East End in 1892, its tale of two immigrant brothers is a no-nonsense tartan Victorian romp sith generous lashings of gore – and some good old Mills and Boons-esque bodice ripping thrown in... Not that Saints and Sinners is all historical high jinks. Cuddihy makes sure that life in 19th century Glasgow is convincingly captured in all its filth, desperation and squalor.”

Haven’t read Meg Henderson’s new novel Ruby? Find out what the Daily Record had to say…

COMING SOON

I Love You Goodbye Celtic&Me
Award winning author Cynthia Rogerson’s I Love You, Goodbye is a beautifully written new novel. Set in a small Scottish village she deftly depicts the exhilaration, confusion and frustration of love and relationships. Dominik Diamond’s hilarious and original account of his very public life as a Celtic supporter. Celtic & Me is the story of a man who refused to shut up and the price you pay when you do that as an Old Firm fan with a well-known face.

COMPETITION

** WIN a FREE copy of VILLAINS **

3 free copies to be won!

To enter, please send your name and full postal address to mail@blackandwhitepublishing.com

along with the answer to the following question:

By what nickname was gangster Thomas McGraw also known as?

(Competition ends Friday 30th July 5pm.)

Congratulations to last month’s winners, Patricia Jack and Jean Thomson!