Monday 23 May 2011

Headline Showcase


On Friday the 13th of May, I was invited to the Headline Blogger Party at their offices in London. I met up with Michelle from Clover Hilll Book Reviews and Sarah from Feeling Fictional before attending the event, where we browsed around the legendary Foyles. 
All the event pictures in this post are thanks to the lovely Sarah, who has kindly allowed me to use them. 


 Here are Michelle and Sarah standing outside the huge offices of Headline which had a glass lift on the outside of the building, which as it rises gives you a panoramic view of London. Not that I saw it, as I had my eyes shut and was clinging to the poor lady in front of me, as my vertigo kicked into gear.


The blogger party began with a showcase of the books that Headline presently publish (some of which I will show you later in this post). We then took part in a quiz followed by a chat with the authors. I got to finally meet one of my favourite authors, Jenna Burtenshaw, who wrote the Wintercraft series. If you haven't read the two books already available in this series, then I strongly suggest you do. I also got to spend time with the lovely ladies, Sarah and Liz from My Favourite Books, as well as Carolyn and Laura from Book Chick City. 


I also got to meet Maura and Sam, the lovely ladies from Headline who organised the event and helped to feed my book addiction.
The Headline Showcase amazed me, because I didn't realise the vast variety of books they published.
Here are a few of the books they showed us that I am really excited to read. 


I have been coveting this book for quite some time, so to get a copy of it made my month! 

Goodreads Summary
A richly inventive novel about a centuries-old vampire, a spellbound witch, and the mysterious manuscript that draws them together. 


Deep in the stacks of Oxford's Bodleian Library, young scholar Diana Bishop unwittingly calls up a bewitched alchemical manuscript in the course of her research. Descended from an old and distinguished line of witches, Diana wants nothing to do with sorcery; so after a furtive glance and a few notes, she banishes the book to the stacks. But her discovery sets a fantastical underworld stirring, and a horde of daemons, witches, and vampires soon descends upon the library. Diana has stumbled upon a coveted treasure lost for centuries-and she is the only creature who can break its spell. 



Cathy Brett is a brilliant illustrator and actually drew some caricatures of the the bloggers during the event. This book really shows her artistic brilliance. 

Goodreads Summary
You're dead Scarlett...Previously a poor taste jibe from school enemies, now a statement of fact. Scarlett is absolutely mortified (in more ways than one) to discover that she's accidentally killed herself while trying to get out of a school trip. Even worse, she's taken her entire family with her. Life as a ghost is pretty dull - if only some of her friends were dead too...


This book deals with the relationship between identical twins. How could I resist? Julia did say to me that she hoped she had got it right with her twins in the book. 

Goodreads Summary
Liza Haven couldn’t wait to escape the small village where she grew up with her perfect identical twin sister, Lee. Her life in LA as a stunt woman is reckless, fast and free – and that’s just the way she likes it. But when a near-fatal mistake drives her home, she finds Lee gone and everyone in the village mistaking her for her twin sister. Liza has to deal with her ailing mother, the family ice cream business, and Lee’s dangerously attractive boyfriend. Liza’s always been the bad twin, but as she struggles to keep up the masquerade and puzzle out where her sister has gone, she realises it’s not so simple. She’s spent her whole life getting away with it – is it finally time to face up to who she really is and where she really belongs?


I have read such rave reviews about this book, so I was really excited to get hold of a copy.

Goodreads Summary
A dark, juicy, deliciously unsettling, read-it-in-one-sitting psychological drama. 

Rose has it all - the gorgeous children, the husband, the beautiful home. But then her best friend Polly comes to stay. Very soon, Rose's cosy world starts to fall apart at the seams - her baby falls dangerously ill, her husband is distracted - is Polly behind it all? It appears that once you invite Polly into your home, it's very difficult to get her out again..



I haven't read any of Jill's book, but I am aware that she has written quite a few. She was really lovely and down to earth and had the most loveliest sparkly flip flops. 

Goodreads Summary
When Ellie Kendall tragically loses her husband she feels her life is over. But eventually she’s ready for a new start – at work, that is. She doesn’t need a new man when she has a certain secret visitor to keep her company... 

Zack McLaren seems to have it all, but the girl he can’t stop thinking about won’t give him a second glance. If only she’d pay him the same attention she lavishes on his dog. 
Moving to North London, Ellie meets neighbour Roo who has a secret of her own. Can the girls sort out their lives? Guilt is a powerful emotion, but a lot can happen in a year in Primrose Hill..



This book won't be out until September, but it really has me curious.

Goodreads Summary
BexBex work out what has caused the spirits of these dangerous men to return to the streets of London before they wreak more death and destruction?

*Headline also have a new dystopian novel due out in February 2012 called Pure - and that is all I can tell you. Apart from the fact that I think it might just blow your mind!*

So there you are, some of the wonderful books presently on offer from Headline. Which ones are you interested in?

20 comments:

  1. I really like Mansell's books. They are sweet, real and British :)

    And the dystopia book sounds good.

    I am glad you had a great time

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  2. A whole bunch of mouth-watering books on this page today. However, the dystopian novel you've TEASED us with is now the one I want most!

    Tell us more! =D

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  3. I've been hearing a lot about A Discovery of Witches, so I'm curious to pick that one up at some point. Sounds like you had a lovely time, Vivienne!

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  4. Fab report - I too am coveting The Discovery of Witches - I keep looking at it in Asda lol :D

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  5. The Discovery of Witches is a book that I have wanted to read for a while now but just never got round to it!

    It looks like you had a fab time :)

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  6. Why have you an Emma not read Discovery of Witches it's awesome. Get it read ladies :) I was invited to this, I so wish I didn't live so far away. Glad you had a good time. xx

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  7. I love Jill Mansell and the Julia Crouch book looks fab, my mum is a twin so this holds a special interest to me. I've been wanting Cuckoo for ages, I did get an email before Easter telling me I'd won a copy -still waiting for it to turn up though!!

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  8. It was such a great day wasn't it! I can't wait to get started on all the books we came home with!!

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  9. I want to read Jill Mansell soon!

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  10. Sounds like a Wonderful Day!!

    All the books look inviting, but i am particularly drawn to Cuckoo and Getting Away with it .... although I do LOVE the book cover of Scarlett Dedd.

    I look forward to reading all your reviews.

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  11. You must have been in reader heaven with all this going on. I can't believe you haven't read Jill Mansell yet - girl, you are in for a treat. She is a hoot! Love her books! Have a great week and happy reading.

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  12. You always showcase some of the best covers! Sounds like you had a great day. Have a good week.

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  13. What a wonderful experience.

    Many thanks for this wonderful showcase, i look forward to reading your reviews.

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  14. That's fun! And a great showcase too! Looking at those covers made me drool...

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  15. Vivienne, you've just confirmed that London is one of the coolest cities there is. This book blogger party must have been wonderful! I hope you enjoy your new books.

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  16. Ooh! They sound like fab books and a new Dystopian (now I'm intrigued - tell me more hehe). It sounds like it was a fab event. I hope you enjoy your new books :D

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  17. Wow, this sounds like a perfectly lovely event to have gone to! Jill Mansell is one of my favorite authors. Her books never fail to make me happy. Julia Crouch is one I've not heard of before but that book really sounds good! I'm glad you enjoyed yourself Viv!

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  18. some great sounding books on this list Viv,
    I really want Discovery of Witches and Scarlett Dedd, they sound great! x

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  19. It looks like you had a great time and snagged some cool books too!

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  20. it sounds like a fun blogger party!! Cuckoo sounds really good.

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Hiya, thanks for stopping by, it is always nice to hear what you have to say, so do leave a comment if you have time.