New York Times'The Atlas of War and Peace combines short brutally clear analysis with maps and graphics showing exactly what is going on around the world.'
North Korea has the second-largest army in the world, but those in charge must realize that, however dedicated, these million soldiers would be a poor match for Western weaponry. For more on global issues of peace and security see:
Changes in lifestyle, diet, and tobacco use are outstripping improvements in screening and treatment in the world’s poorer countries. It is projected that they will be host to the majority of the world’s cancer cases by 2030. See more on this in:
The number of hospital beds for psychiatric patients per 100,000 people varies widely around the world (see above). Lack of financial resources is clearly one factor, but the other is that in many countries mental disorder is a taboo subject. See more in:
The horrors of war in Afghanistan, Syria, Mali, and elsewhere, quite rightly grab media attention, but overall the number of armed conflicts is declining. Dan Smith, Secretary General of International Alert, assesses global conflict and other burning issues in The State of the World Atlas.
The Guardian'Lesley Thomson skilfully evokes the era and the slow-moving quality of childhood summers, suggesting the menace lurking just beyond the vision of her young protagonists.'
We're thrilled that Interpreters by Sue Eckstein has been awarded The People's Book Prize for Fiction 2013.
See more awards and prize-listed books here.
Quick Fictions has shot into The Sunday Times listing at no.5. An evolution in digital storytelling developed by Professor Nicholas Royle, author of Quilt, at the University of Sussex in partnership with Myriad and Aimer Media, features the finest stories – each fewer than 300 words. The app will continue to grow as new stories are submitted: find out how to submit yours here on our website and don't forget to buy the app for regular updates!
Sat 22 June 10am - 7pm
Visit the Myriad Editions table and graphic authors at this buzzy new comics fair, now in its second year.
Find out more about this and other Myriad events
SUE ECKSTEIN
We're thrilled that Sue Eckstein's novel, Interpreters, has won the 2012/2013 People's Book Prize.
Set in wartime Germany and the present day, Interpreters is a gripping and skilfully constructed novel that unravels the impact of a war that resonates across generations.
Now in its fourth year, the People’s Book Prize celebrates new and undiscovered works, with winners voted exclusively by the public. ‘We’re absolutely thrilled,’ says Candida Lacey, Publisher and Managing Director of Myriad Editions. ‘This is such an important prize, because it’s voted for by readers themselves – showing that Interpreters captures imaginations and has universal appeal.’
This is the second time a Myriad author has been awarded the prize; Lesley Thomson’s crime novel A Kind of Vanishing won in 2010.
FAYETTE FOX
The latest selection of Amazon Rising Stars was announced on Monday 3rd June, and we're delighted that our very own Fayette Fox, with her novel The Deception Artist, has made the list. Over the course of the year, 12 debut authors and their works are selected, offering readers a chance to write reviews. A favourite is chosen at each stage, with an overall winner announced at the end of the year. Please use the link above to support Fayette by reviewing her book. The promotion has a track record of picking future bestsellers and kicked off the extraordinary success of Elizabeth Haynes' Into the Darkest Corner when it won overall for 2011 and was named Amazon's Best Book of the Year.
Fayette has been busy writing more articles to coincide with publication of The Deception Artist. In an intriguing piece for online books magazine We Love This Book, she discusses her five favourite novels written from a child's eye view, and in a Q&A for writer's website Novelkicks she discusses the book, her approach to editing and who she'd most like to have round for dinner.
Meanwhile, more glowing reviews have been published for The Deception Artist. Well-known literary blogger Pam McIlroy (aka Pamreader) called the novel a 'little gem' and described protagonist Ivy as 'one of the brightest, funniest and intelligent little characters I've read in a while'. Lifestyle magazine The Simple Things said 'The Deception Artist reminds us that the real truths are in how we love each other', while American, UK-based blogger of The London Diaries recalled her own childhood after reading about Ivy's, finding Fayette's experience of starting to write the novel through NaNoWriMo to be inspirational: 'it gives me hope...I loved this book'.
HANNAH EATON
We're very excited that graphic novelist Hannah Eaton, whose debut Naming Monsters we publish on June 27th, appeared on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour on Wednesday 5th June. She joined presenter Jenni Murray in a discussion about children and bereavement. Hannah Eaton is a learning mentor in a primary school in Brighton. In Naming Monsters, 16-year-old protagonist Fran navigates the loss of a parent and the start of a new term at college.
This week Naming Monsters also received an early review from book blog Serendipity Reviews who said, 'this is the first graphic novel I've read in years and it reminded me how much I enjoy them. A stunning yet poignant look at life after the death of a loved one through the eyes of the young at heart.'
DARRYL CUNNINGHAM
A new, extended collection of Darryl Cunningham's critically acclaimed documentary comic book Science Tales is to be published by Myriad Editions on June 6th. The first edition, shortlisted for the British Comic Awards 'Best Book', has been updated to include a clinical exposé of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, and its political framework in the UK and USA. This edition could not be more timely, as the House of Commons discusses the Energy Bill this week. A short extract from the fracking chapter in SCIENCE TALES is available for download here. To celebrate publication Darryl will be a guest at OK Comics store in Leeds where he will be signing copies of the new book.
DAN SMITH
Dan Smith, author of The State of the World Atlas, was a guest at the Hay Festival last weekend, where he was introduced to a packed audience as an 'international relations guru'. Dan presented ideas from his definitive reference book, now in its ninth edition, including global trends in finance, politics, war and peace and global health. The Telegraph's culture editor Andrew Pettie was tweeting throughout and, as well as choosing his favourite facts from the atlas, he said: 'Smith's vital statistics made you want to buy a copy of his atlas – which I did'. And he wasn't alone!
GRAPHICS PODCAST
Myriad authors were featured in the first of a series of radio shows looking at depictions of illness and medicine in comics, on Resonance FM's Panel Borders show, hosted by Alex Fitch. Panel Borders is the UK's only weekly radio show about comics and to open this latest series, Alex broadcast a panel discussion recorded at Crawley WordFest, where he talked to graphic novelists Nye Wright (Things to do in a Retirement Home Trailer Park) and Hannah Eaton (Naming Monsters) about their work. Nye's work depicts the last months of his relationship with his father, who is dying of emphysema, whilst Hannah's is a psychological exploration of a young woman coming to terms with her mother's death. The show is available as a podcast via both Panel Borders and Resonance FM.
LISA CUTTS
Police officer and debut crime writer Lisa Cutts has been interviewed by the bestselling Writing Magazine about her forthcoming debut Never Forget (published 11th July). She also discusses her journey to publication and offers other aspiring writers her top tips. We're thrilled to announce that Lisa will be signing advance copies of Never Forget on Saturday 6th July, in an exclusive deal with Sainsbury's in Canterbury, Kent. Come along to meet the author and buy a special, preview copy of the book.
MYRIAD ANNIVERSARY GIVEAWAY ON LOVEREADING
To help celebrate Myriad's 20th birthday this year, book-lover's website Lovereading is running a special giveaway throughout June. They are showcasing five titles, representative of Myriad's publishing programme over the last 20 years, and offering 20 lucky subscribers the chance to win all five titles. These include Dan Smith's The State of the World Atlas, now in it's ninth edition and a core title around which the company was established; Rumble Strip, one of Myriad's seminal graphic novels, created by Woodrow Phoenix; The Clay Dreaming by Ed Hillyer and The Cloths of Heaven by Sue Eckstein, both published after Myriad won the Arts Council England award to launch our fiction list; and Elizabeth Haynes' bestselling debut Into the Darkest Corner, with foreign rights now sold in more than 30 territories.
