Head of Zeus

Do not remove

09 May 2013 - 04:05

Submitted by: Lesley Thomson - author

January at five-forty-five in the morning. I arrived at Earls Court station to meet the District line train driver. Transport for London had warned me that if I was late he would go. Of course he would – him and his train would leave without me. I was an hour early.

Something has surfaced...

02 May 2013 - 04:05

Submitted by: Kaz

Thanks to our talented friends at Holst Digital - the trailer for The Abomination has ARRIVED!

Getting Gazumped by Dan Brown

01 May 2013 - 07:05

Submitted by: Kaz

Ever wondered what it is like to be gazumped by Dan Brown? Our Publishing Director, Laura, spills all in her latest Huffington Post blog.

And there are more amusing words to come as Laura has taken up a regular spot writing for the Huffington Post on 'Notes from a small publisher'. Her next blog focuses on women in publishing. Keep your eyes peeled!

On the Politics of Humanity

17 Apr 2013 - 06:04

Submitted by: John Holmes - author

In my book, The Politics of Humanity, I describe myself as an accidental humanitarian, since I had not expected to go into that particular world. I could also be described as an accidental author. Although, like many others, I once had a go at writing a novel, it did not get far.

Laura Palmer shortlisted for the Kim Scott Walwyn Prize 2013!

16 Apr 2013 - 03:04

Submitted by: Becci

You can really tell that publishing is an industry of passion. At the London Book Fair this week I feel surrounded by enthusiasm and in a business that is up and down like a rollercoaster, with high stakes and big losses, the levels of passion and hope definitely isn't waning.

The Last Dance

15 Apr 2013 - 03:04

Submitted by: Amanda Prowse - HoZ author

There are some people in your life that shape who you become and there are some events that become markers. This week, I lost one of the biggest influences in my life, my Nan. Sitting with her in her final hours will be one of those markers that will stay clearly in my mind for all time.

Why was she special? Did she have a glittering career, achieving greatness in her field? No. Was she stunningly beautifully, incredibly clever, enviably successful? No, no and no. She was special because she was my Nan.

All the Best Lines

12 Apr 2013 - 11:04

Submitted by: Richard

Yesterday the urbane and charming George Tiffin - screenwriter, director, novelist and now ace non-fiction author - came to the office to meet HoZ's marketing and publicity team and to talk about All the Best Lines: Golden Words from the Silver Screen. George has scoured the archives for 750 of the very best movie lines, has interspersed them with anecdotes and one-liners, plus feature articles exploring themes as diverse as opening lines, last lines, the womanizing of James Bond, the art of screenwriting, the art of the cameo role from Hitchcock to Tarantino, and the career of Woo

A Box of Chocolates

11 Apr 2013 - 04:04

Submitted by: Madeleine

Last week, Victoria Hislop came to the HoZ office to discuss the final list of contributors for her upcoming anthology of women’s short stories. A few hours later, having thrown names back and forth across the table, wrinkled noses in childish disgust over suggestions, beamed with delight at the mention of authors half-forgotten yet passionately loved, I was exhausted. It turns out, dear reader, that choosing “the best” 100 is not so easily done after all.

Fantasy in the Court

09 Apr 2013 - 06:04

Submitted by: Kaz

On cold Thursday evening, down a charming Victorian lane we gathered together for the first ever Fantasy in the Court. Co-hosted by HoZ and the wonderful Goldsboro Books, where the event was held, we joined some of fantasy's most influential people to celebrate the best of the genre. The very talented Luke Scull was guest of honour for the evening as we toasted the official launch of his epic debut novel, The Grim Company.

Birds of a Feather

04 Apr 2013 - 04:04

Submitted by: Anthony

A while ago, when I was working for a small start up company with a funny name, we found a book that we thought might put us on the map, a big-hearted saga with an indomitable heroine, an exotic location and a doomed love affair. The auction dragged on over two weeks, as the advance rose inexorably towards a sum that began to resemble the UK's annual budget deficit.

My Top 10 Books: Robin Carter

28 Mar 2013 - 02:03

Submitted by: Robin Carter at Parmenion Books

As someone who reads voraciously, and this year alone have read 27 books, it’s a question I always struggle with, which genre do you pick, which authors and their work do you leave out? It is also a movable feast because some authors improve as they write more books. Does a book have to be first-class writing to be in the top 10? Or does it also have to hold something else, something intangible, some nostalgia for what it meant at the time?

Place Your Bets

25 Mar 2013 - 12:03

Submitted by: Rosie

I love start-ups - which, if you look back over my publishing career, is just as well. Futura in 1973, Century in 1982, Orion in 1992, Preface in 2007 - and now Head of Zeus. Admittedly I wasn't quite in on the ground floor at HofZ, but I think we can stretch a point.

A Matter of Size

15 Mar 2013 - 04:03

Submitted by: Anthony

As I write this HoZ is advancing with steely determination towards its first million pounds in sales revenues. At the same time The Bookseller reports that Penguin notched up sales in 2012 of over one billion and recorded profits of £100m or so. This is more than a little scary and makes me feel like a fellow who has just put up a garden shed in the shadow of the Shard.