News: July 2009 Archives
Bestselling crime writer Peter James is to receive an Honorary Doctorate from the University of BrightonThe award-winning writer and film producer, Peter James, is to become a Doctor of Letters in recognition of his ongoing contribution to the arts and to the status, infrastructure and culture of Brighton and Hove.
Peter, who lives near Lewes, East Sussex, will receive his doctorate from Deputy Vice-Chancellor, David House, on Thursday, July 30, during graduation ceremonies at the Brighton Dome.
Peter, who is 60, said: "I'm really thrilled to be honored by the university. It has given me an incredible feeling, although I must confess I'm not sure if I deserve it. I was born in Brighton and this has enhanced an already strong bond and love I have for the city."
Peter's publishers Pan Macmillan has agreed to sponsor two academic excellence scholarships, The Peter James Scholarship, to be awarded to the best first and best second year undergraduate students on the BA (Hons) English Language and Literature degree courses for the academic year 2008-09.
Geoff Duffield, Group Sales and Marketing Manager for Pan Macmillan, said: "Pan Macmillan is delighted to be sponsoring the Peter James scholarships at the University of Brighton.
"Our sponsorship brings together two great Brighton institutions, both of which are at the heart of the community."
Carole Blake, Peter's agent said: 'With 31 publishers worldwide for the Roy Grace novels, Peter has made Brighton familiar to an international audience. It's a wonderful affirmation of Peter's love for his home city that Brighton University should award him this accolade.'
Deputy Vice-Chancellor, David House, said: "We are delighted and grateful to Pan Macmillan for supporting the university in this way. "We are strongly committed to our work in English language and literature and these scholarships, I am sure, will enhance our reputation and provide an incentive and reward to students of excellence."
Continue reading Bestselling Peter James to receive an Honorary Doctorate.
In the annals of Hollywood lore, there have been many strange ways that movies came to be made, but when cameras start rolling on it, The Flock will be the first picture that came out of a flame war between the producer and the book's author.
It started when producer Don Murphy of Angry Films was checking in on the message board of his friend Eddie Campbell, illustrator of the Alan Moore graphic novel From Hell, which Murphy had produced as a film. On the board, he found some critical comments about the picture that really upset him. Thinking he'd give as good as he got, Murphy discovered that the poster, James Robert Smith, had a book out, so he ordered it, expecting to read a self-published book he could shred publicly.
To his surprise, Murphy found a book that Publisher's Weekly called "an entertaining debut" in which "Smith maps out a complex living environment that makes the flock's continued existence almost believable and depicts human characters who match the killer birds in adaptability." The story of a flock of prehistoric birds hiding in the Florida
everglades until their habitat is sold off to developers grabbed Murphy, and he convinced John Wells that it should be part of a coproducing arrangement between the two Hollywood impresarios. Along with their respective partners Susan Montford at Angry Films and Claire Rudnick Polstein, President of John Wells Productions, they have
optioned the film and are currently working with scribe Travis Milloy on translating it to the screen as a summer tent-pole release, most likely for 2011.
For author Smith, the process seems sometimes less than completely real. A postal carrier by day, Smith has been working away at his writing craft in novels, short stories, and comics for decades. Becoming an "overnight sensation" over an on-line disagreement after all that hard work may not be the proscribed method of success in publishing, but as most writers know, you take your breaks where they come.
For more information, visit Smith's website at http://www.jamesrobertsmith.net/.
It started when producer Don Murphy of Angry Films was checking in on the message board of his friend Eddie Campbell, illustrator of the Alan Moore graphic novel From Hell, which Murphy had produced as a film. On the board, he found some critical comments about the picture that really upset him. Thinking he'd give as good as he got, Murphy discovered that the poster, James Robert Smith, had a book out, so he ordered it, expecting to read a self-published book he could shred publicly.
To his surprise, Murphy found a book that Publisher's Weekly called "an entertaining debut" in which "Smith maps out a complex living environment that makes the flock's continued existence almost believable and depicts human characters who match the killer birds in adaptability." The story of a flock of prehistoric birds hiding in the Florida
everglades until their habitat is sold off to developers grabbed Murphy, and he convinced John Wells that it should be part of a coproducing arrangement between the two Hollywood impresarios. Along with their respective partners Susan Montford at Angry Films and Claire Rudnick Polstein, President of John Wells Productions, they have
optioned the film and are currently working with scribe Travis Milloy on translating it to the screen as a summer tent-pole release, most likely for 2011.
For author Smith, the process seems sometimes less than completely real. A postal carrier by day, Smith has been working away at his writing craft in novels, short stories, and comics for decades. Becoming an "overnight sensation" over an on-line disagreement after all that hard work may not be the proscribed method of success in publishing, but as most writers know, you take your breaks where they come.
For more information, visit Smith's website at http://www.jamesrobertsmith.net/.
On the evening of Saturday, July 11th, 2009, the International Thriller Writers announced the winners of their literary awards at a gala celebration in New York City.
ThrillerMaster Award: David Morrell
In recognition of his vast body of work and influence in the field of literature
Silver Bullet Award: Brad Meltzer
For contributions to the advancement of literacy
Silver Bullet Corporate Award: Dollar General Literacy Foundation
For longstanding support of literacy and education
Best Thriller of the Year:
THE BODIES LEFT BEHIND by Jeffery Deaver (Simon & Schuster)
Best First Novel:
CHILD 44 by Tom Rob Smith (Grand Central Publishing)
Best Short Story:
THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN by Alexandra Sokoloff (in Darker Mask)
Congratulations to the winners and all the nominees. For a complete list of the nominated authors including previous year's winners and nominees, click here.
From The International Thriller Writers:
