Ridley Scott buys film rights to Hugh Howey's WOOL

A new era has begun in the world of book publishing - that of self-publishing success stories. Gone are the days when self-published authors automatically meant unsuccessful authors. Tremendous sales figures for the Fifty Shades trilogy have proven you don't need a publisher to become a success.

Now, it seems, Hugh Howey is the next self-publishing success story, with the film rights to his book 'Wool' being bought by none other than Ridley Scott (Alien, Gladiator).

WOOL has captivated readers across the globe since Hugh first released it on Amazon, and was one of the most talked about books of 2012. It has drawn comparisons to the likes of The Road, The Passage and The Hunger Games.

Hugh Howey lives in Florida. He wrote and self-published his first young adult novel, Molly Fyde and the Parsona Rescue in 2009.The related series that followed won rave reviews and praise from readers but it was the release of WOOL that has made Hugh Howey a self-published star. Originally a novella, the demand from readers sent him scurrying to write more tales set in the subterranean world. The resulting omnibus has been a number one bestseller in Science Fiction on Amazon and captured the attention of readers and publishers across the globe.

Wool Synopsis
 
The world outside has grown unkind, the view of it limited, talk of it forbidden. In the ruined and hostile landscape, in a future few have been unlucky enough to survive, a community exists in a giant underground silo. Inside, men and women live an enclosed life full of rules and regulations, of secrets and lies.

To live, you must follow the rules. But some don't. These are the dangerous ones; these are the people who dare to hope and dream, and who infect others with their optimism. Their punishment is simple and deadly. They are given the very thing they profess to want: they are allowed outside.

Jules is one of these people. She may well be the last.

WOOL is out now in hardback: Wool (Wool Trilogy 1)

Dustin Hoffman Q&A at the Phoenix Cinema, East Finchley

There are many very cool things about living in North London - but one of my favourites is how easily I can get to one of my favourite cinemas - the Phoenix. It's a one-screen cinema that puts on arty films, foreign films, theatre recordings and plays host to film festivals. What the Phoenix knows how to do well, though, is put on a Q&A. 

With lots of celebrities from the film world only too happy to support the cinema, they have managed to pull in people in the past from the hilarious cast of League of Gentleman to Olivia Colman and Paddy Considine from Tyrannosaur and Deep Blue Sea director Terence Davies. Last Friday evening, however, the cinema celebrated one of the most distinguished guests throughout their long history - acting legend and first-time director Dustin Hoffman, who was there to talk about Quartet.

I was one of the fortunate ones who managed to get a ticket before the event sold out in record time and was inspired by Hoffman's love of cinema and respect for his cast and all the incredible people he has met and worked with throughout his life. For the man who claims to have got into acting because he failed at everything else, he has certainly proven himself a success. I went expecting to hear some brilliant anecdotes that found fame decades ago with The Graduate but was surprised and moved by his humble and emotional stories of life in showbusiness.

Check out my report from the Q&A at Filmoria and enjoy my pictures below (please link back to this post if you wish to use the images).

Quartet is out now.

 

Hoffman is moved by his standing ovation.

Quentin Tarantino Q&A at Yahoo! UK (I was there!)

Back in December, I was fortunate enough to win tickets to a Q&A with writing and directing legend Quentin Tarantino - and ask the man himself a question! He talked about Django Unchained (out this weekend in the UK) and his previous films, confessed to a love of rom-coms (only when on a plane!) and so much more. My question is at 2 minutes. Enjoy!



Source: Yahoo!

Win - Beautiful Creatures: Official Movie Companion

THIS COMPETITION HAS NOW CLOSED - THANKS TO ALL WHO ENTERED.

Based on the book by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl, the adaptation of Beautiful Creatures is due out next month. The YA tale follows teenagers Ethan and Lena, as their budding romance brings together the mortal and caster world while an age-old curse seems to doom their relationship before it has even begun.

To coincide with the launch of #penguinchats - which begins at the end of the month with the authors of the Beautiful Creatures novels - the lovely folks over at Puffin and Penguin UK have a gorgeous movie companion book on offer for fans of the book series. Beautiful Creatures: The Official Illustrated Movie Companion by Mark Cotta Vaz has all the inside information from behind the scenes of the film. Click the images below to enlarge a sneak peek.

The film stars Alice Englert, Viola Davis, Jeremy Irons, Alden Ehrenreich, Emmy Rossum and Emma Thompson and is directed and adapted for the big screen by Richard LaGravenese (P.S. I Love You, Freedom Writers).

To be in with a chance of winning, simply email filmvsbook@gmail.com with the names of the authors who will be launching the first #penguinchats on Sunday 27th January. Don't forget to put "Beautiful Creatures competition" in the subject header and include the city you live in.

This competition is open to UK residents only and closes at midday GMT Sunday 27th January.

Beautiful Creatures arrives in cinemas on Wednesday 13th February.

Beautiful Creatures Authors to Launch #Penguinchats

Is falling in the love the beginning . . . or the end?

In Ethan Wate’s hometown there lies the darkest of secrets . . .

There is a girl.

There is a curse.

In the end, there is a grave.

Ethan never even saw it coming.

Penguin are starting 2013 off with an exciting new project called Penguin Chats. As part of this project, some of Penguin and Puffin's brilliant authors will answer fan questions on Twitter. The chats themselves will be 30 minute Q&As with a Penguin author on Twitter, using the hashtag #PenguinChats and hosted by @PenguinUKBooks.

The first #Penguinchats kicks off on Sunday 27th January at 8pm with the talented writing team behind Beautiful Creatures - Kami Garcia (@kamigarcia) and Margaret Stohl (@mstohl).

The adaptation for Beautiful Creatures - the first of their series of novels about the doomed romance between teenagers Ethan and Lena - has been a project on which both Garcia and Stohl have been working closely. With the film due to hit cinemas next month, now is your chance to catch up with the pair... and Lena, Ethan and their respective families.

The film stars Alice Englert, Viola Davis, Jeremy Irons, Alden Ehrenreich, Emmy Rossum and Emma Thompson and is directed and adapted for the big screen by Richard LaGravenese (P.S. I Love You, Freedom Writers).

“Mortals. I envy you. You think you can change things. Stop the universe. Undo what was done long before you came along. You are such beautiful creatures.”

Beautiful Creatures hits UK cinemas on Wednesday 13th February. The books - Beautiful Creatures, Beautiful Darkness, Beautiful Chaos and Beautiful Redemption - are out now.

Book Review: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

Every now and then a book comes along that is so delicious it warms you like a heated fruit pie in the middle of winter. It stays with you even when you're not reading it because the characters are so vivid and real and welcoming, they have a lingering effect. The mouthful that is The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society is one such book. 

Written entirely in letter form, the book is set soon after the end of World War Two as one author happens to begin correspondence with a man on the isle of Guernsey and starts to learn about the hilariously named literary society to which he belongs. As their correspondence continues, Julie begins to question her new pen pal about the origins of the club. As her investigations deepen, she begins to learn about all the members and just what happened to them during the war - when they were forced to live under Nazi occupation and cut off from the rest of the country.

To tell you more of the story would not be fair as each new discovery Julie (and, in turn, the reader) makes is what makes the book such a pleasure to read. It is a touching and incredibly beautiful story, with the unique prose of each person's letters adding such an insight into their character that they leap off the pages. Readers will no doubt fall completely in love with each of them, just as Julie does and finish the book wanting to go to one of their society meetings.

5 FOBLES - a gorgeous, touching and entirely immersive delight

A film adaptation is in the works but casting issues have been delaying progress beyond that of Kate Winslet as Julie and Kenneth Branagh directing. Having read the book, I can now see why finding just the right cast for this brilliant ensemble piece is so important. Fingers crossed they do it justice! It certainly is a promising start...
 

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

Book Giveaway: Win Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick

THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED. THANKS TO ALL WHO ENTERED.

It's been an exciting week for anyone involved in Silver Linings Playbook - with the film picking up an impressive seven Oscar nominations and something in all the major categories. The film - which follows Pat as he adjusts to everyday life after a stint in a psychiatric hospital - has also been nominated for three BAFTAs and numerous other awards. David O. Russell has received critical and popular acclaim for both his directorial efforts with the film and his adapted screenplay.

Nominations:

Bradley Cooper for BEST ACTOR

Jennifer Lawrence for BEST ACTRESS

Robert DeNiro for ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

Jacki Weaver for ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

David O. Russell for BEST DIRECTOR

Jay Cassidy and Crispin Struthers for FILM EDITING

David O. Russell for WRITING (ADAPTED SCREENPLAY)

Of course, none of this would have happened were it not for the captivating and heartbreaking, yet life-affirming, debut novel from author Matthew Quick. 

To celebrate the success of one of 2012's best adaptations, the lovely folks over at Picador have two copies of the film tie-in edition of the book available to give away.

To be in with a chance of winning your own copy of this brilliant book, just email filmvsbook@gmail.com, using "Silver Linings Competition" as the subject line, with the actor who played Pat in the film adaptation. 

Check out the Film vs Book review of Silver Linings Playbook here.

This competition closes at midnight GMT Sunday 27th January and is available to UK readers only.