What's new...

It does seem that the Mendel's Dwarf film project has received new impetus following the involvement of Jason Gould of Barwood Films and Endeavor, the front line talent agency. Watch this space...

Following much discussion the jacket design of the British edition of The Glass Room has finally been decided on. Click on the thumbnail to see a larger image.

The Painting is by French cubist Roger de la Fresnaye (1913)

The Czech rights of The Glass Room are being bought by Czech publishing house Kniha Zlin. This sale is a something of a triumph, giving a seal of authenticity to a book that is largely set in the former Czechoslovakia. All this good work with translation rights is down to Jessica Craig and Lettie Ransley, the foreign rights team at United Agents.

The Glass Room seems to be awakening great interest amongst European publishers. First the Portuguese publishers Civilização Editora bought the translation rights and then, shortly afterwards, the Dutch publishing house Ambo Anthos bought Dutch rights. Now two Italian publishers have made offers and the deal is being completed with Neri Pozza. In many ways The Glass Room is a European novel. Perhaps it is fitting that Europe should be interested.

This is what the Dutch editor said about the book:

I love the idea of using architecture as a metaphor for the future, change and hope. The glass and steel structure of the house bringing technology closer to people and trying to change the way people live. But also pointing the way forward, hoping for a new and unbridled future in which people will have left the ‘’dark ages’’ and live in transparent, new times.

The oncoming threat of Nazism, slowly creeping closer and leaving its mark on everyone is very well done and harrowing. The way people hope it will blow over, but others are aware of the deadly threat and take measures...

...The richness of detail, be it describing architecture or the complicated matters of the heart and relationships is magnificent...

He didn't need to say that - he was buying the book, not selling it! But it is things like that that give the writer a lift during the long hours in front of the computer.

Meanwhile page proofs of The Glass Room have just been corrected and the next step is to finalise the jacket design for the British hardback edition.