Wirral Book Festival Monday 7th April

Hello all,
hope you’re well. It’s just occurred to me that I haven’t got round to plugging an event that I’m taking part in along with Jenny Colgan and JoJo Moyes. It’s all part of the Wirral book festival and should prove to be an absolutely great evening as both Jenny and JoJo are mates of mine so I know first hand just how great they can be. Anyway, here’s all the official details below:

Meet the Authors

Bromborough Civic Centre 7.30pm – 9pm

Three of Britain’s most successful and best selling contemporary novelists talk about their work.

Jojo Moyes, a previous winner of the Romantic Novel Award, was recently shortlisted for her fifth novel, Silver Bay.

Mike Gayle is bestselling author of Mr Commitment and My Legendary Girlfriend. His new romantic comedy, Wish You Were Here is a wise and witty tale of women, mates and the perils of cheap sambuca.

Jenny Colgan’s first novel, Amanda’s Wedding, was a huge international bestseller and her eigth novel, Operation Sunshine, is out in paperback this June. A regular contributor to TV and Radio, she is now developing a sitcom with Granada.

£3 incl wine. Booking essential: 0151 334 1650

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Stuff!
Current mood: implacable

Hi, it's been a while so I thought I'd better give you a news update.

1. Thanks for all the title suggestions. They were much appreciated and as most of you pointed out it's not exactly an easy task to do when you've not read the book. Anyway, a decision has been made and the title for the new book out in August this years is [cue drum roll] "The Life and Soul of The Party." The sharp-eyed of you out there will notice that this is actually the title that the publishers thought might be too long. Anyway, turns out it isn't! I like it a lot. I just hope it all fits on the cover!

2. On Tuesday 26th Feb at 7.30pm I'm doing a library gig in West Bromwich ( Central Library, High Street, West Bromwich B70 8DZ) along with Mil Millington and Paul MacDonald. It's a themed night on comic writing so it should be a lot of fun and is absolutely free so it would be nice to see you there if you can make it.

3. Here's me yakking on about technology and hot babes in Battlestar Galatica in the Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2008/feb/01/mikegayle

That's pretty much it for now.

Hope you're all well.

cheers

Mike

Currently listening : In Rainbows By Radiohead Release date: 01 January, 2008

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Pub dates!!!
Current mood: validated

Just a quickie to let you know about release dates for 2008:

Wish You Were Here will be out in paperback 10th July 2008...and if that's not enough a brand spanking new book: The Life and Soul of The Party will be out in trade paperback (that's the big version) 21 Aug 2008!

I'll be posting the jacket as soon as I get it.

cheers

Mike

Currently watching : V for Vendetta (Two-Disc Special Edition) Release date: 01 August, 2006

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Happy New Year!
Current mood: blessed

So.....hello. It's 2008 and one of my new year's resolutions is to have a go at blogging. Despite being aware of blogs for at least ten minutes now I've resisted so far on the basis that I wasn't sure that I've got that much to say. Nothing's changed on that front but I'm going to do it anyway. To ease myself into the whole process I'll do a quick round up of Mike Gayle news:

1. The new book is nearly all but done and is currently going under the working title of "The Life and Soul of the Party". This may change at some point because it is a bit of a mouthful but at the end of the day it is probably the title that best sums up the book. If you do have any better ideas for the title feel free to drop me a line asap with your suggestion at the usual address and if it's any good I'll pass it on to my editor. (It's a book about parties, friends and relationships btw). Oh...and according to Amazon (who have called it "untitled book 4" it's out August 2008.

2. My most exciting piece of news is that there may well actually be a film of My Legendary Girlfriend! A couple of American producers who have been big fans of my stuff bought the rights to MLG and DFT sometime ago and although the DFT project never got off the ground they've kept plugging away with MLG. Anyway, just before Christmas I had a call telling me that they've managed to collect together nearly all the money they need in order to make the film happen which is great news. If it does happen they hope to start shooting in late spring in NY. And before you ask am I happy with it being shot in America rather than the UK? The answer is I'd be happy with it being shot in Afghanistan if it meant that it would actually get made!

3. My other bit of news is that while you've not been looking I have been beetling away on an idea for a non-fiction book. I can't tell you what it's called yet or what it's about (which isn't I'll admit isn't particularly helpful) but I can tell you that it exists and that it's the reason that I was sporting a beard on my old profile picture on myspace. Could I *be* more cryptic? I don't think so.

Right, that's it for now.

Cheers

Mike Gayle

Currently listening : Untrue By Burial Release date: 06 November, 2007

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Friday 26 October 2007 GUILDFORD BOOK FESTIVAL
Current mood: rejuvenated

GUILDFORD BOOK FESTIVAL
Friday 26 October 2007, 7:30pm
£8. The Electric Theatre, Onslow Street

Dear all,
I'm going to be appearing at Guilford Book Festival and would love to see you all there. It's going to be a great night and along with myself there will be brilliant authors like Dorothy Koomson, Matt Dunn and Jane Fallon. Feel free to bring all your books along if you want them signed afterwards or just drop by after the event and say hello.

cheers

Mike Gayle

And here's the official blurb from the author Adele Park's website who not only is one of the organisers of the event but invited me along to it too:


Between the Sheets


In this intimate setting two of Adele Park's favourite contemporary female authors, Dorothy Koomson and Jane Fallon, will candidly discuss the fame game as both writers have been Richard and Judy award winners and as such have fast become household names. They will reveal where they get their inspiration, how they develop a likeable or loathsome heroine, their nightmares when writing the 'fade to black' scenes and much more.

After an interval

Adele invites two of her choice male authors onto the bed. Mike Gayle and Matt Dunn are famed for their romantic and yet still rip roaringly funny styles. Mike and Matt will offer a terrifying eye-opener into what men really think about women, parenthood, friendships and even holidays with the family. These fellas brook the stereotype that authors are shy and retiring as both are loquacious and open in both their written and spoken word.

Currently listening : Oh My Darling By Basia Bulat Release date: 04 June, 2007

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New Stuff!
Current mood: mischievous

Hi, just (another) quick(ish) note to let you know what I'm up to. But before I get started on all that I'd just like to offer a massive cheers to everyone who bought Wish You Were Here, and made it the massive success that it was and to say thank you to everyone who has dropped me a line by email, added me on myspace and made the effort to come along to various gigs and readings.

cheers

Mike Gayle


And now the news:



1. A New Mike Gayle novel...
Will be released May 2008. It currently has no title but is themed around...parties.

2. Wish You Were Here...
Will be released in Paperback May 2008 and will have a new look cover.

3. 20th October 2007...
Is the date of Sheffield Reader's Day. I'll be making an appearance here along with authors Jojo Moyes, Robyn Young and Mandasue Heller. More info here:
http://www.sheffield.gov.uk/in-your-area/libraries/reading-room/sheffield-readers-day-2007/guest-authorsspeakers

4. 20th October 2007...
Is also the date that I'll be appearing on A Good Read with Sue MacGregor live from Birmingham as part of Birmingham Literature Festival.


"Birmingham Conservatoire, Paradise Place, Nr Central Library, B3 3HG
A recording for future broadcast of two editions of BBC Radio Four's well-loved book programme. Sue MacGregor and special guests discuss and recommend favourite books - essential listening for book lovers."

*Please note it has yet to be confirmed precisely which edition I'll be making an appearance.

Currently listening : The Flying Club Cup By Beirut Release date: 09 October, 2007

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Latitude Festival/Radio Four
Current mood: nerdy

Hi just a quick note to say that as well as appearing in the literature tent at Latitude festival at 5pm on Sunday I will also be reading a brand new short story which will be recorded for broadcast on Radio 4 at 3.30pm on Thursday 19th July 2007.

And here's what the Radio 4 website says:

19 July 2007
15:30
Afternoon Reading
Stories with Latitude

Five stories recorded at the Latitude Festival in Suffolk last weekend.

Writer Mike Gayle reads his story "The Jeans" about a man's efforts to rediscover the body he had at 20.

cheers

Mike

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Latitude Festival
Current mood: enthralled

Hello again,
just a quick heads up to let you know that along with a whole host of music, comedy and literary acts I'll be appearing at Latitude Festival in the Literary Arena, Sunday 15th July at 5.00pm.

So if you're there or fancy being there it would be lovely to see you

cheers

Mike

And here's a little something I copied and pasted from the internet about it:

The award-winning and ground-breaking Latitude Festival is returning to the sunrise coast of Suffolk for it's amazing second year.

Hosted once again in the breathtaking grounds of Henham Park Estate, Southwold, organisers Mean Fiddler are promising an even more spectacular event. Latitude's arrival last year re-wrote the rulebook on traditional festivals and provided a well-needed breath of fresh air.

On one of the hottest weekends in history, Latitude shimmered and glittered in the sunshine, providing a relaxing weekend break in the countryside.

Bursting with weird and wonderful sights and experiences, it embraced and showcased an eclectic array of art, entertainment and attractions for all generations.

The concept of Latitude is for visitors to sample all the varied aspects of the arts world in one place; to be able to wonder from books, to music, to film and theatre, to be able to discover new and exciting things whilst surrounded by beautiful countryside. It's unrivalled in this country.

Confirmed Acts:

DAMIEN RICE
THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE QUEEN
ARCADE FIRE
WILCO
CSS
THE MAGIC NUMBERS
CLAP YOUR HANDS SAY YEAH

Currently listening : Parallel Lines By Blondie Release date: 11 September, 2001

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Hull Literature Festival - Saturday 23rd June, 1pm

Hi
more travel news! I'm coming to the Humber Mouth Festival in Hull. I'll be talking about Wish You Were Here and writing in general, taking questions and no doubt juggling small animals. It would be lovely to see you all there too.

cheers

Mike

And here are the official details from the programme:

Saturday 23rd June, 1pm
Zest, 17-19 Newland Avenue

Mike Gayle

£5 Tickets from Zest 01482 446200

The author of bestsellers My Legendary Girlfriend, Mr Commitment, Turning Thirty and Brand New Friend, Mike Gayle will be talking about his new novel Wish You Were Here.

Mike is a novelist and freelance journalist contributing to a variety of magazines including FHM, Sunday Times Style and The Guardian. He was an agony aunt for Just Seventeen and Bliss before he wrote books.

His writing has been described as being "full of belly laughs and painfully acute observations" (The Independent on Sunday) and as an excursion into the world of a modern male that "delivers its punch lines directly to the heart" (Birmingham Evening Mail). Often compared to authors such as Nick Hornby and Tony Parsons, Mike Gayle takes male experience as his subject in his funny, astute and highly readable novels.

'succeeds brilliantly, tackling the topic of relationships with the seriousness and dark wit of Nick Hornby's High Fidelity.' USA Today

'Mike Gayle has carved a whole new literary niche out of the male confessional novel. He's a publishing phenomenon.' Evening Standard

Currently reading : JPod: A Novel By Douglas Coupland Release date: 16 May, 2006

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Book Signing Birmingham 16th June 11.30am

Hi
Just a(nother) quick note to say that if you're in Birmingham on June 16th and fancy getting your copy of Wish You were Here signed by me (not some random stranger) then I'll be in Bonds Book Shop* in Harborne from 11.30am until about 1.30pm-ish.

cheers

Mike Gayle

*BondsBooks is on Harborne High Street, opposite the Clock Tower.97a High Street,
Harborne,Birmingham, B17 9NR.
Parking - Pay and display carparks off York Street and behind the shops off St. John's Road.
Buses - most Harborne buses pass by the door

Currently listening : Black on Both Sides By Mos Def Release date: 12 October, 1999

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