Urbane Publications Spring 2016

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URBANE PUBLICATIONS Spring 2016 Catalogue urbanepublications.com


FINDING NEW VOICES Hello from Urbane

Are you always searching for that next great book, the joy of discovering a new author, thrilling new worlds and characters, or simply enjoying the printed and digital page? We are; so much so that we decided to start sharing our love of words with you. Urbane Publications is a new and exciting independent publisher dedicated to developing and producing the books you want to read – hip, contemporary, ground-breaking fiction and non-fiction designed to entertain, excite, and engage.

Our goal is to find daring, aspirational and exciting new authors and publish them for an enthusiastic and knowledgeable audience. The company is founded on collaboration – collaborating with the writer to create the best work possible and UK sales by Compass collaborating with our readership to publish the Independent Publishing books they want. That’s why we decided to start Services Ltd our own publishing house, because our goal is to Great West House, Great West publish the work you want to read – once we’ve Road, Brentford TW8 9DF enjoyed reading it too! Tel. 020 8326 5696 Email: sales@compass-ips.london Words always have the power and potential to challenge, involve, inspire – and we live them at Distributed by Combined Book Urbane Publications. This is a journey of discovery, Services Ltd finding new voices, defining new genres, Unit D, Paddock Wood and most importantly creating the Distribution Centre, words people want to read. At Urbane Paddock Wood, Publications we love books. We know Tonbridge, Kent you do too. Join us and dive into some TN12 6UU extraordinary words. Tel. 01892 837171 Matthew Smith, Managing Director Email: orders@ Urbane Publications combook.co.uk 2

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defining new genres

FORTHCOMING FICTION TITLES FORTHCOMING NON-FICTION TITLES FORTHCOMING POETRY TITLES BACKLIST FICTION TITLES BACKLIST NON-FICTION TITLES

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4 22 32 33 42

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SIMON says

daniel gothard

PUB DATE: 12 January 2016 ISBN: 9781910692486 PRICE: £8.99 EXTENT: 176 Pages DIMENSIONS: B format paperback CATEGORY: Contemporary fiction, rom-com BIC CODE: FA REGIONS: World

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Vibrant and witty, Simon says is a must-read novel by a writer with a sharp eye and an even sharper tongue.” - Guy Mankowski Simon Templar was named after a suave and heroic man of action, but he seems to lack the finer points of his namesake. Slightly hapless, occasionally hopeless, and prone to being chased by angry strangers, he is the everyman who doesn’t fit. When his drunken father-in-law divulges a shocking truth about the love of Simon’s life, it seems the world will always kick him where it hurts. Yet in the aftermath of this revelation Simon is determined to rebuild his life, hopes and dreams. Or at least have a life, hopes and dreams. With the support of his best buddy Sean, and embracing a dating frenzy that would put a lothario to shame, Simon goes on a journey of self-discovery. Can he learn to trust again, and finally understand the true meaning of love? In the best traditions of Richard Curtis and David Nicholls, Simon says is a wonderful bittersweet comedy of love, life and longing, and the perfect read for any rom-com fan. Daniel Gothard lives in Oxford with his wife and three children. He has previously published two novels and appeared in numerous literary journals and anthologies in the UK and abroad. His last novel Friendship and Afterwards - was nominated for The People’s Book Prize. He is also an Arts Correspondent for After Nyne magazine.

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stone seeds jo ely

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othing is quite as it appears in New Bavarnica. The general and the village shopkeeper have the people by the throat, their sinister control over the edge farms and brutal repression keeping the people in line…but there is hope from a very unexpected source… Stone Seeds is a beautifully crafted dystopian action thriller. It’s impossible not to care about the all too real characters using every last ounce of their youthful courage, ingenuity and flawed humanity to keep themselves and hope alive in a world of menace. A stunning debut from an assured and gifted writer. “A very distinct voice … at times no less than stunning … wonderful, poetic prose … The subject matter is a stroke of genius. Fascinating.” - bestselling author Sophie King “Jo Ely’s superb debut novel combines the vision of Russell Hoban and Ursula Le Guin with her own unique talents as a powerful and poetic storyteller.” - Roman Krznaric Described as “an intelligent, creative, imaginative, original writer” by Guardian Book of the Year author Trevor Byrne, Jo has been Shortlisted for the Fish International Short Story Prize and has had a short story selected for an anthology edited by New York Times Notable Book of the Year author Sandra Tyler (US edition 2016). Stone Seeds is Jo’s first novel.

PUB DATE: 24 March 2016 ISBN: 9781910692875 PRICE: £8.99 EXTENT: 288 Pages DIMENSIONS: B format paperback CATEGORY: Dystopian thriller/future fantasy BIC CODE: FL/FM REGIONS: World

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URBANE FICTION 5


hold still tim adler

PUB DATE: 17 March 2016 ISBN: 9781910692691 PRICE: £7.99 EXTENT: 288 Pages DIMENSIONS: B format paperback CATEGORY: Psychological thriller BIC CODE: FH, FF REGIONS: World

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I photographed the moment of my husband’s death.” So begins Hold Still, a nerve-twisting thriller that promises to be Murder On the Orient Express for the Snapchat generation. Hold Still is a contemporary Hitchcockian thriller about a woman who photographs the moment of her husband’s death, only to suspect that everybody else in the photo is somehow involved in his murder. As she investigates further and begins to uncover the truth, the world she thought she knew is completely torn apart. This is a bona-fide page turner, with one action scene and plot twist after another, and features a strong, fearless heroine at its heart. Very much one for fans of C L Taylor, Mark Edwards and Jenny Blackhurst Tim’s two previous thrillers, Slow Bleed and Surrogate, reached no 1 in the crime kindle charts on Amazon. Tim Adler is an author and commissioning editor on The Daily Telegraph, who has also written for the Financial Times and The Times. The Sunday Times called Adler’s most recent nonfiction book The House of Redgrave “compulsively readable” while The Mail On Sunday called it “dazzling”. Adler’s previous book Hollywood and the Mob – an exposé of how the Mafia has corrupted the movie industry – was Book of the Week in The Mail On Sunday and Critic’s Choice in the Daily Mail.

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DEATH IN PROFILE GUY-FRASER SAMPSON

Comfortingly old school crime fiction with a modern twist” – bestselling author Chris Brookmyre. The first of the Hampstead Murders series sees a police investigation into a series of sex killings threatened by internal politics and a burgeoning love triangle. Faced by senior officers desperate for results a new initiative is clearly needed, but what? Praised by fellow authors - that most critical audience - this is a truly different kind of crime story, speaking to a contemporary audience yet at the same time harking back to the Golden Age of detective fiction. Intelligent, quirky and mannered, it has been described as ‘a love letter to the detective novel.’ Guy Fraser-Sampson is an established writer who is perhaps best known for his series of Mapp and Lucia novels which have been featured on BBC Radio 4 and optioned by BBC television. As well as fiction, he has also produced books on a diverse range of subjects including finance, investment, economics and cricket. His darkly disturbing economic history The Mess We’re In was nominated for the Orwell Prize.

PUB DATE: 10 March 2016 ISBN: 9781910692936 PRICE: £7.99 EXTENT: 320 Pages DIMENSIONS: B format paperback CATEGORY: Classic crime BIC CODE: FF/FFC REGIONS: World

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URBANE FICTION 7


SKYjACKED shirley golden

T

PUB DATE: 15 April 2016 ISBN: 9781910692189 PRICE: ÂŁ8.99 EXTENT: 320 Pages DIMENSIONS: B format paperback CATEGORY: Classic science fiction, adventure BIC CODE: FL, FLC, FLS REGIONS: World

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he thrilling story of Corvus Ranger, an off-world pilot, who gets hijacked by a group of convicts on the prison moon Europa, and his ensuing journey to return home to his son. This is the ultimate Odyssey meets classic sci-fi mash up! Skyjacked is a classic sci-fiction adventure. Set in the year 2146, maverick pilot Corvus Ranger is the perfect anti-hero, fighting, loving and wise-cracking his way across the galaxy as he battles convicts, cyborg armies and his own bad decisions on a quest to get home safely to his son. This will appeal to all sci-fi fans, but particularly readers of Silverberg, Larry Niven and CJ Cherryh Shirley Golden left school with dire qualifications and spent ten years working in factories, where making up stories in her head saved her from terminal boredom. She returned to education in her late twenties, gained a degree in psychology, and worked in research for a few years before deciding to dedicate herself to writing fiction full time. Many of her stories have found homes in the pages or websites of various magazines and anthologies, and have also found their way on to competition long and short lists. She won the Exeter Writers Short Story Competition in 2013. She loves flash-fiction and is one of the editors for the FlashFlood Journal, created by Calum Kerr, to celebrate National FlashFiction Day.

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RWANDAN HOSTAGE CHRISTOPHER LOWERY

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he sequel to the bestselling The Angolan Clan, The Rwandan Hostage continues the tale of corruption, murder and greed that began in the first book of the African Diamonds Trilogy, and heroine Jenny Bishop faces a terrifying new threat not only to her own life, but those of her closest family. When Jenny’s nephew is kidnapped while at the world cup final in South Africa, she needs to help her sister get him back unharmed. Once more joining forces with private investigator Pedro Espinoza, Jenny uncovers an international conspiracy dating back to the horrific events of the Rwandan genocide in 1994. Jenny is in a race against time to find the abductors, before revelations threaten to tear her family apart. “Great book - loved the blend of history and thriller. The author is clearly an expert in Africa’s turbulent history and the quality of derail and characterisation made it a compelling read” – Little Book Blog Christopher Lowery was born in the northeast of England. He also writes patents and children’s books and composes music. He and his wife Marjorie live between Geneva and Marbella. They have one daughter whose experiences as an aid worker in Rwanda inspired The Rwandan Hostage.

PUB DATE: 7 April 2016 ISBN: 9781910692967 PRICE: £8.99 EXTENT: 678Pages DIMENSIONS: B format paperback CATEGORY: Thriller, Adventure BIC CODE: FH, FJ REGIONS: World

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URBANE FICTION 9


out damned spot!

FJ McQueen

A

PUB DATE: 14 April 2016 ISBN: 9781910692424 PRICE: £8.99 EXTENT: 320 Pages DIMENSIONS: B format paperback CATEGORY: Crime, fantasy BIC CODE: FF, FM, FQ REGIONS: World

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serial killer is leaving a rather horrible trail of messy murders across London and William Shakespeare, crime scene cleaner, is on his tail, armed with a mop, determination and an inquiring mind. After cleaning the room in which his half-brother, Kit Marlow, had been knifed to death, Shakespeare starts up his own crime scene cleaning business, Incarnadine, picking-up know-how from the net and on the job. Following a series of clues gleaned from other crime scenes, Shakespeare is soon piecing together suspect profiles and likely modus operandi. Out Damned Spot! has Shakespeare cleaning up after every crime committed in Shakespearian tragedies but given contemporary settings. The masterminds behind the actual crimes are based on the writers whose stories Shakespeare ‘stole’……needless to say it’s a comedy crime thriller! FJ McQueen lives on the edge of the Peak District with her husband, also a writer, and a great number of books. She’s also an inventor, cartoonist, lyricist, rotten rapper, librettist, comedy performer and mother of a gladsome son who, unsurprisingly, is also a writer with his own mountain of books.

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AS IF I WERE A RIVER

AMANDA SAINT

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s If I Were A River tells the story of three generations of women in one family: Kate, Laura and Una, and is a tale of family secrets, the lies we tell each other and ourselves and, ultimately, of redemption and losing yourself in order to find out who you really are. Is not knowing worse than knowing the truth? The stunning debut novel from Amanda Saint reveals the true power…and pain…of secrets. On the surface Kate has the perfect marriage, she has found the love of her life. Then her husband disappears and there doesn’t seem to be any trace of him. Kate turns to her family for support and answers, but what secrets are they hiding from her? Would you rather know the whole truth or nothing at all? Amanda is a nomad who writes for magazines and businesses when she’s not writing stories. Amanda also runs a number of popular writing workshops through her company Retreat West.

PUB DATE: 21 April 2016 ISBN: 9781910692639 PRICE: £8.99 EXTENT: 288 Pages DIMENSIONS: B format paperback CATEGORY: Contemporary fiction, Women’s Fiction, Suspense BIC CODE: FA/FH REGIONS: World

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URBANE FICTION 11


the heart ladder elizabeth mAcbain

T

PUB DATE: 21 April 2016 ISBN: 9781910692066 PRICE: £8.99 EXTENT: 256 Pages DIMENSIONS: B format paperback CATEGORY: Contemporary fiction BIC CODE: FA/FRD REGIONS: World

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he Heart Ladder is a stunning debut novel, a story of love, family and how the past will always shape our future. 1973, and New Yorker Faith Anderson arrives in England, alone and heavily pregnant. Faith hopes to make a new life for herself and provide a future filled with opportunity for her unborn son. 2003 and Dan has grown distant from his mother, and is a disappointment to himself. Unable to kick-start the stalled nature of his existence, Dan spends his days working in a run-down bookshop, setting the world to rights with his colleague Fiona. At weekends he is often found alone in nightclubs, surrounded by people and life but unable to make a connection with anything he deems important. It takes the arrival of a mysterious and enigmatic stranger to rip Dan from his lethargy; but who is this man and what is his agenda? As truths are dragged into the light and secrets revealed, lives are changed forever. And both Dan and Faith recognise there can be no future without embracing the lessons of the past……. Elizabeth Macbain was born in London and now lives in Derbyshire with her husband and son. Despite fierce competition, Elizabeth recently won the Urbane Publications competition prize of a publishing contract, and The Heart Ladder will be Elizabeth’s debut novel.

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SOD THE ! *******

STEPHEN BERKOFF

s

od the *******! is the challenging, controversial and thrilling debut novel from one of the world’s greatest – and most controversial - actors and playwrights. John is an actor. He is a man. A man who wants. A man who needs. A man who takes. And he takes from those who always expect him to give. To give them love, loyalty, affection – to give them his soul, his loyalty, his life. Why can’t they just let him thrive? Why can’t they understand the desires and passions that drive him? Why is he a man alone? John has crossed the line from performance to reality, from stage to street, from imagination to visceral breath – and he needs to wrest control before all is lost. Themes that haunt the Berkoff canon are present in this startling novel, from his use of crude street patter to discussion of sex wars; class wars; dislocation and abandonment of love in a thankless and unyielding world. This is a challenging, brutally honest novel that will inspire, enrage and divide – and live on long after the final word. Sod the *******! is testament to the power of words. It will shock, amaze, inspire and horrify. This is a book for the brave – a novel to expand your mind and challenge your moral compass and beliefs.

PUB DATE: 5 May 2016 ISBN: 9781911129219 PRICE: £8.99 EXTENT: 240 Pages DIMENSIONS: B format paperback CATEGORY: Fiction, contemporary fiction BIC CODE: FA/ANB REGIONS: World

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URBANE FICTION 13


the huntingfield paintress PAMELA HOLMES

A genuinely original, utterly enchanting story’ – AN Wilson

“A slice of Suffolk history brought beautifully to life” – Esther Freud

“An atmospheric and enjoyable story of a singular and free-thinking woman” – Deborah Moggach.

PUB DATE: 5 May 2016 ISBN: 9781910692660 PRICE: £8.99 EXTENT: 320 Pages DIMENSIONS: B format paperback ILLUSTRATIONS: N/A CATEGORY: Historical fiction, Women’s Fiction BIC CODE: FV, FW, FFH REGIONS: World

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Plucky and headstrong Mildred Holland revelled in the eight years she and her husband, the vicar William Holland, spent travelling 1840s Europe. But William’s new posting in a tiny Suffolk village is a world apart and Mildred finds a life of tea and sympathy dull and stifling in comparison. What options exist for a clever, creative woman in such a cossetted environment? A sudden chance encounter fires Mildred’s creative imagination and she embarks on a herculean task that demands courage and passion. Defying her loving but exasperated husband and the mistrustful locals, Mildred rediscovers her passion and lives again through her dreams of beauty. Pamela Holmes was born in Charleston, South Carolina. At the age of eight, she moved with her family to England. The Huntingfield Paintress is her first novel. She won the Jane Austen Short Story Award in 2014 and her shortlisted work was highly recommended in the HISSAC award 2015.

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THE CURSING STONE Adrian Harvey

Oh come now, Mr Buchanan. When one goes out into the world, one always ends up smelling of something or other.” Fergus Buchanan has led a charmed life: a doting family, a loving sweetheart and the respect of his neighbours. All is as it should be and nothing stands between him and the limitless happiness that is his destiny. But then he is sent from his remote island to retrieve the cursing stone, and his adventures in the wild world beyond cause him to question everything he thought he knew. Succeed or fail, nothing will be the same again. This modern quest is a story of courage, duty and revenge, of family ties and loves lost and found, of dragons and postcodes… and an innocent abroad in a strange new world.novel to expand your mind and challenge your moral compass and beliefs. Since escaping the East Midlands to find his fortune in the big city, Adrian Harvey has combined a career in and around government with trying to see as much of the world as he can. He lives in North London, which he believes to be the finest corner of the world’s greatest city. His first novel, Being Someone, was selected for WHS Fresh Talent.

PUB DATE: 19 May 2016 ISBN: 9781911129189 PRICE: £8.99 EXTENT: 240 Pages DIMENSIONS: B format paperback CATEGORY: Fiction, contemporary fiction BIC CODE: FA REGIONS: World

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URBANE FICTION 15


FADE TO DEAD tara moore

F

PUB DATE: 19 May 2016 ISBN: 9781910692776 PRICE: £8.99 EXTENT: 240 Pages DIMENSIONS: B format paperback CATEGORY: Crime fiction, thriller fiction BIC CODE: FF, FH REGIONS: World

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iade to Dead is the first in a series of fast-paced, gritty, crime novels, featuring ballsy, newly promoted DI, Jessica Wideacre. When a serial killer, The Director, starts snatching young women off the street to “act” in his movies, Jessica is tasked with apprehending him. It’s her first major case and the opportunity to prove that she’s not just the token woman promoted to satisfy the PC brigade. The Director’s victims are all of a type, barely legal, blonde and beautiful. As the body count rises, Jessica is fast losing confidence. With no clues to go on and a boss who’s just willing her to screw up, she’s also losing sleep and possibly her husband too. Who can blame her if she starts to find a little too much comfort at the bottom of a bottle? But, Jessica Wideacre is no push over; she doesn’t do bullshit or suffer fools gladly. She will earn respect. And she will get her man. Meanwhile, The Director has another victim in his sights and this one, a famous movie star, is real special. He’s going to make her a star. One of six children, Tara was born in Ireland. After many years working in insurance, banking and law, Tara saw her writing ambitions achieved with the hugely successful publication of her first book by Irish publishers Poolbeg. Two more books followed swiftly. A subsequent contract with Orion led to the publication of RSVP and Blue-Eyed Girl, together with translations into Portuguese, Croatian, Serbian and Norwegian. Tara now lives in Kent.

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LOVE AND A DOZEN ROAST POTATOES SIMON WAN

The strongest image from the first few years of my life is of a shining beacon of rebellion and beauty: Princess Leia. She was sassy, and she knew her way around a blaster. We’re starting from the very beginning, so no hot sauce until I’m at least 16, and when I say hot sauce I mean sex.” “Trendy Shoreditch. All the skinny jeans, all the facial hair. I’d been away from this world for long enough now for me to see it for what it really was. It’s all fake, but fun. Bullshitters bullshitting the bullshit. I couldn’t wait to get back in the mix.” Such is the life of our hero as he negotiates the twin ambitions of finding the love of his life and becoming a superstar, and taking ‘the one’ to his Mum’s for her famous Sunday roast. It’s a life tale of comic disasters, sex (lots of sex), relationship woes and discovering your nakedness plastered over social media. Warm, funny, very hip, this is David Nicholls with the naughty bits. Simon Wan recently took to stage and screen and attained international acclaim with nominations and awards for his performances in British Kung Fu film drama Dog and stage production Mr Foo.

PUB DATE: 9 June 2016 ISBN: 9781910692905 PRICE: £8.99 EXTENT: 320 Pages DIMENSIONS: B format paperback CATEGORY: Contemporary fiction, Romcom BIC CODE: FA, FRD, FR REGIONS: World

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URBANE FICTION

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GLASS HOUSES JACKIE BUXTON

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hen she sent that text, all our lives changed for ever…

PUB DATE: 9 June 2016 ISBN: 9781910692844 PRICE: £8.99 EXTENT: 320 Pages DIMENSIONS: B format paperback CATEGORY: Contemporary fiction, thriller BIC CODE: FA, FH REGIONS: World

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Fifty-one-year-old Tori Williams’ life implodes when she sends a text while driving on the M62 motorway and allegedly causes the horrific crash in which three people die. Public and press are baying for her blood but Tori is no wallflower and refuses to buckle under their pressure and be a pariah. Etta, another driver involved in the fatal accident, saved Tori’s life at the scene. She’s a hero, so why is her life falling apart? Perhaps to save herself Tori can save Etta – and in doing so protect her own future and that of those she loves. This incredibly topical and relevant contemporary morality tale appeals across generations and will find favour with fans of authors such as Liane Moriarty, Marian Keyes and Kathryn Croft. Jackie Buxton is a freelance writer, editor and teacher of creative writing. She is a judge for the Radio Two 500 Words’ competition, and her short stories feature in three anthologies, online and in Chase Magazine, for which she also writes a bi-monthly double page spread of book reviews. Jackie lives in Leeds with her husband and teenage children – much more fun than they sound – and when not writing, can often be found cycling, running, dreaming or tripping up through the beautiful Yorkshire Dales.

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INFINITE ROOMS

DAVID JOHN GRIFFIN

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nfinite Rooms is a terrifying thriller that follows one man’s descent into madness … or is it simply that the truth is finally revealed? While narrating to a remembered psychiatrist, Donald Clement’s inner reality becomes infused with surreal fantasy: Neptune rising from the sea; a giant showing the wonders of the universe; and an incredible stranger who promises to reveal the secrets of infinity. As Donald falls deeper into the fantasy, so his protected memories are gradually revealed again, exposing the shocking and terrifying truths he has been hiding … even from himself. Like a cross between Clive Barker and China Mieville, this is a novel of wonderful psychological terrors and fantastical dreams, as one man wrestles with the thin line between fantasy and reality. David John Griffin is a writer, graphic designer and app designer, and lives in a small town by the Thames in Kent, with his wife Susan. He is currently working on the first draft of a third novel as well as writing short stories for a novel-length collection. His first novel – published by Urbane Publications in October 2015 – is called The Unusual Possession of Alastair Stubb. He has independently-published a magical realism/paranormal novella called Two Dogs At The One Dog Inn. One of his short stories was shortlisted for The HG Wells Short Story competition 2012 and published in an anthology.

PUB DATE: 16 June 2016 ISBN: 9781910692608 PRICE: £8.99 EXTENT: 320 Pages DIMENSIONS: B format paperback CATEGORY: Fantasy, horror, magical realism BIC CODE: FM, FK, FW REGIONS: World

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URBANE FICTION

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WAVES JARED A CARNIE

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PUB DATE: 7 July 2016 ISBN: 9781911129424 PRICE: £8.99 EXTENT: 320 Pages DIMENSIONS: B format paperback CATEGORY: Contemporary fiction BIC CODE: FA REGIONS: World

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ometimes the harder we look the less we see. Waves is a contemporary fiction debut by Jared A Carnie about friendship, the search for meaning, and finding yourself when the world appears to have taken away your future. Alex is stuck. Stuck in Essex. Stuck in his childhood home. Stuck in a job he hates. The relationship he’d been counting on all these years has finally fallen apart and he’s lost any hope in the future. Anxious, uncertain and totally sober, Alex is dragged to the Outer Hebrides by his long-suffering friend, James. Somewhere between the mountains, the music and the sea, Alex is desperate to find something that can ignite a spark of life in him again. Through castles, ceilidhs, bothies, lochs, vast beaches and tiny boats, chance meetings and old friends, Alex has to learn that maybe taking responsibility doesn’t have to mean the end of feeling free. Already an established and award winning poet (with a Notable Mention in the Luminaire Poetry Award) this is Jared’s debut novel Jared is originally from Essex. He has since lived in Bath, the Outer Hebrides and Sheffield. His writing frequently appears in various journals, zines and anthologies. He has read at numerous events including the Inverness Book Festival and was awarded a New North Poets Award at the Northern Writers Awards 2015.

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the gospel according to

JOHNNY BENDER

DEAN LILLEYMAN

o

ne day, bad things will happen…. an astonishing new contemporary urban thriller from Dean Lilleyman, author of Billy and the Devil. “Once upon a time there was a village called Edendale, and some people were good and some people were bad and some people were in-between. Do we know who is what yet? I don’t think we do…” During the celebrated carnival of 1979, the villagers danced beneath a mirror-ball, as a young girl drifted dead in the river. Who knew the truth of things? And would the truth matter? Now it’s 1999 and Edendale is holding another carnival. An anniversary to commemorate the life-changing events of twenty years before, by pretending it’s 1979… again. One day, two decades apart, the mirror-ball turning in the dark to light a truth. Come… Johnny Bender has things to show you. Awarded a writing scholarship in 2009, Dean Lilleyman wrote Billy and the Devil based around his own experiences as an alcoholic. Nominated for both the People’s Book Prize and the A.M. Heath Prize, its unflinching portrayal of the effects of alcoholism has courted both controversy and praise. Dean has been featured in both commercial and underground publications, and has performed at a number of literary events.

PUB DATE: 7 July 2016 ISBN: 9781911129004 PRICE: £8.99 EXTENT: 320 Pages DIMENSIONS: B format paperback CATEGORY: Contemporary fiction, thriller BIC CODE: FA, FH REGIONS: World

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URBANE FICTION 21


THE busBy babes richard skinner

T

PUB DATE: 4 February 2016 ISBN: 9781910692578 PRICE: £14.99 EXTENT: 288 Pages DIMENSIONS: B format paperback CATEGORY: Football, Biography, Sport BIC CODE: BGS, WSBT, WSJA REGIONS: World

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he Munich air disaster remains one of the most compelling, emotional and discussed events in sporting history. Richard Skinner’s ground-breaking new book throws new light on this enduring tale and is an essential purchase for every football fan. This book is a tale of spirit, courage and the eternal bonds of friendship. It is about a group of men whose passion for football led them to unparalleled success and unprecedented glory. But it also cost many of them their lives. Matt Busby, the patriarchal manager of Manchester United, revolutionised English football by bending the rules and pushing the limits. At Manchester United, he created a team of ‘boy wonders’, the Busby Babes, a group of players who became the game’s first superstars, heroes to millions of people. But, just as they were on the verge of world acclaim, disaster struck… Richard Skinner is the author of two previous books of non-fiction. He has written reviews and features for the Guardian, Financial Times, Sunday Times and Sight & Sound. He is also the author of three novels, all published by Faber & Faber. His fiction has been nominated for prizes and is published in seven languages. Richard is director of the Fiction Programme at the Faber Academy and an avid Derby County fan.

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release your wow rennie gould

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sing seven simple steps, you will be led on a journey of selfdiscovery to reveal your essential self - an insight that provides the foundation to make the changes you want to your life. Take the journey and release your WOW! Release your WOW! is a groundbreaking self-development text, designed to help every individual create personal strategies to achieve their life goals. Drawing on the very latest thinking behind Mindfulness, Authenticity and Human Flourishing, Release your WOW! shows YOU how to unleash that irresistible force that often lies dormant but ready within all of us, an energy which has the power to change every aspect of your life for the better. Using seven simple steps, you will be led on a journey of self-discovery to reveal your essential self - an insight that provides the foundation to make the changes you want to make to your life. Take the journey and release your WOW! Rennie Gould is a world renowned consultant who helps people and organisations become more effective and productive. Using his considerable gifts of investigation and communication, Rennie shares his unique seven-step system to provide the understanding and perception necessary to achieve self-awareness and personal fulfilment.

PUB DATE: 25 February 2016 ISBN: 9781909273559 PRICE: ÂŁ12.99 EXTENT: 240 Pages DIMENSIONS: B format paperback ILLUSTRATIONS: 15 line drawings CATEGORY: Self-development/self help BIC CODE: VS/VSPM REGIONS: World

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URBANE URBANE NON-FICTION NON-FICTION 23


go against the flow CHARU SHARMA

a

PUB DATE: 25 February 2015 ISBN: 9781910692516 PRICE: £14.99 EXTENT: 256 Pages DIMENSIONS: Royal format PB ILLUSTRATIONS: 15 line illustrations CATEGORY: Women in Business, Entrepreneurship, Business Strategy BIC CODE: KJH/KJC REGIONS: World

24 URBANE NON-FICTION

n innovative and ground-breaking new book brings together wisdom from several established and up and coming women business leaders in sharing their candid and introspective insights on how to become a successful entrepreneur. From getting started on concept, building technology, hiring, getting funded and scale, to finally launching a business with success, this book is a must-own for every budding entrepreneur. The list of contributors includes Harvard MBA’s, a college dropout, several Forbes 30 title holders, million dollar startups and pioneers in technology. These women started companies from scratch, scaled their organizations to span across several continents, raised millions of dollars, faced failure but came out victorious and loved every minute of the challenge. These inspirational, gritty, audacious and passionate women, in spite of naysayers or failures, have chosen to create their own flow and act on their ideas and convictions. Their stories are inspirational for anyone wanting to start their own business. Charu Sharma is an award-winning entrepreneur, explorer and author based in Silicon Valley. With five national awards, expeditions to all seven continents, over 600 stage shows, and two start-ups, this prodigy was enlisted as a “Power Woman” alongside such notables as Oprah Winfrey, Sonia Gandhi, and Melinda Gates by Youth Incorporated magazine in March 2012.

URBANE PUBLICATIONS SPRING 2016 CATALOGUE


PUBLIC AFFAIRS STUART THOMSON

a

n innovative new book bringing together experiences of public affairs from across the world, showing readers how public affairs varies country-to-country, particularly looking at the methods used and the challenges of engaging with political audiences. No other book takes such a comprehensive look at how public affairs really works on the global stage. Topical and relevant, the book provides an invaluable region by region insight into the impact of public affairs in the world’s key political states, and the different methods employed around the world to express political opinion and manifestos. Each chapter covers intro to lobbying/ public affairs in specific region; main changes in recent years including the regulatory environment; nature of the sector/main players, consultants vs inhouse etc; key challenges for the sector; issues of political importance; key practices, main avenues of political engagement (institutional) as well as methods (briefings, meetings, media, social media etc.); conclusions about likely changes and future direction. Topical contributions from every key region, including the States, UK, Europe, China, Brazil, Australasia and SE Asia.

PUB DATE: 25 February 2016 ISBN: 9781910692127 PRICE: ÂŁ19.99 EXTENT: 256 Pages DIMENSIONS: Royal format paperback ILLUSTRATIONS: 15 line illustrations CATEGORY: Public Affairs, PR, Politics BIC CODE: KNT/JP REGIONS: World

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WICKED AND WISE SERIES

crowdocracyThe End of Politics ALAN WATKINS AND IMAN STRATENUS

t

PUB DATE: 10 March 2016 ISBN: 9781910692158 PRICE: ÂŁ12.99 EXTENT: 288 Pages DIMENSIONS: B format paperback ILLUSTRATIONS: 15 line illustrations CATEGORY: Society & Culture/Politics BIC CODE: JF/JFF REGIONS: World

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he second book in the Wicked & Wise series offers a compelling analysis of key global governance issues and the impact of regional cultural, business and social priorities. It takes a look at some of the most pressing and topical issues affecting the governing of our world today, from the clash of cultures to the dominance of economic powers and how this affects the way people are led. As in every book in the series, it lays out a series of topical problems, from the rise of ISIS to the death knell of communism, and sets the scene for debating the key challenges facing current and future generations. The book doesn’t promise answers, but it does provide a unique and positive platform for asking the right questions and exploring the options and solutions to key issues. This is an ideal book for anyone interested in social justice, contemporary culture and politics. Alan Watkins is CEO and Founder of Complete Coherence. Both physician and neuroscientist, he has been a coach and confidant to many top CEOs and business leaders for over 15 years. Iman Stratenus is the author of In China We Trust and is currently a leading member of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development.

URBANE PUBLICATIONS SPRING 2016 CATALOGUE


nETWORKING KNOW-HOW ZOE CUNNINGHAM

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he second book in the Urbane’s business essentials list, Networking Know-How gives everyone the foundation they need to become a brilliant networker! Being excellent at networking is the essential skill for personal and career success, whether going after a dream job, branching out and starting a business or simply to meet new people. With a clear and practical goal-oriented approach, the book will show you how to become an amazing networker. Packed full of tried and tested techniques and secrets from some of the UK’s most successful networkers, the book contains useful tools, tips and real life examples of people who have used networking to secure their dream jobs, make career moves, grow their business or even find their life partner, to those who network and connect people professionally for a living. Zoe Cunningham has 15 years’ experience working in the technology sector and is currently Managing Director of Softwire Technology. In 2013 she was named as one of the 100 most influential people in Tech City, selected by the BBC as the Brightest Woman in Britain, and she accompanied Prime Minister David Cameron on his trade delegation to China. Zoe is a passionate advocate of networking and in 2012 founded Tech Talkfest to connect influential people in the technology world. She now runs the private members’ network Exponential.

PUB DATE: 17 March 2016 ISBN: 9781911129066 PRICE: £7.99 EXTENT: 160 Pages DIMENSIONS: 178x111 paperback ILLUSTRATIONS: 15 line illustrations CATEGORY: Business networking, communication BIC CODE: KJM, KJMB, KJB REGIONS: World

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DISCIPLINED COLLABORATION Emmanuel Gobillot

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PUB DATE: 12 May 2016 ISBN: 9781911129158 PRICE: £12.99 EXTENT: 272 Pages DIMENSIONS: B Format paperback ILLUSTRATIONS: 30 line illustrations CATEGORY: Business strategy, management techniques BIC CODE: KJMB, KJMP, KJVV, KJN REGIONS: World 28 URBANE NON-FICTION

rganisations and individuals often need to work with others to succeed, and collaboration has become a key factor in the drive for growth. But in environments where businesses are primarily self-focused how can genuine collaboration be successfully implemented? Gobillot answers the collaboration dilemma. Dysfunctional functions, divided divisions, competing colleagues and uncooperative corporations - no wonder CEOs put collaboration at the top of their “things to fix” list. The more competition intensifies and the more challenging the environment, the more individuals, functions and organizations need to step from behind their barriers and collaborate to succeed. Leaders and organisations know they need collaboration to survive and thrive, but how can they achieve this in an effective, focused and “disciplined” way? In a simple model designed to show the four steps, or disciplines, of disciplined collaboration, Gobillot takes the reader from fear to freedom, using unique examples from some of the world’s leading organisations to show how working together can achieve incredible results. Described as “the first leadership guru for the digital generation” and “the freshest voice in leadership today”, Emmanuel Gobillot is one of Europe’s most soughtafter leadership speakers.

URBANE PUBLICATIONS SPRING 2016 CATALOGUE


THE PHILANTRHOPIST’S TALE Laurie Marsh

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aurie Marsh is one of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs – but you’ve never heard of him – until now. Here for the first time is the incredible tale of one of businesses leading philanthropists; from the streets of Lambeth to LA, it’s a compelling true story of rags to riches. From persuading Disney to license their characters outside the USA, to convincing film stars to perform in low budget movies, Laurie has carved success from his confident, entrepreneurial and collaborative approach to life. And much of his success has been shared, his philanthropic work reaching levels of far more public “givers.” Now in his 80s, Laurie still works every day, using his wealth and influence to help as many good causes and charitable organisations as he can, from building community centres to advising the government on how to make the NHS selfsufficient. Laurie Marsh is an entrepreneur with a very wide range of commercial and charitable experience extending over 65 years, with many of his philanthropic ventures still ongoing.

PUB DATE: 7 April 2016 ISBN: 9781910692547 PRICE: £16.99 EXTENT: 320 Pages DIMENSIONS: B format Hardback, jacketed ILLUSTRATIONS: 30 photos CATEGORY: Memoir, Business BIC CODE: BGB, BGF REGIONS: World

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THE BRAIN ALWAYS WINS JOHN SULLIVAN AND CHRIS PARKER

a PUB DATE: 28 April 2016 ISBN: 9781909273733 PRICE: ÂŁ12.99 EXTENT: 240 Pages DIMENSIONS: B format paperback ILLUSTRATIONS: 30 line illustrations/photos CATEGORY: Self help/ psychology BIC CODE: VS/VSPM REGIONS: World 30 URBANE NON-FICTION

groundbreaking new selfdevelopment text that shows you how you can truly achieve well-being and performance optimisation. Written by leading US performance psychologist John Sullivan and communications and influence expert Chris Parker, this innovative book, based on the most up-to-date and rigorous scientific research, teaches you how to train your brain for success whilst maintaining your wellbeing. It’s an essential read for everyone who needs to maximise their performance, manage pressure and achieve very specific outcomes whilst managing their wellbeing, including, business leaders, sportsmen and women, educators, students, healthcare professionals, military personnel and others in high-pressure, high-performance environments. The bottom line is: the brain always wins. We now have significant scientific evidence that it is possible to train the brain, measure it and identify outcomes; that this secondary processing creates the most positive results.

URBANE PUBLICATIONS SPRING 2016 CATALOGUE


EURO 2016 lloyd pettiford ronan fitzsimons

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he ultimate guide to Euro 16, with coverage of every team, player and fixture. Written by fans for fans. The UEFA 2016 European Football Championship, better known as Euro 2016, will kick off in Paris with 16 teams trying to win the Henri Delaunay Trophy. Euro 2016 is the perfect guide, written by fans for the fans. As well as a guide to the teams and superstars on display, there are features on the mascots, the stadiums and the draw, city guides and cultural advice, as well as mad facts, quizzes, a tournament guide and predictions. Irreverent yet knowledgeable this is a true fans guide to tournament, and the perfect companion, whether travelling to the matches or watching from your armchair. Born in Manchester in 1966, Lloyd Pettiford is Associate Dean of Arts and Humanities at Nottingham Trent University. His publications include books on international relations and e-learning, and some very challenging football quiz books. He is a passionate Southampton fan. Ronan Fitzsimons was born in 1964 and studied at the universities of Sheffield, Nottingham Trent and Manchester. He has worked as a translator, football coach, oven-scrubber and cockle salesman. He now works in higher education. His publications include a variety of language-learning books and official biographies.

PUB DATE: 14 April 2016 ISBN: 9781910692097 PRICE: ÂŁ7.99 EXTENT: 240 Pages DIMENSIONS: B format paperback ILLUSTRATIONS: 30 photos and illustrations CATEGORY: Football, Sport, Humour BIC CODE: WSJA/WH REGIONS: World

URBANE PUBLICATIONS SPRING 2016 CATALOGUE

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CLAIRE MEADOWS

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laire Meadows has traversed a diverse path throughout the course of her career. The journey has taken her from being a civil servant at the UK Home Office during the Blair premiership, to founding and heading up one of the UK’s most vibrant cultural forces – Nyne Enterprises Ltd – parent company of After Nyne Magazine, After Nyne Online and the Nyne Creative agency. Based in Oxford, Claire is the author of two previous poetry collections, Gold After and Brittle Fires, both for Tempest Press. Her work has been compared most favourably with that of both Allen Ginsberg and Sylvia Plath.

TO THE BLOOD LIONS SEASON

32 URBANE POETRY

To The Lions is Claire Meadows' third collection of poetry. A powerful, puissant collection of 15 poems laden with vibrant imagery which works its way into the readers mind and demands multiple readings. Dealing with love, loss, heartbreak, and the strength that allows one to overcome, To The Lions is reminiscent of the best works of Anais Nin, Sylvia Plath and WH Auden. For fans of all great poetry everywhere.

Claire’s fourth collection of poetry includes some of her most powerful verse from Gold After and Brittle Fires. The language is deceptively simple. Emotions are laid bare. The poems are, in a sense, fearless and hold nothing back. They scrupulously avoid irony, alluding solely to the matter at hand. Some startlingly original phrases stand in greater relief due to the simpler conversational phrasing that surrounds them.

PUB DATE: 28 January 2016 ISBN: 9781911129127 PRICE: £7.99 EXTENT: 96 Pages DIMENSIONS: 178x111 ILLUSTRATIONS: N/A CATEGORY: Contemporary poetry BIC CODE: REGIONS: World

PUB DATE: 26 May 2016 ISBN: 9781911129097 PRICE: £7.99 EXTENT: 96 Pages DIMENSIONS: 178x111 ILLUSTRATIONS: N/A CATEGORY: Contemporary poetry BIC CODE: DC/DCF REGIONS: World

URBANE PUBLICATIONS SPRING 2016 CATALOGUE


URBANE BACKLIST ESCAPE TO PERDITION james silvester

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ove, deception and murder dominate as Prague becomes the centre of international intrigue. As institute operative Peter Lowe embarks on his mission target, he finds that his dwindling choices may eventually require an escape to perdition. A contemporary political thriller in the best traditions of Le Carre and Robert Harris.

PUB DATE: 6 July 2015 ISBN: 9781909273795 PRICE: £8.99 EXTENT: 320 Pages DIMENSIONS: B format paperback CATEGORY: Thriller fiction BIC CODE: FHD/FHP REGIONS: World

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EDEN BURNING deiRdre quIery

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rize-winning author Deirdre Quiery writes from experience in creating this compelling novel of family loyalties, love, faith and murder set against the backdrop of the Troubles of Northern Ireland. This is a compelling, story of conflict within families – driven by religion, belief, loyalty and love. In a world riven by division, how can an individual transcend the inevitable violence of their own existence?

PUB DATE: 10 August 2015 ISBN: 9781909273900 PRICE: £8.99 EXTENT: 320 Pages DIMENSIONS: B format paperback CATEGORY: Historical fiction BIC CODE: FA/FV REGIONS: World

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billy and the devil

The Sleeping Warrior

dean lilleyman

sara bain

A

T

sharp and original urban fantasy, Sara Bain’s debut novel boasts a feisty female lead, action galore, fabulous plot twists and a page-turning crime thriller at its heart. “The novel is an action-packed exploration of good versus evil and its blend of realism and fantasy absolutely works. What a debut! One of my favourite reads of the year so far.”

he startling debut novel from Dean Lilleyman, and presents the emotive and challenging story of Billy and his battle with alcoholism. “A completely convincing character study. Dean Lilleyman uses various writerly and unmannerly techniques to show us the many ages and faces of his loveable and detestable antihero. The book is tender, funny, sad and grotesque ... Terrific.” PUB DATE: 1 August 2015 ISBN: 9781910692332 PRICE: £8.99 EXTENT: 256 Pages DIMENSIONS: B format paperback CATEGORY: Contemporary literary fiction BIC CODE: FA REGIONS: World

Lucy Literati (Amazon reviewer)

PUB DATE: 1 August 2015 ISBN: 9781910692363 PRICE: £8.99 EXTENT: 384 Pages DIMENSIONS: B format paperback CATEGORY: Fantasy, Paranormal BIC CODE: FM/FMR REGIONS: World

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FREEFALL inTO US TESs ROSA RUIZ

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ess Rosa Ruiz is a powerful new voice on the American literary scene redolent of Kerouac and Rollins in a battle of words. Freefall into Us is a compelling collection of unique poetry and prose that provides an emotional mosaic of the path of relationships. This is a raw and visceral insight into how women and men desire, need, want – and ultimately love each other – in the most beautiful, passionate and honest ways. PUB DATE: 21 September 2015 ISBN: 9781909273269 PRICE: £8.99 EXTENT: 288 Pages DIMENSIONS: B format paperback CATEGORY: Short fiction and poetry BIC CODE: FYB/DC REGIONS: World

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the brief SIMON MICHAEL

a

fter a 20 year break, bestselling legal-eagle crime author Simon Michael is back with The Brief, a thrilling tale of murder, greed and a barrister on the run, desperate to clear his name and find his wife’s killer. Packed with tension, compelling characters and a wonderfully rendered sixties atmosphere, The Brief will appeal to fans of the likes of Michael Dibdin, John Mortimer and Colin Dexter. PUB DATE: 14 September 2015 ISBN: 9781910692004 PRICE: £8.99 EXTENT: 384 Pages DIMENSIONS: B format paperback CATEGORY: Crime fiction BIC CODE: FF/FH REGIONS: World

The GHOST TREE a carpet of purple FLOWERS sara bain TRACEY-ANNE MCCARTNEY

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racey-anne McCartney’s assured debut has already secured a loyal fanbase through a focused web and social media campaign. Set in south west London, join second-hand bookshop owner, Bea on her journey as she bumps into supernatural beings and uncovers the truth of her past and a lost history via a carpet of purple flowers.

PUB DATE: 1 October 2015 ISBN: 9781910692219 PRICE: £8.99 EXTENT: Pages DIMENSIONS: B format paperback CATEGORY: Romance, Paranormal BIC CODE: FMR, FRD REGIONS: World

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ara Bain’s second novel is a chilling traditional ghost story in the best traditions of MR James and Susan Hill.

A haunted man  A dying tree  A lost boy  A dangerous entity

Based on the “true account” of the Rerrick Parish Poltergeist, published by the minister who performed the exorcism in 1695, this paranormal romance/ crime thriller follows one man’s terrifying journey into the realms of the supernatural - a place he doesn’t believe exists. PUB DATE: 1 October 2015 ISBN: 9781910692240 PRICE: £8.99 EXTENT: 320 Pages DIMENSIONS: B format paperback CATEGORY: Paranormal, Horror, Romance BIC CODE: FK REGIONS: World

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The UNUSUAL POSSESSION OF ALASTAIR STUBB David John Griffin

a

weird and wonderful gothic tale that will enthral any fan of Mervyn Peake and magical realism. The Stubbs will terrify and delight every reader. A gothic terror of the highest order, delivering a dream-like and hallucinatory reading experience that promises to reveal secrets both disturbing and astonishing.

ROEBUCK

HARM

LUKE WATERSON

hugh fraser

m

PUB DATE: 1 November 2015 ISBN: 9781910692349 PRICE: £8.99 EXTENT: 320 Pages DIMENSIONS: B format paperback CATEGORY: Gothic Fiction, Magical Realism BIC CODE: FM, FK REGIONS: World

36 URBANE BACKLIST FICTION

eet Anthony Knivet: baker, translator, man of words and indispensable advisor to celebrated English generals and Portuguese governors alike… not to mention the kings of several Brazilian tribes. A swashbuckling Elizabethan adventure. Roebuck is based on the true story of Knivet’s escapades in South America during the 1590s when he embarks with Thomas Cavendish on the explorer’s ill-fated circumnavigation of the globe. PUB DATE: 1 December 2015 ISBN: 9781910692387 PRICE: £8.99 EXTENT: 320 Pages DIMENSIONS: B format paperback CATEGORY: Historical fiction BIC CODE: FV/FQ REGIONS: World

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arm is the debut crime novel by well-known actor Hugh Fraser. What makes an innocent girl become a contract killer? Notting Hill 1956: Fifteenyear-old Rina faces the brutality of the post-war London underworld - a world that teaches her how to kill. Acapulco 1974: Rina Walker needs all her skills to survive as a Mexican drug boss requires her beauty and ruthless expertise to eliminate an inconvenient member of the government. PUB DATE: 26 October 2015 ISBN: 9781910692738 PRICE: £8.99 EXTENT: 296 Pages DIMENSIONS: B format paperback CATEGORY: Thriller, Crime BIC CODE: FF/FH REGIONS: World

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LEAVES

blood of the rose beauty, love

John simmons

kevin murray

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eaves is a perfectly observed slice of realistic fiction, charting the lives and loves of a range of wonderfully realized characters, and introducing readers to a set of well-recognised themes that are presented in a wholly original way. Akin to Graham Swift in style and tone, this is a stunningly powerful piece of fiction.

PUB DATE: 1 June 2015 ISBN: 9781909273771 PRICE: £8.99 EXTENT: 240 Pages DIMENSIONS: B format paperback CATEGORY: Contemporary fiction BIC CODE: FA REGIONS: World

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ondon, 1986. A newspaper editor is horrifically murdered, his death quickly followed by a series of more brutal, and often bizarre, slayings. The new crime novel author Kevin Murray, Blood of the Rose is a classic page turning thriller aimed squarely at fans of investigative crime fiction and exciting police procedurals.

PUB DATE: June 2014 ISBN: 9781909273122 PRICE: £6.99 EXTENT: 384 Pages DIMENSIONS: B format paperback CATEGORY: Crime fiction BIC CODE: FHD/FHP REGIONS: World

URBANE PUBLICATIONS SPRING 2016 CATALOGUE

and justice

alcina faraday

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stunning debut novel from author Alcina Faraday, uniquely international in style and structure, with characters that will stay with you long after the final page. Gay power couples, scheming scientists, the ambitious and morally ambiguous art world and a focus on topical issues.

PUB DATE: 1 June 2015 ISBN: 9781909273580 PRICE: £8.99 EXTENT: 288 Pages DIMENSIONS: B format paperback ILLUSTRATIONS: 6 artworks CATEGORY: Contemporary fiction BIC CODE: FA/FRD

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being someone adrian harvey

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a barrow boy’s close of play Cadenza PJ whiteley pete adams

he debut novel from exciting new writing talent Adrian Harvey, Being Someone is a thought-provoking relationship drama that dares the reader to question just how much we know about ourselves and the people we share our lives with. Is love truly the answer? Can we rewrite our story to guarantee a happy ending?

T

PUB DATE: 1 May 2015 ISBN: 9781909273092 PRICE: £7.99 EXTENT: 272 Pages DIMENSIONS: B format paperback CATEGORY: Contemporary fiction BIC CODE: FRD/FA REGIONS: World

PUB DATE: 30 April 2015 ISBN: 9781909273962 PRICE: £8.99 EXTENT: 420 Pages DIMENSIONS: B format paperback CATEGORY: Crime/Thriller, Humour, Contemporary fiction BIC CODE: FF/FH REGIONS: World

he third book in the bestselling Kind Hearts and Martinets trilogy, an off the wall crime comedy trilogy starring quirky hero DI Jack Austin. This is a comedy, a crime thriller, a tongue in cheek conspiracy and a love story that veers to the darker side of life, in the style of Tom Sharpe and Jasper Fforde.

38 URBANE BACKLIST FICTION

P

J Whiteley, who writes non-fiction as Philip Whiteley, turns his hand to romantic comedy. His first fiction novel Close of Play centres on perennial themes of the human condition: love, loss, hope, life choices and that nagging feeling in the back of the mind that this relationship stuff is all very confusing.

PUB DATE: 3 April 2015 ISBN: 9781909273528 PRICE: £7.99 EXTENT: 240 Pages DIMENSIONS: B format paperback CATEGORY: Romantic fiction, contemporary fiction BIC CODE: FRD/FA REGIONS: World

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the city fox

the stronghold wordscapist

chris parker

albrecht behmel

T

he City Fox is a compelling and contemporary new poetry collection from the author of Influence and The Diego Masciaga Way. In this collection of engaging, emotive and thought-provoking poems, a writer and communications expert Chris Parker explores the relationship between community, communication and learning.

PUB DATE: 30 March 2015 ISBN: 9781909273450 PRICE: £7.99 EXTENT: 128 Pages DIMENSIONS: 178x111mm paperback CATEGORY: Poetry BIC CODE: DC/DCF REGIONS: World

A

arpan panicker

lbrecht Behmel’s authoritative reinvention of the William Tell legend is a masterful historical novel, blending myth and fact to craft a compelling page turner of love, honour, adventure and revenge based on an iconic and instantly recognisable historical character. An award-winning playwright and novelist, Behmel is a bestselling author in Germany and Switzerland. This is his first English language novel. PUB DATE: 20 February 2015 ISBN: 9781909273702 PRICE: £6.99 EXTENT: 320 Pages DIMENSIONS: B format paperback CATEGORY: Historical fiction BIC CODE: FV/FQ REGIONS: World

URBANE PUBLICATIONS SPRING 2016 CATALOGUE

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verything you say is true… somewhere. But for Slick the notion of what is true is becoming very blurred. He always knew the world was one of constant change. He just didn’t expect that change to include witnessing a demon tearing off the head of a stranger. That’s the kind of change that could lead to hearing voices in your head.

PUB DATE: June 2014 ISBN: 9781909273184 PRICE: £5.99 EXTENT: 320 Pages DIMENSIONS: Digital Format only, ePub, Mobi CAT: Urban Fantasy, Sci Fi BIC CODE: FM/FL REGIONS: World

URBANE BACKLIST FICTION 39


influence chris parker

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arcus Kline is the world’s leading authority on communication and influence. He can tell what you are thinking. He can see inside you. when a series of murder victims bear the horrific hallmarks of an intelligent and remorseless serial killer, Detective Inspector Peter Jones turns to Marcus for help – and everything changes.

PUB DATE: 1 March 2014 ISBN: 9781909273061 PRICE: £6.99 EXTENT: 360 Pages DIMENSIONS: B format paperback CATEGORY: Thriller fiction BIC CODE: FHD/FHP REGIONS: World

40 URBANE BACKLIST FICTION

angolan clan christopher lowery

A

fantastic new international action thriller. The Angolan Clan takes the reader on a terrifying roller coaster ride from past to present and back again. It is a deadly intercontinental treasure hunt laced with mystery deceit and murder, in the best traditions of Frederick Forsyth, Clive Cussler and Wilbur Smith.

PUB DATE: 1 July 2013 ISBN: 9781909273153 PRICE: £6.99 EXTENT: 620 Pages DIMENSIONS: B format paperback CATEGORY: Thriller fiction BIC CODE: FHD/FHP REGIONS: World

remember to breathe simon pont

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emember to Breathe is a rom-com and rites of passage story, a tale of taking on life in your late 20s, that time when you think you know everything, but slowly come to appreciate you know little to nothing. It is Bridget Jones from the other side of the gender divide, the story of Samuel Grant.

PUB DATE: 1 November 2012 ISBN: 9781909273795 PRICE: £8.99 EXTENT: 320 Pages DIMENSIONS: B format paperback CATEGORY: Romantic comedy BIC CODE: FRD/FA REGIONS: World

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TEA & CHEMO JACKIE BUXTON

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PARLIAMENTARY THE ELECTION A-Z NICHOLAS JONES PIONEERS

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eading political journalist Nicholas Jones presents a compelling account of personal A-Z of election the trailblazers who highlights from 50 years laid the foundations of political reporting. for women having an From battle buses to the influential voice in the House of shadowy world of fixers, from Commons. the pitfalls of campaigning to Written by MEP and the highs and lows of an results authoritative spokesperson on night, Jones reflects on 50 years women’s rights, Mary Honeyball, of political unpredictability the book tells the story of and the love-hate relationship the issues these first MPs between politicians and the championed. media and offers a welcome perspective on momentous elections up to 2015.

MARY HONEYBALL

n emotional, honest, warm and humorous account of one woman’s battle with breast cancer – and how her experiences can inspire all those whose lives are touched by cancer. Award-winning writer Jackie Buxton began her successful blog to write about life as a mother, wife and author…but it soon had a much more serious purpose.

A

PUB DATE: 1 November 2015 ISBN: 9781910692394 PRICE: £7.99 EXTENT: 240 Pages DIMENSIONS: B format paperback ILLUSTRATIONS: N/A CATEGORY: Memoir, Self Help BIC CODE: BM, VXH REGIONS: World

PUB DATE: 30 March 2015 ISBN: 9781909273856 PRICE: £16.99 EXTENT: 208 Pages DIMENSIONS: Royal hardback ILLUSTRATIONS: 40 photos CATEGORY: Politics/history/ gender BIC CODE: JP/HBTB REGIONS: World

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PUB DATE: 1 August 2015 ISBN: 9781910692271 PRICE: £12.99 EXTENT: 256 Pages DIMENSIONS: B format paperback ICATEGORY: British politics BIC CODE: JP/JPH REGIONS: World

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wicked and wise MOTE alan watkins & ken wilber

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he first book in the series looks at some of the most pressing and topical issues affecting the world today, from the clash of religions and cultures in a globalised world to the growing dominance of technology. It will explain what a wicked problem is, why they occur and make the case for an Integral Coherence approach.

PUB DATE: 8 June 2015 ISBN: 9781909273641 PRICE: £12.99 EXTENT: 320 Pages DIMENSIONS: B format paperback ILLUSTRATIONS: 15 line illustrations CATEGORY: Society & Culture/Business BIC CODE: JF/JFF REGIONS: World

David WethEy

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eetings appear central to the way process works in the vast majority of organisations – and no-one seems to want to tell the truth about them. Mote is that better meeting and a life-changing way forward. When you learn how to mote you open up the pathways to business success. Empower people and inspire innovation.

PUB DATE: 30 May 2015 ISBN: 9781909273207 PRICE: £12.99 EXTENT: 288 Pages DIMENSIONS: B format paperback ILLUSTRATIONS: 20 cartoons CATEGORY: Trade business BIC CODE: KJ/KJMD REGIONS: World

42 URBANE BACKLIST NON-FICTION

FAST TRACK TO SUCCESSFUL SELLING richard denny

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ritten by one of the world’s leading sales gurus, Fast Track to Successful Selling explains how to put winning techniques into action, featuring advice on getting a sale, turning a customer into an ambassador, and building a positive attitude.

PUB DATE: 30 March 2015 ISBN: 9781909273672 PRICE: £7.99 EXTENT: 144 Pages DIMENSIONS: B format paperback CATEGORY: Trade Business BIC CODE: KJS/KJN REGIONS: World

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more life please BREATHING OUT dr christian marcolli karen hockney

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ore Life, Please! is a unique new selfdevelopment text that will give you six easy steps to ‘getting more’ from your life. Using the highly effective P6PROP® performance model, Christian Marcolli takes you from adequate to astounding in easy to follow and practical steps, changing your life for the better, and helping you engage more positively with everyone you interact with. PUB DATE: 30 March 2015 ISBN: 9781909273931 PRICE: £12.99 EXTENT: 208 Pages DIMENSIONS: Square royal paperback CATEGORY: Self-development, business BIC CODE: VS/VSPM REGIONS: World

Y

ou’ve got cancer are not the words you expect to hear when you’re a 40-something marathon running fitness freak who has never even smoked a cigarette. This is a cancer survivor’s memoir with a difference. The book is full of practical advice, meticulous research and knowledge garnered from Karen Hockney’s journey, punctuated by hope, positivity and a smattering of very funny black humour. PUB DATE: 20 February 2015 ISBN: 9781909273726 PRICE: £7.99 EXTENT: 192 Pages DIMENSIONS: B format paperback CATEGORY: Memoir. women’s health BIC CODE: BM/VXH REGIONS: World

URBANE PUBLICATIONS SPRING 2016 CATALOGUE

SMACK MY PITCH UP! andreas loizou

B

estselling author Andreas Loizou delivers the first in a groundbreaking new series of concise, forthright and practical titles that give you the real skills you need to succeed in business . Here are the tools and techniques to improve the quality and speed of your writing. Your confidence will grow as you learn how to structure and plan your writing.

PUB DATE: 1 October 2015 ISBN: 9781910692455 PRICE: £7.99 EXTENT: 172 Pages DIMENSIONS: 178x111 mm paperback ILLUSTRATIONS: N/A CATEGORY: Business, Marketing , Management BIC CODE: KJM

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BOUND FEET BLUES YANG-MAY OOI

b

ound Feet Blues is the very personal story of bestselling novelist and acclaimed performer Yang-May Ooi. A groundbreaking and wonderfully unconventional memoir, Bound Feet Blues is a performance in book form, interweaving personal stories, cultural reflections and a multifaceted exploration of what it means to be a woman.

PUB DATE: 1 November 2015 ISBN: 9781910692301 PRICE: £14.99 EXTENT: 384 Pages DIMENSIONS: B format hardback ILLUSTRATIONS: 40 photos CATEGORY: Memoir, Gender Studies, Fashion BIC CODE: BGA/BM REGIONS: World

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Diego Masciaga Way

International Mindedness

C

A

PUB DATE: November 2014 ISBN: 9781909273481 PRICE: £12.99 EXTENT: 320 Pages DIMENSIONS: HBK, 196x129mm CATEGORY: Customer service BIC CODE: KJSU/KNS REGIONS: World

PUB DATE: November 2013 ISBN: 9781909273303 PRICE: £19.99 EXTENT: 240 Pages DIMENSIONS: B format paperback ILLUSTRATIONS: 30 line and photos CATEGORY: Education BIC CODE: JNFR/JNK REGIONS: World

chris parker

hris Parker, an expert in communications and influence, The Diego Masciaga Way explains the philosophy of the legenday director and restaurant manager of the Waterside Inn and his very practical approach to understanding, creating and, more importantly, maintaining exceptional customer service.

lesley p stagg thought-provoking examination of contemporary global education, with top professionals and academics providing unique insights into the future of international schooling in a globalised world. Brought together for the first time by leading educationalist Lesley P Stagg,

URBANE PUBLICATIONS SPRING 2016 CATALOGUE


URBANEPUBLICATIONS.COM @urbanebooks @urbanepub www.facebook.com/ uprbanepublications Mob: +44 (0) 757 889 0446 matthew@urbanepublications.com

SALES REPRESENTATION Compass Independent Publishing Services Ltd Great West House Great West Road Brentford TW8 9DF Tel: 020 8326 5696 Alan Jessop Mob: 07771 788745 sales@compass-ids.london www.compassnewtitles.london UK DISTRIBUTION Combined Book Services Ltd Unit D, Paddock Wood Distribution Centre Paddock Wood Tonbridge, Kent TN12 6UU Tel. 01892 837171 Email: orders@combook.co.uk NORTH AMERICA Trafalgar Square Publishing 814 N Franklin St Chicago, IL 60610 United States Tel: +1 312-337-0747 orders@ipgbook.com www.ipgbook.com

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“When I have a little money, I buy books; and if I have any left, I buy food and clothes.” Desiderius Erasmus

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URBANE PUBLICATIONS SPRING 2016 CATALOGUE


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