Michael O'Mara & Buster Books New Titles

     All you need to know about books at www.booksmonthly.co.uk                                                     Issue 4 July 2008

 Reviews

 Feature Articles & Stories

 Publishers' July Titles

     »Accent Press

     »Allison and Busby

     »Bettany Press

     »Bloomsbury Publishing

     »Book Palace

     »Book-Promotion

     »Carlton/Prion Publishing

     »Classical Comics

     »Collins Publishing

     »Dorchester Publishing

     »Dorling Kindersley

     »Ebury Press Publishing

     »Egmont Publishing

     »Fidra Books

     »Girls Gone By Publishers

     »Harcourt Publishing

     »Harper Collins UK

     »Harper Non Fiction

     »Harper Collins US (EOS)

     »Hodder Publishers UK

     »Icon Books

     »Little, Brown

     »Macmillan Children's

     »Michael O'Mara/Buster Books

     »Orbit/Atom Publishing

     »Orion Publishing

     »Penguin Books

     »Profile Books

     »Puffin Books

     »Random House UK

     »Robert Hale

     »Scholastic

     »Simon & Schuster

     »Telos Publishing

     »Transworld Publishing

The menu is self-explanatory - try it and see for yourselves. The magazine is arranged into three main sections, REVIEWS, FEATURE ARTICLES and STORIES, and NEW & COMING SOON TITLES. The latter section is a little like a bookshop where you can browse what's new for this month, but it is arranged by Publisher, as this is the easiest way for me to do it. Let me knowwhat you think...

If you were lucky, and you're a dad, you might have received a copy of this fantastic book on Father's Day! Neil Oliver, the historian from the smash BBC series COAST, retells the stories that inspired us to be better men during the last century. He laments... more

Amanda Greenslade is a fantasy writer, like me (except she's young enough to be my granddaughter, and therefore has time on her side!). Her ASTOR CHRONICLES look fantastic, and I hope it won't be long before she finds a publisher. In the meantime, there's an interview with Amanda in this issue, together with information on TALON, the first book in the series.

KELLEY ARMSTRONG's latest book, THE SUMMONING, is so good I had to give it joint book of the month in the fantasy section; Kelley never lets you down, and this is a terrific read, chilling and entertaining at the same time - don't miss it!

And don't forget to let me know what you think of this issue of BOOKS MONTHLY ~ you can e-mail me at editor@booksmonthly.co.uk

Last weekend the fourth INDIANA JONES movie smashed box office records with takings estimated to be in excess of £148m - there are lots more great new Indy books reviewed in this issue, see the Feature Articles and Stories menu above

All of the titles listed or reviewed in Books Monthly are available from the store. Click on the Amazon logo to check availability as many are not yet published.

THE EYE OF THE MOON ~ In this, the sensational follow-up to "The Book With No Name", those who miraculously survived the blood-soaked conclusion to the first novel are back in town for another massacre to remember. Young lovers Dante and Kacy, hapless bartender Sanchez, Peto the Hubal monk and the mysterious Jessica - each will be drawn into the violent vortex surrounding the Bourbon Kid, the supernatural killer who is himself now being hunted. Hot on his heels are several vampire gangs, the US Secret Service, a couple of werewolves, some corrupt cops, and the Dark Lord himself, and none will rest until he is dead. But the Kid has vengeance of his own to wreak...Even more gripping, creepy, exciting and funny than its predecessor, "The Eye of the Moon" is a relentless page-turner guaranteed to leave you on the edge of your seat. And, as the body count climbs on the dusty streets of Santa Mondega, who will be the last one standing?

THE NURSERY RHYME BOOK ~ Have you ever struggled to remember your favourite nursery rhymes so that you can teach them to your own children? Have you ever wondered just why the cow jumped over the moon? If you have ever racked your brains to come up with all the words, you will love The Nursery Rhyme Book – it has all the answers. Packed with the traditional rhymes of yesteryear, and fantastic illustrations. With a classic 1950s retro look, The Nursery Rhyme Book is a great gift for every family member.

Entries include:
• Little Miss Muffet
• Hey Diddle, Diddle, the Cat and the Fiddle
• Oranges and Lemons
• Round and Round the Mulberry Bush
• Three Blind Mice
• Humpty Dumpty
• Ring a Ring O’ Roses
• Little Jack Horner

THE FAMILY BOOK ~ A great book for all the family that encourages you to switch off the TV and do something amazing together! It’s time to switch off the television, get dad from the shed, confiscate those iPods and reach for a copy of The Family Book – packed full of amazing things to do together! In the same best-selling series as The Boys’ Book, The Girls’ Book, The Mums’ Book, The Dads’ Book and The Christmas Book comes the bumper Family Book for everyone to enjoy this year.

Contents of the Family Book include:
• Prepare the perfect breakfast in bed
• How to go tobogganing without a toboggan
• Make a photographic family tree
• Play the memory game
• Balloon Stomp
• Saving the planet
• How to tell if Dad has been replaced by an alien
• Dicey mind-reading
• How to get rescued in the desert
• Test your family’s taste buds
• Snow angels
• Holiday scavengers
• Build a nest box
• Write invisible messages
• How to make toys from junk and rubbish
• Make a bottle garden
• Grow the largest sunflower in the familyTHE GAMES BOOK ~ Have you ever struggled to remember your favourite childhood game so you can teach it to your own children? Do you love to reminisce about the good old days when it was all just good old-fashioned fun? The Games Book has the answers. Packed full of traditional indoor and outdoor games from yesteryear, it contains something for family members of all ages to enjoy. Each game has instructions and some hints and tips for beginners and there are fantastic illustrations throughout. An ideal companion for rainy days and family holidays. With a classic 1950s retro look, The Games Book is a great gift for every family member.

THINGS TO DO WITH DAD ~ Perfect for dads lacking inspiration, Things To Do With Dad is overflowing with cool, fun and original games, projects and activities that dad would have enjoyed when he was a nipper!

Packed full of indoor and outdoor activities that will captivate both kids and dads alike, it is the perfect gift for every dad for Father’s Day, birthdays and just to say thank you.
Includes how to:
• Build a snow fort
• Plan and take a road trip adventure
• Make the best burgers ever
• Make a glow in the dark T-shirt
• Hold a scavenger hunt
• Make eyeballs, werewolves’ claws and bug juice
• Make paper fireworks
• Stage a water assault course competition
• Hold a blindfolded food-tasting competition
• Make a top-secret den
• Make an abominable snowman footprint

THE HOLIDAY DOODLE BOOK ~ This is a doodle book, a journal and a scrap book – the perfect purchase for any child heading off on holiday. Including over 50 holiday-themed doodles to complete, it doesn’t require any drawing skills, just a little bit of imagination. Kids can design their own sandcastle, label and fill their suitcases, decide what is hiding in the rock pool and draw what sitting on the luggage carousel.

Doodles and activities include:
• Design your own postcard
• Draw your holiday home
• What money are you spending?
• Which was your favourite day this holiday?
• What is dad cooking on the campfire?
• Draw your favourite holiday dish?
• Design a flag for your family
• Fill the beach with seashells
• Draw the twists and turns of a rollercoaster

 

THE GIRLS' DOODLE BOOK ~ Over 100 brilliantly imaginative and humorous doodles by Andrew Pinder guaranteed to delight girls of all ages

Complete, colour, tell a story or just let your imagination run wild, there are no drawing skills required to make you the best doodler around.
Including:
• What’s in the magic forest?
• What is the pony jumping over?
• Draw your dream castle
• Show us how girls rock!
• What’s in the cave?

 

THE BOYS' DOODLE BOOK ~ Over 100 brilliantly imaginative and humorous doodles by Andrew Pinder guaranteed to delight boys of all ages

Complete, colour, tell a story or just let your imagination run wild, there are no drawing skills required to make you the best doodler around.
Including:
• How will you escape from the crocodile?
• Draw a cool tree house
• What would you like your robot to do for you?
• Draw a flying machine
• What’s on the barbeque
• Draw an alien invasion
• What’s happening at the beach?
 Entries include:
• Spooky games – Murder in the Dark
• Playground games – What’s the Time Mr Wolf?
• Swimming games – Marco Polo
• Card games – Gin Rummy
• Paper games – Consequences
• Ball games – Sevens

 

Books Monthly (formerly Gateway Monthly) is published by Paul Edmund Norman on the first day of each month. You can contact me via e-mail at: editor@booksmonthly.co.uk. If you'd like to get a story published in Books Monthly just e-mail it to me and I'll consider it - no payment though, I'm afraid!