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Authors in the Media – December

Behind Closed Doors by Seth ThevozIn this month’s media roundup of agency authors, you can’t keep a good book down as Seth Thevoz’s Behind Closed Doors, was named by London’s Heywood Hill bookshop as one of the “10 BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR!” 

The TLS also gave the book a terrific review, describing it as ‘“Exuberant, rollicking… Behind Closed Doors is full of amusing anecdotes and waspish character sketches.”’.

In podcast news, Andrew Jeffrey was interviewed on the Spycraft101 podcast about his book A Taste for Treason, out now. You can also read the the preface to Andrew’s book, completely free here.

Staying on the spy podcast theme, Henry Schlesinger was interviewed on the International Spy Museum’s Spycast to discuss his newest book, Honey Trapped: Sex, Betrayal, and Weaponized Love, which explores the fascinating relationship between sex and spying.

And… you know about Benjamin Franklin in Paris as a “bon vivant, wily diplomat and aging lion,” but read Henry’s article about him as the “Founding Forger” engaged in disinformation and fake news during the Revolution!

Sarah-Louise Miller reveals the forgotten history of the intelligence battle that set up a decisive victory at Midway on the History Hit podcast. Her new book is available for pre-order and published on March 16th 2023.

Lucy Hooft appeared on two podcasts to discuss her debut spy novel The King’s Pawn: The Writer’s Routine and The Hobcast. Her novel is inspired by a real life event no-one has heard of, and takes place around the South Caucus region, which few people know about.

Finally, a double for Mary Novakovich and C. J. Schuler, whose books appeared on Wanderlust magazine’s best travel books for 2022.

And in wonderful news, as Mary’s book ‘My Family and Other Enemies: Life and Travels in Croatia’s Hinterland’. was shortlisted for the Edward Stanford Travel Book of the Year. Published by Bradt Guides.

Cull and Co. Ltd Latest Deals

HAWAII’S WOMEN OF WAR to Pegasus Books in the USA

North American rights for Hawaii’s Women of War have gone to US publisher Pegasus Books.

In focusing on the work of women in wartime Hawaii, this book will cover the war in the Pacific and will examine historical events such as the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the Battle of Midway from a totally new angle. It will offer a novel and interesting contribution to Hawaii’s history, as well as to US history.

Though some work has been carried out on American nurses in the Pacific, especially those taken as prisoners of war by the Japanese in the Philippines and in Guam, there remains a conspicuous gap in Pacific war history where women should be. It will examine the work of American women, but it will also look at the wartime work of Pacific Islanders and Polynesian women, many of whom have never before been considered in a study of the Second World War.

Sarah-Louise MillerSarah-Louise Miller is a graduate of the Department of War Studies, King’s College London and is uniquely qualified to write this book, having spent the past five years working full time on researching women in British intelligence roles.

In June 2022 she appeared as a historical expert on the British Pacific Fleet on an episode of the BBC’s Who Do You Think You Are, featuring actor Ralf Little. In late June 2022 she filmed with Channel 4 for the documentary series, My Grandparents’ War, explaining to actress Keira Knightley what her grandmother’s World War II service entailed, and she featured as a historical expert on a brand new documentary series alongside Professor Alice Roberts.

Sarah regularly films in London studios, most recently for a four-part historical documentary for Sky History. She was also featured as a historical expert in a six-part international documentary series for Sky History, entitled The Bomber: Terror of World War II.

Cull and Co. Ltd Media

Authors in the Media – November

In this month’s media roundup of agency authors, Tim Stanley gave Fr Mark Vickers’ new book, ‘God in No. 10’, 4/5 Stars in The Daily Telegraph.

Is the Holy Ghost a vote-winner? Prime Ministers and God, from Balfour to Boris.

‘From Churchill’s faith in Jewish philosophy to Ramsay MacDonald’s love of horoscopes, Mark Vickers’s God in Number 10 is full of surprises. Vickers, himself a Catholic priest, has given us a wonderful new reference book of the beliefs (and non-beliefs) of 20th-century PMs – a meaty volume that can also be consumed as a social history of British religion.’

Mark wrote a column for Credo in The Times, on how new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will draw on the Hindu concept of service.

He also wrote a column for The Daily Express, asking whether our politicians have abandoned God and with it any moral compass.

‘Does Party-gate or the Chris Pincher scandal count for nothing? The values of the Government must consist of more than narrow interest or the struggle for mere survival.’

Charles Moore noted the book in The Spectator, which he helped launch on Wednesday 26th at the House of Commons. God in Number 10 was published by SPCK on October 20th.

The personal faith of PMs

And speaking of God, Seth Thévoz will appear as a regular guest on the podcast Oh God, What Now? Listen to him on his first episode here.

He also wrote an article for Sphere Magazine that uncovers the history of London’s Private Members’ Clubs, and lists the clubs – old and new – to know now.

The Strangers’ Room at The Reform Club In London

Andrew Jeffrey’s A Taste for Treason was well reviewed in The Times.

And Mary Novakovich’s My Family and Other Enemies was reviewed in the Literary Review.

‘Guidebooks tend to tell readers why it is worth going to see somewhere today. Novakovich has written those too, but this book explains what lies behind what is worth seeing. The human hinterland is as fascinating as the landscape.’

Cull and Co. Ltd Media

Authors in the Media – October

Agency author Dr Sarah-Louise Miller recently appeared on an episode of the currently airing series of Channel 4’s My Grandparents War. Sarah travelled to Greenock in Scotland to film for the episode and was tasked with explaining to actress Keira Knightley what her grandmother’s Second World War service entailed. Keira’s grandmother, Jan, worked for the US Army’s 5th Port in the Transportation Division, and helped to organise and execute the movement of Allied troops for the D-Day invasion. The episode can be viewed on catch-up on All 4 here.

Keira Knightley & Sarh-Louise Miller
Keira Knightley & Sarh-Louise Miller

Mary Novakovich appeared on the True Travel Podcast and her book is now available worldwide.

Seth Thévoz was interviewed for The Chap Magazine, which is available in all good newsstands now or you can download the digital edition here.

The Chap magazine

He also joined Kate on the Betwixt the Sheets podcast to reveal the secret history behind some of London’s most famous members’ clubs, from 1693 to the present day.

Listen back to the History Hit’s Betwixt the Sheets podcast.

Cull and Co. Ltd Author Events

God In Number 10 – Book Launch

Mike Kane MP will host a Reception on behalf of the author Fr Mark Vickers and SPCK Publishing for the launch of the book, God in Number 10.

God in No. 10

‘This carefully researched and well-written study reveals the religious faith of our Prime Ministers, or lack of it, in vivid colours. Prepare to be shocked and surprised as the author lays bare their souls.’
SIR ANTHONY SELDON

Mark Vickers’ acclaimed volume on the faith of the twentieth-century British Prime Ministers casts a new perspective on these holders of the highest political office in the realm. God in Number 10 offers intriguing insights into Margaret Thatcher’s legendary ‘Sermon on the Mound’, Tony Blair’s perception of Jesus as a modernizer, Arthur Balfour’s recourse to spiritualism, Stanley Baldwin’s mystical experiences, and Winston Churchill’s involvement with astrology. The book considers the role of religion generally in the political classes of the period, the reasons for the declining influence of faith in the public forum, and the relationship between Church and State.

The families of Henry Asquith, Andrew Bonar Law, Ramsay MacDonald, Neville Chamberlain, Harold Macmillan, Alec Douglas-Home and Harold Wilson have all expressed their support for God in Number 10 and, where able, helped in the research, while John Major has assisted fully.

Mark Vickers read History at Durham University and practised with one of the City law firms. Having studied for the priesthood at the English College in Rome, he was ordained for the Diocese of Westminster in 2003. He is currently a parish priest in West London.

The Churchill Room, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA
7-9 p.m. on Wednesday, 26 October 2022
Charles Moore, Lord Moore of Etchingham, will speak at 7.30 p.m.

Book free tickets here.

Pre-order the book here, published on October 20th.

‘Secularism has air brushed the role of religion from the formation and motivation of our Prime Ministers. This book demonstrates the conclusive and increasing importance of faith in the lives of the twentieth-century premiers.’

– Jeremy Black, Emeritus Professor of History, University of Exeter

‘Do Christian beliefs, values and prayer have a place in contemporary politics? What have we to fear if they don’t? This timely study reveals the surprising extent to which the Prime Ministers of the last century were influenced by their Christian upbringing and faith – and suggests how their successors could benefit from a similar ethical foundation.’

– Tim Farron, MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, 2015-17