Category: Media

Congratulations to Michael Smith who was long-listed for the CWA’s Gold Dagger for non-fiction for The Real Special Relationship (Simon & Schuster). Furthermore, the Henley-based writer will appear at this year’s Henley Literary Festival alongside Sir John Scarlett, former MI6 Chief, to discuss how UK and US politicians and secret services work together.

Sue Dobson’s explosive memoir Burned: The Spy South Africa Never Caught, continues to attract world-wide attention. The BBC World Service aired their two-part programme live, which can be listened back here.

The popular US podcast Spycraft101 also interviewed her here.

Sarah-Louise Miller appeared in the Aspects of History magazine featuring The Mobilisation of Women in Another World War. Her new book, The Women Behind the Few is out now.

She also wrote an article in issue 118 for the magazine History of War.

Finally, listen as Mary Novakovich shares her insider’s perspective on the best places for an authentic meal or an impromptu concert in Croatia for the Wanderlust Magazine podcast.

Spies and secrecy are the theme for April.

Sarah-Louise Miller celebrated the publication of her new book THE WOMEN BEHIND THE FEW (Biteback) in a media blitz, appearing on the popular We Have Ways of Making You Talk podcast with Al Murray and James Holland.

The Daily Mail ran an article about the WAAF. Dr. Miller, tells how members of the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) overcame prejudice and smashed stereotypes. RAF chiefs initially feared women were too gossipy and prone to hysterics for vital military work in the Second World War.

She also wrote an exclusive article for the Daily Express below.

She also appeared with Professor Alice Roberts for a brand new documentary series on Channel 4 called Fortress Britain. She can be seen in episode 2.

You can catch up with History Hit Podcast with Dan Snow too here.

In the run up to publication of BURNED (Vine Leaves Press) on May 16, Sue Dobson was interviewed for a two-part BBC World Service broadcast called Lives Less Ordinary, entitled ‘The Spy who Wanted to bring down Apartheid.’

Sue Dobson was a white South African who risked her life as an ANC secret agent.

This can be listened on catch-up here. It will broadcast on the BBC World Service in May.

Lucy Hooft’s sequel to THE KING’S PAWN – HEAD OF THE SNAKE (Burning Chair) – was published on March 30th and was included in the Financial Times’ thriller roundup by fellow spy writer Adam LeBor, describing her ‘fine eye for detail‘ in a story that ‘moves seamlessly‘.

Holly Watt, journalist, crime writer and winner of the 2019 CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger, said, ‘It’s so exciting to see a powerful female character like Sarah Black emerging. A fast-paced espionage thriller that feels fresh and exciting – and takes you to some shocking places. It will keep you up far too late!‘

Acclaimed veteran spy writer David Brierley’s return from the cold, DEAD MAN TELLING TALES (Safe House Books), received high praise as Mike Ripley’s Book of the Month in Shots Crime & Thriller eZine saying it was, ‘written with all the sly cynicism of the spy world, along with some wonderful descriptions of a country coming to terms with a changing present while living with memories of a cruel history, this is Brierley’s first novel in more than twenty years and an elegant reminder of what a fine writer he is.‘ An enjoyable conversation between Ripley and Brierley can be heard at the Spybrary website too.

It was also written up at Beyond the Books as ‘an absolute cracker of a book. The story is so skilfully woven together. I couldn’t put this book down from the very start. The research must have been immense. The authenticity of the story just placed me there, in Latvia.‘

A short roundup for a short month.

Fr Mark Vicker’s new book GOD IN NUMBER 10, was well received by the Church Times.

Mary Novakovich wrote a piece for the Times 2, about her roadtrip in Croatia with her mother on the theme of dementia.

Mary also featured as Anne Diamond’s guest on Viking TV, to talk about her book and Croatian cuisine.

We welcome the new year with several agency authors in the media.

Lucy Hooft was interviewed on the Curtis Brown Creative Writing Course blog. Lucy Hooft studied their six-week online Write to the End of Your Novel and Edit & Pitch Your Novel courses in 2018. Her debut The King’s Pawn (book one in The Sarah Black Series) is out now with independent publisher Burning Chair. She spoke about the lifelong friends she met on our courses, her love of thrillers and her journey to publication.

Mary Novakovich had a Croatia feature in print in ⁦Times Travel. Her new Croatia travelogue, is shortlisted for the ⁦Stanfords Travel⁩ Travel Book of the Year award.

She even shared her diet tips with the Daily Telegraph!

There was also a review of BEHIND CLOSED DOORS for The Past Magazine and a review for Graydon Carter’s Airmail digital magazine.