Cull and Co. Ltd In the Media

Authors in the Media – December 2024

‘Tis the season for agency authors in December.

George Harrison‘s debut novel Season, received high praise in the Daily Telegraph and the Mail on Sunday.

The Telegraph’s Declan Ryan said, ‘Harrison feels – and captures – this world rather well. We’re served the recognisable cocktail of frustrated tenderness, zealotry and madness that we induce when we outsource our happiness to millionaires in leisure-wear.‘

Sticking with the newspapers, Mira Harrison, author of the One in Three, was reviewed in the New Zealand Listener, the Otago Daily Times, interviewed on the podcast Write Spot with Dunedin UNESCO City of Literature, and was the Book of the Day in the New Zealand Herald.

Mary Novakovich received a mention in The Guardian for her audiobook version of My Family and Other Enemies. A blend of memoir and travelogue, this vivid portrait of Lika in central Croatia tells of a family and Croatian region steeped in culture and tumultuous history. Read by the author.

Fellow travel writer Ros Belford, saw her book Children of the Volcano picked out by Wanderlust as one of the books of the year.

‘the author – fresh from a break-up – relocates to Sicily to give her daughters a childhood to remember, and herself a new go at life. What follows falls into the ‘inspirational’ bracket of books about overcoming the odds, though it paints a portrait of island life that will have travellers intrigued.‘

Last but not least, Rikki Stein‘s memoir, Moving Music, continues to generate coverage. This month a review in AfroPop Worldwide, and an accompanying interview. An audiobook version, read by the author is coming soon.

Mark LeVine, longtime contributor to Afropop Worldwide said, ‘While this book will no doubt inspire musicians and fans who already love these genres, we can hope it also inspires a new generation of behind-the-scenes forces in the business, who can help move the music, the artists who create and perform it, and the industry people who more often than not hinder if not outright ruin it, back to a foundation of the Underground Spiritual Game that has always animated the most powerful, creative and at least for a time, successful pop music.‘

Songlines also has picked the book as one it its ‘Books of the Year‘, saying ‘Rikki was also crucial to the success of the musicians of Joujouka, that extraordinary village of Moroccan musicians. And then there are the stories about the Grateful Dead, Guinea’s Les Ballet Africaines, the ever-courageous Ugandan singer Bobi Wine, and more. A great read.‘

Here’s to 2025!

Cull and Co. Ltd In the Media

Authors in the Media – September 2024

First up, travel writer Shafik Meghji was shortlisted in two categories of the British Guild of Travel Writers Awards. His Adventure.com feature on Dungeness, Winchelsea and climate change is up for the UK travel feature award, while his Evening Standard piece on Indigenous tourism is up for sustainability feature of the year.

His next book, Small Earthquakes (Hurst Publishing), will be published next year.

Mary Novakovich went island-hopping in Croatia for The Guardian, adrift in the Šibenik archipelago. Her memoir My Family and Other Enemies (Bradt Guides) was also featured in Electric Lit’s top 10 must-read books set in Croatia. Her research into her family’s complicated history results in a book that abounds with incredible stories of adversity and resilience, and a hearty dose of delicious meals.

Staying on the travel theme, Ros Belford was featured in The Times, about her recently published memoir Children of the Volcano (September Publishing).

Former bookseller Michael Robb appeared in the Bookseller to announce his debut book Shelf Life (The History Press), out in February next year. Robb commented:

“Books and bookshops have always been an important part of my life. I feel incredibly fortunate that I have worked with books for 40 years, first as a bookseller and then on the publishing side. During that time I have witnessed first-hand the huge changes that our industry has undergone and wanted to document this from my viewpoint… I hope this book will prompt many discussions within the trade. This is a wonderful business full of hard-working and passionate people and I hope I do justice to it in Shelf Life.”

The Conversation ran a terrific feature review of Rikki Stein‘s memoir Moving Music (Wordville). “[…] an astute storyteller as he weaves together a larger narrative about a life of triumphs, tragedies and cautionary tales. From its lush descriptions to its intimate accounts and previously unpublished photos, Stein’s autobiography offers readers a rare insider glimpse into the music business. His writing is rooted in a deep understanding of the industry and the artists who drive it forward.”

Rikki Stein (front left) next to Fela Kuti on his release from jail for his politically outspoken views. Godwin Usidamen/Courtesy Rikki Stein

Finally, Henry R. Schlesinger wrote a piece for AirMail about the original Abercrombie & Fitch where Amelia Earhart, Ernest Hemingway, and Clark Gable all shopped.

His next book The Age of Amateurs was recently bought by Pegasus Books.

Cull and Co. Ltd In the Media

Authors in the Media – June 2024

A bust June for agency author Jake Donoghue in the run-up to the publication of his first book on August 22nd.

He appeared on the Criminal Thoughts podcast in the USA  and wrote a feature article for Amy Castor and for the New Money Review.

Rikki Stein released his memoir in June, with a fabulous launch at the British Library. He was also interviewed by fellow agency author Richard Hamilton for the BBC World Service: Brave, inspiring, crazy – the joy of managing Fela Kuti.

Moving Music: The Memoirs of Rikki Stein is published by Wordville Press and out now.

Ros Belford also launched her memoir at Stanfords Book Store and had a double page feature in The Daily Express.

Ros Belford launching her memoir at Stanfords Book Store
Ros Belford launching her memoir at Stanfords Book Store

She also appeared on Michelle Johnson’s A Writer in Italy podcast. A lovely review also appeared here for Yeah Lifestyle.

Cull and Co. Ltd In the Media

Authors in the Media – May 2024

As Spring is upon us and the season becomes more colourful, agency author Daniel Stables produced a stunning piece in National Geographic about the Phuket Vegetarian Festival. Don’t be deceived by the name – it’s not for the faint-hearted. A 9-day orgy of ritual mutilation, pyrotechnics and meat-free food.

A General Election has been called in the UK, where transparency is one of the buzzword. No better time, then, for Seth Thevoz to write for the Spectator on ‘Why MPs love to hate the register of interests‘. ‘Politicians have long shuddered over a document that provides fertile ground for journalists from which to dig out stories.’ Thevoz says, and cites the seminal journalism of the late Andrew Roth, for exposing such conflicts of interest.

Heading to South America, in the latest issue of National Geogrpahic Travel UK magazine, Shafik Meghji picks out some of his favourite places to stay in Santiago, Chile. Rights to Shafik’s new book, ‘Small Earthquakes’, were recently snapped up by Hurst Publishers.

Ed Peppitt’s uplifting book, The Beacon Bike, was recently published and Ed appeared on BBC Radio 4 twice in the same day. First on Front Row in the morning and then again on Drive in the afternoon. Ed is also on a book tour (not by bike this time!) so catch him in person if you can.

The BBC World Service also interviewed acclaimed music manager Rikki Stein about his memoirs, set to publish in June and now available for pre-order. All About Jazz also described the book as ‘a thrilling page-turner packed with hundreds of stories, vividly told, recounting a life so epic, and one populated by so many extraordinary actors, that a review can only skim across its surface.’