Jess Richards' Snake Ropes, published by Sceptre

Introduction

"No-one here goes to the main land, and no-one wants to. Our boats aren't strong enough, we dun know the way, them can't understand us, we're fine as we are. We have so many reasons; them stretch as wide as the distance to cross to take us there."

The day the tall men come from the mainland to trade, Mary's little brother goes missing. She needs to find him. She needs to know a secret that no-one else can tell her.

Jess Richards’ stunning debut will show you crows who become statues and sisters who get tangled in each other's hair, keys that talk and ghosts who demand to be buried. She combines a page-turning narrative and a startlingly original voice with the creation and subversion of myths.



Important Announcements

Snake Ropes is The Observer's 'paperback of the week' on Sunday, January the 20th. Reviewed by Anita Sethi: "The ties that bind us together – and those that tear us apart – is the theme threaded throughout this visceral, evocative debut novel."
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books

Snake Ropes appears in the Independent alongside other great gift ideas for book lovers. (NB - the paperback retails at £8.99, the price listed is for the hardback.)
www.independent.co.uk

Web editor at Foyles, Jonathan Ruppin, looks back at 2012 as 'a memorable year in fiction...' some wonderful titles here, from a man who is passionate about contemporary fiction.
www.foyles.co.uk

Paperback release date announced
The paperback edition of Snake Ropes will be published by Sceptre on December 13th, 2012.

Snake Ropes nominated for the Costa Book Awards
Snake ropes has been shortlisted for the 2012 Costa First Novel Award! Competing with Jess in the First Novel category will be J W Ironmonger for The Notable Brain of Maximilian Ponder, Francesca Segal for The Innocents and Benjamin Wood for The Bellwether Revivals.
www.costabookawards.com

Jess will be appearing on Friday the 26th of October at Guildford Book Festival. Several authors with a wide range of style and subjects will be taking part. It will be a lively event, where Peter Guttridge will talk briefly to and about all the authors and then open up the floor so the authors and audience can mingle and continue discussions on a one-to-one basis ... while enjoying tea and cake! Along with Jess, the writers at this event will be: Meg Gardiner and Felix Riley, Barbara Mutch and Liam Murray Bell, Jane Rusbridge and Patrick Easter.
www.guildfordbookfestival.co.uk

Snake Ropes is on the longlist for the Green Carnation Prize, alongside some fantastic titles which celebrate the wealth and diversity of LGBT writing. The shortlist will be announced in November.
www.greencarnationprize.com

At the Edinburgh International Literature Festival, Jess and Sjon discussed islands with Sarah Crown. You can listen to this and other podcasts here:
www.guardian.co.uk

Sjon's most recent novel, The Whispering Muse, is an intelligent, humorous and enchanting read: a seafaring tale blended with timeless mythology, and a stoic belief in the superior benefits of a diet of fish.
www.guardian.co.uk

Jess is delighted to be appearing alongside the successful and talented Icelandic author, Sjon, at the Edinburgh International Book Festival on August the 13th:
www.edbookfest.co.uk

Sjon's latest novel, The Whispering Muse can be bought in good booksellers and you can find more information online via Amazon:
www.amazon.co.uk

As part of the Edinburgh International Book Festival, Snake Ropes is included on the Anobii First Book Award list, and you can see the other nominees and place your vote in person at the festival, or online here:
www.edbookfest.co.uk

Recommended reading for Summer 2012 - some great books alongside Snake Ropes are on this list:
www.booktrust.org.uk

Jess Richards talks to Radio 4
Jess will be appearing alongside fellow author Michele Roberts, talking to Jenni Murray on Radio 4's Woman's Hour during 10am - 11am on Thursday May 24th.

Jess Richards talks to Radio 4
Jess will be appearing alongside fellow author Michele Roberts, talking to Jenni Murray on Radio 4's Woman's Hour during 10am - 11am on Thursday May 24th.

Jess live on Radio 2
Jess is appearing live on Radio 2's Drivetime from 6pm on Monday 28 May to discuss her debut novel Snake Ropes with Book Club host Simon Mayo. Check out the Radio 2 website for more info: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2

Jess is shortlisted for round 2 of Rising Stars!
Twelve talented debut authors are hand-picked by Amazon each year, and organised into groups of four. The winner of each round will be chosen based purely on the amount and standard of customer ratings and reviews. An overall winner will be announced at the end of the year. Check out Amazon's Rising Stars page for info on how to get involved: www.amazon.co.uk/Amazon-Rising-Stars

Jess speaks to Waterstones
In her blog for high street giants Waterstones, Jess is asked to discuss five books which have influenced her. The blog is available exclusively on the Waterstones website: www.waterstonesoxfordstreet.com/

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