News
Gervais joins strong Walker list
17.02.09 | Caroline Horn
Comedian Ricky Gervais, scientist James Lovelock and award-winning beauty journalist Alice Hart-Davies will be joining the Walker Books list in the autumn as the company defies the economic downturn to produce some big-hitters for Christmas 2010.
Among Walker's core titles for the autumn is a range of novelty titles, including a pop-up of Ricky Gervais' bestselling Flanimals, and artist Jane Ray's first novelty book, a multi-layered picture book edition of Sleeping Beauty. Both will retail at around £14.99.
Walker Books is also extending its non-fiction list this autumn, including a new non-fiction title for teenagers, The Big Beauty Book, by beauty journalist Alice Hart-Davies, co-written with her teenage daughter Molly. Walker hopes this will replicate the success of teen cook Sam Stern and his mother.
James Lovelock, scientist and creator of the Gaia Theory, will be writing the afterword for Gaia Warriors by Nicola Davies, which is based on Lovelock’s Gaia Theory. Walker has also signed up bestselling author David Macauley (The Way Things Work) for a book about the human body, The Way We Work.
Walker managing director Helen McAleer said: "Our strategy is to grow our key genres. The autumn list extends the developments that Walker has already introduced in its non-fiction and novelty lists. The company has built a slightly unusual, quirky non-fiction list that reflects what interests children today. Our novelty list builds on the skills we have developed inhouse."
Walker’s lead fiction title in the autumn is a new book of short stories by Anthony Horowitz, called 'More Bloody Horowitz' (£7.99), described as a tongue-in-cheek look at horror. It will be published in paperback but in a larger format than usual.
Comments on this article
By David R N Livesley - Woodstock Vermont
Oh but Sebastian and the old company always did try and buck/create a trend, planning for the future....what's 100 years between friends.....well Solzhenitsyn might say it has a ring of solitude to it. To quote Helen ...'....company has built a slightly unusual, quirky non-fiction list that reflects what interests children today. Our novelty list builds on the skills we have developed inhouse'....or does she mean the market has finally found the books but not before many went on to the great remainder/pulp fair. Any company that can produce such tomes of creativity should in this day and age be given a big cheer! As for ' More Bloody Horowitz'....magnificent title that is simplicity itself. Publishing Corporations eat your hearts out......18 Feb 09 03:34
By james
i cant wait for ricky's new book, is it wrong for me to be looking forward to a pop-up book when i'm in my 20's.18 Feb 09 11:32
