Announcing: Sinful Folk – by Ned Hayes, illustrated by New York Times bestseller Nikki McClure
November 2013 — SINFUL FOLK is the new historical novel from Ned Hayes, with cover and internal illustrations by New York Times bestselling illustrator and author Nikki McClure. Like Anita Diamant’s The Red Tent and Geraldine Brooks’ Year of Wonders, SINFUL FOLK retells history from the perspective of a forgotten woman who finds her voice. An inspiring story of tenacity, perseverance and courage, SINFUL FOLK is based on real historical events. In December of the year 1377, five children burned to death in a suspicious house fire. The historical record shows that a small band of villagers traveled 200 miles across England in midwinter to demand justice for their children’s deaths. Two hundred miles. In that time, an unimaginable distance for villagers who lived their entire lives only a few miles from their birthplace. SINFUL FOLK is the story of this treacherous journey as seen by Mear, a former nun who has lived for a decade disguised as a mute and fearful man, raising her son quietly in this isolated village. When her son is killed, Mear wakes from her complacent life and undertakes a desperate journey. The villagers travel across a harsh and unforgiving winter landscape. Propelled forward by a vision of justice, the villagers persevere in the face of bandit raids, ecclesiastical execution orders, starvation, kidnapping, and dissension in their own ranks. The chief danger lies in their midst: Mear soon discovers that one of her fellow travelers lit the fire that burned the children for his own nefarious ends. Mear must not only uncover the murderer, but also stay alive long enough to reach London, where she can seek the king’s justice. In the course of this pilgrimage, Mear finds old enemies, forgotten friends and hidden strengths. Mear’s long-hidden intelligence and authority gradually come to the forefront as her gender, her articulate insight and her lineage are unveiled—first to her fellow villagers and then to the world, as she enters the Star Chamber and, in the end, presents her case before the king’s court. SINFUL FOLK begins in terror and heartache, and ends in triumph and redemption. Endorsed by bestselling historical novelists such as Karen Maitland (The Owl Killers, Company of Liars), Ella March Chase (The Virgin Queen’s Daughter), Brenda Vantrease (The Illuminator, The Heretic’s Wife), and William Dietrich (The Barbed Crown), SINFUL FOLK is a breakthrough novel that stakes a new claim for women’s historical fiction. SINFUL FOLK is an inspiring story of a woman’s perseverance and courage in a stark medieval world: a riveting and suspenseful story told with lyrical beauty and unwavering vision. “Every reader will come to love the brave and intrepid Mear.” —award-winning author Jim Heynen (The Fall of Alice K.) Available January 2014 from Campanile Books To schedule Ned Hayes for appearances or readings, contact Linda...
Winner of Emergence Award: Velocity Math by Mans Brookston
October 13, 2013 — Campanile Books is excited to announce that Mans Brookston’s novel VELOCITY MATH has been named the winner of the “Emergence SF Award 2013.” VELOCITY MATH appeared in May 2013 from Campanile Books as one of the first books published on this re-vitalized imprint. Critics received VELOCITY MATH with rapturous acclaim. Excerpts from reviews listed below: “Brilliantly written… a joy to read… Velocity Math is a breakthrough story that brings a dark edge back to science-fiction.” (Michael Derdan) “The true heir to Philip K. Dick.” (Vandiss Burke) An extraordinary debut from a writer worth watching! Mans Brookston’s novel VELOCITY MATH is a profound parody of the American security state, shot through with trenchant observations about contemporary violence, death-wishes, magic and digital mysteries. By the end, seemingly all-powerful software entrepreneurs confront the darker secrets of the human heart in an apocalyptic, post-cyberpunk show-down reminiscent of Thomas Pynchon and William Gibson’s Neuromancer. In New York City in the fall of 2001, in the lull between the collapse of the dot-com boom and the terrible events of September 11th, something unusual is happening. Wracked by old memories and strange portents, an old man recalls what led to the formation of the NSA. Somewhere, buried in his skull, is the truth of how the World Trade Center was built. What he knows just might be explosive, and as he is chased across a draconian American landscape, his memories of Indochina CIA work, hidden South American alliances and extraordinary encounters in Prague began to overwhelm his consciousness. Aimed directly at the contemporary zeitgeist, VELOCITY MATH is a masterwork of paranoia and conspiracy, reminiscent of the best of Thomas Pynchon and Phillip K. Dick. Mans Brookston (born September 7, 1967 in South Africa) is an American author of thriller, science-fiction and graphic novels. Brookston was born in Capetown, South Africa, but now considers himself an American writer. His novel VELOCITY MATH was been nominated for the Emergence Award in Science Fiction by Henry Merganthaler and received the award in October 2013. Brookston’s “post-cyberpunk” fiction has been favorably compared to Thomas Pynchon and to William Gibson. A South African native, Mans Brookston now lives in an undisclosed location in the state of Oregon. To schedule Mans Brookston for appearances or readings, contact Linda Marus, Publicity Manager linda.marus@campanilebooks.com...
Christopher Matson Named Editorial Director of Campanile Books
Sept 20, 2013 – Prospero Publishing in association with the Campanile Group today announced that Christopher Matson, has been named Editorial Director of Campanile Books. In this position, he will serve as Editor-in-Chief for both the Campanile line of contemporary books as well as directing a revitalized reprints initiative for Campanile Press. His new role is effective immediately. “I’m pleased to announce that Christopher Matson is now the Editorial Director of Campanile Books,” said publisher Janice Stimford. “Matson has worked with a great variety of authors, from regional hits to international bestsellers.” Mr. Matson’s fourteen-year career in publishing has taken him from Crown and Rodale to Kensington and now to his current role as Editorial Director for Campanile Books. Matson has worked with a great variety of authors, ranging from textbook writers and ghostwriters to regional writers like Joyce Keller, Peter Casper, Martha Wells and international bestselling writers such as Oliver Zoëtries, Raus Steilacoom, and Henry Mergenthaler. “The opportunity to bring a classic imprint into the digital age is a great challenge and opportunity. Campanile’s venerable brand is a legacy, and it is a distinct honor to join the Campanile Books team,” said Miller. “I look forward to working closely with the excellent editorial staff.” Announcing the change to staff, Stimford noted that the hiring of Matson brings Campanile Books to a full complement of editors and staffing. Matson’s new role dovetails with the impending finalization of two digital platform product releases to support new publishing initiatives. ABOUT CAMPANILE BOOKS. Campanile Books is a literary imprint that resurrects the spirit of Campanile Press, a leading press in the 1900s. For more than 100 years, Campanile was known for literature of regional interest and literary merit. Today, our talented editorial staff is committed to the resurrection of this storied imprint in the new digital world of multi-format and responsive publishing. Campanile Books publishes contemporary fiction, historical mysteries and international reprints of classic works. We invite you to join us as we resurrect this classic reprint for the digital age and the 21st century. Visit...