News

On writing someone else’s book – Michael Davies on finishing a ‘lost’ Desmond Bagley novel

Discovered after more than 40 years, a vintage action-adventure novel by one of the world’s most successful thriller writers, involving murder, corruption and a daring hijack in the Caribbean. How I got to ‘write’ someone else’s book There’s a definition of the word curator on Wikipedia: “a content… Read More

On the hidden love story of C.S. Lewis – Patti Callahan on writing Becoming Mrs Lewis

I discovered as you and your readers also will, that Joy isn’t interesting merely because C. S. Lewis fell in love with her. Not even close. What a privilege and an honour to talk to you about writing Becoming Mrs Lewis – The Improbable Love Story of Joy… Read More

IndieThinking speaks to 4th Estate designer Jack on re-designing Kurt Vonnegut’s backlist

‘ I realised that Kurt Vonnegut doesn’t need an author style or set colours or a grid to create a unified backlist style, he needed a font.’ As a fan of Kurt Vonnegut, I have always been interested in how he is jacketed. How do you… Read More

On Love – Anna James on her short story in ‘I Am Heathcliff’ curated by Kate Mosse

Anna James on the inspiration for her story ‘How Things Disappear’ from the collection, I am Heathcliff, curated by Kate Mosse Full disclosure: I’m a Jane, not a Cathy. So when I was asked to write a short story inspired by Wuthering Heights I knew that… Read More

On Scrabble – Former World Scrabble Champion Brett Smitheram on Collins Official Scrabble Words

One minute you’re on top of the world, the next you are falling into a chasm of despair. Many things can take you on such a roller coaster ride of emotion, but few are so personal as a game of Scrabble when your opponent has just blocked your 50-point Z… Read More

On Magic – Dominique Valente on creating the world of Starfell

Starfell Dominique Valente Illustrated by Sarah Warburton 2nd May 2019 Hardback HarperCollins Children’s Books 9780008308391 RRP £12.99… Read More

Children’s Books designer Sean on designing the cover for Starfell

In designing a cover and series look for Starfell, I wanted to really capture a sense of the reader really feeling like they were stepping into the world Wiperia. After trying out a few ideas, I settled on the star frame device that would frame the artwork on Willow Moss… Read More

On Indie Bookshops – a letter to booksellers from Tracy Chevalier

‘Indie bookshops are the lifeblood of the high street’ Dear booksellers, I’m lucky to live in a neighbourhood that has a magnificent corner shop. It is nothing like the sad specimens where everything’s wrapped in plastic and contains too much sugar, salt, and chemicals. Read More

On Living Selfishly – Kat Gordon on the lives of the outsiders in ‘The Hunters’

I wanted my novel to convey the rottenness at the heart of selfish living, the complexity of ‘doing the right thing’, and the ties that bind family, themes that I think will always be powerful and relevant. When my mother was in her twenties she left her… Read More

On Dadventures – Alex Gregory on being a Dad

What is it that we remember the most about our childhood? What is it that we remember the most about our childhood? I hear the same answers so often now. “I remember disappearing off across the fields all day” or “I remember climbing trees”, then “kids don’t do… Read More

On writing the self of an athlete: Joe Mungo Reed on ‘We Begin Our Ascent’

I wanted to try and catch some of the oddness of those who choose to devote their lives to sporting endeavour, to take an athlete’s life seriously. Because I’ve written a novel a about professional cycling, people often ask me whether I’ve raced bicycles myself. My answer… Read More

On horseracing – Cornelius Lysaght on being a horseracing correspondent

The heritage plays a big part, horses and horses racing have so long been part of the world’s culture – racing is happening in only slightly different forms in every corner of the globe 1. What inspired you to pursue a career as a horseracing correspondent?… Read More

On bookbinding – Bridget Collins on the background to writing The Binding

I began to wonder what would happen if I could simply reach out and take that story away from them I started studying bookbinding a few years ago, and I was immediately seduced by it: by the processes that haven’t changed in centuries, the materials… Read More

The HarperCollins Literacy Project Grants for Independent Booksellers 2019

We’re delighted to launch our brand new HarperCollins Literacy Project Grants for independent booksellers – a new grant scheme available to independent bookshops in the UK and Ireland. The Literacy Project In accepting his role as President of the Publishers Association in 2018, HarperCollins CEO Charlie Redmayne presented… Read More

On Loss – Frances Liardet on writing We Must be Brave

‘Loss teaches us about one of the most enduring kinds of love.’ I am blessed by a child who came to me late in life, and I love this daughter of mine, who is now ten years old, inordinately. I am perfectly sure that all parents love their… Read More