Publisher Spotlight: Walker - January - August 2012 & Undercover Event Report

I thought it would be fun to start spotlighting new releases that different publishers have coming up over the next few months for us to look forward to.  I'm constantly looking for new books to add to my wish list and thought it would be a nice way of spreading the bookish love with other bloggers.  So stepping into the spotlight today we have . . .

Back in December I was lucky enough to be invited to an event hosted by Walker to talk about some of their 2012 Undercover releases.  I'll talk more about the event at the end of this post but first I want to showcase some of the titles they mentioned - they have some very exciting books coming out this year!  If you'd like more information check out the Walker website or their Under Cover Reads blog.

5th of January:

First we have a new thriller from author Tim Wynn-Jones called Blink & Caution.  I have this one on my to read pile and it sounds fab so hopefully I'll get my review posted soon.  You can visit Tim Wynn-Jones' website for more information.

Two street kids get tangled in a plot over their heads - and risk an unexpected connection - in this heart-pounding thriller by Tim Wynne-Jones.

Boy, did Blink get off on the wrong floor. All he wanted was to steal some breakfast for his empty belly, but instead he stumbled upon a fake kidnapping and a mobile phone dropped by an "abducted" CEO, giving Blink a link to his perfect blonde daughter. Now Blink is on the run, but it'll be OK as long as he's smart enough to stay in the game and keep Captain Panic locked in his hold. Enter a girl named Caution. As in Caution: Watch Your Step. She's also on the run, from a drug-dealer boyfriend and from a nightmare in her past that won't let her go. When she spies Blink at the bus station, Caution can see he's an easy mark. But there's something about this naïve, skinny street punk, whom she only wanted to rob, that tugs at her heart, a heart she thought deserved not to feel. Charged with suspense and intrigue, this taut novel trails two deeply compelling characters as they forge a blackmail scheme that is foolhardy at best, disastrous at worst - along with a fated, tender partnership that will offer them each a rare chance for redemption.

2nd of February:

I've already read Edward Hogan's debut YA novel Daylight Saving (read my review here) and it's definitely a story I'd recommend picking up.  If you're in the UK don't forget to enter my current giveaway for the chance to win a copy!

When Daniel Lever accompanies his dad to the Leisure World Holiday Complex, his expectations are low.  But then he sees a mysterious girl by the fake lake and everything changes.  Lexi is funny and smart, but why does she have wounds that get worse each time they meet?  And is her watch really going backwards?

As the end of British Summer Time approaches, Daniel has to act quickly.  Their souls depend on it.









Another February release is Girl, Stolen by April Henry which sounds like it is going to be a gripping read.  I just realised that I've already read one of this authors adult books called Hand of Fate that she co wrote with Lis Wiehl (read my review here).  I enjoyed Hand of Fate and I have a feeling that Girl, Stolen will be just as good.  Visit April Henry's website for more information.

How do you escape when you can't see the way out?

Sixteen-year-old Cheyenne Wilder is sleeping in the back of a car while her mother fills her prescription. Before Cheyenne realizes what has happened, the car is being stolen from the car park. Cheyenne is not only sick with pneumonia – she is also blind. Griffin, the teenage driver, hadn't meant to kidnap her – he was just stealing a car for the gang. But once Griffin's dad finds out that Cheyenne's father is the president of Nike, everything changes – now there's a reason to keep her. Will Cheyenne be able to survive this harrowing ordeal, and escape? And if so, at what price?


Now this next book is one that I'm really excited about, I didn't think it was published until April but according to Amazon UK it's already shipping.  I absolutely loved Peter Cocks' debut novel Long Reach when I read it last year (my review is posted here) so I can't wait to read the sequel Body Blow!  Visit Peter Cocks' website for more information about the series.

Once you're in the business, there's no going back...

Eddie Savage is hiding out in the West Midlands after his near-fatal shooting during the Kelly affair. But while the physical wounds are fading, the emotional scars are taking longer to heal. And when Eddie finds himself heading for the south of Spain with an unlikely travelling companion, it is as if, by some magnetic force, he is being drawn back into the criminal underworld. Tommy Kelly may be safely locked up back at home, but on the Costa del Sol the Kelly organization is still alive.

1st of March:

Kill You Last is a new thriller from Todd Strasser and has been described as having the glamour of Gossip Girl and the suspense of James Patterson.  Check out Todd Strasser's website for more information.

Local model wanted: must be tall, gorgeous ... and not afraid to die.

Are you dying to be famous...? It seems that every girl in Soundview wants to be a model, singer or actress. They all need super-glam photos for agents and scouts - which works out perfectly for Shelby's photographer dad. He makes a fortune taking pictures of these wannabes ... until the girls start to disappear and he is accused of murder. Shelby knows her dad is innocent and is determined to prove it, and that means finding the real killer.

3rd of May:

May sees the release of The Anti-Prom by Abby McDonald.  I don't read a lot of contemporary YA but I know that this is one that Carly from Writing from the Tub was really excited about.  Visit Abby McDonald's website for more information.

They've spent years at the same high school without speaking a word to one another, but that's all about to change. Popular Bliss has the perfect boyfriend, the perfect prom dress - and now the perfect case for revenge after finding her best friend and boyfriend making out in the back of a limo. Bad girl Jolene wouldn't be caught dead at the prom, yet (due to her mother's ultimatum) here she is, trussed up in pink ruffles, wondering whether boot camp might have been the better choice. And shy, studious, uber-planner Meg, ready to stop being a wallflower and start experiencing life firsthand, never counted on her date's standing her up and leaving her idling in the car park outside the prom. Get ready for The Anti-Prom, Abby McDonald's hilarious, heart-tugging tale about three girls on one crazy night.

7th of June:

The Girl Who Could Silence the Wind by Meg Medina is another one I'm really excited about, I love fantasy stories and I think this is going to be a fabulous read.  Please note that the UK cover isn't available yet so the cover pictured is the US version - I'll post the UK one as soon as I can.  Visit Meg Medina's blog for more information.

A poignant and passionate tale about the risks people will take for a new and better life, and the sacrifices they will make to protect the ones they love.

On the night Sonia Ocampo is born, the village folk of Tres Montes survive the most horrific storm they have ever seen. Immediately they believe Sonia must possess a special gift to heal and protect. But after a young boy dies despite her prayers, sixteen-year-old Sonia is filled with shame and a sense of utter powerlessness. The hundreds of tiny gold symbols pinned to her shawl now only seem like empty, superstitious charms. At once she longs to escape a life built on lies. With the help of her aunt, Sonia takes a train to the city to begin a post in the household of a wealthy woman. Perhaps all their fortunes will now improve? However, a short time later Sonia hears the devastating news that her brother has gone missing from the village. It is not the first time a young man has disappeared in the region, and everyone knows all too well what his fate may be. Sonia must now risk absolutely everything to find him, and find a way to bring him home.

5th of July:

I think Zoe Marriott's new novel FrostFire has to be one of my most anticipated 2012 novels - I can't wait to get my hands on this one!  I absolutely adore Zoe's writing, I loved The Swan Kingdom (read my review here) but was blown away by Shadows on the Moon (read my review here) which was definitely one of my favourite books of 2011.  If FrostFire hadn't already been at the top of my wish list then this cover would have put it there for sure, Zoe seems to be really lucky with the fabulous covers that Walker create for her!  Check out Zoe Marriott's website for more information.

Frost has left her homeland to travel to the neighbouring country of Ruan in the hope of finding a deity she believes will rid her of a curse: at the sight of her own blood, a berserker rage in the form of a wolf overtakes her and kills everyone within reach. On her journey, Frost meets Luca and Arian, two members of the Ruan military force sworn to protect the country's borders from neighbouring rebel fighters. Over the coming months, under Luca's guidance, Frost learns to overcome the Wolf within. She also begins to fall in love with Luca - while Arian falls for her.

2nd of August:

Last but not least we have the fourth book in Cynthia Leitich Smith's Tantalize series Diabolical.  This is another one of those series that I've heard fantastic things about but haven't actually started reading yet.  I have been told that each of the stories works as a stand alone book but there is some cross over with the characters.  I can't bring myself to read books out of order though so I'm going to have to pick up a copy of Tantalize soon!  Check out Cynthia Leitich Smith's website for more information.

When "slipped" angel Zachary and his werewolf pal Kieren are summoned under suspicious circumstances to a mysterious New England boarding school, they quickly find themselves in a hellish lock-down with an intriguing assortment of secretive, hand-picked "students." Plagued by demon dogs, hallucinatory wall décor, a sadistic instructor, and a legendary fire-breathing monster, will they somehow manage to escape? Or will the devil have his due? Best-selling author Cynthia Leitich Smith unites heroes from the previous three novels in the Tantalize Series - including Zachary's girl, Miranda, and Kieren's love, Quincie - along with a fascinating cast of all-new characters for a suspenseful, action-packed clash between the forces of heaven and hell.

So Walker have some pretty exciting books coming out this year don't you think?  Which ones are you most excited about?

I briefly mentioned the Undercover event at the top of my post, along with getting to find out a bit more about all these fabulous books we were also spoilt with lots of delicious cakes.  It was really interesting to find out a bit more about the process behind the cover design for Daylight Saving and the highlight was getting to meet Edward Hogan!

We had a fab time and I'd like to say a massive thanks to everyone at Walker for organising it for us!

Who was there:

Sean, Ruth, Jack, Eve and Jo - Walker

Edward Hogan - Twitter

Andy - The Pewter Wolf

Carly - Writing from the Tub

Casey - Dark Readers

Darren - Book Zone For Boys

Leanne - District YA

Liz - My Favourite books

Lynsey - Narritively Speaking

Rosy - The Review Diaries

Viv - Serendipity Reviews