A few months ago, the Virgin Books imprint was given a new home within Random House, and that home turned out to be Ebury. We have been warmly adopted into the Ebury family as a new imprint to sit alongside Ebury Press, BBC Books, Vermilion, Rider and Time Out (not a bad line up I think you’ll agree). Last week it all became that bit more official when we moved onto the fourth floor to sit with our new colleagues. Of course new colleagues to get to know and Christmas coming up have been great excuses for parties, drinks, cupcakes, mince pies and quizzes (and if you believe the rumours, some of that continues on the fourth floor even when it’s not Christmas).
So, we thought it was about time we introduced Virgin Books to Ebury blog readers. Virgin Books first started up in 1979 as a rock music publisher, linked to Virgin Records, and we have been expanding our book publishing ever since. In March 2007, Random House Group became a 90% majority stakeholder in the company. We’re a small team with lots of enthusiasm for working on books which are entertaining, interesting or useful. We publish non-fiction in various areas from bestselling authors such as Richard Branson and Max Arthur, experts such as Tom Chatfield or Ian Sample or celebrities like Myleene Klass and Kelly Osbourne. The new partnership with Ebury is really exciting and we’re looking forward to getting to know our new neighbours and learning from each other.
You can find more out about us here, or follow us on twitter here. And I’m sure you’ll be hearing more about what we’re up to on the blog in the future!
This Saturday we are staging a Guinness World Record Attempt at the RAF Museum to officially launch The Boys Book of Airfix. We are aiming to create a record for the largest number of people making model aircraft from a single location in a day. Rock on!
We’ve been inundated with RSVPs, with most people hoping to sign their entire families up for the day. Kids will be building their own Spitfires in workshops run by Airfix, Arthur Ward is going to give a talk about the history of this iconic brand, there will be a box-art competition and lots of copies of The Boys’ Book of Airfix on sale.
If you want to attend, there are still some last minute spaces available so e-mail jrowley@eburypublishing.co.uk for your place. Otherwise, watch this space next week for photos from the event.
Harry Hill finished his run of hugely successful TV Burp signings last night with a 4 hour signing at Waterstone’s Bluewater – meeting hoards of enthusiastic kids and parents. Harry was joined at all 3 signings by Heather from Eastenders (’Ev’) and, of course, The Knitted Character. Harry has had huge queues of around 500 people and sold all the books in the shop at all 3 signings this week. He also spent lots of time talking to all his fans, who really do range from toddlers to grannies and show how wide-ranging the appeal of the show is.
As one punter on Twitter said:
@chasfax: To Harry Hill book signing, great bloke, worth queueing 3 hours to meet, my children nearly as excited as me. Deserving TV star of the week.
The Best of TV Burp continues on Saturday, with the Burp Christmas Special on Boxing Day.
Harry is also up for two awards at the British Comedy Awards this weekend for Best Comedy Personality as well as Best Comedy Programme and is the bookies favourite for both.
Most of the kids at the signings were very relieved to see that the Knitted Character was safe and well after being trapped in the fire in Emmerdale a few weeks ago.
Well, actually, there is. Because it is time for the annual Ebury Christmas Quiz and I am DETERMINED my team is going to win. I suffered near-total humiliation at the I Never Knew That Ebury Quiz. The team I was on came second from last because I hadn’t done my homework on the author questions – sorry authors!; we were destabilised by one member quitting early to get a train home to Brighton and another just brazenly flirting with me, my author and a nearby chair and refusing to answer any questions.
Therefore, when asked by the Ebury Quizettes if I wanted to help set the questions or be on a team, there was only one answer. I WANT TO BE ON A RUDDY TEAM AND I WANT TO WIN. There was pride to reclaim. As Tyra Banks would say on America’s Next Top Model: Bring it! (more…)
Feeling festive yet? Need some jokes for your office Christmas party? Here are a few Christmassy jokes from our brilliant Man Walks Into A Joke website to put you in the yuletide spirit…
What does Santa do with fat elves? He sends them to the Elf Farm.
What do snowmen eat for lunch? Icebergers!
Why was Santa’s little helper feeling depressed? He had low elf-esteem.
What do elves learn in school? The elf-abet!
What do you call someone who is afraid of Santa? A Clausterphobic.
A compelling look at today’s modern mother: anxious at work, manically baking cakes at midnight or in bed with unhappy husbands. A fascinating read for all plate-spinning mums with some interesting conclusions.
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