‘Jaws at 35,000 feet’: the flight attendant whose thriller debut sold for seven figures

TJ Newman dreamt up her terror-in-the-skies novel Falling while guarding the cockpit as the pilots took a toilet break. She reveals how she kept going through furlough and 41 rejectionsFlight attendant Torri Newman was working on the red-eye flight from Los Angeles to New York when the idea for her debut novel came to her. To be precise, she was blocking access to the cockpit, a security procedure required when pilots take a toilet break. “I was standing at the front of the airplane,” she says, “looking out at the passengers. It was dark and they were all asleep. And I had this thought, ‘All of their lives, our lives, are in the hands of the pilots.’ That’s not exactly new – but the flipside of that also came to mind. With that much power and responsibility, how vulnerable does that make a commercial pilot?”Newman, speaking via Zoom from her home in Phoenix, Arizona, was rattled. “I just couldn’t shake the thought. A few days later, I was working a different trip with a different set of pilots, and I said to the captain, ‘Hey, what would you do if your family was taken, and you were told that if you didn’t crash the plane, they would be killed?” What was his reaction? “He had no clue what he would do – the thought terrified him.”I almost gave up. But seeing two authors at a Q&A reminded my why I had to keep going Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2021-05-04 05:00:21 UTC ]
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NLT raises £75,000 from charity auction

The National Literacy Trust (NLT) has raised £75,000 for its work in improving child literacy at a charity auction held yesterday (12th February) in London. Guests at the auction, which was hosted by Private Eye editor Ian Hislop, bid for items including a signed pair of Frank Lampard’s... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Peru’s Colmena Editores Gives Edgy Debut Authors a Voice

One of Peru's fledgling publishers, Colmena Editores, is making room for edgy new generation of authors, while also offering classics and criticism. The post Peru’s Colmena Editores Gives Edgy Debut Authors a Voice appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-02-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #post peru #making room


Little Tiger acquires debut picture books

Little Tiger Press has acquired two picture books from debut writers; Katie McGinty Wants a Pet and Pirates in Pyjamas by Caroline Crowe. Katie McGinty Wants a Pet is about a girl who wants an unusual pet and was written by Jenna Harrington, who works in the sales department at Little Tiger... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Why You Should Attend the St. Gallen Publishing Course in Singapore?

Looking to build the skills to take your publishing career to the next level? The St. Gallen International Publishing Course in Singapore may be for you. The post Why You Should Attend the St. Gallen Publishing Course in Singapore? appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-02-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #gallen publishing #publishing career


Evergreens mark 1,000 weeks in TCM

Last week two books—Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar (Puffin) and Michael Rosen’s We’re Going on a Bear Hunt (Walker)—achieved a unique feat, notching up their 1,000th week in BookScan’s Total Consumer Market Top 5,000. The two books are the UK book trade’s only remaining Evergreens:... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Johncock debut to Myriad

Myriad Editions has signed a literary debut by Benjamin Johncock. UK and Commonwealth rights to The Last Pilot were signed from Juliet Pickering at Blake Friedmann. The book is set in the Mojave Desert in the late 1940s, where US Airforce pilots are battling to break the sound barrier. At the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Faber acquires Langlands debut

Archaeologist and BBC presenter Alex Langlands is writing a book arguing that making things is good for the soul. Walter Donohue at Faber & Faber commissioned Cræft, spelt the Anglo-Saxon way, in a deal with Patrick Walsh at Conville & Walsh. Langlands has presented programmes for the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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ALA Midwinter 2015: Amid Winter Storms, ALA Attendance Dips

In all, 10,637attended, the lowest attendance since 2012, when 9,929 gathered in Dallas. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-02-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Sensitive children' title goes for six figures

Pan Macmillan has acquired a book about sensitive children for six figures in a “fiercely contested auction”. Carole Tonkinson bought The Orchid and the Dandelion: Why Some Children Thrive and Others Struggle to Survive by Dr Tom Boyce for her Bluebird imprint in a "competitive 12-way bid" from... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Six-figure pre-empt for Carnegie winning Donnelly

Hot Key Books has acquired a new standalone fiction title from Carnegie Medal winning author Jennifer Donnelly in a six-figure pre-empt deal. Junior editor at Hot Key Books, Naomi Colthurst, struck a deal for UK and Commonwealth rights to These Shallow Graves through Cecilia de la Campa,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-02-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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NF Debut a Breakout Hit at Vanderbilt U Press

After becoming one of the press' s biggest sellers to date, Andrew Maraniss’s 'Strong Inside' has become the first title from the press to hit two 'New York Times' bestseller lists. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-02-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Chicago Blizzard Snarls Plans for Publishers Attending ALA

A blizzard that dumped 19 inches of snow on Chicago on Sunday disrupted the travel plans of publishers in town for the library conference. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-02-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Myriad buys Johncock debut

Myriad Editions has signed a literary debut set in the "Mad Men" era, by Guardian contributor Benjamin Johncock. The publisher bought UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada, to The Last Pilot from agent Juliet Pickering at Blake Friedmann. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-01-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #myriad editions #mad men #blake friedmann


Pushkin buys world rights in US debut

Elena Lappin's Pushkin Press imprint ONE, which publishes one "exceptional" fiction or non-fiction title per season, has done its first world rights deal for a debut novel by 32-year-old American writer Ted McDermott Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-01-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Book trade figures pack Debrett's top 500

Literary agent Jonny Geller, authors Malorie Blackman, Hilary Mantel and Kate Mosse, and trade figures Nicola Solomon, Richard Mollet, Gail Rebuck, Charlie Redmayne and Tom Weldon are among the figures on the 2015 Debrett’s 500. The annual list brings together the 500 most influential and... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-01-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hilary mantel #kate mosse #richard mollet #gail rebuck #charlie redmayne #tom weldon #inspiring people


Chicken House acquires debut from Lucinda Martin

Chicken House has acquired Moth and the Nightingale, a middle-grade children’s novel from debut author Lucinda Martin. The book, described as a “subtle and surprisingly modern interpretation of the lonely, bookish child”, tells the story of Henry, a young girl whose life changes when she meets... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-01-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Serial killer thriller for Michael Joseph

Michael Joseph has acquired a thriller about a woman who survived an attack by a serial killer. Publishing director Maxine Hitchcock bought UK and Commonwealth rights to Black-Eyed Susans, and one other untitled thriller, by Julia Haeberlin from Rachel Kind at Random House in the US. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-01-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Bookmate Offers 200,000 E-books in English

Bookmate, an ebook subscription service founded by Russian investors, is expanding its English language ebook inventory. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-01-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Je Suis Charlie Campaign Raises $40,000

PW’s Je Suis Charlie campaign to support free expression has raised $40,000 in contributions that will be donated to five organizations that support free speech. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-01-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Oneworld acquires debut set in NY restaurant

Oneworld has signed a debut novel set in the behind-the-scenes world of New York's restaurants. Sweetbitter, by Stephanie Danler, follows Tess, who arrives in New York and soon finds herself working at one the city's landmark restaurants. While learning to enjoy the food and other substances... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-01-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
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