Richard Desmond: ‘I hate to admit this, but I’ve never actually hit anyone’

He’s not a thug, he doesn’t trust his celebrity friends, and he’s definitely not a pornographer. Over a cigar delivered on a silver platter, the self-appointed king of Express Newspapers lays into scruffy booksellers and sets the record straightRichard Desmond held a party at Claridge’s in Mayfair this week to launch his autobiography. “Everybody” was there – “Jacob Rothschild came, Katie Price came, Barbara Windsor came. It was a whole cross-section of everybody. Lovely.” One person who was not there for long, though, was the man from Waterstones staffing the book stand.“I walk in, and I see this bloke, this scruffy bloke. He’s in like a real old sweater with holes in it, jeans with holes in.” Desmond’s nose wrinkles. “I said to him, ‘Look, mate, you’ve got lords and ladies coming here, and international celebrities, and my friends and family. I don’t really want to see you look like that. Have you got a suit?’ ‘No.’ ‘Would you go out and get a suit?’ ‘No.’ I said, ‘Well then, mate, fuck off.’ I got one of my advertising girls to sell the books instead.” He turns to his PR. “Was I harsh?” The PR demurs respectfully. “Oh no, it was about principle.” It all worked out for the best, Desmond agrees happily, because the man “learned a lesson”, will tell everyone, “Oh, this guy was so aggressive to me, he threatened to kill me,” and thus “another myth” about the media tycoon’s violent temper will be born. “Well, that’s the point.” Related: A reading from the Book of Desmond:... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2015-06-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #katie price #media tycoon #richard created

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Richard Desmond: ‘I hate to admit this, but I’ve never actually hit anyone’'


Hitting the Books: Newfangled oceanographers helped win WWII using marine science

Lethal Tides tells the story of pioneering oceanic researcher Mary Sears and her leading role in creating one of the most important intelligence gathering operations of World War II. Languishing in academic obscurity and roundly ignored by her male colleagues, Sears is selected for command by... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-09-04 15:00:53 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #harpercollins


A Former Nickelodeon Star’s Memoir Has Become the Summer’s Big Hit Book. It’s Very Clear Why.

I’m Glad My Mom Died details the abuse the iCarly actor suffered as a child star. Continue reading at Slate

[ Slate | 2022-08-18 20:31:47 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #child star #memoir


‘More zeros than I’ve seen in my life’: the author who got a six-figure deal via ‘BookTok’

After she was dropped by her agent, Alex Aster turned to a books-obsessed corner of TikTok to gauge interest in her YA novel … and now Lightlark is one of the most eagerly anticipated releases of the yearHaving finally published her first novel, Alex Aster was feeling disheartened. The book had... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-08-16 13:32:30 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #literary agent #six-figure deal #books world #million times #film rights #ya novel


Richard Charkin: Dear Literary Agent

Richard Charkin offers 'a heartfelt apology,' writing that he now finds literary agents 'trusted go-betweens and understanding partners.' The post Richard Charkin: Dear Literary Agent appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-08-10 17:00:17 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #richard charkin #literary agent #literary agents


July Religion Bestsellers: ‘Positive Thinking’ Hits #2; Debby Giusti’s Debut

Norman Vincent Peale, known as the father of positive thinking, takes #2 in Religion Nonfiction with his 60-year-old mega-bestseller, ‘The Power of Positive Thinking;’ Debby Giusti debuts at #2 on our Religion Fiction bestsellers list with her new Christian romance, ‘Soldier Protector.’ Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-08-10 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #positive thinking #hits #2 #takes #2 #religion nonfiction #christian romance


Richard Charkin: ‘Vestigial Organs’ in Medicine and Publishing

Drawing on his medical-student days, Richard Charkin examines some of the ‘vestigial’ traditions in international book publishing. By Richard Charkin | @RCharkin ‘Because We’ve Always Done It That Way’ nyone of my generation from a recently naturalized family such as mine–who showed any talent... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-07-21 17:15:59 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishing appeared #richard charkin #early age


HarperCollins Union Workers Hit the Picket Line

Roughly 100 unionized HarperCollins workers began picketing the publisher's New York headquarters this morning as part of a one-day strike in their fight for a new contract. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-07-20 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #picket line #york headquarters #one-day strike #harpercollins


More Layoffs Hit Oni-Lion Forge

Less than a month after the publisher and v-p of creative and business development were laid off at the comics publisher, a new round of dismissals hit the company last week, casting uncertainty over its future. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-07-18 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #comics publisher #business development


His First Novel Was a Critical Hit. Two Decades Later, He Rewrote It.

Many fiction writers wind up wishing they could redraft their early works. Akhil Sharma actually did. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2022-07-12 13:49:06 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #akhil sharma #first novel


Japanese creator of hit manga series Yu-Gi-Oh! dies aged 60

Kazuki Takahashi found in snorkelling gear floating in the sea off coast of Okinawa, reports sayA Japanese artist who created the hit manga comic series Yu-Gi-Oh!, which spawned a worldwide media franchise including a trading card game, has been found dead in the sea, according to media... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-07-07 09:37:41 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #found dead #media reports #manga


‘The Crane Wife’ essay hit a nerve. A new book reminds us why.

C. J. Hauser’s memoir-in-essays is a frank exploration of intimacy and romance that doesn’t always lead to a happily ever after. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2022-07-05 13:21:38 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #crane wife #book reminds


Richard Taruskin, provocative scholar of classical music, dies at 77

He published a six-volume history of Western music and was known for his strong opinions of composers. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2022-07-03 02:00:27 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #classical music #western music #strong opinions


‘I’ve Seen Several Giants Die on My Land’

A new anthology about climate change acknowledges that we are both willing participants in and at the mercy of the systems that are destroying us. Continue reading at The Atlantic

[ The Atlantic | 2022-06-23 11:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #anthology


Hitting the Books: Summer reading list

More than a million new titles are published annually in the US, far more than even the most bibliophilic secret agent could get through. Even with a weekly publishing schedule, we can only bring you 52 Hitting the Books each year. To help shine a spotlight on all the fantastic stories that... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-06-22 17:30:23 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #john scalzi #bestselling author


Outer Sight: The Best Science Fiction Books You’ve Never Heard of

These hidden gems are all great works of imagination set near and far that you need to add to your TBR ASAP. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-06-15 10:36:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hidden gems #tbr asap #science fiction


Xbox Game Pass will soon let you stream games you’ve already bought

Microsoft has a lot of news for Xbox owners and Game Pass fans this morning. In an announcement post, the company shared its plans to expand the Xbox app directly to Samsung smart TVs, opening up the streaming platform to players in Argentina and New Zealand. There are also some new... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2022-06-09 14:47:28 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #digital library #libraries


Murdering the competition: Richard Osman thriller tops UK library loans

Stats from 2020-21 reveal that the Pointless presenter’s The Thursday Murder Club is the biggest hit in UK librariesRichard Osman’s The Thursday Murder Club was the most borrowed book from UK libraries in the year 2020-21, while the prolific bestseller James Patterson was the most borrowed... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-06-09 13:22:35 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #pointless presenter #biggest hit #uk libraries #public lending #popular genres #library users #libraries


Children's Institute 2022: Supply Chain Issues Hit Sidelines, Too

Sales of jigsaw puzzles and games remain strong sellers, along with art supplies more than two years into Covid. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-06-03 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Hit the Road with these Bookish Road Trip Essentials

Pack those books, queue up an audiobook or two, and make your summer road trip decidedly more bookish with these fun pieces!- Courtney Rodgers Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-05-30 10:31:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #audiobook


Novelist Julie Myerson on sharing her children’s secrets: ‘I’ve got in so much trouble’

She was accused of ‘betraying motherhood’ when she was revealed as the author of the Guardian’s Living With Teenagers column. Will her novel about a child with addiction issues reopen old wounds?Few writers have published and been damned with quite the ferocity Julie Myerson was back in 2009 for... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-05-21 08:00:14 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #lost child #family home #memoir