Sin Cities, Being Normal and Everything You Ever Wanted events

A busy weekend for Tonto events coming up:

Today, Friday 22 August: Sin Cities Ashley Hames author event, Clapham Books, Clapham 7.30pm.

Tomorrow, Saturday 23 August: Being Normal Stephen Shieber book signing, Borders, Silverlink, Newcastle, from 12noon.

Tomorrow, Saturday 23 August: Everything You Ever Wanted Rosalind Wyllie book signing, Borders, Team Valley, Gateshead, from 1pm.

These are Stephen and Rosalind's first ever in-store signings, so do pop along to support them, they probably won't bite.

P.S. Another quick mention for our Backing Stephen Miller for Gold! "minisite". Stephen jets of for the Paralympics on Sunday. Leave your message of support here.

Paul

Backing Stephen Miller for gold!

Obviously, here at Tonto Books we're backing Stephen Miller for gold at the Beijing Paralympics. The Paralympian author jets off on Sunday to begin his quest for a fourth consecutive Paralympic gold medal.


We've set up a special website to follow Stephen's progress and to allow visitors to post messages of support. Stephen will be following the website from Beijing. You can read a message from Stephen, get the latest news, and post your messages of support here: http://www.tontobooks.com/miller

Paul

EYEW and Being Normal launch pics

What is is with Tonto book launches and torrential rain? Two years ago another August downpour threatened to wash out the Wor Al launch, but last night's storm, with lightning flashing across the black sky and striking the construction cranes that tower over Newcastle City Centre, was something else. Thankfully the weather didn't stop well over 100 hardy souls from turning up at Northern Stage to celebrate the launch of Stephen Shieber's Being Normal and Rosalind Wyllie's Everything You Ever Wanted.

Stephen, Roz and Beccy
The event was presented by New Writing North and compered by NWN's Claire Malcolm. The evening began with music from Newcastle's own Beccy Owen. Then actors Laura Norton and Vicky Elliot read excerpts from Everything You Ever Wanted, and Laura read from Being Normal. Roz and Stephen gave quick thank you speeches, there was a raffle(!) and then Beccy returned to the stage with more music.

Stephen and Roz sign copies of their books
Both authors then signed copies of their books for a queue of people that at one point stretched right across the room. Among those in attendance were Roz's mentor Caroline Smailes, plus forthcoming Tonto authors Nik Jones and Sarah Shaw. At this point I should say that the venue's moody stage lighting meant our photos are a bit rubbish. That's my excuse anyway.

Beccy, Laura and Vicky on stage
Thanks to both Stephen and Ros, Claire and New Writing North, Beccy (visit her MySpace), Laura and Vicky. Thanks also to Jill and Caroline for helping with book sales (again!). And thanks to everyone who turned up, despite the summer weather.

That signing queue in full...
Both Everything You Ever Wanted and Being Normal are available now from all good book shops, and if you're quick you can get both for £10 from our online shop. If you'd like to get signed copies, this Saturday (23 August) Stephen will be at Borders Silverlink from 12 noon, and Rosalind will be at Borders Gateshead from 1pm.

Paul

Everything You Ever Wanted and Being Normal launch TODAY

The double-header launch event for Rosalind Wyllie's Everything You Ever Wanted and Stephen Shieber's Being Normal is today, Tuesday 19 August, at Northern Stage, Newcastle upon Tyne, from 5pm to 7pm. The event, organised by New Writing North, will feature readings from the books, a chance to get signed copies, and music from Beccy Owen. There will also be some special only-available-on-the-day book offers, so roll up, roll up. Photos will follow tomorrow.


Paul

Paralympian Miller is Borders bestseller

Another good weekend for Stephen Miller and his autobiography Paralympian. A signing session saw the book hit the number one spot in the instore chart at Borders in Gateshead, and meanwhile, across at Borders Silverlink - one of the biggest stores in the country - Paralympian sold more copies on Saturday than any other title.

Stephen Miller with Gateshead manager Ron Wilcox
All this despite some rare glorious weather, and the fact that Silverlink store's popular Starbucks was closed for refurbishment, meaning 'footfall' was much lower than usual. (And of course Stephen's weekend was topped off on Sunday with a 'moral victory' for Kevin Keegan's Newcastle United team against Manchester United!)

Stephen, Ron, and Stephen's mam Ros
Following great coverage in The Sun, on the BBC, and in scores of other places, Stephen is now preparing to jet off to Beijing next Monday, via the Team GB training camp in Macau. We'll be setting up a dedicated website that will allow you to follow Stephen's progress and send your messages of support as he chases that fourth consecutive gold medal.

Paul

Stephen Miller Paralympian signings at Borders

A quick reminder that tomorrow, Saturday 16 August, Stephen Miller will be signing copies of Paralympian: My Autobiography at Borders Team Valley, Gateshead from 12 noon, and Borders Silverlink, Newcastle from 3pm. These will be your last chance to meet Stephen and wish him luck before he jets off to Beijing.

Stephen at The Back Page book shop last Saturday
Chances are, by the time he gets back home with his fourth (and possibly fifth) gold medal he'll be far too famous to mix with the likes of you and me! You'll be able to follow his progress on the BBC, and, of course, right here on our website.

Paul

£5 off at Borders voucher

Borders are offering £5 off when you spend £25 or more in-store - print out your voucher here. The voucher is valid between 12 and 18 August 2008


Into a seamless plug - why not take your voucher with you when you go to meet Stephen Miller, who, coincidentally, will be at Borders stores in Team Valley, Gateshead (from 12 noon) and Silverlink, Newcastle (from 3pm) this Saturday 16 August, signing copies of his book Paralympian: My Autobiography.

This will be your last chance to meet Stephen and wish him luck before he jets off to Beijing in the following week.

Paul

Ashley Hames Juice 107.2 interview

Courtesy of Andrea at Brighton's Juice 107.2, here's a chance to hear her interview Ashley Hames prior to his Sin Cities book event at Brighton Borders last Friday. You can listen to it here (mp3 file, right click to save as).


According to Andrea's blog, 'The small edited excerpt he read made my face go redder than one of Ainsley Harriott's 'red tomatoes'.'

Paul

9987 Book Cover

Following on from yesterday, here is the first outing for the cover of 9987 by Nik Jones. Nik's novel will be released alongside Sarah's in the new year.



Stu

Make It Back book cover

Here's a first look at the cover of our forthcoming novel Make It Back by Sarah Shaw, which will be released on 19 January 2009. Click to view a bigger version.


Paul

Tonto Author Events and Signings

It's been a very busy time promotion-wise at Tonto Towers. All the PR is going out, the calls being made... interviews, features, signings and events being lined up all the time and a lot of media interest in the four authors we are currently working with.

Today Ashley Hames will be on Juice 107.2 in Brighton. This is a live interview where (hopefully) Ash will get a chance to shamelessly plug his Borders gig later that evening. Tune in by clicking 'listen live' at 5pm.

Today's itinerary also sees Ashley holding another author event at Borders Brighton. The gig kicks off at 6.30pm and is not a ticketer, so you can get there early to secure your first row seat. Due to the nature of the book, it is billed as an over 18s event. And very likely to end up in a bar or twenty.

Tomorrow (Sat 09) is another busy day. This time for Stephen Miller. Stephen will be holding a signing session at The Back Page, St Andrews Street, Newcastle. The Back Page is the biggest sports book store in the world, so we are pleased that they asked him along ahead of the Newcastle match. He will be signing books from 11.30am-12.30pm.

Look out for signed stock in Waterstone's Emerson Chambers in Newcastle tomorrow.

After watching his beloved Newcastle United in the afternoon, Stephen will be signing books at his local social club in Cramlington, The 'Bene' at 7.30pm.



Team Tonto: Wheatman, Miller, Brown and Hames out in Newcastle.

One for next week: Roz Wyllie and Stephen Shieber will be on BBC Radio Newcastle at 10.30am discussing their new books... officially released on that day! You can buy them here on a special offer.

That's all for now, folks!

Stu

Stephen Miller in your super soaraway Sun

Some fantastic coverage of Stephen Miller and his book Paralympian in today's edition of The Sun. The full-length piece, "Miller is the undisputed king of clubs", runs through his achievements, mentions the book and its great launch event at St James' Park, and has a quote from Kevin Keegan. Stephen is the only Paralympic athlete featured in the paper's 20-page guide to Beijing 2008. You can read it online here.

This is yet more fantastic national coverage for our key titles - in no less than the UK's bestselling newspaper. (Hint, hint retail buyers...)

Meanwhile, our friends at NUFC.com are currently running a competition to win signed copies of Paralympian, ahead of Stephen's signing on Saturday at the Back Page Shop in Newcastle. They're also displaying a very old pic of Stephen from way back in 1991...

Paul

Event planner...

We've got literally 14 upcoming events on our calendar at the moment (with more to be confirmed) including new events in Manchester and London, the Morley Literature Festival, plus Ashley Hames at the Cambridge Union (an event that he is no doubt referring to as a mass debate...).

The full list is:
8 August: Sin Cities Ashley Hames author event, Borders, Brighton, 6.30pm;
9 August: Paralympian Stephen Miller book signing, The Back Page, St Andrews St, Newcastle, 11.30am-12.30pm;
9 August: Paralympian Stephen Miller book signing, The 'Bene' Social Club, Cramlington, from 7.30pm;
16 August: Paralympian Stephen Miller book signing, Borders, Team Valley, Gateshead, 12noon-2pm;
16 August: Paralympian Stephen Miller book signing, Borders, Silverlink, Newcastle, from 3pm;
19 August: Being Normal & Everything You Ever Wanted launch event, Northern Stage, Newcastle, 5pm, free, featuring music from Beccy Owen;
23 August: Being Normal Stephen Shieber book signing, Borders, Silverlink, Newcastle, from 12noon;
23 August: Everything You Ever Wanted Rosalind Wyllie book signing, Borders, Team Valley, Gateshead, from 1pm;
5 September: Jonny Kennedy Roger Stutter author event, Gosforth Library, Newcastle, 2pm, free;
6 September: Being Normal Stephen Shieber book signing, Borders, Manchester Fort, from 12noon;
4 October: Everything You Ever Wanted Rosalind Wyllie book signing, Borders, Brent Cross, London, from 1pm;
18 October: Being Normal & Everything You Ever Wanted Rosalind Wyllie & Stephen Shieber author event, Morley Literature Festival, West Yorkshire, 1.30pm, free;
21 November: Everything You Ever Wanted Rosalind Wyllie book signing, Borders, London Colney, London, from 12.30pm;
24 November: Sin Cities Ashley Hames author event, Cambridge University Union Society, Cambridge, time TBA.

New events will be added to the blog and the main website as they are confirmed.

Paul

Miller wins again...

Stephen Miller's book Paralympian: My Autobiography is today the #1 athletics book on Amazon, outselling the likes of Paula Radcliffe, Colin Jackson and Kelly Holmes.


Stephen will be signing copies of the book this Saturday 9th August between 11.30am and 12.30pm at The Back Page book shop, St Andrews Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, ahead of Newcastle United's game with Valencia. For fans who are not able to get along on Saturday, The Back Page will reserve signed copies, and they also have a mail order service. For further information please call the shop on 0191 261 5005.

PS. Thanks to Ashleigh for her sterling work here at Tonto over the last couple of weeks - including commandeering the blog!

Paul

Behind the Scenes at Tonto Books

Ok I was a bit presumptuous yesterday, and today is actually my final blog, we will call it my encore!


So today I'm going to show you behind the scenes at Tonto, with a few photos. Firstly, this is me hard at work writing the blog, previous to my blog writing today, I have been using my skills of persuasion in book selling and setting up book signings for Rosalind's Everything You Ever Wanted and Ashley Hames' Sin Cities in the London area, lets hope I pulled it off. I have also been looking through the final draft of Nik Jones' book 9987 which makes for a very dark and interesting read.


Secondly we have a photo of the Tonto boys Stu and Paul, hard at work setting up book signings for their authors, working so hard they only had a few seconds to pose for this photo before burying their heads back in the books!

We have also been following up Stephen Miller's radio interview on REM radio which also went really well. They are backing him as their number one for the Beijing Paralympics and so should everyone else! I know I'll be tuning in come September.

So this definitely is my last blog for Tonto, as I have said before I have had an amazing experience here and have learnt many things that I will take away with me, and I'm very grateful to Paul and Stu for letting me come and work with them.

Maybe I will see some of you at the forthcoming book launches!

Ashleigh