British author Michelle Paver wrote her novel Wolf Brother in 1982 and it sat on a shelf for years. So she rewrote it as a children’s book, and sold the publishing rights internationally for a $US 5 million advance – the highest ever paid for a debut British children’s book. “The book, which went on sale on Thursday, generated record-breaking interest in publishing houses around the world.”
Tag: 09.03.04
Vettriano Auction Nets £2.5 Million
Artist Jack Vettriano might not get respect from critics, but his work gets a big vote of priase on the auction floor. “An auction of 40 paintings by Jack Vettriano, a self-taught artist snubbed by national collections, has raised £2.5m at Sotheby’s in Scotland. The highest sum paid was £330,400 for Mad Dogs – painted in 1991 when he was selling work for a few hundred pounds.”
The Celebrity Gramophones
This year’s Gramophone Awards are being served with celebrities. “The editor of Gramophone says using celebrities as champions for its awards shortlist would raise the profile of the recordings, and help put classical music back in the spotlight: We hope that this year’s celebrity initiative will rekindle an interest in classical music and the great musicians who have dedicated their lives to it.”