October 2022 Media Bites Catalogue_

www.harpercollins.com.au

Media Releases

View Online Catalogues bit.ly/HCPCatalogues

bit.ly/HCPPressRoom

MEDIA BITES

HarperCollinsAustralia HarperCollinsAu HarperCollinsAustralia

HarperCollinsChildrensBooksAustralia HarperKidsOz HarperKidsAu

HarlequinAustralia HarlequinAus HarlequinAus

To request a review copy, please click this link

Nathan Lyon N I C E GARY !

Tricia Stringer Tricia Stringer is the award-winning and bestselling author of multiple books including Birds of a Feather , The Family Inheritance, Table for Eight and The Model Wife . Tricia grew up on a farm in country South Australia and has spent most of her life in rural communities. She now lives in the beautiful Copper Coast region, often exploring Australia’s diverse communities and landscapes, and shares this passion for the country and its people through her stories. K E E P I NG UP APPE ARANC E S

Nathan Lyon is an international cricketer who showed remarkable talent at a very young age and played his junior cricket in country NSW and the ACT. Nathan’s international cricket potential was noticed in 2011 while he was combining his two passions of cricket and being a greenkeeper at Adelaide Oval. Since then, it has been a whirlwind rise to the top. Bowled Over and In a Spin are his first children’s book collaborations.

OCTOBER 2 022 – F ICT ION

Keeping Up Appearances TR I C I A S TR I NGE R As tensions simmer in a small country town, three women are going to need more than CWA sausage rolls and can-do community spirit to put things right. From a bestselling Australian author comes a delightful novel full of practical wisdom and dry humour that examines female friendship, buried secrets and why honesty is (usually) the best policy. Privacy is hard to maintain in Badara, the kind of small Australian country town where everyone knows everyone else’s business. So discovers single mum Paige when she and her three children arrive from the city seeking

Next In Line J E F F R E Y ARCH E R The unputdownable new thriller from the master storyteller London, 1988. Royal fever sweeps the nation as Britain falls in love with the ‘people’s princess’. Which means for Scotland Yard, the focus is on the elite Royalty Protection Command, and its commanding officer. Entrusted with protecting the most famous family on earth, they quite simply have to be the best. A weak link could spell disaster. Detective Chief Inspector William Warwick and his Scotland Yard squad are sent in to investigate

the team. Maverick ex-undercover operative Ross Hogan is charged with a very sensitive – and unique – responsibility. But it soon becomes clear the problems in Royalty Protection are just the beginning. A renegade organization has the security of the country – and the Crown – in its sights. The only question is which target is next in line? Released: 05/10/22 CHB | 400pp jeffreyarcher.com

refuge. Paige’s only respite from child care and loneliness is the Tuesday gym club, where she had feared the judgement of the town matriarchs, but she is met only with generosity and a plethora of baked goods. Besides, both the brusque Marion and her polished sister-in-law Briony are too busy dealing with their own dramas to examine hers. Well-to-do farmer’s wife and proud mother Briony is in full denial of her family’s troubles. Even with her eldest daughter’s marriage in ruins and her son Blake’s recent bombshell. Suddenly Briony and husband Vince have a full house again - and the piles of laundry aren’t the only dirty linen that’s about to be aired. For Marion, the unearthing of a time capsule - its contents to be read at the Celebrate Badara weekend - is a disaster. She was only a teenager when she wrote down those poisonous words, but that doesn’t mean she won’t lose friends and family if they hear what she really thinks of them - especially as the letter reveals their darkest secrets to the world. When the truth comes out for Badara, keeping up appearances may no longer be an option for anyone ... Released: 05/10/22 TPB | 464pp AU $32.99 NZ $35.00 Imprint: HQ Fiction triciastringer.com.au

AU $39.99 NZ $45.00 Imprint: HarperCollins

F ICT ION

One Woman’s War CHR I S T I N E WE L L S From the author of Sisters of the Resistance comes the story of WWII British Naval Intelligence officer Victoire Bennett, the real-life inspiration for the James Bond character Miss Moneypenny, whose international covert operation is put in jeopardy when a volatile socialite and Austrian double agent threatens to expose the mission to German High Command. World War II London: When Victoire ‘Paddy’ Bennett first walks into the Admiralty’s Room 39, home to the Intelligence Division, all the bright and lively young woman expects is a secretarial position to the charismatic

A Mother’s Heart CARME L HARR I NGTON How far would you go to protect your family? Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand: While Rachel Butler likes her life in a pretty Dublin coastal village, her heart lies in Hawke’s Bay, where she grew up. Visiting for the first time since tragedy tore her family apart, she and her stepchildren fall for its beauty and outdoor lifestyle. Malahide, Ireland: As Rachel picks up the threads of her life as a single parent, she can’t shake off the memories of her loving family in New Zealand –

and her dream house, the villa on the bay. But it’s time to move forwards with their life in Ireland, close to the children’s grandparents, amid the familiar surroundings they all know well. Until the children’s grandmother, still grieving, starts to interfere, questioning Rachel’s position as stepmother. Until Rachel’s attempts to strengthen the family she loves so dearly backfires, pitting everyone against each other. And until her late husband’s parents mend the rift that has existed as long as she’s been married – bringing with them an explosive secret . . . Released: 05/10/22 TPB | 480pp

Commander Ian Fleming. But soon her job is so much more, and when Fleming proposes a daring plot to deceive the Germans about Allied invasion plans, he requests the newlywed Paddy’s help. She jumps at the chance to work as an agent in the field, even after the operation begins to affect her marriage. But could doing her duty for King and country come at too great a cost? Socialite Friedl Stöttinger is a beautiful Austrian double agent determined to survive in wartime England, which means working for MI-5, investigating fifth column activity among the British elite at parties and nightclubs. But Friedl has a secret – some years before, she agreed to work for German Intelligence and spy on the British. When her handler at MI-5 proposes that she work with Serbian agent Duško Popov, Friedl falls hopelessly in love with the dashing spy. And when her intelligence work becomes fraught with danger, she must choose whether to remain loyal to the British and risk torture and execution by the Nazis or betray thousands of men to their deaths. Soon, the lives of these two extraordinarily brave women will collide, as each travels down a road of deception and danger leading to one of the greatest battles of World War II. Released: 05/10/22 TPB | 384pp christine-wells.com

AU $32.99 NZ $34.99 Imprint: HarperCollins

AU $32.99 NZ $35.00 Imprint: HarperCollins

F ICT ION

J E NNY ASHCROF T Echoes Of Love

Under the Cretan sun, in the summer of 1936, two young people fall in love… Eleni has been coming to Crete her entire life, swapping her English home for cherished sun-baked summers with her grandfather in his idyllic shoreside villa. When she arrives in 1936, she believes the long, hot weeks ahead will be no different to so many that have gone before. But someone else is visiting the island that year too: a young German man called Otto. And so begins a summer of innocence lost, and love discovered; one that is finite, but not the end. When, in 1941, the island falls to a Nazi invasion, Eleni and Otto meet there once more. But this time Eleni has returned to fight for her home, and Otto to occupy it. They are enemies, and their love is not only treacherous, but also dangerous. But will it destroy them, or prove strong enough to overcome the ravages of war? An epic tale of secrets, love, loyalty, family and how far you’d go to keep those you love safe, The Echoes of Love is an exquisite and deeply moving love letter to Crete – one that will move every reader to tears.

jennyashcroft.com

Released: 05/10/22 TPB | 464pp AU $32.99 NZ $32.99 Imprint: HQ Fiction

The Book Eaters SUNY I D E AN

A gorgeous fantasy horror – a book about stories and fairy tales with family and love at its dark heart … Perfect for fans of Neil Gaiman ( Stardust, Coraline ), Susanna Clarke ( Piranesi ) and Let the Right One In Hidden across England and Scotland live six old Book Eater families. The last of their lines, they exist on the fringes of society and subsist on a diet of stories and legends. Children are rare and their numbers have dwindled, so when Devon Fairweather’s second child is born a dreaded Mind Eater – a perversion of her own kind, who consumes not stories but the minds and souls of humans – she flees before he can be turned into a weapon for the family … or worse. Living among humans and finding prey for her son, Devon seeks a cure for his hunger. But time is running out – for her family want her back, and with every soul her son consumes he loses a little more of himself … This is a story of escape, a savage mother’s devotion and a queer love that will electrify readers looking for something beguiling, thrilling, strange and new.

sunyidean.com

Released: 05/10/22 TPB | 304pp AU $32.99 NZ $35.00 Imprint: Voyager

F ICT ION

The Book Haters Book Club GR E TCH E N ANTHONY All it takes is the right book to turn a Book Hater into a Book Lover...

That was what Elliott – the beloved co-owner of the Over the Rainbow Bookshop – believed before his untimely passing. He always had the perfect book suggestion for the self-proclaimed ‘book hater.’ Now, his grief-ridden business partner, Irma, has agreed to sell the cozy Over the Rainbow to condo developers. But others won’t give up the bookshop without a fight. When Irma breaks the news to her daughters, Bree and Laney, and Elliott’s romantic partner, Thom, they are aghast. Over the Rainbow has been Bree and Laney’s sanctuary since childhood, and Thom would do anything to preserve Elliott’s legacy. Together they conspire to save the bookshop, even if it takes some snooping, gossip and minor sabotage. Filled with humor, family hijinks and actual reading recommendations, The Book Haters’ Book Club is the ideal feel-good read. It’s a love letter to everyday heroes – those booksellers and librarians dedicated to putting the right books in the right hands every day.

gretchenanthony.com

Released: 05/10/22 TPB | 352pp AU $32.99 NZ $34.99 Imprint: HQ Fiction

Would You Rather A L L I SON ASH L E Y

The Witches of Moonshyne Manor A coven of modern-day witches. A magical heist gone wrong. A looming threat Funny, tender and uplifting, this novel explores the formidable power that can be discovered in aging, found family and unlikely friendships. Marais’s clever prose offers as much laughter as insight, delving deeply into feminism, identity and power dynamics while stirring up intrigue and drama. Released: 05/10/22 TPB | 374pp AU $29.99 NZ $32.99 Imprint: HQ Fiction B I ANCA MAR A I S

Would you rather play it safe in the friend zone, or risk it all with a modern marriage of convenience? ‘A pitch-perfect mix of all the best romance tropes, Would You Rather is what happens when friends to lovers, fake-dating, and mutual pining are elevated to perfection. Allison Ashley gives me all the feels, and I love every one of them!” - Ali Hazelwood, New York Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis .

Released: 05/10/22 BPB | 374pp AU $19.99 NZ $19.99 Imprint: HQ Fiction authorallisonashley

biancamarais.com

F ICT ION

A Merry Little Meet Cute J U L I E MU RPHY & S I E RR A S I MON E When Bee Hobbes takes the lead in a squeaky-clean romantic Christmas movie, there are only three rules: 1. Don’t get involved with anyone on set 2. Don’t tell anyone what you do for a living 3. Definitely don’t get involved with anyone on set 3b. Seriously Now, she’s filming in Christmas Notch, a small town with Christmas trees and festive tunes all year round. But Bee’s got a secret identity to hide, and it’s not family-friendly. And her co-star, Nolan Shaw, an ex-boyband member infamous for his own x-rated antics, not only knows it, but is secretly her biggest fan. When things start to heat up on set, Bee and Nolan must keep this steamy affair under wraps, or risk ruining everything . . . Released: 05/10/22 BPB | 432pp AU $22.99 NZ $25 Imprint: HarperCollins imjuliemurphy.com thesierrasimone.com Blitz DAN I E L O’MA L L E Y From the wild imagination of Daniel O’Malley comes the next thrilling novel set in the world of the bestselling The Rook (now a TV series) After a woman discovers she has supernatural powers, a string of murders is committed by someone using those same powers. As she goes on the run, she discovers the roots of the mystery lie in the events of London’s Blitz in WWII.

Released: 05/10/22 TPB | 496pp AU $32.99 NZ $35.00 Imprint: HarperCollins rookfiles.com

F ICT ION

OCTOBER 2 022 – NON - F ICT ION -

It’s Always Spritz O’Clock Somewhere Classic cocktail recipes from where you’d rather be A bellini in Buenos Aires. A mimosa in Barcelona. It’s always spritz o’clock somewhere, right? This companion guide will take you on a journey to some of the world’s dreamiest locations – places made even more perfect when paired with a spritz. Whether you’re a new convert or a die-hard spritz fan from way back, take inspiration from these recipes and inject some fizzy magic into your life. Go on, get your spritz on.

Life in Lashes: The Story of a Drag Superstar K I TA ME AN The hilarious tell-all memoir by the first winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under Hailing from a sleepy eastern suburb of Auckland, Nick Nash grew up feeling like he stood out for all the wrong reasons. It wasn’t until he experimented with the art of drag that he found freedom in his fierce and confident alter-ego, Kita Mean. From wild nights partying like there was no tomorrow, to scrounging together delightfully camp costumes on a shoestring budget, buying an iconic cabaret bar with bestie Anita Wigl’it, and competing on the global stage alongside Kiwi and Aussie drag legends in the first

Released: 05/10/22 NSH | 96pp AU $19.99 NZ $22.99 Imprint: Harper By Design

season of RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under , Kita shares behind-the-scenes goss and important life lessons – many learned the hard way – about fighting your demons and being proud of your most authentic self. Bursting with outrageous style and cheek, Life in Lashes is a memoir of a lost boy who found salvation as a drag queen, learned to love herself, and went on to share her fabulousness with the world. Released: 05/10/22 TPB | 288pp kitamean.com

AU $34.99 NZ $39.99 Imprint: HarperCollins

NON - F ICT ION

OCTOBER 2 022 – CHI LDREN’ S & YA Nice Garry! NATHAN LYON & M I CHA E L WAGN E R , I L LUS TR AT E D BY DAV E WI L L I AMS Inspired by the talent and passion Australian Test cricketing great Nathan Lyon has for the game, this is the story of an ordinary kid with an extraordinary gift.

The Christmas Bum Book K AT E MAY E S , I L LUS TR AT E D BY ANDR EW JOYN E R

This is a book for anyone who has a bum or anyone who likes Christmas or anyone who has a bum AND likes Christmas! It’s a celebration of Santa’s bum and Rudolph’s bum and tinsel, twinkle and turkey bums. From bestselling pair Kate Mayes and Andrew Joyner comes The Christmas Bum Book , a book you’ll want to deck the halls with - fa, la, la, la, la bum!

Bowled Over (Nice Garry #1) ‘Nice one, Garry!’

Ten-year-old Garry Keenan is about to discover he has a special cricketing ability, which is a dream come true, right? Well, it is, except that sometimes being first rate comes with all sorts of new challenges ...

Released: 05/10/22 NSH | 32pp AU $19.99 NZ $21.99 Imprint: HarperCollins

Released: 05/10/22 BPB | 192 pp AU $14.99 NZ $16.99 Imprint: HarperCollins

Have a Merry Christmas with your favourite friends from Play School . The toys are on their way to Jemima’s caravan park to spend the holidays together. Join them for classic Play School fun as they bring to life the joy of an Australian Christmas. With illustrations by bestselling artist Jedda Robaard, A Very Play School Christmas is a picture book to treasure this holiday season. A Very Play School Christmas JAN S TR AD L I NG, I L LUS TR AT E D BYJ E NNA ROBA ARD

In a Spin (Nice Garry #2) ‘Watch out, Garry!’

Garry Keenan is the most exciting new cricketer to play for the Youngstown under-16s in years. But can a talented ten-year-old off-spinner help his team take on the most feared XI in the competition?

Released: 05/10/22 NSH | 24pp AU $19.99 NZ $21.99 Imprint: ABC

Released: 05/10/22 BPB | 192 pp AU $14.99 NZ $16.99 Imprint: HarperCollins

CH I LDR EN ’ S

Spaceboy DAV I D WA L L I AMS

The Last Kids on Earth and the Forbidden Forest MA X BR A L L I E R , I L LUS TR AT E D BY DOUGL AS HOLGAT E ‘Terrifyingly fun! Max Brallier’s The Last Kids on Earth delivers big thrills and even bigger laughs.’ Jeff Kinney, author of Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Wimpy Kid meets The Walking Dead in this hilarious series packed with monsters and zombies. The highly-anticipated eighth book in the #1 New York Times , Wall Street Journal , and USA Today bestselling series, with over 10 million copies in print! Picking up after Quint and Dirk’s Hero Quest , the ‘Last Kids’ are happily reunited, but quickly faced with a monstrous new mission. Inside an other-dimensional fortress, the evil Thrull, alongside a vile new villain, is carrying out a sinister plan. Jack, Quint, June and Dirk must make their own plans to infiltrate the stronghold before Thrull gets any closer to completing the mysterious Tower, a structure that could ultimately spell doom for this dimension.

They had come here expecting to find a runaway orphan, but I would show them a goddess. America. The 1960s. Stuck on a remote farm with her awful aunt, twelve-year-old orphan Ruth spends every night gazing at the stars, dreaming of adventure. One night she spots a flying saucer blazing across the sky, before crash-landing in a field. When the spaceship opens and reveals a mysterious alien, all Ruth,s dreams come true. But does this visitor from another planet have a giant secret? Spaceboy is a hilarious and action-packed tale for readers in any solar system. A father takes his two children on a thrilling out-of-this-world adventure into space and invites them to look back at Earth and the conflicts that have taken place since the beginning of time. This becomes a brief history of the world and a whistle-stop guide to the universe, all rolled into one - and told with Oliver Jeffers’ inimitable perspective, wit and exquisite artwork. Meanwhile Back on Earth gives a unique look at like life on Earth with a cosmic perspective - and an enduring message that what binds us together matters more than what sets us apart. A timely story for families everywhere. Meanwhile, Back on Earth OL I V E R J E F F E RS worldofwalliams.co.uk

Released: 05/10/22 BPB | 368pp AU $22.99 NZ $24.99 Imprint: HarperCollins

Released: 05/10/22 NSP | 368pp AU $14.99 NZ $16.99 Imprint: HarperCollins

Released: 05/10/22 NSH | 64 pp AU $27.99 NZ $29.99 Imprint: HarperCollins

CH I LDR EN ’ S