I simply can’t contain myself any longer. I have – what is for me, and I hope for you – really exciting news.
In January of this year I rattled off a very cheeky email to the lovely people at Bello books – suggesting that they might like to consider adding Mary Hocking to the list of writers in their already extensive catalogue of quality print on demand and e-books. In time I forgot I had ever sent the email at all. Since then of course I have continued to blather on about Mary Hocking and In June we had a really successful Mary Hocking reading week. I have discovered over the last couple of years that there are indeed other people who appreciate Mary’s work. It has been so lovely to share my enthusiasm.
Then several days ago I received a reply to that email – telling me that Bello have acquired the rights to publish twenty-four of Mary Hocking’s novels. The email assures me that the impetus to reissue her books was inspired by my tweets and enthusiasm – yes I really did go on a bit I know. Now of course, I am very glad that I did. Bello has even allowed me to make the announcement here on my blog – which is so lovely of them.
So next year Bello will be publishing two batches of twelve books each – currently planned for February and July – although this of course could change. Bello obviously needs copies of Mary Hocking books to scan, and although I don’t have them all yet I have promised to help. In the next couple of weeks I shall be boxing up all my Hocking books to be collected by courier and delivered to Bello on loan – it’s actually nice to know I am helping, and I’m sure I can spare them for a while. In fact all this talk of Mary Hocking has made me take one off the shelf to read before the great boxing up begins.
So roll on next year – I really hope lots of you will get behind Bello and indeed Mary Hocking herself – and order some of the titles they will be making available.
Mary Hocking titles acquired by Bello:
Good Daughters
Indifferent Heroes
Welcome Strangers
The Winter City
Visitors to the Crescent
The Sparrow
The Young Spaniard
Ask No Question
Time of War
Checkmate
The Hopeful Traveller
The Climbing Frame
Family Circle
Daniel Come to Judgement
The Bright Day
The Mind Has Mountains
Look, Stranger
He Who Plays the King
March House
An Irrelevant Woman
A Particular Place
Letters from Constance
The Very Dead of Winter
The Meeting Place
I like to think that Mary Hocking would have been rather chuffed that people are still reading her books. Bello books have quite simply put a huge smile on my face this week.
Oh wow, Ali… that is truly amazing! Well done you… and a splendid antidote to anyone who doubts the use of passionate book bloggers like yourself. Must certainly soften the blow of returning to work after your summer break. Xx
Ha yes. I am delighted thank you.
What wonderful news Ali! Just fabulous and you deserve all the credit for championing her work so much – so glad you were able to announce the news here. I think very highly of Bello as they keep the work of one of my favourites Andrew Garve in print, and it just shows if you make enough noise and support authors you believe in, things like this can happen. Brilliant a news and well done!!!
Thanks Karen. Bello are brilliant.
Well done! That’s great news.
It is.
That’s great news.
I am delighted.
Wow, what a difference one person can make. Congratulations!
Well it’s not down to just me at all other bloggers and readers have certainly helped to drive the enthusiasm.
Congratulations! That’s a great achievement. Publishers like Bello have brought so many great authors back into print in recent years. If only we had time to read them all…
I know! So many writers in the Bello catalogue that I want to explore.
Brillliant news! Such a wonderful thing to dod 🙂
Yes so pleased that Bello are doing this.
I feel i have helped somewhat.
Oh you certainly have! I started The Climbing Frame last night.
Feel free to name check me when you review it.
So BELLO will be selling ebooks of Hocking for a pound or two?Sure beats paying £35 for a copy of THE HOPEFUL TRAVELLER etc
Yes 😊 it does!
We must find more forgotten female authors.Thing is they all seem to be in print–or do they?
I am sure there must be others. Margery Sharp springs to mind.
How wonderful. And thank goodness that Mary Hocking must have left her business affairs in good order, and that her literary executors, whoever they may be, were ready to work with Bello.
Yes I suppose she must have done. Maybe because she died relatively recently it was a bit easier.
Goodness, what a triumph! I think it is wonderful that on-demand publishing can be put to use for reviving some of these much-loved but out-of-print authors. And kudos to Bello for listening to readers; I look forward to seeing what else they pick up. (Margery Sharp, anyone?)
Yes agree about Margery Sharp.
Oh Well done to all involved!
Yes i think it was a joint effort by many people over a long period of time.Well done to all bloggers and their readers.
Yes Beth it was. Lots of bloggers and readers have joined me in sharing their enthusiasm and that’s been so brilliant.
Lots of people have been involved sharing their enthusiasm which has been brilliant.
What a story! It’s one for any book blogger to think about when frustrated at the lack of availability and/or acclaim for an author. Your tale is especially applicable to authors whose work lacks translations. Well done on influencing this re-publication.
Thank you but the biggest thanks go to Bello.
So exciting… well done!!
Thank you 😊
Why doesn’t Bello “go for” Margery Sharp?
Maybe they will one day 😊
I know, from a reputable and reliable source, that a certain publisher has the rights to many of Margery Sharp’s books, but is disinclined to publish. So all we can do live in hope and carry on celebrating her work – there will be another Margery Sharp Day on her 111th birthday next January.
What a shame, definitely want to read more of her books.
Way to go, Ali! You should be very proud of yourself. Thanks!
Thanks but it’s not just me at all, lots of people have contributed.
That’s fantastic. Good for you. BTW, what is the title of the book w/Mona Lisa on the front? Just curious.
That’s The Mind has Mountains – not sure of the significance of any as it’s one I haven’t read yet.
Thanks
So exciting! I’m sorry to have missed the June Week, but please consider organizing something similar when the books come out!
Yes, that would be a good idea – I might do just that. 🙂
This is awesome! You should be proud xx
Thank you Meg, I am pleased, because I think Mary Hocking would have been delighted to have her books still read.
Well done – that’s a real achievement.
Oh thank you, it’s funny I don’t feel I have done anything more than go on a bit.
How exciting! And how wonderful of Bello Books to read and investigate your suggestion. Will you have another Mary Hocking reading event to celebrate?
I think I might but haven’t decided when as yet.
How wonderful! That’s fantastic news, Ali. Well done – you must be thrilled!
Thanks Jacqui, yes very happy that other people will get to discover MH and that those books which can be so hard to find are going to be more available.
Thank goodness you had a collection of MH books to lend, it could have been a very different outcome if a publisher had to source them themselves. A noble effort on your part to the benefit of all readers.
Yes I think so.
It is great news for those with a KINDLE.Not so much if you have not got one.
Well there will be print on demand copies available too.
Oh, Ali, what exciting news! Well done you 🙂
Thanks Simon.
Did your project GUARD YOUR DAUGHTERS ever make a comeback?
It is well done to all involved.
Back in the seventies when Woman’s Hour did more than interview pop singers and actors they used to have a serials that were read rather than acted and one they did was a Mary Hocking. I can’t now remember which one, although I think it was ‘The Climbing Frame’, which set me on my forty-year love affair with her … first I borrowed library books and then I started to collect them; and yet, in all that time I’ve done nothing as positive as you’ve done in less than two years in getting Mary Hocking back in print (and whatever the e equivalent is called. Thank-you and congratulations.
PS I know Woman’s Hour isn’t just interviews with self-promoting bimbos, but to listen to the good stuff you have to listen to the rubbish as well and I think I’m better off reading a good book.
Thanks again, Jane
It’s lovely that you have read and enjoyed Mary Hocking for so long.
I have mentioned Auberon Waugh’s scathingre of THE CLIMBING FRAME.It can be read online in the SPECTATOR.He did not have a good word to say about it.I agree with Jane and suggest she listens to the great RADIO FOUR EXTRA which i have never seen any blogger mention.
Jane–have you listened to RADIO 4 EXTRA?
The have good drama,occasionally from years ago.Rosemary Leach was in a 90minute drama recently playing an overly keen governess moulding a pupil.From 1977 called MOONSHINE–9days left to listen on the iplayer.
What an amazing story Ali. You should feel really chuffed that your enthusiasm has restored this author to our attention.
Thank you. I am pleased that other people may discover her too now.
[…] The blog post – exciting news from Ali about Bello and Mary […]
I am SO impressed!! fantastic!
Thank you.
I hope heavenali you don’t mind me using your blog to reply to other commenters, if not here goes: yes, thank you, I listen to radio 4 extra all the time, it’s just that the old Woman’s Hour serial introduced me to so many good authors. But you’re right I should be grateful to the BBC for putting out so much good fiction and drama, and thank heavens for iplayer.
Oh my goodness, that is wonderful! Very good work, Ali! Here’s where the internet makes a difference in publishing. Any time a writer is brought back into print it matters. I have enjoyed the Hocking I’ve read and didn’t realize she had written so much. Now if you can just persuade them to sell their e-books in the U.S.!
Oh I know! That will be difficult – I know they are dearer but print on demand copies will be available from UK (then I suppose postage is an issue). 😐
Oh my! What a brilliant outcome, Ali. Well done! I’ve been a fan of Mary Hocking for years & recently reread The Very Dead of Winter.
Oh great another Mary Hocking fan! 😊
Wow Ali, what a result! The power of a Brummie blogger eh?
Oh it’s not just down to me, though I am so pleased because I feel Mary herself would love for people to be still reading her books- and selfishly because I shall be able to access the few I haven’t been able to get yet much more easily.
I’m late to the party here because of being away, but a massive WELL DONE – we all told you you were doing a good thing by working away at raising awareness, and look what’s happened now! Very proud of you for achieving this, and well done to Bello Books, of course, for taking up the challenge. Let’s all make sure we buy at least a couple – I know I will!
Thanks Liz I hope people will buy them.
[…] of you will remember that a few months ago I was able to share what for me was some very exciting news about Mary Hocking’s books and how me banging on about her had seemed to pay off. I know lots of people joined in with the […]