Meet the new Young Bond Girl in SHOOT TO KILL

The official Young Bond website has revealed the new Young Bond Girl from Steve Cole's Shoot To Kill. Boudicca "Boody" Pryce will be joining young James in action in Hollywood in the novel due for release in the UK on November 6 .

Boody is a 16-year-old pupil at Dartington Hall – beautiful, clever and go-getting, with a particular interest in machines and engineering. Her analytical mind is balanced by a perceptive, sensitive nature.

‘I’ve seen you about, new boy. You stay quiet. Keep in the background. But you’re always watching. It’s as if ... you’re expecting trouble.’ Old habits die hard, thought James, with a pang of unease at her scrutiny.

Boudicca Pryce joins a sisterhood of colorfully named Young Bond Girls that have included: Wilder Lawless, Any Goodenough, Kelly Kelly, Precious Stone, and Roan Power.

Pre-order Shoot To Kill from Amazon.co.uk.

Kev Walker shows us Young Bond in SHOOT TO KILL

This new Kev Walker illustration of Young Bond from Shoot To Kill has been posted to the official Young Bond website and Facebook page. It's the first character image from the book and the first new Kev Walker Young Bond illustration since 2009. Young Bond is looking very James Bond, isn't he?

In Shoot To Kill, Steve Cole picks up where Charlie Higson left off and sends Young Bond into action in Hollywood, CA. The book is set for release in the UK on November 6, 2014.

Pre-order Shoot To Kill from Amazon.co.uk.

Q&A with Young Bond author STEVE COLE

Here's a brief Q&A with Steve Cole about his upcoming Young Bond novel, Shoot To Kill. This comes from The Bookseller by way of Steve's blog.

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In Shoot To Kill, Steve Cole picks up where Charlie Higson left off and sends James Bond to Hollywood on his first trip to the United States. The book is set for release in the UK on November 6, 2014.

Pre-order Shoot To Kill from Amazon.co.uk.

Steve Cole shows his SHOOT TO KILL

New Young Bond author Steve Cole has posted a photo on his blog of his just arrived copy of Shoot To Kill. Says Steve, "Well, at last – one year on from when it was announced I was writing the new Young Bond books, a finished copy has arrived. I think it looks amazing. So pleased!"

One thing that jumps out at me is that this hardcover from Random House Children's appears to be the size of the recent adult James Bond continuation novels rather than the past Charlie Higson Young Bond hardcovers.

In Shoot To Kill, James Bond heads to Hollywood on his first trip to the United States. The book is set for release in the UK on November 6, 2014. There is no news yet of a U.S. publisher.

Pre-order Shoot To Kill from Amazon.co.uk.

JAMES BOND RETURNS TO COMICS IN 2015

And the good news just keeps on coming! Today it's announce that Ian Fleming Publications has teamed with Dynimite Comics to produce a new series of James Bond graphic novels and comics in 2015. The new books will chronicle James Bond's early career in the Secret Service. Here's the full press release:

DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT SIGNS LICENSING AGREEMENT

WITH IAN FLEMING PUBLICATIONS LTD.

PLANS TO BRING BRITISH ICON JAMES BOND 007 TO COMIC BOOKS, GRAPHIC NOVELS, AND DIGITAL COMICS IN 2015

October 7th, 2014, Mt. Laurel, NJ: Dynamite Entertainment, a leading publisher of English language comic books and graphic novels, is proud to announce their partnership with Ian Fleming Publications Ltd., (IFPL) the company that owns and administers the literary copyright of Ian Fleming’s published works, including his fourteen James Bond books.

Under their agreement, negotiated by Jonny Geller of Curtis Brown, Dynamite has been granted worldwide rights to publish comic books, digital comics and graphic novels starring 007, Fleming’s iconic secret agent will re-live the exploits that have thrilled and captivated fans for over half a century in fresh visual adaptations of the classic Bond stories.

Moreover, Dynamite plans to create a series of brand new adventures unveiling the defining – and largely undocumented – early years of Bond’s career. These new stories will draw inspiration from the Fleming canon to explore Bond’s ‘origins’: his raw early years before he gambled with his life in the first novel, Casino Royale (1953). Some other familiar faces from the expansive 007 mythos will also make appearances in this series - criminal masterminds, hired henchmen, glamorous Bond Girls and secret service allies – alongside all-new characters.

Corinne Turner, Managing Director of Ian Fleming Publications said “It’s over sixty years since the publication of Casino Royale, and now more than ever it’s an exciting time to be a Bond fan. We’re thrilled that 007 will be revisiting the world of comics, as Fleming’s novels have a long and successful history in this medium, ever since they began to be published as newspaper comic strips in the late fifties. Dynamite are the perfect partners to take on the challenge of continuing this legacy, and we are very much looking forward to working with them.”

“In the journey of discovering new readers for Ian Fleming’s classic Bond stories, we are delighted to be partnering with Dynamite in exploring different ways to broaden the audience. Visually and literally, James Bond will have a new face.” states Jonny Geller, Joint CEO Curtis Brown.

“Ian Fleming’s James Bond is one the best-known characters in the world, yet we know very little of his background and beginnings. The Bond villains are some of the most memorable figures in Popular culture…where did they come from? And in some cases, where did they go?" states Editor Mike Lake.

"James Bond is one of the greatest cultural icons in the world. His author and creator, Ian Fleming, was not only in touch with popular culture in his time, but also saw ahead of his time, and his written work will outlive us all," says Nick Barrucci, CEO and Publisher of Dynamite Entertainment. "The character, the structure, and the source material is so incredibly strong. The original prose storytelling serves as the basis for one of the most successful film franchises ever, a franchise that reinvents itself to be in tune with each generation. By doing so, it allows the character to be an ever-progressive pop culture phenomenon, one that energizes existing fans and engages new fans, thus helping to ensure that Bond's relevance and importance will live on forever. The high-octane action, the charm, the unquestionable allure of this man of action - it all stems from Ian Fleming. We are excited to build upon Fleming's source material with new canonical stories, and are honored at Dynamite to be a small part of his legacy, to be able to bring new stories to fans around the world."

Ian Fleming’s World War II service as assistant to the Director of Naval Intelligence in London granted him a wealth of experience in the world of espionage, on which he drew when writing his novels. Fleming published fourteen James Bond titles and lived to witness their enormous success in print and on film. His cultural legacy has thrived for over fifty years, as millions of readers worldwide continue to discover and enjoy his work.

Dynamite plans to launch its first James Bond comic books in 2015, soliciting periodical issues in Diamond Comic Distributors' Previews catalog, the premiere source of merchandise for the comic book specialty market. Digital and print editions will be available simultaneously through such platforms as Comixology, Dynamite Digital, iVerse, and Dark Horse Digital. Original graphic novels and collections will be released through the comic book specialty market, digital platforms, and numerous book market channels including Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and more.

You can read an overview of James Bond's illustrated history HERE.

One month until YOUNG BOND returns

We are now just one month away from publication of Steve Cole's first Young Bond novel, Shoot To Kill. This marks the first new Young Bond adventure since Charlie Higson's 2009 By Royal Command.

Says Steve: "It feels quite strange that after keeping this book a secret for so long, in November it will finally be available for all! Of course, it’s already available for pre-order from your favourite book provider if you want to be one of the first to grab it. You won’t BELIEVE how cool the endpapers are…"

In Shoot To Kill, James Bond heads to Hollywood on his first trip to the United States. The book will be released in hardcover in the UK by Random House Children's on November 6. There is no news yet of a U.S. publisher.

Pre-order Shoot To Kill from Amazon.co.uk.

New Bond novel not called MURDER ON WHEELS (if that wasn't obvious)

Even though it is abundantly clear in the press release, new Bond author Anthony Horowitz has taken to Twitter to assure Bond fans that his new Bond novel is not called "Murder on Wheels." This is the title of Fleming source material that Horowitz had unique access to, and is a chapter title.

The title of my James Bond book is not "Murder on Wheels". (Just had to get that off my chest). It's the title of one chapter.
— Anthony Horowitz (@AnthonyHorowitz) October 2, 2014

At the moment, Anthony Horowitz's new Bond is going under the codename "Project One." It's due for release September 8, 2015.

ANTHONY HOROWITZ TO WRITE NEW JAMES BOND NOVEL!

Ian Fleming Publications have just announced the next adult James Bond continuation novel will be written by Anthony Horowitz. Here's the full press release which just landed in my email:

ANTHONY HOROWITZ TO PEN NEW JAMES BOND NOVEL INSPIRED BY ORIGINAL UNSEEN FLEMING MATERIAL

Ian Fleming Publications Ltd., The Ian Fleming Estate, the Orion Publishing Group, and HarperCollins US and Canada are delighted to announce that international bestselling and award-winning writer Anthony Horowitz is at work on an official new James Bond novel. Currently dubbed Project One, the novel is due for worldwide release on 8th September 2015.

The new book by Horowitz – a lifelong fan of Ian Fleming – will be set in the 1950s and will be unique among the modern James Bond novels, in that a section will contain previously unseen material written by Fleming to which Horowitz has had exclusive access.

Jessie Grimond, great-niece of Ian Fleming, said: “In the 1950s Ian Fleming wrote several episode treatments for a James Bond television series. But it never came to be made and he ended up turning most of the plots into the short stories that are now in the collections For Your Eyes Only and Octopussy and The Living Daylights. However, there are a few plot outlines which he never used and which, till now, have never been published, or aired. Given that Anthony is as brilliant a screenwriter as he is a novelist, we thought it would be exciting to see what he would do with one of them.”

The treatment chosen by Horowitz, which will serve as a starting point for his novel, is entitled Murder on Wheels, and follows Bond on a mission into the world of motor racing. Familiar characters in the TV treatment include ‘M’ and Miss Moneypenny.

One of the country’s most prolific and successful writers, Horowitz has over 40 books to his name. His recent Sherlock Holmes novel, The House of Silk, sold in more than 35 countries, whilst his bestselling teen spy series, Alex Rider, has sold more than 19 million copies worldwide. As a TV screenwriter he created both Midsomer Murdersand the BAFTA-winning Foyle’s War.

Horowitz said: "It's no secret that Ian Fleming's extraordinary character has had a profound influence on my life, so when the estate approached me to write a new James Bond novel how could I possibly refuse? It's a huge challenge – more difficult even than Sherlock Holmes in some ways – but having original, unpublished material by Fleming has been an inspiration. This is a book I had to write."

Lucy Fleming, niece of Ian Fleming, said: “We are thrilled that Anthony has taken on the Bond mantle, and can’t wait to read his novel. Anthony is a brilliant writer, as his millions of fans around the world demonstrate. He has an exceptional skill for writing spy thrillers in particular, and it is this coupled with the original Fleming material and his knowledge of and enthusiasm for Bond, which makes for a really exciting proposition.”

Malcolm Edwards, Deputy CEO and Group Publisher, Orion Publishing Group, said: “James Bond and Anthony Horowitz is a match made in publishing heaven. Anthony is a writer of exceptional skill and I have no doubt he will deliver a book that will resonate and delight Bond fans around the globe. For our part, we will publish the book in a way that celebrates the legacy of literary Bond and mount a campaign that will make publication day one of the biggest publishing events of 2015.”

Jonathan Burnham, Senior Vice President and Publisher, HarperCollins US, said: “HarperCollins is thrilled to be publishing the new James Bond novel in the United States and Canada. Anthony Horowitz is an author of exceptional skill and range – his Sherlock Holmes novel, House of Silk, displayed his amazing ability to reanimate fictional characters to create a new and powerful narrative. The combination of this talent, his inventiveness and brilliance as a novelist, and his access to hitherto unpublished Fleming material, makes this a uniquely exciting event for all James Bond fans.”

The book will be published by Orion Publishing Group in the UK, and by HarperCollins in the United States. The book rights were sold in the English language by Jonny Geller of Curtis Brown, on behalf of Ian Fleming Publications Ltd and The Ian Fleming Estate. International rights will be offered at the forthcoming Frankfurt Book Fair on October 6.

Further announcements about the project will follow in 2015.

I thought Horowitz's recent official Sherlock Holmes novel, The House of Silk, was brilliant, so I'm very excited about this choice. And James Bond in the world of auto racing... Yes please!

JAMES BOND BENCH on the block, October 7

The James Bond BookBench is going to be auctioned at London's Southbank Centre on Monday October 7th along with the 50 other specialty BookBench sculptures that rolled out across London in summer. All the proceeds will go to the National Literacy Trust.

Tickets can be bought from the Southbank Centre box office. You can also register to bid online. Full details are available at the Books About Town website.

IAN FLEMING audiobooks released in U.S. and Canada

The complete set of original Ian Fleming James Bond audiobooks -- which had been released in the UK by AudioGo -- are now available from Blackstone in North America as both CDs and digital downloads.

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Narrated by notable British actors, including Bill Nighy, Rosamund Pike, Tom Hiddleston and Sir Kenneth Branagh, this series of unabridged recordings was over three years in the making, and includes bonus interviews with each of the artists involved.

The cover designs are adapted from the 2012 Thomas & Mercer editions of the original novels.

You can purchase the audiobooks now at Amazon.com.

Thanks to Ian Fleming Publications.