Dick Franciss New
Book to Be Published
By G.P. Putnams
NEW YORK/NY/4/4/06Dick Francis, the New York Times bestselling, award-winning author, has written his first novel in six years, Under Orders. Ivan Held, President of G. P. Putnams Sons, long-time publisher of Dick Francis, acquired U.S. rights to the book from Sterling Lord of Sterling Lord Literistic. This new novel will be edited in the U.S. by Christine Pepe, Vice President, Executive Editor, G. P. Putnams Sons, and will feature Sid Halley, the former champion jockey turned super-sleuth beloved by long-time Dick Francis readers everywhere. Putnam is publishing Under Orders in hardcover in the U.S. on September 5, 2006, with Michael Joseph, an imprint of Penguin Group (UK), simultaneously publishing the book in hardcover in the U.K. Penguin Group (USA)s Berkley Books will publish Under Orders in paperback in the U.S. the following year.
Mr. Held, President of G. P. Putnams Sons, commented, Speaking for everyone here at Putnam, I am thrilled that Dick Francis has returned from his hiatus and delivered such an exceptional new work. This is truly a publishing event. His enduring legacy as one of the worlds most talented and revered mystery writers will be further enriched with the arrival of his latest book, which Putnam is very pleased to be publishing this fall.
Dick Francis said, I am delighted that, after a six year break, my family has talked me back into the literary saddle. I have great pleasure in presenting my thirty-ninth novel, Under Orders.
Penguin UK General Managing Director Tom Weldon, who acquired U.K. rights to Under Orders from literary agent Andrew Hewson, comments, A new novel from Dick Francis is the happiest news possible. Michael Joseph feels incredibly proud to be working again with one of the greats of our business.
Mr. Francis is world renowned for writing brilliant thrillers set against a horseracing background. G. P. Putnams Sons has previously published 22 novels by Dick Francis, all of which were New York Times bestsellers, including his most recent novel, Shattered, as well as Come to Grief, 10 lb. Penalty, Wild Horses and Longshot.
Mr. Francis’ books have been bestsellers in a number of countries, and have been translated into more than 30 languages, including all European languages, Japanese, Korean, Taiwanese, Bantu, and several dialects of Chinese. Each of his novels has also been recorded on audio in both Britain and the United States.
Made an Officer of the most Noble Order of the British Empire in 1984, Mr. Francis was awarded the British Crime Writers Association Silver Dagger in 1965, Gold Dagger in 1980 and Cartier Diamond Dagger for his lifes work in 1990. The recipient of three Edgar Allen Poe Awards for Best Novel from the Mystery Writers of America, most recently for 1995’s Come to Grief, Mr. Francis is the only author to have been awarded the prestigious award more than once. The Mystery Writers of America named Mr. Francis Grand Master for his life’s work in 1996, and he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Tufts University in 1991.
More About Dick Francis
Dick Francis was born in Lawrenny, South Wales in 1920. He served in the Royal Air Force for six years during World War II, piloting fighter and bomber aircraft including the Spitfire and Lancaster between 1943 and 1946.
Following the war, Francis, the son of a jockey, became a celebrity in the world of British National Hunt racing. He won more than 350 races, was Champion Jockey in 1953/54, and was retained as jockey to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother for four seasons, 1953 through 1957. Francis rode eight times in the world famous Grand National Steeplechase, and nearly won in 1956 when his horse, the Queen Mother’s Devon Loch, a few strides away from victory with a clear field, suddenly collapsed. This incident, which Francis calls “both the high point and low point of my career as a jockey,” was the impetus for him to begin a second career as a writer. Shortly after the incident, a literary agent approached Francis about writing an autobiography.
In 1957, Francis suffered another serious fall and was advised to retire from race riding. He completed his autobiography, The Sport of Queens, which was published later that year, and accepted an invitation to write six features for the London Sunday Express. He stayed on as the newspaper’s racing correspondent for 16 years.
Sports writing soon led to fiction writing, which in turn led to a string of bestselling novels. Reflex, his first novel for G. P. Putnams Sons, was published in 1981, followed by Twice Shy (1982), Banker (1983) and virtually one book a year until his 38th novel, Shattered, was published in by G.P. Putnam’s Sons in 2000. In addition to his novels and autobiography, Francis has also published a biography of Lester Piggott, A Jockey’s Life, and eight short stories. He has edited (with John Welcome) four collections of racing stories, and has contributed to anthologies and periodicals.
Penguin Group (USA) Inc. is the U.S. member of the internationally renowned Penguin Group. Penguin Group (USA) is one of the leading U.S. adult and children’s trade book publishers, owning a wide range of imprints and trademarks, including Berkley Books, Dutton, Frederick Warne, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, Grosset & Dunlap, New American Library, Penguin Books, The Penguin Press, Philomel, Plume, Puffin, Riverhead Books and Viking, among others. The Penguin Group ( http://www.penguin.com) is part of Pearson plc, the international media company.
