The Faithless Flies in the Charts!
July 2022
Martina Cole is flying high this week with her reissue of the No.1 Sunday Times Bestseller, The Faithless!
Reaching the darkest corners of family life, The Faithless by the 'undisputed queen of crime writing' (Guardian) is an unputdownable novel about a deadly ambition that trumps family loyalty...
With family, there's a dangerous line between love and hate...
Pick up your copy now!
Incredible Reign for the Queen of Crime
December 2019
Queen of Crime, Martina Cole, racks up another week near the top of the UK Charts with No Mercy.
'Martina Cole’s latest novel is a chilling tale of ruthlessness and loyalty as one family fights to keep their place at the top.’
With sales building for Christmas, now's the perfect opportunity to get your copy.
No Mercy
October 2019
No more waiting – the undisputed queen of crime is back with her 25th outstanding novel.
Another crime family epic – in this business, you must show no mercy, not even to your own flesh and blood.
More no. 1 bestsellers than any other author.
‘She’s a total one-off‘ Guardian.
25th Anniversary Edition for Martina Cole
November 2018
The Ladykiller, the Queen of Crime's 2nd novel, is out ina special edition hardback for the first time ever today.
Peter James, in the introduction, proclaims Martina Cole as a genius.
She has spent more weeks in the No 1 Original Fiction Spot than any other adult fiction novelist.
The Ladykiller is the first in the DI Kate Burrows Series and is just as gripping 25 years on.
Magnificent Martina Marks 26 Years With a Marvellous No 1
July 2018
Martina Cole's Damaged has gone to the No 1 spot on both the Sunday Times Paperback Bestseller List and the UK Offical Top 50. Her sales this week have increased by 45%.
This is Martina's 12th UK Official Top 50 No 1 and the 17th Mass Market fiction No 1!
Sensational.
Damaged Out in Paperback Today!
June 2018
Martina Cole's Sunday Times Bestseller Damaged is out today in paperback!
'With the return of some of her best-loved characters and lashings of her usual grit, Cole fans will lap this up' Heat
Martina was on Desert Island Discs Sunday 24 June, but don't worry if you missed it, it's on iTunes, BBC iPlayer and there's a repeat tomorrow 29 June at 9.00
25th Anniversary of Dangerous Lady
November 2017
The 25th Anniversary Paperback Edition of Martina Cole's iconic Dangerous Lady is out today.
Dangerous Lady was the first novel in the Queen of Crime's stunning career. She has gone on to have 16 No 1's in hardback and paperback since then!
She really is a phenomenon.
Martina Shines on Graham Norton
November 2017
The Queen of Crime, Martina Cole, was interviewed on Graham Norton's Radio 2 programme on Saturday.
As always Martina gave a funny and insightful interview. In case you missed it you can listen to the wonderful intereview at the link below (it starts at 2hrs 32):
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09dw9p6
Her novel Damaged, the 4th novel in the gripping DCI Kate Burrows series, is out now and has been doing exceptionally well.
25 Years At The Top
July 2017
Betrayal, in paperback, is not only No.1 on the paperback chart but emphatically No.1 across all UK bestseller lists.
This is an amazing and unique achievement for Martina Cole, the Queen of Crime, in this 25th anniversary year of her debut Dangerous Lady.
Betrayal is Martina’s 15th mass market fiction No.1. Throughout her magnificent career so far Martina has achieved 62 weeks as Original Fiction queen.
“She is a total one-off”.
Year of Martina off to a flying start
January 2017
The 25th Anniversary Year for Martina Cole's Dangerous Lady is off to an incredible start. The Queen of Crime was awarded the Nielsen and Specsavers Honorary Platinum Award for 9 million sales of her novels including Dangerous Lady, The Take and Betrayal.
2017 marks 25 years of record-breaking bestsellers from Martina. Her 23rd novel, Betrayal, went straight to No.1 last year, making it her 15th No.1 in 16 years.
She is unmatched in her success and shows no signs of stopping.
Get Yours!
June 2016
Get Even by the Queen of Crime, Martina Cole, is out in paperback today.
This is Martina's 22nd bestselling book and definitely one that her fans have been eagerly awaiting.
Martina Dominates The Sofa on The Paul O'Grady Show
May 2015
Martina Cole joined TV host, Paul O'Grady, on his show on 14th May to discuss the paperback release of her most recent novel, The Good Life.
The Good Life Goes Back To No.4
November 2014
The Good Life by Martina Cole has shot back up the Bookscan bestseller list to No.4, after 6 weeks in the top 10, 2 of those weeks at No.1.
Congratulations, Martina!
Only Two Authors Have Hit The Original Fiction No.1 Spot 2 Weeks Running - And Both Are Darley Anderson Authors!
October 2014
Martina Cole's The Good Life and Lee Child's Personal are the only two authors this year to hold the pole position in the Original Fiction chart for two weeks in a row.
Congratulations, Martina and Lee!
Congratulations on being the agent of both, Darley!
Martina Cole's The Good Life is out now!
October 2014
The Good Life by the No.1 bestselling Queen of Crime Martina Cole is out in hardback now!
Our Writers Mean Business
May 2014
Revenge was the biggest selling book this week in the UK.
Martina Cole's Revenge is No. 1 in this week's UK bestseller list in all categories knocking the 3 week No. 1 bestseller Minecraft off it's top spot.
The Bookseller says that 'Cole's sales leapt week on week, up 67%, securing a seventh overall number one for an author who has been worth over £57.2 million to booksellers since Dangerous Lady was published in 1992.'
Also on this weeks official top 50 bestseller chart is Never Go Back, at No. 10, Jane Costello's Time of our Lives at No. 46, Lee Child again with Gone Tomorrow at No. 48 and Annie Murray's Meet Me Under The Clock at No. 50.
Revenge is out in Paperback Now!
April 2014
The No.1 Hardback bestseller Revenge is out now in paperback from the inimitable Queen of Crime - Martina Cole.
Rio Reads Revenge!
November 2013
Martina Cole's legion of fans includes the English football team. Rio Ferdinand was thrilled to receive his copy of Martina Cole's latest book, Revenge. Out in bookstores now!
Martina Cole's Sales Growth of Over 40%!
October 2013
Queen of Crime - Martina Cole's Revenge has shot up to No. 2 in this week's UK hardback bestseller list in just a half week of sales.
The thrillingly compulsive Revenge has seen Martina increase her sales by over 40% from last year's sales of The Life.
With sales of close to 20,000 physical copies in just 3 days and 13,000 eBook sales in 3 days Martina looks set to smash all sales records once again.
Martina Cole - Proud to be the new Six Book Challenge Ambassador
September 2013
Martina Cole will lead the way in 2014 to encourage people to take part in the Six Books Challenge which aims to improve literacy skills for adults. The No.1 bestselling queen of crime drama will champion the cause, close to her heart, by meeting participants at events throughout the UK.
Martina says: "I really wanted to become an ambassador for The Reading Agency because reading is such a big part of my life. The wonderful thing about the Six Book Challenge is that people who don't normally read, or who think that reading isn't their bag, are encouraged to pick up a book."
Martina’s latest book, The Life, went to No.1 in both hardback and paperback. Her new book, Revenge, is out on 24th October 2013.
Two Number Ones, Two Records
June 2013
Two records have been broken at the Darley Anderson Agency.
Lee Child's A Wanted Man has become the biggest selling paperback in any week this year so far – by a long shot. 34,160 copies sold this week, putting it emphatically at No.1; the No.2 spot this week sold 17,585 copies.
And, as announced in The Bookseller, The Life marks the 5th time Martina Cole has topped the UK mass-market fiction chart in the past 5 years. Congratulations Martina!
The Life is out in paperback today!
May 2013
Martina Cole's No.1 hardback bestseller The Life, the most authentic novel of gangster family life ever written, is out in paperback today.
Congratulations Martina!
The Life By Martina Cole Is Out Now!
September 2012
No. 1 bestseller Martina Cole's latest exceptional novel The Life, is out now in hardback.
The most authentic novel of gangster family life ever written
by top author Martina Cole has already had rave reviews.
Closer magazine gave it 5 stars and said: 'We always get excited when a Martina Cole novel drops on our desks, and she continues to maintain her reputation as one of the best fiction authors around with this gritty and unforgettable story of a family immersed in a world of violence and revenge. Spectacular.'
Martina's fans have been out in force, queuing in cities all around the country for signed copies of the undisputed Queen of Crime's latest book The Life. Even the X Factor's Tulisa raved about her idol Martina Cole on ITV's Daybreak and Martina delighted her fans further by doing interviews with BBC Breakfast News and with Jenni Murray for Woman's Hour. 
A giant 3 metre high version of The Life took over Liverpool Street station last week. Passers by were amazed to see the huge book in the middle of the station which could be brought to life with augmented reality using a specially created app!
Promotions staff
were on hand with iPads to encourage the public to interact with the model, with the incentive of winning their name in the next Martina Cole novel!
With week 2 of her tour about to commence in Newcastle and then move to Scotland and more coverage still to come in the Mail on Sunday Travel, Sunday Express, Waitrose Weekend, Good Housekeeping and My Weekly, plus her greatly anticipated launch party, it's all go for the UK's no. 1 hardback fiction selling author!
Queen Of Crime's The Faithless Out In Paperback Now
May 2012
Britain's most successful female crime novelist, our marvellous Martina Cole, has her No 1 book The Faithless released in paperback.
Our pheonomenal No 1 bestselling author Martina Cole has just released her latest powerfully addictive, haunting and unforgettable story, The Faithless, in paperback.
To the outside world, Cynthia Tailor is a woman to envy: she has a devoted husband, a lovely home and two gorgeous children. But Cynthia has always craved the best things in life, and is determined to see that she gets them. Cynthia will let nothing stand in her way, even if it means devastation and tragedy for those nearest to her
50 Million Congratulations
November 2011
Martina Cole has become the first British female adult-audience novelist to surpass the 50 million sales mark since Neilson Bookscan records began.
Martinas 18th Novel and the UKs current hardback No. 1, The Faithless, achieved Martinas highest ever sales in its first partial week, pushing her sales over the 50m mark.
There are only 15 other authors who are in the 50m club and out of these only two of them are British: Martina Cole and Terry Pratchett.
Some Statistics:
If you were to stack every single copy of Martinas books sold into a single pile, it would reach 183 miles into the air. And, laid end-to-end, the gritty bestsellers would stretch for 902 miles.
Criminally Good Sales
October 2011
Martina Cole has had her best ever first week of sales!
The Faithless has been flying off the shelves and after only three days Martina had sold well over 30,000 copies of her latest hardback.
The Faithless, Martinas 18th novel, marks the 20 year Anniversary of the No.1 bestselling team: Martina Cole, Darley Anderson, and Headline. On Wednesday 19th October a party was held at the Haymarket Hotel to celebrate the publication of The Faithless and 20 years of a superb partnership.
Along with TV and magazine ads, Headline have been promoting The Faithless by casting projections across central London bearing the eye catching slogan: THOU SHALT NOT GRASS.
Full of twists and turns, grit and grime this is a Martina Cole classic and a must have for all the Queen of Crimes fans.
Martina Cole with her Editor Jane Morpeth
The A Team: Martina Cole, Jane Morpeth, Darley Anderson and Tim Hely Hutchinson (CEO of Hachette UK)
Darley Anderson with Lavinia Warner (CEO of production company Warner Sisters)
The Faithless lighting up the Haymarket Hotel swimming pool
Rights Manager Clare Wallace (left) chatting with Financial Controller Rosanna Bellingham (right) and Rights Assistant Mary Darby (far right)
Best Seller Opening
March 2011
Bestselling author Martina Cole has celebrated the opening of her new book shop in Karakum, Northern Cyprus.
Martina has named her shop 'Best Seller' and has stocked it with all the top titles.
Martina has some brilliant plans in store for her new shop to keep her customers entertained. Some of her ideas include bringing 'big name' authors over for book signings, organising evening events, children's book clubs and story time sessions.
***Bestseller*** Emphatically the nations favourite
January 2011
The Family by Martina Cole is emphatically the No.1 selling fiction hardback title for 2010.
Martina’s 17th powerful and gritty novel was head and shoulders above the rest when it rocketed into the top spot after it’s publication on 14th of October 2010.
The title spent a magnificent 8 weeks at No.1 smashing all the Hardback Fiction Bestseller records for 2010.
It has been a fantastic year. The Family has been the only hardback title to break the barrier of 150,000 sales, and therefore the only hb title to exceed 200,000 sales.
With these superb sales not only is The Family No.1 Hardback Fiction Title of 2010, but is also No.1 on the Top 20 Original Fiction list.
The Sunday Times printed the ‘bestsellers of the year list’ on 26th December 2010 from information provided by Neilson BookScan. Other titles that made the list behind Martina included Sophie Kinsella’s Mini Shopaholic and Jump by Jilly Cooper.
***bestseller*** Emphatically No.1
October 2010
The Family was emphatically
No.1 for the second consecutive week.
Martina Cole's latest book sold 17,000 more copies than that of the Man Booker Prize winner, Howard Jacobson who was No.2 in the Hardback Bestseller list. With a week of huge sales, The Family was No.1 fiction title (hardback and paperback).
With Martina at No.1, Darley Anderson's authors have held the Bestselling Hardback lists No.1 position for four successive weeks.
A Gripping Tale
August 2010
The Martina Cole's bestseller The Take, adapted by Screenwriter Neil Biswas into a four-part serial drama is being re-aired.
The Take is showing on Sky One and stars Tom Hardy (Bronson, Stuart A Life Backwards) as Freddie Jackson. The first episode was aired on Sunday 15th August, and will continue to be shown on the following three Sundays at 10pm.
"Thanks to Tom Hardys superb performance as Freddie, this cocktail of violence, seedy sex and menace makes a gripping tale." Radio Times
The Take was my era I wanted to capture that. The times changed then the family dynamics changed. Every now and then I like to go back and take people back to another era and show them how something began. Martina Cole
Martina's A Killing Success On Itv
February 2010
Martina Cole’s Ladykillers, which was first aired on ITV3 last year is the first ITV3 programme EVER to be transferred to ITV1.
It will go out on ITV1 every Tuesday night from 10.30pm for 6 weeks. Ladykillers has been shortlisted for the Royal Television Society awards History Category. All this is perfect timing for Hard Girls paperback publication on 15th April.
***bestseller*** A Hard Girl To Beat
November 2009
In
her fourth week Martina kept on breaking records. Through this week we saw sales
of 23,942 hardbacks - another breakthrough record.
She's a hard girl to beat.
Hard Girls was The Sunday Times No.1 for hardback fiction with sales of 30,547 copies
in its first week. The second time she'd toppled Dan Brown from the top spot with enormous sales.
Martina Cole has reached the top position of the Bookseller Original
Fiction Charts every year since 2001.
It seems the only records Martina can beat these days are her own!
Londonlite review:" Die hard Martina Cole fans will not be
disappointed with her latest novel, Hard Girls. It
has all the tough, gritty and addictive components that are synonymous
with her East End-set, bestselling books.
From loveable gangster rogues to heart-warming, likeable prostitutes,
to odious bent police and, of course, some kick-ass strong women you
wouldn't want to mess with, this crime thriller has them in spades.
Straying slightly from her usual dodgy, wheeler-dealer skulduggery,
Hard Girls follows a criminal investigation into the
impossibly graphic, gruesome and disturbing killings of local prostitutes.
Cole geek's will be pleased to welcome back popular character DCI Kate
Burrows. Anyone who enjoyed the author's 1993 novel The Ladykiller
will be familiar with the hard-but-fair "filth", who also
liked to brush (romantically) with the wrong side of the law. Kate is
back to help the equally tough and dedicated leading detective, Annie
Carr, track down the killer.Of course, if Kate's back then surely the
smoother-than-silk but smolderingly dangerous Patrick Kelly is too?
Yes (thanks, Cole), and although Pat's officially "gone straight"
and retired as a gangland boss, squeaky clean he ain't. Sure enough,
after discovering that he's somehow up to his neck in dead brasses,
love doesn't run smoothly for the unlikely pair.
With enough dodgy characters and iffy situations to arouse suspicion
everywhere, the meticulous and methodical killer is frustratingly impossible
to catch.
However, Kate is still at the top of her game and, with her trusted
team, she works to bring justice to the streets.
Packed full of suspense and twists, Hard Girls keeps
you questioning "whodunit" right to the end.
The entertaining characters and straight-down-the-line dialogue that
helped catapult Cole's previous 15 books, make it impossible to put
down. It delivers everything fans would expect, with as much brute force,
stomach churning detail and tough talk as you could hope for. And if
you are new to her books, it will no doubt have you running to the library
to catch up."
Martina Cole's The Take Out This Month
June 2009
Adapted from the best-selling novel MARTINA COLES THE TAKE is a gripping drama about love, power, jealousy and betrayal.
THE TAKE will be broadcast as four hour-long episodes on Sky 1, with the first two scheduled for 17th June, with the third on 24th and the fourth on 1st July.
After the mind blowing preview, Darley said, "This is going to redefine contemporary drama." Headline is planning a serious promotion together with Sky's lucrative advertising.
Martina Coles shows others No Mercy
June 2020
No more waiting – the undisputed queen of crime is back in PB with her 25th outstanding novel.
Another crime family epic – in this business, you must show no mercy, not even to your own flesh and blood.
More no. 1 bestsellers than any other author.
‘She’s a total one-off‘ Guardian.
Martina Shows Other Authors No Mercy
October 2019
The Queen of Crime, Martina Cole, rules supreme.
After 3 days her new hardback goes to Number 1.
This is her biggest part week sales since 2012.
No mercy is now her 16th original bestseller.
A truly awesome achievement. Nobody does it better.
Martina Cole at Capital Crime
October 2019
Martina Cole’s much anticipated appearance at Capital Crime was the highlight of the event, with the Queen of Crime drawing the largest audience there.
Martina delighted the crowd with anecdotes of prisons, lifers and cons – familiar themes to fans of her books – and her views on working class writers breaking through.
You can also catch up with Martina’s interview on BBC R4 Saturday Live on BBC Sounds now: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0008x98
Marvellous Martina
July 2018
Martina Cole is in the Top 5 for the 3rd week running since paperback publication of Damaged.
Sales of Damaged are higher than the same week for her last paperback, Betrayal.
26 years and still at the top.
The Phenomenal Martina Cole: 26 Years and Still at the Top
July 2018
Her new paperback Damaged was releaed on 28 June and after just three days "The Queen of Crime" is just a few hundred copies shy of the No 1 spot on the Bookscan Bestseller List.
Martina Receives Honorary Doctorate from Cork
June 2018
Martina Cole received an Honorary Doctor of Literature from Cork University Cork.
This is a wonderful recognition for Martina. She has sold over 10 million copies and has 15 UK original No.1 titles.
"She's a total one-off".
Damaged Climbs Higher
November 2017
The Queen of Crime surged back into the Top Ten on the UK Bestseller Charts this week after 9 weeks in the list.
Her 24th novel Damaged is incrediby gripping and will keep you guessing until the shocking end.
The Queen of Crime Returns
September 2017
Martina Cole's explosive new thiller Damaged is out in hardback today.
Damaged sees the return of iconic heroine DCI Kate Burrows.
Martina is the UK's best selling female crime writer and Damaged is her 24th book.
Betrayal out in Paperback Today
June 2017
Betrayal by bestselling author Martina Cole is out in paperback today.
Betrayal was No.1 on the Sunday Times Hardback list last year.
Betrayal is another Huge Success for Martina
January 2017
As Martina approaches the 25th anniversary of her smash hit debut novel, Dangerous Lady, she continues to notch up sales growth with Betrayal.
A Sunday Times No 1 Bestseller and currently one of the top 3 bestselling original fiction titles leading into the Christmas period.
The Queen of Crime reigns supreme.
No.2 for Martina Cole
June 2015
In its first full week with sales of 36,000 copies so far, Martina has once again proved herself to be the Queen of Crime as The Good Life hits the No.2 spot on the UK paperback bestsellers list!
Criminally Good
May 2015
After spending almost 5 months in the Hardback Bestsellers list Martina Cole's No.1 bestseller The Good Life looks set for another stay in the lists, this time in paperback. The Good Life is out now!!
A Legends of Industry Award for Martina Cole
November 2014
Martina Cole has received a Variety Legends of Industry Award. The annual event honours and celebrates those who have achieved outstanding success in their chosen fields of business, sport and industry. The evening raises important funds to enable Variety to support sick, disabled and disadvantaged children.
The black tie event was held at The Hilton in Manchester and Martina was joined by a host of other celebrities including Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean.
Congratulations, Martina!
Recipients with their awards
Martina and her award
12 Hardback No.1's for Martina Cole
October 2014
Martina Cole's The Good Life has hit the No.1 hardback spot on the bestseller list with sales of over 13,000 copies in just a few days.
She has spent more time at No.1 in original fiction than any author. Congratulations, Martina!
Martina On Tour
May 2014
Martina Cole visited fans at Tesco Watford as part of her role as ambassador for the Six Book Challenge.
She met with union learning representatives to celebrate the success of the scheme which aims at getting everyone reading.
She says "I really wanted to become an ambassador for The Reading Agency because reading is such a big part of my life. The wonderful thing about the Six Book Challenge is that people who don't normally read, or who think that reading isn't their bag, are encouraged to pick up a book. When you read a book you have to picture it all in your own mind. No one tells you what you're seeing or what you should be feeling. That's the secret of reading – it's such a personal thing."
Crime Queen Cole is No.1 Again
May 2014
Martina Cole is No.1 for a second week with 22,000 copies sold in this week alone. The multi-million bestsller who dares to tell it like it really is has done it again!
Martina Cole Champions Reading On The High Seas
February 2014
Megaseller Martina Cole popped in to Marine Society's new library as Ambassador of The Reading Agency Six Book Challenge! She hopes to encourage seafarers across the world to pick up a book.
“My love of books is all down to my merchant seaman father,” says Martina Cole. “I remember when I was a small child him bringing home from his travels a cardboard theatre, and when I opened the faux crimson velvet curtains, hidden away behind them were the smallest books I had ever seen. The stories were all Aesop fables and fairy tales and I was absolutely entranced. As I got older, the subject matter progressed and I remember pouncing on his bag as soon as he was back from a trip to devour the latest bestseller – Harold Robbins was an eye-opener!”
Martina Cole
Martina Cole and David Kendall pack books for the Marine Society
Megaseller Martina
November 2013
An interesting fact from The Bookseller:
£75,720 –the amount spent on the novels of Martina Cole every week in the UK, on average, in the 21st Century!
Our authors mean business!
Crime Does Pay
October 2013
It has been a fantastic week for the authors of the Darley Anderson Agency – proving that crime does pay!
The launch of Martina’s latest gangster thriller, Revenge, released on the 24th of October in hardback - was marked with a star studded event held at The Café Royal on Regents Street.
Darley Anderson, Martina Cole and Tim Hely Hutchinson
Martina Cole is one of only two authors being inducted into the Crime Thriller of Fame this year (alongside Wilbur Smith) at the ITV and Crime Writer’s Association televised ‘Dagger’ award show.
ITV have been running a six week show – The Crime Thriller Club – which Martina has been a part of, which will end in a spectacularly glamorous award ceremony at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel, to be shown on TV on Sunday at 9pm on ITV 3, presented by Bradley Walsh.
The Awards are one of the highlights of the literary calendar and celebrate all crime and thriller fiction from film, TV and books.
And fellow Darley Anderson authors Lee Child and Tim Weaver will be in attendance, with Lee presenting The Specsavers Crime Thriller Club Best Read award.
This week Tim has shot back up the bestseller list with his bestselling Richard and Judy book club thriller Never Coming Back coming in at No. 8 in its eighth week!
Martina Cole is one of just three authors to stay in the Hardback Bestseller Chart for 8 Weeks!
July 2013
Over the past 10 years, Martina Cole's The Know is one of only 3 books to have stayed in the No.1 spot on the UK's hardback bestseller list for 8 consecutive weeks. Congratulations to our record-breaking author!
Crime Queen Reigns Supreme
May 2013
Martina Cole has topped the book charts once again, seeing off all competition to reach No.1 on the UK bestseller paperback chart. Congratulations Martina!
Martina's The Life has already sold over 40,000 paperback copies in just a week and a half with sales of more than 3,000 copies between her position and the No.2 spot!
Dangerous Lady Takes To The Stage
October 2012
Stratford East theatre has adapted Martina Cole's first novel Dangerous Lady for the stage.
Fans have gone out in droves to watch the latest adaptation of Martina Cole's first bestselling ground-breaking novel which marked the start of her career as an author twenty years ago.
"Patrick Priors faithful adaptation offers as much of a rollicking good time as the page-turner" Lauren Paxman, The Stage
"its another juicy chunk of soap-opera theatre, all big events and even bigger emotions" The Evening Standard
Dangerous Lady is showing until November 17th
www.stratfordeast.com
Number 1 Again For Martina Cole
September 2012
Martina Cole's The Life is still number 1 on the hardback fiction bestseller list!!!
After selling 21,000 copies in her first three days alone, she has now sold another 16,000 copies this week!
The Life also debuted at no. 1 in the Original Fiction bestseller list, her 10th Original Fiction no. 1.
Since Martina's bestseller Maura's Game reached the top of the Original Fiction list in 2003, Martina has spent exactly a year at the top of the Original Fiction chart!!!
The Supreme Queen Of Crime
December 2011
Yet again Martina Cole sees off all competition to get the Christmas Hardback No.1 slot.
The likes of Steven King, Patricia Cornwell, Terry Pratchett and P.D. James fell by the wayside as Martina remained firm in her position.
The Faithless has set a new record, achieving No.1 five times this year in Hardback Fiction. The Faithless also gained Martina a personal record with her highest ever first weeks sales in Hardback.
Martina reigns supreme as the Queen of crime fiction and Britains most successful female crime novelist.
According to the Belfast Telegraph Martina's are The most borrowed books in prison libraries and the most stolen from shops!!
World Book Night
October 2011
Martina Coles novel The Take has been chosen as one of the titles for World Book Night.
World Book Night celebrates and shares the love of books and reading. On this second annual event there will be a gigantic 1,000,000 book giveaway across the UK, consisting of 40,000 copies of each of the 25 carefully chosen titles.
Alongside Martina, Jane Austen, Roald Dahl, Charles Dickens, Sophie Kinsella and Bill Bryson have also had their books chosen.
Runaway Success
April 2011
The first episode in the six part series of Martina Cole's The Runaway was aired on Thursday the 31st of March, on Sky1 at 9pm.
The series got off to a superb start. Here is what Martina had to say to Sky...
Were you pleased with the way The Take was filmed, and received?
Honestly, you couldn't ask for better. The way they did it was just terrific, and Tom Hardy was a brilliant new find as Freddie.
Sky 1 do great drama, I have to say.
Some of the other channels don't do that much original drama any more.
I'm sorry, I've got a first edition of Jane Austen in my library, but I'm sick to death of watching period dramas.
What do you think of the way The Runaway has been filmed?
It's got a great cast, it's fantastic.
I think Keith looks brilliant as Danny. I've known him for a long time, there was a big crowd of us years ago who used to knock about together.
I've always wanted him to play one of my characters because I think he's a great actor.
I did tell them I would love him to play Danny Dixon because I think he plays a great bad boy.
The look, and the way he talks, was just perfect.
When I write the books, I can hear the characters. People don't think that of authors, but I can see and hear the people in front of me which sounds a bit mad.
Where did the idea for The Runaway come from?
Sometimes I get the storyline first then I'll build a character around that, but often I'll get the character first.
Cathy and Eamonn came first for me. I liked the idea of what they were doing. I often take it from people's childhoods so you can see why they've become what they have. The Runaway's one of my most popular books because Cathy's had such a terrible life, and Eamonn's a piece of dirt really but you understand why he is the way he is. He's never going to trust anyone after the life he's had, and the trouble with her is she trusts too much. She's got an innate kindness. I wanted to do a long book, take someone through every stage of their lives.
And where did the idea for Desrae come from?
Honestly, who else but me would create this woman who's a man? It's mad.
Alan Cumming looks brilliant as Desrae.
I write about dysfunctional families. I just thought she was such a great character to write.
Desrae became Cathy's mum and her dad, and Cathy became Desrae's child.
In those times, a lot of big criminals were frightened of their sexuality. I think it was only Ronnie Kray who was happy to come out.
The attitude was still, 'You're a poof, you can't be that scary'.
It hadn't been long since it was all illegal and you could get in prison for being homosexual.
I liked Desrae. She came to mind as a sort of tart with a heart.
What sort of reaction do you get from the gay community?
When I did the signings after Runaway, hundreds of transvestites turned up.
One was dressed as Princess Di! That was a bit mad. It was like Madame Jo-Jo's was up and running again.
Then another one with dreadlocks came in with a rose and knelt and kissed my hand and said, 'I love Desrae'.
Everyone thought I'd done such a good job with him and that really pleased me.
It wasn't about him being gay or a transvestite, it was about him being a nicer person who genuinely cared and didn't want to see anything bad happen to Cathy.
That relationship lasted all their life, like mother and daughter.
Where do you get your inspiration?
I'm a news fanatic. I watch the telly news endlessly, I get every paper.
If I'm on a long flight I get Time and the Economist and all that.
I think the news is like the Bible, it's so outrageous!
The Bible has murders, floods, plagues, you've got it. It's the greatest story ever told and if you knock out all the 'begats', it's half the size.
I like big sweeping stories.
Really, all there is is in literature is a comedy, a history or a tragedy. And I like the tragedies!
Not Such A Hard Graft
February 2011
A stunning production of Martina Cole's THE GRAFT has just opened to general acclaim at the Theatre Royal Stratford East.
The play has been directed by Ryan Romain and was adapted for the stage by Patrick Prior. Starring Marc Bannerman as Louis, and Sheryl Gannaway as Candice/Mel/Deborah.
The press have had a brilliant reaction to the new play:
"Martina Cole is the prolific best-selling writer of dark and gritty novels often set in the criminal underworld of east London and Essex. The Graft (which I have not read) is no exception" The British Theatre Guide
"I can't recommend it highly enough" The Londoner
The Graft runs until the 12th March 2011. Visit here to read more and buy tickets.
*** Bestseller *** Record Breaker
December 2010
Martina Coles powerful and thrilling novel, The Family is undoubtedly No.1 for another week.
Head and shoulders above the rest, including Andy McNabs latest which entered in at No.2, Martinas 17th novel has been gaining sales week upon week holding firm at No.1 on the bestsellers list. The Family has also been flying high at No.1 on the Top 20 Original Fiction list in the Bookseller.
Having held firm at the top of the Bestsellers list for its sixth week, The Family has made a new 2010 record.
'Right from the start [Cole] has enjoyed unqualified approval for her distinctive and powerfully written fiction' The Times
'Intensely readable' Guardian
***bestseller*** A Family Affair
October 2010
Martina Cole's latest crime novel, The Family, is No.1.
The Family unequivocally stole prime position in the Hardback Bestsellers list selling 29,211 copies after three days of sales.
Sales also exceeded those of the No.1 Paperback Bestsellers list making Martina No.1 fiction title this week.
Click here to watch Martina talk about her new book, why she started writing and how she met Darley Anderson!
Mega Marketing For Martina
April 2010
Martina Cole's Hard Girls continues to storm the paperback bestseller lists having already notched up record sales in Hardback.
Some of Headlines many many marketing initiatives for Hard Girls have been ground breaking.
First, In Tesco an unprecedented Martina Cole Tower Dump Bin Promotion in 550 stores was placed on the concourse forecourt at store entrances reaching a new market for Martina.
Secondly, WH Smith High Street and WH Smith Travel had an unprecedented promotion where Hard Girls could be bought for 2.99 with any magazine purchased in the store.
Thirdly, in Asda The Hard Way was an Asda Bookclub selection which uniquely included the first chapter of Martinas next novel The Family
Fourthly, a Martina Cole app is just being launched and will be available for free download on the iPhone and iTouch, Its designed in the style of 'entering the world of Martina Cole'. The visuals depicts a desk with relevant items from the book that are interactive, letting you find extra content and is Martina Cole generic.
Phenomenal Martina Cole Signs Record Breaking New Contract
January 2010
Darley Anderson is proud to announce a major new four book deal for Martina Cole with her long term publishers Headline.
Her latest novel Hard Girls has already sold 250,000 in hardback on Bookscan in the nine weeks since publication and sales are a phenomenal 30% up on last year’s hardback of The Business.
Martina Cole’s first novel Dangerous Lady was published by Headline in 1992 and her 16th, Hard Girls, was published in October ’09 instantly knocking Dan Brown off the top of the bestseller lists. In the intervening years, Martina has written 14 bestselling novels with combined sales of over 10 million copies.
In 2009, Martina became a TV sensation with the documentaries Girls In Gangs LA on Sky and ITV3’s Ladykillers, and the BAFTA-nominated four part dramatisation of The Take which was the night’s most watched multi channel show when aired and described by The Guardian as ‘a cross between The Sopranos and Ashes to Ashes.’ Her next TV series will be a six part adaptation of The Runaway on Sky One in mid 2010.
Darley Anderson says:” I’m delighted to have done a new four book deal with Headline for Martina. Martina’s relationship with Tim, Jane, her editor, and Louise, her publicist, goes back to the very early days of Headline with her sensational bestselling debut Dangerous Lady. Such continuity has been priceless in building Martina to the megaselling author she has now become. Martina herself is unique in our industry. A story-telling genius who like Catherine Cookson before her is truly LOVED by all her readers”.
Group Chief Executive of Hachette Tim Hely Hutchinson said: “Publishing Martina Cole is a source of the greatest pleasure and satisfaction both for me personally and also for the whole Headline team. Martina is the most loyal, hardworking and brilliant of authors. Hers is a unique voice in fiction writing, which many have tried to copy without any success, because the authenticity of her experience and research and her cutting edge skill as a contemporary novelist are in a different class. I am so delighted that Martina’s success has now been extended to an even wider public by her achievements on television; and that in turn is helping us to take her books to new heights. We are truly honoured that Martina continues to entrust her work to us, and we shall do everything in our power to justify that confidence.”
Martina Heads The Moors Search
September 2009
Martina
Cole will head an important new series with Sky 1 and indie Free@Last
restarting the hunt for the Moors Murders Victim Keith Bennett.
Bennett was one of five children raped and murdered on Saddleworth Moors by Ian Brady and Myra Hindley - whose grave tragically has never been found.
The Search with Martina Cole was masterminded by megaselling Martina who wants to help Keith Bennett’s mother, Winnie Johnson, to move forward with her life and make a strong argument for re-opening the case which was officially closed in July of this year.
Cole met Winnie Johnson last year while making the documentary Ladykillers and they have kept in close contact ever since.
In the 2 x 60 minute series Cole will revisit existing evidence, interview the people originally involved with the case as well as some new witnesses.
The series will air in early 2010. Watch this space for news closer to the time.