Writer of Cold Bath Street returns for UK-wide book tour with county highlights
A New York Times best-selling author is returning to the UK as he begins a three-week book tour with the University of Central Lancashire’s (UCLan) publishing house.
Preston-born AJ Hartley will tour the country from Tuesday 10 July - Thursday 26 July to promote his ghostly thriller Cold Bath Street, which is set around the Miley Tunnels that lie under the city.
The book was edited, project-managed, designed and produced by students on UCLan’s MA Publishing course in the only student-led, student-run publishing house in the world, UCLan Publishing. It became an instant success, selling out in the city’s Waterstones book shop within a week and holding the number one best seller spot ever since.
Now the acclaimed author will take part in several events in Preston as part of a tour that will also take him to the International Shakespeare Conference for an ‘In Conversation With’ style evening with Christopher Eccleston, who will perform the audio book, and to various signing events in Glasgow, London, Liverpool, the North East and Yorkshire.
AJ will also headline the Supernatural and Fantastical Northern Young Adult Literary Festival at Venue 53 in Preston on the 21 July, where the winner of the Supernatural and Fantastical Short Story Competition for 11-18-year-olds will be announced.
AJ commented: “It has been fantastic working with the students during the editorial process. They are so dedicated and professional; it gives me hope for the future of the industry. I love the fact that the competition will inspire young writers.”
Other Lancashire based highlights include a ghost-themed evening at Hoghton Tower, with ghost tours, talks and a book signing on Sunday 15 July and a special event at the Harris Museum and Art Gallery with Barry Cunningham OBE, the publisher who signed J.K. Rowling for Bloomsbury, on the Wednesday 18 July.
Associate Professor of Publishing and Head of UCLan Publishing Debbie Williams has organised the tour. She said: “We’re really excited to bring AJ back to the UK, where he will spend the next few weeks championing Cold Bath Street as well as inspiring young writers through school visits, talks and book signings.
“The collaborative project with AJ and UCLan Publishing has been a fantastic experience for all involved. It has helped put Preston on the literary map and given the students the kind of hands-on, practical experience they need to work in the publishing industry.”
Find out more and book tickets for the Hoghton Tower event, Barry Cunningham and AJ in Conversation at the Harris and the Supernatural and Fantastical Northern Young Adult Literary Festival online.