By Jane Purdon
WHEN you send a book out into the world, you never quite know how it will be received. Of course, after all the work and care you put into the publishing and doing justice to a writer’s words, you hope everyone will love it as much as you do.
Thus, if it is indeed loved, it makes it all worth worthwhile. And thankfully that has happened with our latest, Jimmy Mulville’s charming and moving contribution to the Football Shorts series, There’s Gonna Be A Show.
Take this from Richard Osman – yes that Richard Osman, who has sold more than fifteen million books worldwide – speaking on The Rest Is Entertainment podcast:
‘There’s Gonna Be A Show is a story about Jimmy’s life and his family. It’s really beautiful. If you’re an Everton fan, you must buy it. If you’re a football fan of a certain age, I would really recommend it as well. He’s a really funny, smart writer, talking about football, his family and what it all means. You will laugh and cry.’
As Richard says, you don’t need to be an Everton fan to enjoy the book, and it has been gratifying that readers and buyers have appreciated this. Nick Hancock, comedian and Stoke City fan, also loved it, saying:
‘It’s a book full of love. Love of football, love of family and love of home. Honest, funny and wise, it is about so much more than football although there’s plenty of rip-roaring action to be savoured. A joy.’
Some notable and highly respected football journalists agree. Henry Winter described the book as ‘beautifully written’, adding that it is a ‘powerful love letter to Everton, a poignant goodbye to Goodison and a soul-searching reflection on life, loss and addiction’. The Telegraph’s Jim White summed up the book in one word: ‘superb’.
Such reviews have helped give There’s Gonna Be A Show a great welcome to the world and we are now into a third print run. A huge thank you to all our reviewers and buyers.
Don’t just trust us and the book’s reviewers, though. Check it out for yourself, available at our shop now. Buy it for yourself, or as an affordable Christmas present. And while you’re there, have a browse through all the other gems in the Football Shorts collection.