Forever And A Day Launch

By Matthew Field

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Ian Fleming Publications and Jonathan Cape celebrated the publication of their latest James Bond continuation novel, Forever And A Day, with a launch party at The Scotch of St James in London. Tucked away in the heart of Mayfair, this historic venue was once “the” rendezvous for London’s rock elite in the 1960s.

Richard Cable, Managing director of Vintage Random House, opened the proceedings and welcomed colleagues from Cape and IFP to stage. Michal Shavit, publishing director at Jonathan Cape said; “In 1953 Ian Fleming’s Casino Royale was published by Jonathan Cape and now 65 years later we couldn’t be prouder to be publishing the prequel to that novel – the origins story about how the legend that is James Bond got his licence to kill. The praise for this book has already been flying in.”

Diggory Laycock from IFP joked that The Sun’s newspaper headline that morning, “You Only Live Twice” relating to the reappearance of the exiled Russian journalist, Arkady Babchenko, a day after he was supposed murder, was guerrilla marketing at it’s best! Laycock said; “I remember receiving the manuscript to Forever And A Day just after new year - that grim, post-Christmas period when winter is at it’s most coldest and darkest…it turned out to be perfect timing...the description of the locations in the south of France just radiated off the page – blue skies, blue seas and the shimming heat recharged my winter and made me yearn for the summer holidays.”

Anthony Horowitz said in splendidly witty 007 themed speech, “I have grown up with Bond. Ian Fleming was the great love all my life. Tonight I even feel a bit like James Bond and I’m sure the fans in the room might have noticed I’m wearing a Sea Island cotton shirt – a birthday present from my son Nick!” Horowitz thanked his publishers on a great marketing campaign and drew particular attention to the dust jacket designed by Kris Potter. He thanked IFP and teased; “You are sort of my SPECTRE and in this case it stands for Supportive, Professional, Enthusiastic, and Checking The Royalties Everyday!” Horowitz concluded by acknowledged the hard work of the booksellers. In a shrinking high street market, bookshops up and down the country have gone to great and innovative efforts to promote the title.

Representatives from both the Ian Fleming family and EON Productions were in attendance as well as other notable guests from the world of James Bond including Young Bond author Charlie Higson and Fleming biographer Andrew Lycett.

About The Author

Matthew Field is the co-author of Some Kind of Hero: The Remarkable Story of the James Bond Films. He is a regular contributor to both MI6 Confidential and Cinema Retro. He currently serves on the board of directors of The Ian Fleming Foundation.