Super Thursday: Top Christmas books to hit shelves on October 8
New Top Gear host Chris Evans, TV cook Nigella Lawson and singing superstar Pharrell Williams have something in common - their books are among those expected to be best-sellers this Christmas.
One of the biggest dates in the publishing calendar - and dubbed Super Thursday - will see dozens of new titles hit the shelves in preparation for the Christmas market on October 8.
This year, 503 hardback books will be published on that day, around twice as many published in an average week, and 300 more than the following Thursday, according to trade magazine The Bookseller.
Evans's book is called Call The Midlife, Lawson's book is called Simply Nigella Feel Good Food and Williams's children's book is called Happy, which is also the title of his hit song.
The line-up of books published on Super Thursday will also include books by Bill Bryson, Steve Coogan, Martina Cole, Sir Tom Jones, Andrew Marr and Sir Terry Wogan.
Cookery books include new volumes from Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall, James Martin and Gordon Ramsay.
Also published will be children's books by Julia Donaldson, Eoin Colfer, Michael Morpurgo, Jacqueline Wilson, and James Patterson.
Tom Tivnan, features and insight editor for The Bookseller, said: "With the breadth and depth of publishing on 8th October, this Super Thursday looks set to be the biggest ever.
"After the success of last year's Super Thursday, with £31 million spent in bookshops, publishers and booksellers alike seem to be recognising the benefits of celebrating a day on which some of the top Christmas books will be released."
He added: "In the past there did seem to be a narrow focus on Super Thursday, but there is far more range this year. There are dead cert fiction best-sellers from the likes of Martina Cole, Robert Harris and Conn Iggulden, plus memoirs from national treasures Tom Jones and Brian Blessed, the return of Nigella Lawson and Bill Bryson, and a packed children's schedule including new books from Jacqueline Wilson, Michael Morpurgo and Liz Pichon.
"But there are a lot of less immediately obvious titles which could be potential Christmas hits, such as Charles Moore's second volume of his Margaret Thatcher biography, Justin Bates's life of Ted Hughes and a children's book from Pharrell Williams."
Super Thursday will coincide with the 2015 launch of Books Are My Bag - an annual celebration of books and bookshops.
From October 8-10, bookshops across UK and Ireland will host events, parties, live illustrations and author readings.
A Grayson Perry limited edition Books Are My Bag canvas tote will go on sale exclusively in bookshops.
Perry said: "Pop in to your local bookshop. Book people are nice people and bookshops have become more than a place to buy books. In many small communities they are a valuable social hub for like-minded folks. But don't forget to buy a book too."
