Bond author Sebastian Faulks to host Waterstone`s first Writers Table

16-Apr-2008 • Literary

Sebastian Faulks is to host Waterstone's first Writer's Table, a "major" new campaign for the bookseller which will see Faulks selecting 40 books that shaped his writing. Waterstone's has already begun working with the dozen publishers involved to ensure availability for the campaign, which launches next month - reports the Bookseller.

Faulks has been given a free hand in choosing books across all genres, and will also write about why he chose each book in his selection. The 40 books he chooses will be introduced into selected Waterstone's branches from 1st May, and will also be flagged up on waterstones.com.

"Quite a few of the books I would have liked on my table are, alas, out of print; but I hope that everyone will find something worthwhile to read or re-read in this list of forty," said Faulks. "There are no duds here, only winners."

Toby Bourne, head of fiction at Waterstone's, said the retailer was "thrilled" with Faulks' choices. "The selection he has come up with offers an incredible insight into the influences that have helped make Faulks one of the bestselling and critically acclaimed writers working today," he said."The list is full of surprises and delights; the books he has chosen range from children's favourites to modern bestsellers, poetry to true tales of derring-do, and anyone who has read and loved one of Faulks' books cannot help but find something new to read here".

The Writer's Table is part of Waterstone's Writer's Year, which is designed to highlight the role of the author.