Career change for A.P.

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Colin Phillips

At the Start
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Breaking News! Orion to publisher thriller by champion Jockey AP MacCoy


Susan Lamb and Jon Wood have bought World Rights to a novel by champion jockey

A.P. McCoy from Johnny Whitmore at The Stellar Group Ltd. It will be published in hardback by Orion in November 2013.

The new book, a thriller, will take place in the exciting and competitive world of horse racing.

Jon Wood, Deputy Publisher of Orion Books, says: “I’m so excited that A.P. McCoy has decided to turn his hand to fiction. With his unrivalled knowledge of the racing world and what it is like to be champion jockey, few are as well placed to create a brilliant new character in this genre. I’m sure these novels will have massive success with his army of loyal fans.”

A.P. McCoy is without doubt not only the greatest and most successful jump-jockey of his generation, but of all time. He has won the jump jockey’s title a record 17 times, and has ridden over 3,800 winners so far, with his eyes still firmly fixed on becoming the first man to reach a total of 4,000 winners in National Hunt racing.

In April 2010 he achieved his lifelong ambition when he won the Grand National at Aintree on Don’t Push It, and later that year was named ‘BBC Sports Personality of the Year’, becoming the first jockey to win the award. He has also had famous victories in the King George VI Chase, Champion Hurdle, The Tingle Creek Chase and Queen Mother Champion Chase. In 2012, on Synchronised, he won the Cheltenham Gold Cup for the second time in his career, beating the much-fancied favourite Long Run into third place, and showing why he is so revered in the racing world.
A.P. McCoy says: "Having published my autobiography a couple of years ago, I am delighted to be working with the Orion Publishing team again. This time I will be writing a thriller, which is something very different, but I’m up for the challenge and looking forward to getting started!"

A.P. McCoy’s My Autobiography was published by Orion in October 2011.
 
Why is it that only jump jockeys, and champion jockeys at that, seem able to write thrillers?
 
He wouldnt have written the book - ghost writers make a fortune doing that and then all AP had to do was write a line or two and make a couple of changes and hey presto he "wrote" it ;)
 
He was interviewed a few months back when he said he would love to overtake his old boss Martin Pipe's tally of winners. I think he is 4-500 shy of that total.

In the interview, he seemed pretty keen on being round a good while yet.

Of course, these things change.
 
McCoy won't be retiring any time soon.... No chance unless he has a serious injury (God forbid).
 
granger said:
Has anyone ever read one of Francombe's books?
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Read one :( . Spent most of the time trying to work out who the characters were based on; hero definitely Mick Fitz with a bit of Fallon swagger, main woman character, couldn't decide. One of the villains lived in my home town and he, Francombe, got the geography of the lay out of the streets and type of house absolutely spot on. Google or actual research I wondered?
 
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I'll probably get stick for this, but I've read most of Francome's books and quite enjoyed them. They are not that well written (by his ghost writer) and definitely 'light reading', but harmless enough for a holiday read. Not as good as Dick Francis though.
 
Agreed Benny.
All a touch formula written .
Jenny Pitman 's first two efforts were the pits though: her autobiography rehashed in fictional form with no real details changed bar the "lecherous drunken vet" who called after visiting hours.( Maybe the libel lawyers pulled this from the "Glorious Uncertainty")
 
granger said:
Has anyone ever read one of Francombe's books?
Click to expand...

I've read them all, Dick Francis's too. Francombe's are ok, good enough to make me read them without the extra bit of class the Dick Francis stories have. Don't have much time for the Felix Francis books, get the feeling they're being sold on the name rather than substance. Warrior's Son by Peter Burden is a good read.
 
Warriors son is very good. I wasn't that taken with JF's offerings, but. Don't like dick Francis' either. Didn't mind the one Charlie brooks wrote - don't remember it's title off the top of my head,was about a cloned horse and a big betting scandal... but it wasn't the worst 50p I've ever spent in a charity shop! Also don't mind Jenny pitman's stories, but I tend to err towards escapism stuff that doesn't make me think too much rather than things to make me seem clever, so that probably explains it!!!
 
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