Foreign Rights Catalogue Fall - Winter 2014 Bastei Lübbe AG Foreign Rights Department Schanzenstraße 6-20 51063 Köln  Germany Tel: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 - 27 00 Fax: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 17 00 Christian Stüwe ([email protected])

Index

Fiction Thriller Conrath, Martin: THE DEVIL’S FLOWER ...................................................................................................... 5 Eschbach, Andreas: THE JESUS VIDEO ...................................................................................................... 6 Eschbach; Andreas: THE JESUS DEAL ........................................................................................................ 7 Winter, Thomas C.: WORLD OF THE DEAD ................................................................................................. 8 Schütte, Oliver/ Voehl, Uwe (eds.) ANGEL ISLAND: ..................................................................................... 9 Crime Novels Falkner, Alina: LETHAL PRIDE ................................................................................................................... 10 Lahmer, Melanie: THE CUCKOO’S BROOD ............................................................................................. 11 Peinkofer, Michael: THE SNOW FALL......................................................................................................... 12 Tanner, David: THE ICE COLD HEART OF MONT BISANNE .................................................................... 13 Novels / Modern Women’s Novels Berenz, Björn: SAINTHOOD OVERNIGHT .................................................................................................. 14 Braun, Harald: ROMANCE ON THE FARM ................................................................................................. 15 Hülsmann, Petra: BUMBLEBEES AT HEART ............................................................................................. 16 Meyer-Burckhardt, Hubertus: THE LITTLE STORY OF A BIG LOVE .......................................................... 17 Vermalle, Caroline: THE NOSTALGIA OF HAPPINESS ............................................................................. 18 Winter, Carolina (et al.) OF LOVE AND DOGS............................................................................................ 19 Landscape Novels Haran, Elizabeth: DREAMS UNDER THE RED SUN ................................................................................. 20 Kabus, Christiane: ISLAND OF THE BLUE GLACIERS .............................................................................. 21 Historical Novels Dübell, Richard: THE WRATH OF HEAVEN................................................................................................ 22 Jordan, Ricarda: DAUGHTER OF THE ELBE ............................................................................................. 23 Lyne, Charlotte: CHILDREN OF THE SEA .................................................................................................. 24 Salomon, Antonia: THE HEALER OF STRAHLENFELS ............................................................................. 25 Weiß, Sabine: THE SECRET OF STRALSUND .......................................................................................... 26 Fantasy Alexander, Martin: THE MASTER OF THE TOWERS ................................................................................. 27 Bernstein, Anna: NIGHT OF THE GODS ..................................................................................................... 28 Burrows, Prisca: THE SACRIFICE OF THE BOGINS .............................................................................. …29 Loy, Daniel: THE SPEARS OF GOD ........................................................................................................... 30

Non-Fiction True Crime Benecke, Lydia: SADISTS ........................................................................................................................... 32 Contemporary/ Social/ Politics Bonner, Stefan/ Weiss, Anne: BETA MALES............................................................................................... 33 Gromodka, Boris & Heike/ Eichhorst, Sabine: VEGGIE FAMILY ................................................................ 34 Gutberlet, Bernd Ingmar: SPIES EVERYWHERE........................................................................................ 35 Biography Fuchs, Thomas: JOHNNY DEPP ................................................................................................................. 36 Gift Books Heering, Kurt-J./ P., Emma: THAT’S WHAT MEN ARE .............................................................................. 37 Heering, Kurt-J./ P., Emma: THAT’S WHAT WOMEN ARE ......................................................................... 37 Infotainment Golluch, Norbert: SCREWED UP TO THE MAX .......................................................................................... 38 Peters, Bettina: DOG CAT HORROR .......................................................................................................... 39 Richter, Justus: DUMBER THAN A BAG OF NAILS .................................................................................... 40 Thomann, Jörg: HEY, MAN, WHAT’S UP? .................................................................................................. 41 Guide Books Del Rae, Vanessa: SEX DELUXE................................................................................................................ 42 Lang von Langen, Stephanie: I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO TELL ME ....................................... 43 Memoirs/ True Story Grosse-Woodley, Nana: MTITOS PATH TO FREEDOM ............................................................................. 44 Kessler, Berit: I WILL ALWAYS FIGHT FOR YOU ...................................................................................... 45 Liebert, Stefan/ Fritz, Kajo: COCAINE ......................................................................................................... 46 Scherpe; Mary: EVERY SINGLE DAY ......................................................................................................... 47

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Martin Conrath: THE DEVIL’S FLOWER Thriller 381 pages 978-3-404-17001-2 Paperback September 2014

Fran Miller, profiler and sect expert for the State Office of Criminal Investigations in Düsseldorf, is called to an interesting crime scene. A woman’s body was discovered which had been in the ground for quite some time but was then unearthed and nicely fixed up. In her crossed arms lies a Polynesian Arrowroot flower, which is also known as “the devil’s flower”. The autopsy reveals that the woman was overdosed with a strong sedative that is not available over the counter. The corpse is quickly identified. It is Birte Klamm, 31 years old and missing for almost a year. One week later another corpse is found that is fixed up in the same manner as the first corpse. Since the case now involves a serial killer, which requires the creation of a profile, Fran is assigned to the homicide unit. As she and her colleague search for common features, they discover something useful: further autopsy work has revealed that both victims were suffering from cancer in varying stages. Based on the cause of death, the investigators focus their search for a perpetrator on hospitals and their personnel. Fran concentrates on the possible symbolism of the plant but there are multiple and differing interpretations. Finally she discovers a connection. All of the flowers belong to the same family, and Fran develops a theory that the victims are also meant to represent a family, the family of the perpetrator. When the investigation begins to stall, the homicide unit decides to bait the killer based on the profile. A number of things go wrong, however. The woman posing as bait is in danger of losing her life, and an exciting showdown ensues. Also available: THE PAIN COLLECTOR

Martin Conrath has published several crime novels, one of which was filmed for the TV series Tatort. In addition, he is a member of an author duo who call themselves Sabine Martin and have written successful historical novels. THE DEVIL’S FLOWER follows the author’s THE PAIN COLLECTOR and is his second thriller. Martin Conrath lives and writes in Düsseldorf.

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Andreas Eschbach: THE JESUS VIDEO Thriller 703 pages ISBN 978-3-404-17035-7 Paperback October 2014

New edition of the worldwide best seller

Is there video footage of Jesus Christ? With THE JESUS VIDEO, Andreas Eschbach scored his first bestseller catapulting him into the ranks of Germany’s top-selling authors. To date, THE JESUS VIDEO has sold more than 2.5 million copies worldwide. At the exact same time when Andreas Eschbach’s new novel will hit the shelves, THE JESUS DEAL which is the sequel as well as the prequel to his cult novel, a reprint of THE JESUS VIDEO will be released. THE JESUS VIDEO plays with a highly original premise: in the course of archaeological excavations in Israel, the college student Stephen Foxx discovers in a 2,000-year-old tomb the user manual for a model of a video camera, which will not be released for another few years. There can be only one explanation: Someone must have tried to videotape Jesus Christ! This would mean that the body in the tomb belonged to a man from the future who traveled into the past – and that the Jesus video is somewhere in Israel, just waiting to be found. Or is the whole thing just one big scam? A heart-stopping hunt begins involving archaeologists, the Vatican, the media, and international intelligence agencies… THE JESUS VIDEO is full of twists and turns with lots of surprises! At no point should the reader conclude to know the answers to the mysteries. The author carries his likeable and credible hero through a maze of betrayal, ruthless greed, and conspiracies, not only by using stylistic devices that are typical for the thriller genre, like constantly rising suspense, but THE JESUS VIDEO is also a great adventure novel and an entertaining history book. Due to the numerous, well-researched facts that were woven into the story, every aspect of the novel has an authentic and realistic feel. „His plots, his choice of locations, and the development of his characters can easily compete with the successful works of American and British thriller authors.“ Bild am Sonntag Also available (a.o.) LORD OF ALL THINGS/ ONE TRILLION DOLLARS / BURNT OUT/ THE ANGEL OF DEATH/ THE JESUS DEAL Andreas Eschbach, born in 1959, studied aviation and space engineering and worked as a software developer. Since his amazing success of the science fiction thriller THE JESUS VIEDO he is one of Germany’s bestselling authors. ONE TRILLION DOLLARS, THE LAST OF HIS KIND and THE NOBEL PRIZE finally confirmed this. Andreas Eschbach lives with his wife on the French Atlantic coast. 6 Bastei Lübbe AG - Foreign Rights Department - Schanzenstraße 6-20 - 51063 Köln - Germany Tel: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 -27 04 oder 27 00 - Fax: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 17 04 Christian Stüwe ([email protected])

Andreas Eschbach: THE JESUS DEAL Thriller 733 pages ISBN 978-3-431-03900-9 Hardcover October 2014

If you had a time machine that allowed you to travel back to the time of Christ’s crucifixion – would you try to save Him? Andreas Eschbach’s latest book, THE JESUS DEAL, builds on his first best-selling novel, THE JESUS VIDEO, which sold more than 2.5 million copies worldwide. Even though both novels are complete stand-alones that can be read separately, the author succeeds in accomplishing an amazing feat: THE JESUS DEAL begins where THE JESUS VIDEO ended – and it ends where THE JESUS VIDEO begins! Video footage showing Jesus Christ, filmed during a time-travel trip, falls into the hands of a powerful American organization whose influence reaches into the highest echelons of political power. So far, the video, which was discovered during an excavation in Israel, has not been made public but for the members of the organization, the video is a crucial element in their ambitious plan to bring about the end of the world, as we know it. The protagonist in THE JESUS DEAL is Michael Barron, the son of one of the richest men in the world. From an early age, he was destined to be part of a project that is not only supposed to break the boundaries of physics but is also designed to send the world into a new direction. For Stephen Foxx, who once discovered the video during the excavation, and for Judith Menez-Foxx, the adventure that they experienced back then has faded into a memory from the time when they first met – until one day, when they receive an unexpected phone call drawing them, against their will, into a conspiracy that is hatched to kill millions of people. After watching the Jesus video, John Kaun, media mogul and financial backer of the excavation project, renounced his former lifestyle as a media tycoon and now he lives a completely different and peaceful life. But then one day, he has an encounter, which brings the past back to life, so vividly that he has to make a grave decision. THE JESUS DEAL is an amazingly original thriller that readers of fantasy fiction will enjoy as much as fans of conspiracy novels. Andreas Eschbach plays masterfully with all the different elements that also made THE JESUS VIDEO a success. Also available (a.o.) LORD OF ALL THINGS/ ONE TRILLION DOLLARS / BURNT OUT/ THE ANGEL OF DEATH/ THE JESUS VIEDO Andreas Eschbach, born in 1959, studied aviation and space engineering and worked as a software developer. Since his amazing success of the science fiction thriller THE JESUS VIDEO he is one of Germany’s bestselling authors. ONE TRILLION DOLLARS, THE LAST OF HIS KIND and THE NOBEL PRIZE finally confirmed this. Andreas Eschbach lives with his wife on the French Atlantic coast. 7 Bastei Lübbe AG - Foreign Rights Department - Schanzenstraße 6-20 - 51063 Köln - Germany Tel: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 -27 04 oder 27 00 - Fax: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 17 04 Christian Stüwe ([email protected])

Tom C. Winter: WORLD OF THE DEAD Thriller approx. 304 pages 978-3-404-17094-4 Paperback December 2014

WORLD OF THE DEAD is a disturbing psychological horror thriller about an elementary school teacher who is one of the last survivors of a pandemic. On the top floor of a department store, a man is getting ready for the day. He has to get drinkable water and batteries for his flashlight. He knows, as soon as he leaves the building, the people he encounters will attack him. The infected people. For the majority of the human race has fallen victim to a pandemic that turns them all into monsters. He tries to avoid the infected people, but he is not always successful. Sometimes he is forced to kill, and it is worst when there is still an echo of the person they once were in their eyes. Still, the man is searching for the students he was teaching before the pandemic changed everything; perhaps one of them is still alive and he can help… but the longer he searches, the more often he wonders: What will happen after I accomplish this final task and didn’t find anyone? For fans of “28 Days later“, “I am Legend“, and “The Walking Dead”

Tom C. Winter, born in 1978 in Dortmund, works and lives in Ruhr area. The psychologist and horror fan intends to write books he would enjoy reading himself.

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Oliver Schütte / Uwe Voehl (eds.): ANGEL ISLAND Thriller 349 pages 978-3-404-17075-3 Paperback October 2014

ANGEL ISLAND is a Horror/ Thriller anthology which comprises eight short stories that all take place on Angel Island on Halloween, a tranquil island off the coast. Each story is self-contained, and the final story in the book reveals the secret on why Angel Island was afflicted by these horrible events on this particular day. Stories include: CATHARSIS by Sunny Meury Jonathan Bright is a man of God. In his House of Sin, he uses re-enactments to show teenagers the horrifying consequences of drugs, premarital sex, and abortion. Nobody knows that the people who appear in Bright’s chamber of horrors are not actors. He actually murders young people who have committed sins. Next on his list is young Lara who had sex with a fellow student and has now had a secret abortion. But what he does not foresee at all is that Lara has actually made a pact with evil. THE PRICE by Stephan Reinbacher Angel Island‘s primary school is celebrating that it has received an educational award. No other school in the country is so free of violence; nowhere else do pupils study so conscientiously with such enjoyment. Yet there is a force that would like to destroy this place full of trust and understanding. Perhaps nothing would have happened if little Jeff hadn’t found a petrified bone on his way to school and cut himself on it. But as a result, he accidentally stabs his seatmate in the hand with the point of a compass, thereby triggering a chain of violence. Once unleashed, the disaster spreads like an epidemic and turns the school of the angels into a battlefield. TOMMY BOY by Hendrik Schmitz Thomas, a little fisher boy, loves his sister Mary who protects and guides him. Yet Thomas is the only person who can see Mary because she has been dead for three years. Thomas trusts her completely. On Halloween, however, the fog rolls in, and that changes Mary. Her skin turns blue and cold like a corpse, her eyes become as black as night. When she convinces Thomas to take an axe and kill one of the boys who always tease him, it is only the prelude to a far greater plan of the evil force. THE WALLS OF RONWICK ABBEY by Jürgen Scheiven A room decorated with Christian symbols is discovered at the ruins of Ronwick Abbey. Something is liberated which has been imprisoned in the walls of the cloister for 800 years. The evil spreads across the entire island. In a house of sin, a pastor tortures and murders teenagers; a massacre takes place at the local primary school; and a little fisher boy slaughters his entire family. The only person who can stop the forces of evil is pastor Geoffrey Barton. He has discovered ancient parchments which appear to be fragments of the Codex Gigas, the Devils Bible. They contain a code which can ban the evil once again, but Barton has to decipher it by midnight on Halloween or else the evil will spread across the entire world. The doors of hell have opened! 9 Bastei Lübbe AG - Foreign Rights Department - Schanzenstraße 6-20 - 51063 Köln - Germany Tel: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 -27 04 oder 27 00 - Fax: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 17 04 Christian Stüwe ([email protected])

Alina Falkner: LETHAL PRIDE Crime Novel approx. 320 pages 978-3-404-17096-8 Paperback December 2014

LETHAL PRIDE - the kick-off to a new crime series Dead bodies are found in Essen, Mainz, and Stuttgart, and all victims were young soon-to-be detectives. They were shot to death and positioned in a specific way, with their extremities stretched outward, and their blood was used to draw the sign of a star around their corpses. It seems a serial killer is going after the young generation of the BKA, the German Federal Office of Criminal Investigation. The murders that are dubbed the “star killings” produce fear and terror, especially among young detectives. Theresia Pfeffer (22), a young and ambitious patrol officer with the Essen police department, can hardly believe her luck: She was the first at the crime scene – a genuine murder case! With a combination of audacity and ingenuity, she continues to get access to information and inject herself into the investigation. Due to her brilliance and wit, she is able to make vital contributions to the investigation and soon she is invited to work on the case. Meanwhile, the BKA send their best operative to all three cities: case analyst Dr. Rita Seidel (39). Her job is just to analyze but she gets tangled up in the investigation. In the further course of the story, her life will be in danger because it seems that she is the main target of the killer! In the end, she will manage to find the perpetrator but she will not escape unharmed. The novel ends with case analyst Seidel forming a special unit and asking Pfeffer to join. This special unit, KI 161, will investigate cases in the volumes that are to follow.

Alina Falkner, born in Essen in 1983, studied cultural sciences and published numerous pulp novels of different genres. Furthermore, she wrote for radio and television productions. After so many happy ends on paper, she wanted more than ingenuous kisses. So she researched police work and wrote her crime novel debut, LETHAL PRIDE. Falkner lives and works in Berlin.

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Melanie Lahmer: THE CUCKOO’S BROOD Crime Novel approx. 400 pages 978-3-404-17142-2 Paperback January 2015

THE CUCKOO’S BROOD is after BONE FINDERS Melanie Lahmer’s second novel centering on Siegerlandbased major case detective Natascha Krüger. Outside the town of Siegen, a dead woman’s body is found in the woods – displayed on the historical judge’s bench (a stone monument) holding the Tarot card »Death« in her hand. Detective Natascha Krüger and her colleagues start their investigations in Weißbach, a remote village in the Rothaar Mountains. Rumor has it among the wary villagers that the victim, Anke Feldmann, lied about her husband Frank being the father of her “cuckoo’s egg”, four-year-old Felix. Even after Anke’s death the bad blood continues and Frank becomes the target of animosities that almost lead to his death. The investigators have several possible suspects that were associated with the victim and one of them is the potential biological father of young Felix. After finding emails on Anke’s computer that were sent to her by a stalker who calls himself »Kyrill«, they quickly narrow in on one main suspect: Volker Hardt, a retiree, whose Internet connection was used to send the Kyrill mails. However, Hardt’s wireless LAN is not secure, which means that they are back to square one and that almost anyone in the village could be the perpetrator. At the same time, a stalker starts following Ella Steinseifer, who is also mother to a little boy. What begins with threatening phone calls, soon escalates into a dangerous game: the stalker plays out various Tarot cards, uses the night hours to make his way into Ella’s house and, finally, lures little Benny out of the safety of his home. Only when Ella finds a hangman’s noose hanging from a tree in her garden, she calls the police. But before the officers arrive, the stalker breaks into her place and kidnaps her little son. Are Natascha and her colleagues on the right track? Also available: BONE FINDERS

Melanie Lahmer, born in 1974, lives with her family in Siegen. After studying educational science, she worked as an editor and published columns and short mysteries as well as articles about the sensory phenomenon synesthesia.

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Michael Peinkofer: THE SNOW FALL Crime Novel approx. 301 pages 978-3-404-17131-6 Paperback November 2014 Crime Novel meets Twin Peaks

Simon Fall writes crime novels but finds himself in a crisis both professionally and personally. On the advice of his publisher, he takes a timeout and decides to head for the mountains where he can work on his next novel in peace and quiet. He is caught in a surprise snowstorm on his drive. After he passes through a tunnel and arrives in a remote Alpine valley, an avalanche comes down, and he has an accident. When he regains consciousness, he finds himself in a small mountain village that has been temporarily shut off from the outside world by the avalanche and heavy snowfall. Although all of the residents are nice – perhaps a bit eccentric here and there – Fall finds something strange about the village right from the start. And soon afterwards there is a murder. Strange in itself but all the more astonishing for Fall is the fact that the victim has been draped in the same manner as in his latest novel – which hasn’t even been published yet! Who could know about it? Fall has a vested interest in giving the case 100 percent and solving it, even though he himself is a suspect. Yet there is no lack of suspects, particularly among the male population, because it soon turns out that the victim was pregnant. She wanted to leave the village and flee. She didn’t succeed. Ultimately, Fall manages to find the perpetrator and apprehend him. The world seems to be in order once again. It has also stopped snowing, and Fall can leave the village. Or so he thinks. He gets into his car, drives through the tunnel, and winds up back where he departed from: the same little mountain village. Nothing is what it appears to be - The mystery is solved in Vol. 2, MURDER CASE Also available (among others): THE LOST KINGDOM THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE RUNES THE LEGACY OF THE RUNES Michael Peinkofer was born in 1969 and studied German literature, history, and communication sciences at the University of Munich. Since 1995 he has been working as an independent author, film journalist, and translator. Writing under a variety of pseudonyms, he has authored numerous novels in different genres. He became known through his best-selling THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE RUNES. Michael Peinkofer lives in the Allgäu region with his family.

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David Tanner: THE ICE COLD HEART OF MONT BISANNE Crime Novel approx. 205 pages 978-3-404-17006-7 Paperback September 2014

Get to know the coldest side of the Savoy Alps Eccentric journalist Antoine Kirchner takes on his second case. A thrilling and culinary reading experience for all fans of France. Très charmant and very atmospheric. In the Savoy Alps, former Olympic skiing champion Maxime Mortier is basking in the glory of his past. But then the idyllic mountain world is jolted by the gruesome killing of a woman. Is Mortier connected with the crime? Is he perhaps behind an entire series of murders? In his second case, eccentric journalist Antoine Kirchner once again sets out in search of the truth. For readers of Martin Walker and Jean-Luc Bannalec Also available: THE DARK WATERS OF ARCACHON 192 pages 978-3-404-16811-8 Paperback May 2013 David Tanner's mystery novel transports his readers to the Atlantic Coast of Southern France. THE DARK WATERS OF ARCACHON is a thrilling and culinary reading experience that will delight Francophiles. Why is the body of the French finance minister found floating in the Atlantic off Cap Ferret? Was it an accident or a murder? And what do the fishermen of Arcachon have to do with it? Antoine Kirchner, an unconventional journalist, receives orders from his editor-in-chief to investigate the matter. In Arcachon, he sets out to discover the reasons behind the unusual death and becomes enmeshed in a web of conspiracies and intrigue involving politicians at the highest levels. David Tanner was born in 1965 as the child of German/French parents. He grew up in Bavaria and the South of France. As a university student, he joined various aid organizations and travelled the world with them. Tanner is a pediatrician and lives in Paris with his family. 13 Bastei Lübbe AG - Foreign Rights Department - Schanzenstraße 6-20 - 51063 Köln - Germany Tel: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 -27 04 oder 27 00 - Fax: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 17 04 Christian Stüwe ([email protected])

Björn Berenz: SAINTHOOD OVERNIGHT Novel approx. 320 pages 978-3-7857-2516-0 Paperback October 2014

A turbulent comedy about a reluctant saint Jonas is fed up. His best friend, Pedro, has stolen his girlfriend, Maja, and he hates his job at a shrimp shack. There is only one solution: to jump off a bridge and commit suicide. But everything happens differently. Instead of taking his own life, Jonas saves the life of a drunken vagabond. The next night, he notices something peculiar. There is a halo crowning his head. From this point on, Jonas’s life takes a different direction. Suddenly, girls are running after him in droves - even Maja shows renewed interest - and he receives preferential treatment wherever he goes. In addition to that, he is constantly saving human lives more or less voluntarily and is celebrated as a hero and a saint. Jonas actually enjoys all of this but at some point the hubbub becomes too much and he wants his normal life back. When he finally manages to find Jupp, the tramp from the bridge, the apparently mentally confused man explains that he is a guardian angel in the flesh who has been wandering the earth for 2,000 years to save human lives and thereby earn his entry into paradise. On the evening that Jonas wanted to kill himself, Jupp had simply come to the end of his rope. When Jonas saved Jupp’s life, the halo had jumped over to him by mistake. When Jonas is invited to an audience with the Pope one day, Jupp suddenly wants his aureole back. In the meantime, however, Jonas is once again enjoying the life of a saint and refuses to hand over the halo. What was actually not part of the plan at all, however, was for Maya to reject his new, holier-than-thou ego. In a showdown back at the bridge, all of them confront one another. Jonas falls off the bridge and wakes up in a hospital. Jupp has vanished into thin air, and – lo and behold – the halo is gone as well. One morning, when Jonas is back home again, the doorbell rings and there stands his boss from the shrimp shack with flowers, rolls, and his beautiful Mauritanian cousin, Chandini. As they enjoy breakfast together, an image of Jupp appears on a piece of toast, and Jonas could swear that it winked at him. Humorous insight into the hard life of a reluctant saint—marvelously wacky! Björn Berenz was born in 1977 and works in marketing and advertising. Prior to that, this native of Koblenz was the long-standing managing editor of children’s and juvenile periodicals at publisher Pabel-MoewigVerlag, where his final position was multimedia editor for the Perry Rhodan novel series. Björn Berenz lives in the Eifel region with his wife and two daughters.

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Harald Braun: ROMANCE ON THE FARM Novel approx. 287 pages 978-3-404-16880-4 Paperback September 2014

Back to nature meets chaos meets regional crime novel meets love Alvy is happy with his decision to leave city life in Hamburg behind in exchange for his own little parcel of land in the flat countryside. He loves his cottage, and he loves Anna, but he has a huge problem: money, he doesn’t have any. An old journalist colleague who now works for a large TV production firm calls up and tries to recruit him to play a lonely farmer for a country matchmaking reality show. Naturally, Alvy is totally appalled. He would never participate in that kind of nonsense and make a fool of himself, although they are offering a very respectable amount of money. And anyway, it will only be for a few weeks. Anna will simply have to live somewhere else during that time. The fact that he knows absolutely nothing about farming can certainly be covered up somehow on TV . . . and with that, the contract is signed. Anna is not very enthusiastic about the project although that was to be expected. But when Alvy has to share his cottage for several weeks with a complete production crew and three women with behavioral problems, one of whom he is supposed to kick out each week, and his ex-colleague and initiator of the whole caper is in cahoots with a greasy chicken baron and doing dirty deals with him . . . well, it’s all somewhat more than Alvy can handle. During a romantic barn party for the TV show, everything comes to a head. In the end, as the cameras roll, a shaken Alvy makes a heart-rending declaration of love to Anna. After it’s all over, Alvy sits happily on his terrace, with his wife and his dog, but [still] without a cent of money. With his wit and a charm all of his own, Alvy draws us into an amazing adventure

Harald Braun writes nonfiction books and novels and lives in rural Schleswig-Holstein. Until 2008 he worked mainly for glossy magazines, serving as deputy editor-in-chief for Allegra and freelance chief copy editor for Park Avenue. As a devoted city dweller, he himself attempted to become a happy hillbilly, working through the experience in his THE FEELING OF RUBBER BOOTS, a very successful title in Lübbe’s non-fiction program.

15 Bastei Lübbe AG - Foreign Rights Department - Schanzenstraße 6-20 - 51063 Köln - Germany Tel: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 -27 04 oder 27 00 - Fax: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 17 04 Christian Stüwe ([email protected])

Petra Hülsmann: BUMBLEBEES AT HEART Modern Woman’s Novel 398 pages 978-3-404-17168-2 Paperback ● The perfect romantic comedy with September 2014 all the trimmings ● A marvelously unpretentious, trueto-life story that will make readers laugh and cry ● An absolute feel-good book!

A magnificent debut in women‘s entertainment! Funny without lapsing into silliness, this book has plenty of situational humor and definitely depth as well. Everything in Lena Klein’s life is just the way she likes it: neat and tidy. One week before her wedding and her 30th birthday, however, her fiancé, Simon, reveals that he has fallen in love with somebody else. It isn’t long afterwards that she is also fired from her job without notice. Lena draws up a three-point plan. 1. She will get herself a dream job and make it to the top. 2. She will fall in love with a sensitive, faithful dream man. 3. She will transform herself from a plain Jane into a sexy dream woman. But all that is easier said than done. Instead of landing at a cool PR agency, she winds up in a messy bookshop owned by an old codger named Otto. In spite of everything she does, men don’t seem overly impressed with her new sexy vibe. As time goes by, Lena falls in love with Ben, of all people, the biggest womanizer in Central Europe, with whom she argues incessantly. Struggling against her feelings, she starts a relationship with Jan, a writer who is much younger, and precisely the sensitive, faithful type of dream man she is looking for. Gradually, she begins to thoroughly enjoy her job in the bookshop. She revamps the entire shop and takes Otto into her heart. Lena and Ben grow closer, but do not admit their feelings to themselves or one another. When she ultimately really gets her dream job in a PR agency, saying farewell to Otto and the bookshop is very difficult. Lena has to admit that her grand plan to find happiness hasn’t worked and that she has been chasing the wrong goals. She decides to stay with Otto, sets out to tell him, but learns that he collapsed and was taken to the hospital. She rushes off to see him and encounters Ben who is a doctor there and informs her that Otto has terminal cancer. Ben stands by Lena’s side during the difficult times; the two make up with one another. When Otto learns that Lena turned down a position with a PR agency because she wanted to stay with him, he gives her the bookshop. On her 31st birthday, Lena musters all her courage and confesses her love to Ben. Although they manage to become embroiled in an argument even over this, it emerges that he loves her as well. Shortly after her birthday, Otto dies, and a year later Ben and Lena marry. In the end, Lena is not the person she wanted to become, but she’s become the real Lena. Petra Hülsmann was born in a rural area of Lower Saxony in 1976. She later managed to drop out of a degree program in cultural studies and German literature at the University of Bremen and trained as a foreign language secretary in Bremerhaven. The author lives in Hamburg with her husband and is currently working on her second novel. 16 Bastei Lübbe AG - Foreign Rights Department - Schanzenstraße 6-20 - 51063 Köln - Germany Tel: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 -27 04 oder 27 00 - Fax: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 17 04 Christian Stüwe ([email protected])

Hubertus Meyer-Burckhardt: THE LITTLE STORY OF A BIG LOVE Novel approx. 208 pages 978-3-431-03901-6 Hardcover October 2014

A light-footed love story, written in a charming and endearing style Susan Knight, 54-year-old writer of non-fiction books based in Zurich, has given up on romantic love. After a few huge disappointments and quite a number of smaller ones, she has been living for several years as a confirmed single and has become pretty good at protecting her heart from emotional turbulence. Or so she thinks… In an Italian restaurant in Hamburg she finds out that she could not have been more mistaken. There she makes, by accident, the acquaintance of Simon Licht, a 56-year-old novelist, who, after a plethora of relationships, has finally tired of engaging in empty sexual affairs that lack in emotion and has only just begun to search for genuine love. Over red wine and sole they start talking, fall in love, and – Susan gets scared. Scared of closeness. Scared of getting hurt. Scared that old wounds will be reopened. She flees back to Zurich. Simon takes her to the airport wearing a hiking outfit that takes Susan by surprise and he gives her the following explanation: “We both have the same destination – I’ll just arrive a little later than you.” Simon hikes to Zurich while Susan goes through an emotional roller coaster ride oscillating between joy and horror. In Zurich, they will meet at her favorite Italian restaurant. If Susan is ready to get involved with Simon, a bottle of Tignanello will be waiting on the table – otherwise Simon will be greeted with an espresso. After a three-week walk, Simon steps through the door…

Hubertus Meyer-Burckhardt, born in Kassel in 1956, is a television producer and journalist. He used to be a member of the executive board of the Axel Springer Ag as well as of the ProSiebenSat1 Media AG. Since 2005, he has been holding a professorship at the Hamburg Media School. He resides in Hamburg.

17 Bastei Lübbe AG - Foreign Rights Department - Schanzenstraße 6-20 - 51063 Köln - Germany Tel: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 -27 04 oder 27 00 - Fax: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 17 04 Christian Stüwe ([email protected])

Caroline Vermalle: THE NOSTALGIA OF HAPPINESS Novel approx. 200 pages 978-3-431-03902-3 Hardcover November 2014 Atmospheric and feather-light novel about yearnings and dreams, solidarity, and the power of love

THE NOSTALGIA OF HAPPINESS sweeps us into the world of a small French coastal town. The tourist season is over and Villerude has gone into hibernation. There is the Le Paradis, an old cinema, whose best days have long passed. And there is Camille, the old projectionist, who lives for his cinema but at the same time, he is desperately looking forward to seeing his beloved late wife again, real soon, in heaven. Antoine, an out-of-work repairman with the talent to breathe new life into broken machines, is a shy young man who dreams of being a hero. Rose, a young and exceptionally gifted cello player who lost her drive and motivation, is staying in her family’s Villerude summerhouse searching for memories of her childhood. On a chilly Sunday afternoon, Antoine and Rose’s paths cross in the cinema. And it is on this day that Antoine falls in love with Rose. It seems, though, it happens only in the movies that women like Rose fall in love with guys like Antoine. On that same Sunday evening when a heavy snow storm silences the little town, Camille dies. And Varant, the rich owner of the local fish cannery, sees his chance to buy the old cinema and the property to use the compound for his personal purposes. And this provides Antoine with the opportunity to become the hero that impresses a woman like Rose. However, Rose has long realized what she has been longing for all her life – for sometimes it also happens in real life that women like her fall in love with guys like Antoine… THE NOSTALGIA OF HAPPINESS is a love story but also a story about yearnings and dreams, solidarity that transcends borders, and the magic of the lightheartedness of childhood. This story is marked by the same special charm and whiff of nostalgia that pervade Caroline Vermalle’s previous novels. Feel-good book with a French setting and characters, with which the reader can identify

Also available: WHAT IF IT IS THE CHANCE OF YOUR LIFE? A FLOWER FOR THE QUEEN

Caroline Vermalle was born in 1973 in the region of Picardy in the northern part of France. After studying cinematic science in London, she started making documentaries for the BBC. In 2008, she published her debut novel, BECAUSE HAPPINESS IS A JOURNEY, which was raved by the press and awarded the Prix Chronos de littérature 2011 as well as the Prix Nouveau Talent 2009. Caroline Vermalle lives with her family in the department of Vendée in west-central France. 18 Bastei Lübbe AG - Foreign Rights Department - Schanzenstraße 6-20 - 51063 Köln - Germany Tel: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 -27 04 oder 27 00 - Fax: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 17 04 Christian Stüwe ([email protected])

Carolina Winter (ed.): OF LOVE AND DOGS Four Short Novels approx. 368 pages 978-3-404-17159-0 Paperback December 2014

Cute dogs make every woman‘s heart beat faster! And here are four of them all at once Four entirely different short novels with one thing in common: in each of them a clever dog helps to set love in motion. THE KING OF LOVE by Anna Bernstein The love of Emily Macdonald‘s life is her King Charles Spaniel, Sir Rupert. Even though she realizes that her blind dog with scars around his eyes has no great chance of placing, she registers him for a three day dog show in the Tyne and Wear county hall. But something is foul in this exhibition. Someone is sabotaging the favorites. And suddenly Emily sees herself sabotaged by a seductive Irish gentleman who, just like she, would like to discover who is trying to win this show at all cost. A DOG FOR EVERY CASE by Nina Robin Germany, mid 19th century. Twenty-five-year old Emilia is a female version of Sherlock Holmes. It’s true, people think she is strange, but she can help them prevent those usually annoying police investigations and thereby sweep scandals under the carpet more effectively. Emilia always travels with her dogged chaperone who is, in fact, a dog. In this case, she is invited to the home of a family that lives in a villa near Dresden. While she is there, the son of the family falls in love with her – and she with him. Yet the son is a prime suspect, as is the family doctor, and the housekeeper, and on and on. THE MASKED BALL by Emily Roth Venice, late 16th century. Vincenzo Bellucci is rich and good-looking, making him one of the city‘s most eligible bachelors. Women surround him in swarms at every opportunity, which is also the case at his family‘s annual masked ball. Having escaped to one of the rear courtyards, he discovers a young woman who is playing with his beloved greyhounds. Immediately fascinated by the masked stranger, he succeeds in stealing a kiss, but she runs off before he can coax her name out of her. Happily, he has his two dogs and uses them to pick up her trail. WOLF SPELL by Shirley Waters Ishild is supposed to be married to the powerful jarl Eirik. She is a beautiful woman but has been disfigured ever since an attack by Danish pirates. The blade of an axe cut through her cheek. There is a slight possibility that she could receive help from the feared Askr who lives alone on the shore of a fjord and is reputed to have magical powers. But the welcome she receives from the handsome man and his dog, which looks more like a wolf, is anything but friendly. And the price he asks for his help is outrageous. 19 Bastei Lübbe AG - Foreign Rights Department - Schanzenstraße 6-20 - 51063 Köln - Germany Tel: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 -27 04 oder 27 00 - Fax: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 17 04 Christian Stüwe ([email protected])

Elizabeth Haran: DREAMS UNDER THE RED SUN Landscape Novel approx. 512 pages 978-3-431-03905 Hardcover February 2015 English manuscript available

A charming love story with a tragic turn at first and then a huge happy end The inhabitants of a small town on a branch of an idyllic river are fighting a plague of crocodiles. Foremost among them are an energetic teacher and a young crocodile hunter. England 1941. Lara Penrose, a young teacher, is employed as a house tutor in the manor of a lord. When the 10-year-old boy falls from his horse during a polo tournament, his father reproaches him bitterly. Lara intervenes. As the lord furiously strides toward her, he steps on a pitchfork. The handle inflicts a serious blow to his face, causing him to lose consciousness for a short time and knocking out one of his teeth as well. Deeply humiliated, he accuses Lara of assaulting him. Unless she wants to land in jail, she has to accept a transfer to Australia as punishment. Shady Camp Billabong, some time later. The small town on an idyllic branch of the Mary River is beautiful. Lara has no idea why the position of teacher is unfilled. The river is home to hundreds of crocodiles which attack primarily the children of the village. Nevertheless, she has no choice and has to stay. In the end, the charming doctor, Jerry Quinlan, helps Lara to settle in. Later she decides to hire a crocodile hunter to make the village a safer place. Rick Marshall begins hunting and becomes a serious competitor for Dr. Qiuinlan. On February 19, 1942, Lara barely survives the Japanese bombing attack on Darwin. When she finally recovers and arrives back in Shady Camp, Rick proposes to her, and she happily accepts. One day, however, Rick is dragged into the river by a crocodile. The water turns red, and Rick has vanished. Jerry makes every effort to lift Lara’s sorrow and courts her once again. Although she isn’t ready yet she ultimately consents. On the day of the wedding, Lara learns the unfathomable truth. A long time before, Jerry had seen a seriously injured young man in an Aboriginal camp: Rick. The Aborigines had pulled him out of the river. Lara is unable to forgive Jerry. When she then also receives news that her father is seriously ill, she leaves Australia and travels home even though prosecution awaits her for doing so. After several months in England Lara returns to Australia with her father. After they arrive, the past abruptly catches up with her when she learns of an exhibition featuring the largest saltwater crocodile ever caught. But there is a happy end, because when she discovers the name of the crocodile hunter - Rick Marshall - her happiness in Australia begins anew. Elizabeth Haran was born in Zimbabwe. Her family later moved to England and from there emigrated to Australia. Today she lives with her husband in a coastal suburb of Adelaide in southern Australia. She has two grown sons. After working as a model, owning a garden center, and caring for learning disabled children, she discovered her passion for writing in her early 30s. 20 Bastei Lübbe AG - Foreign Rights Department - Schanzenstraße 6-20 - 51063 Köln - Germany Tel: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 -27 04 oder 27 00 - Fax: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 17 04 Christian Stüwe ([email protected])

Christiane Kabus: ISLAND OF THE BLUE GLACIERS Landscape Novel 480 pages 978-3-404-17154-5 Paperback January 2015

2013, Germany and Spitzbergen, Norway: A few weeks before her 40th birthday, Hanna stands before the wreckage of her life until then. To keep herself from drowning in self-pity and to earn the money she desperately needs, Hanna decides to try her hand at her old profession. Prior to her timeout as a wife and mother, she was a successful journalist. A fortunate coincidence soon lands her an assignment. A women’s magazine commissions her to write a travelogue on the lonely archipelago that lies above the Arctic Circle. On location, she makes the acquaintance of Kåre Nybol, a humorous researcher, and they set out together to explore the one-of-a-kind landscape surrounding Spitzbergen. An array of scientists have set up laboratories and weather stations in the former mining settlement of Nylesund. While Kåre is in a professional meeting, Hanna takes a walk and literally stumbles over a corpse. For decades, the dead body was covered by glacial ice which has now melted and exposed the frigid grave. Hannah scents an exciting story and decides to get to the bottom of the mystery. 1907, the Ruhr District and Spitzbergen. At age 21, there is only one outlook for Emilie, the daughter of a prominent industrial family. She has to find a good husband and manage his household, a thought that is anything but pleasant for a young woman with a thirst for knowledge. Meanwhile, her younger brother, Max, would like nothing more than to shelf his biology coursework sooner rather than later, and have a try at being a composer. When Max is scheduled to travel to the Arctic as part of a research project, the siblings decide without further ado that Emilie will cut her hair short, put on men’s clothing, and undertake the journey herself, instead of Max. The research group is meant to gather rare plants in Spitzbergen. But Emilie soon suspects that at least one of the men is concealing a dark secret and trying to prevent it from being discovered at any cost. Also available: IN THE LAND OF THE WIDE FJORDS DAUGHTERS OF THE NORTHERN LIGHTS

Christine Kabus was born in Würzburg in 1964. After attending university, she worked as a dramaturg and script editor for various motion picture and theater productions before going freelance as a screenwriter. She loves Scandinavia, especially the mythical and natural landscape of Norway.

21 Bastei Lübbe AG - Foreign Rights Department - Schanzenstraße 6-20 - 51063 Köln - Germany Tel: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 -27 04 oder 27 00 - Fax: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 17 04 Christian Stüwe ([email protected])

Richard Dübell: THE WRATH OF HEAVEN Historical Novel approx. 512 pages 978-3-7857-2514-6 Hardcover October 2014

Richard Dübell is known for his grippingly written and meticulously researched historical novels. His latest novel, THE WRATH OF HEAVEN, is an exciting adventure story set against a highly-charged and entirely topical backdrop: flood catastrophes. The story centers on a murderous conspiracy against an Emperor in the midst of a devastating environmental catastrophe which culminates in a deadly finale. Frankfurt 1342. A violent storm is barreling toward the city from the south. For now, the population still has no idea. It will become one of the most horrific flood catastrophes in German history: St. Mary Magdalene’s Flood. Philippa, the daughter of an important ferryman, Ruprecht from Sachsenhausen, meets a confused man on the bank of the Main River. He calls himself Mathias but has lost his entire memory. Philippa decides to help him solve the puzzle of his identity. As the story unfolds, the two grow closer to one another even though Philippa is already engaged. Another man arrives in Frankfurt: Bernhard Ascanius, a Teutonic Knight and illegitimate scion of the once extremely powerful ruling house of the Ascanians. He dreams of restoring the prominence and honor of the family name. Frankfurt is under emergency rule. Emperor Ludwig IV has come to the city with his entourage and proclaimed an unofficial imperial diet because his adversary, King Carl of Luxemburg, is doing all he can to knock him off the throne. Bernard claims that he is a member of the imperial guard and has been charged with protecting the emperor from an assassin who has also come to Frankfurt. Naturally, suspicion falls on Mathias, and for a brief time Philippa also turns against him. When the severe storm finally reaches Frankfurt, the Main overflows its banks causing any number of citizens to lose their lives in the flood. Bernard and Mathias confront each other in a breathtaking showdown on the only bridge that is still open – but then also collapses. Who will reach the emperor first, the murderer or the rescuer? Because in reality, Mathias is Christian von Brendanbruch, the Teutonic Knight who has been assigned to protect the emperor, while Bernard, his half-brother, is the actual assassin! Also available: THE LAST PALADIN THE PORTALS OF ETERNTIY THE DEVIL’S BIBLE Richard Dübell was born in 1962 and lives near Landshut with his wife and two sons. After a successful debut with two historical crime novels, THE CLOTH MERCHANT and THE MILLENNIAL EMPEROR, it was his third novel A MASS FOR THE MEDICI that first put him on the bestseller lists. Ever since his trilogy surrounding the THE DEVIL‘S BIBLE and THE PORTALS OF ETERNITY he numbers among the most renowned authors in the genre of historical novels. 22 Bastei Lübbe AG - Foreign Rights Department - Schanzenstraße 6-20 - 51063 Köln - Germany Tel: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 -27 04 oder 27 00 - Fax: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 17 04 Christian Stüwe ([email protected])

Ricarda Jordan: DAUGHTER OF THE ELBE Historical Novel 653 pages 978-3-404-16984-9 Paperback September 2014

She loses everything. She fights for an outsider. She finds great love where she least expects it Friedrichsdorf, a hamlet in the Haseldorf Marsh, 1248: A young girl named Hilke loses her home and family to the devastating forces of a flood on Holy Innocents’ Day. The villagers are furious with Hilke and hate her for being able to save her paralyzed childhood friend. Wasn’t the storm God’s way of punishing them for having this defective young man living in their midst? Hilke is aghast because Hein is clever and friendly and, for her, anything but defective. In spite of her fondness for him, though, she doesn’t realize that he loves her. The two must leave their home and move to Flensburg, where Hilke meets the King of Denmark. Erik IV falls in love with her at first sight, and it’s no different for the young woman. The King was never in love with the mother of his children; it was an arranged marriage. What Hilke and Erik experience together is true, eternal love, given with certainty and blessed by God. Hein remains skeptical about this relationship, however. When Hilke becomes pregnant, Erik marries her to a knight whom he considers loyal and is supposed to bring Hilke to Denmark. There, the king intends to legalize his own relationship with her. But Hilke’s husband has other plans, and Erik is assassinated by order of his brother, Abel. Hilke and her son (Erik‘s heir) are in grave danger of losing their lives and must flee from Denmark. Together with Hein, they make their way to Lübeck, but Hilke is slandered as a prostitute. She, the king’s son, and Hein must leave Lübeck, and Hilke turns to Erik’s youngest brother, Christoffer, for help. New lethal danger arises from Hilke’s treacherous husband, but in the end all turns out well. Hilke together with Hein and her son settle on a country estate that has been given to her. After all they’ve been through together, Hilke’s fondness for Hein has turned into tranquil, enduring love, and the little family looks forward to a secure, happy future. A sensitive, many-faceted historical novel set against the beautiful backdrop of the North Sea and Baltic coasts The dramatic fate of an extraordinary woman framed by the storm surge of 1248 Ricarda Jordan is the pseudonym of a successful German author. She was born in 1958 in Bochum and earned a doctoral degree in history and literary studies. She is an independent author and lives in Spain. Under the pen name of Sarah Lark, she writes thrilling page-turners about New Zealand and the Caribbean, all of which are bestsellers. Writing as Ricarda Jordan, the author takes her readers on a journey through the colorful Middle Ages.

23 Bastei Lübbe AG - Foreign Rights Department - Schanzenstraße 6-20 - 51063 Köln - Germany Tel: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 -27 04 oder 27 00 - Fax: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 17 04 Christian Stüwe ([email protected])

Charlotte Lyne: CHILDREN OF THE SEA Historical Novel approx. 650 pages 978-3-431-03906-1 Hardcover November 2014

About the storms of the sea and the storms of life – a wonderful historical novel penned by a unique author The time of the Tudor dynasty, in particular the era of profound changes under the reign of Henry VIII, is filled with stories that enjoy lasting popularity with readers as demonstrated by the success of television shows like “The Tudors” and bestsellers such as “The other Bolyen Girl”. The demise of Henry’s favorite ship, the Mary Rose, constituted a dramatic highlight – that, even today, remains vivid in the consciousness of the English people. The completely unexpected discovery and subsequent recovery of the Mary Rose from the murky seabed of the Solent in October of 1982 shook the entire world. The glamorous life at court, the constant fear for one’s own life, and the seething atmosphere in an emerging stronghold of the shipbuilding industry and the Navy provide an irresistible background to Charlotte Lyne’s sweeping historical novel. England, 1509. It is the dawn of the English Renaissance and with young Henry VIII., a flamboyant and promising monarch has ascended the throne of the island kingdom. These are grand times filled with highflying ideas and hopes. The shipbuilders’ trade is also looking forward to a golden age. In Portsmouth, the traditional stronghold of the shipbuilding industry, Fenella, the only daughter of a port official, has a sheltered childhood growing up together with her two friends, Anthony and Sylvester. As master shipbuilders, the fathers of Anthony and Sylvester are both involved in building the King’s favorite ship in the first dry dock in Europe: the Mary Rose that will become the fate of the three children. Years later, their friendship is put to a severe test, as the men realize that they are both deeply in love with Fenella. The situation escalates when the French attack the port. Anthony and Sylvester are both aboard the Mary Rose, the favorite ship of Henry VIII. It will sink in this battle, together with 700 souls – and Fenella can only save one of them: Anthony or Sylvester …

Charlotte Lyne, born in Berlin in 1965, studied German, Latin, and English and Italian literature in Berlin, Naples, and London. Before moving to London with her husband and their three children, she lived for some time in Glencoe, the Scottish hometown of her in-laws. Charlotte Lyne works as a writer, translator, and editor.

24 Bastei Lübbe AG - Foreign Rights Department - Schanzenstraße 6-20 - 51063 Köln - Germany Tel: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 -27 04 oder 27 00 - Fax: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 17 04 Christian Stüwe ([email protected])

Antonia Salomon: THE HEALER OF STRAHLENFELS Historical Novel approx. 431 pages 978-3-404-16990-0 Paperback September 2014

A novel about a strong woman who struggles against fate to champion her destiny Near Nuremburg, 1509. Katharina von Velden, the beautiful wife of Imperial Knight Thassilo von Wildenstein, is not only lady of Strahlenfels Castle, but also a highly gifted healer. She is privy to secret, generationspanning knowledge which encompasses more than mastering the precise effects of an herb. Yet the “white women” who guard this knowledge are increasingly becoming a thorn in the flesh for the church and emergent science, which is completely controlled by men. As a result, more and more women with healing capabilities are being accused of witchcraft and gruesomely persecuted. Numbering among their most merciless tormentors is papal inquisitor Bonifatius von Ebenstatt. The first time he meets the beautiful Katharina, he is immediately overcome by barely controllable lust for her which is suddenly transformed into hatred when Katharina reacts to his passion with disgust. An irreconcilable enmity begins. When Emperor Maximilian I falls ill with dysentery, and Katharina saves his life, she secures a financially and also politically powerful position. Snorting with rage, Bonifatius backs off but spreads the rumor that Katharina cured the emperor through witchcraft in order to gain his favor and acquire a fiefdom. Distrust against Katharina ultimately becomes so great that she complies with Thassilo’s request, withdraws from public life, and largely abandons her healing activities. A short, deceptive period of calm sets in. Then Thassilo is attacked and murdered by a troop of hooded men. His death awakens the greed of many who now flagrantly try to acquire Katharina’s estate and destroy her power. Meanwhile, Bonifatius diligently spins his web behind the scenes. At a feast which Bonifatius attends, Katharina’s daughter, Sophia, catches her dress in the branches of a bush, exposing for a brief moment a birthmark on her left shoulder. According to the Inquisition, it is the sign of a witch. Katharina rushes to her side, but Bonifatius has already seen the birthmark and his mouth curls into an evil, triumphant smile. Katharina knows there is only one way to save her daughter’s life: she must kill Bonifatius . . . Heresy, healing, and the Inquisition – you couldn‘t have more of the Middle Ages

Antonia Salomon first studied medicine and then languages and literary history. Before becoming a freelance translator and editor, she worked as a journalist, among other things. Nature’s power to heal itself has fascinated her since childhood. Publishing THE HEALER OF STRAHLENFELS fulfills one of the author’s long-cherished dreams. She is currently working on her next novel.

25 Bastei Lübbe AG - Foreign Rights Department - Schanzenstraße 6-20 - 51063 Köln - Germany Tel: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 -27 04 oder 27 00 - Fax: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 17 04 Christian Stüwe ([email protected])

Sabine Weiß: THE SECRET OF STRALSUND Historical Novel approx. 528 pages 978-3-404-17146-0 Paperback November 2014

A riveting, atmospheric story set against the turmoil of the Thirty Years’ War Background: in 1628 the Hanseatic City Stralsund is wedged in between the fronts of the Thirty Years’ War. At stake is supremacy over the Baltic and subjugation under the House of Habsburg. Stralsund defends itself for weeks against the siege of troops under General Wallenstein and is ultimately able to save itself through a (consequential) alliance with Sweden. Rügen in the winter of 1627: Sina, a captain‘s daughter, is an expert on ships and seafaring and dreams of finally being allowed to travel out into the world. She spends a lot of time with her best friend, Sophie, whose brother, Asmus, has long had a crush on Sina. Imperial troops from the Danish-Dutch War are quartered on Rügen, and amidst a horrible riot Sina’s house goes up in flames. Her father is at sea, and her mother dies in the fire, although not without giving Sina a mysterious signet ring at the last moment and instructing her to seek out City Councilman Gerhard von Gasdorf in Stralsund. Sina escapes in a small boat with her five-yearold sister, Dorthie, but almost capsizes. She is saved by a sailing ship. Leif, the captain, is a Swede who is under sail for the Imperial forces. He immediately charms Sina. In Stralsund, Sina finds Councilman Gasdorf, who quarters her with the family of the master builder. Sina is visited by Sophie and Asmus who proposes marriage to her. Yet the two of them have taken sides with the Imperial forces, which Sina cannot understand. In addition to that, she can’t get Leif out of her mind—but can she really trust him? (He later confesses to Sina that he was spying on the Imperial forces on behalf of the Stralsund City Council.) Little by little, Sina discovers that Gerhard von Gasdorf and her mother were once in love, but that he was forced to marry a woman of his own class. Is she perhaps not Gideon’s daughter at all? Together with Leif she sets out in search of her father who has disappeared and is being held prisoner by Wallenstein’s troops. She wants to persuade Gasdorf to pay ransom for him. When Gasdorf reaches General Wallenstein on a diplomatic mission, Sina sneaks her way into his entourage, is discovered, and is supposed to be executed. Gasdorf can save her only by publicly declaring that she is his daughter. Gideon, too, can also be saved, and the little family is finally united again. But where does Sina’s life go from here? As the daughter of a Councilman, taking Leif as a husband would be to marry below her social class. Once the citizens of Stralsund have finally withstood the siege of the imperial forces, Leif and Sina decide that they will defy resistance, live their love, and explore the seas together. Sabine Weiß was born in 1968 in Hamburg. She studied German literature and history and worked as a journalist. For DAUGHTER OF THE LEAGUE the author made her first foray into the history of her north German homeland. Sabine Weiss lives with her husband and son in Nordheide near Hamburg. 26 Bastei Lübbe AG - Foreign Rights Department - Schanzenstraße 6-20 - 51063 Köln - Germany Tel: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 -27 04 oder 27 00 - Fax: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 17 04 Christian Stüwe ([email protected])

Martin Alexander: THE MASTER OF THE TOWERS Fantasy approx. 464 pages 978-3-404-20777-0 Paperback December 2014

A new German author with a truly individual narrative style and a convincing novel filled with creative ideas The story is set in the world of Royum/Kingdom of Oktania, a world with a civilization similar to that of the early Renaissance. It is a world with street sorcerers that use wild magic and with theurgists, who practice magic as a science. The central character in the story is the thaumaturge, a theurgist, who serves at the Royal Court as an aide and counsel to the young crown prince, Karol von Windfall. The thaumaturge is a very mysterious character: His healing skills are legendary, his name is not known, and he always hides his face behind a golden mask. Soon it becomes clear that he abuses his magic to manipulate the crown prince for his own purposes, turning him into a puppet. However, the thaumaturge is a multi-faceted and complex character and during the course of the story, the reader learns about his tragic past: At a time when the thaumaturge (back then, he was still called Aleas) was an apprentice, he was already so powerful that the High Counsel of Theurgists took away some of his magical abilities by burning out a part of his soul. The thaumaturge’s motivation (his mission to seize power and take revenge on the High Counsel) becomes so understandable that the reader feels his pain and sympathizes with him. The female protagonist in the story is the King’s twin sister, Kaia, Princess von Windfall, a self-confident and sometimes even precocious young lady. As the second-born, she should have had a comfortable life ahead of her. But when she finds out about the machinations of the thaumaturge and her brother, Karol, she is forced to flee and has to choose whether to remain incognito or to fight for the crown of Oktania. She starts gathering supporters around her to march into battle… The author is master of a truly distinct narrative style: eloquent, smart, and every now and then with a wink For readers of vast and creative fantasy epics with detailed world-building themes akin to the works of Patrick Rothfuss and Robin Hobb Martin Alexander, married, born in 1974, worked several years as a police detective before his thirst for knowledge became so intense that he began to study North American history. From childhood on, he was interested in all things fantasy, from role-playing to Tolkien. He has a penchant for unusual and unlikely heroes and if he is not busy writing about them, he enjoys basketball. Alexander lives and works in Berlin. -6104-5 | WG 1973 27 Bastei Lübbe AG - Foreign Rights Department - Schanzenstraße 6-20 - 51063 Köln - Germany Tel: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 -27 04 oder 27 00 - Fax: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 17 04 Christian Stüwe ([email protected])

Anna Bernstein: NIGHT OF THE GODS Fantasy approx. 399 pages 978-3-404-17012-8 Paperback September 2014

A magical world inspired by Greek mythology and a love that transcends all boundaries and enrages even the Gods. Every year, the people of the Uredos, who call themselves the horse masters, celebrate a festival in honor of their God, Chiron. The rites are performed by Aislinn, the Guardian, a young and gorgeous woman that is also a healer, a spiritual guide, and a mid-wife as well as a cruel lawmaker. She is the only one who knows what really happens during that night and she is the only one who knows the secret of the forbidden forest that nobody may enter, as trespassing is punished by death. Young Leah was still a child when she captured everyone’s attention with her ability to communicate with horses and calm them down. This year, she is one of the chosen ones that are symbolically sacrificed to Chiron as his brides. Nobody has the faintest idea that the true purpose of the ritual is to allow the Centaurs that live in the forbidden forest to come to the women in human form and father children with them. Aislinn, the Guardian, administers a potion to all people, a blend of herbs and magic, that makes them forget about the night’s events. The potion works its magic on Leah, too, but when she wakes up after the festival with a souvenir in her hand, an ornately carved little flute, she is convinced that something special must have happened. And in her dreams, she keeps seeing the face of an unknown man that fills her heart and body with longing and an insatiable desire. This man, a Centaur by the name of Eros, feels the same way, as he cannot and does not want to forget his beloved. However, love relationships between human beings and demigods are forbidden. But Leah and Eros have no choice: They start searching for each other and when they find each other, they both know right away that they have to do whatever it takes to not lose each other again. They are willing to break all existing laws – and risk their lives… A thrilling blend of high fantasy + romance by a talented young German up-and-coming writer This stand-alone novel deals with a completely new subject that will appeal to any horse enthusiast: Centaurs! Anna Bernstein was born in Munich in 1988. Today she lives with her husband and her daughter in Berlin. Already as a child she discovered her love for writing and fantasy stories are her special passion. The publication of her novel NIGHT OF THE GODS is a long-cherished dream come true. 104-5 | WG 1973 28 Bastei Lübbe AG - Foreign Rights Department - Schanzenstraße 6-20 - 51063 Köln - Germany Tel: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 -27 04 oder 27 00 - Fax: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 17 04 Christian Stüwe ([email protected])

Prisca Burrows: THE SACRIFICE OF THE BOGINS Fantasy approx. 512 pages 978-3-404-20771-8 Paperback November 2014

A world filled with elves, dwarves, and dark magic After centuries of oppression through slavery, the Bogins are free. But in the depths of the mountains, an ancient force awakes from its slumber: The Myrkalfrens, allies of the evil Blackeye, prepare for war against the White Empire of Albalon. The Bogins Fionn Hellhaar and Cady are thrust into a maelstrom of events. In order to preserve peace, they have to fight Blackeye and defeat him for good. This, however, requires a huge sacrifice. An inventive stand-alone mystery centered on the bravest heroes of the fantasy For all readers of “Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit”

Also available:

THE CURSE OF THE HALFLINGS Fantasy 512 pages 978-3-404-20688-9 Paperback October 2012

The halflings have been enslaved by humans and elves for many years. They are familiar with no other fate. One such halfling is Fionn Hellhaar. It’s his birthday, and his master allows him to celebrate with the other slaves. That night, however, a human is murdered in the household. A halfling is suspected of the deed. The consequences are devastating. All halflings are thrown into the dungeon – except for Fionn who is able to escape at the last moment. Surrounded by a hostile environment, he forges a plan. His goal is to free his people, not just from prison but from slavery itself.

29 Bastei Lübbe AG - Foreign Rights Department - Schanzenstraße 6-20 - 51063 Köln - Germany Tel: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 -27 04 oder 27 00 - Fax: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 17 04 Christian Stüwe ([email protected])

Daniel Loy: THE SPEARS OF GOD Fantasy approx. 480 pages 978-3-404-20776-3 Paperback November 2014

A knight goes to war against the dreaded grassland trolls. Putting the empire in even greater danger... The Emperor is dead and the western part of the country has descended into civil war. The powerful Knight Orders that control the eastern part see their chance to unify the empire under one king and one faith, the true faith. The real danger is looming beyond the borders: the dreaded grassland trolls. Knight Hragaud an Dantuir is the only one who dares to confront them. Can he save the Empire or will he wake forces that will bring the ultimate doom to his people? Monumental fantasy epic in the tradition of the bestseller and hit series “Game of Thrones”. Direct sequel to THE SWORD OF THE SEER Fantasy 495 pages 978-3-404-20724-4 Paperback July 2013

THE SWORD OF THE SEER is a monumental fantasy epic featuring terrific characters and dazzling new worlds in the tradition of the bestseller and hit movie „Game of Thrones“ by George R. R. Martin. Dauras is a legend among swordsmen. He swings the blade with superhuman speed. But also, he is blind, from birth. Only his magical gift of clairvoyant “seeing” allows him to fight without any disadvantage. For many years, he made his living with illegal forays but now fate has chosen him for a highly honorable task: His assignment is to get the new heiress to the throne safely and soundly. A journey that will lead them all across a country that is teeming with enemies of the Princess. Daniel Loy is the pseudonym of an experienced German fantasy author. In addition to a penchant for Gothic rock music and martial arts, the graduated historian’s favorite hobbies include time travel journeys and excursions into alien worlds. And as his numerous, already published stories and novels prove, he loves to take his readers along with him. 30 Bastei Lübbe AG - Foreign Rights Department - Schanzenstraße 6-20 - 51063 Köln - Germany Tel: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 -27 04 oder 27 00 - Fax: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 17 04 Christian Stüwe ([email protected])

31 Bastei Lübbe AG - Foreign Rights Department - Schanzenstraße 6-20 - 51063 Köln - Germany Tel: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 -27 04 oder 27 00 - Fax: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 17 04 Christian Stüwe ([email protected])

Lydia Benecke: SADISTS Lethal Love - True Life Stories True Crime approx. 304 pages 978-3-431-03899-6 Hardcover February 2015

In SADISTS, Lydia Benecke discusses necrophiliacs, cannibals, brutal sadists, animal abusers, and the perpetrators of other atrocious deeds. Based on the very latest scientific findings, bestselling author Lydia Benecke interprets both glaring cases from her practice and famous cases that the media have made known around the world. Benecke sorts them into categories: what is still “normal”; what can we grasp scientifically; and where does our understanding reach its limits. Necrophiliacs abuse the dead, cannibals cook and eat them, others abuse animals or torture people – in their fantasies or in reality. Where is the boundary between permissible and impossible? Matters where the law is generally clear – if it’s consensual, it’s OK – often confront us with the question of what we still consider to be “normal,” what we can grasp scientifically, and where we reach the limits of our understanding. In her new book, Lydia Benecke focuses on inhumanly cruel crimes and their perpetrators. As a prison psychologist and a crime investigation consultant, an insider on the scene and a psychotherapist, she is close to both perpetrators and victims. Drawing on the current state of scientific knowledge, she describes how we can categorize what at first seems unfathomable and unfathomably frightening.

Also available: ON THIN ICE

Lydia Benecke is a practicing psychologist and psychotherapist whose work also includes serious criminals in a social therapeutic penal institution. She regularly conducts continuing education seminars and lectures to broad audiences. As co-author of FROM THE DARKROOM OF EVIL she collaborated on a best-selling book Her first independently authored book, ON THIN ICE was a bestseller as well.

32 Bastei Lübbe AG - Foreign Rights Department - Schanzenstraße 6-20 - 51063 Köln - Germany Tel: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 -27 04 oder 27 00 - Fax: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 17 04 Christian Stüwe ([email protected])

Stefan Bonner / Anne Weiss: BETA MALES Is There Any Hope for Men? Contemporary/ Social/ Politics ca. 400 Seiten 978-3-404-60784-6 Taschenbuch September 2014

You can always share a beer with them, but you can’t share your life Stefan always had problems being a real man. He noticed this particularly when he himself became a father. Anne, meanwhile, is slowly beginning to wonder why she can’t find a suitable candidate for a partnership. Bonner and Weiss present a very personal account of their experiences as and with beta males. The sons of yesterday’s alpha males, they have no knowledge from their childhood as to what a “real man” is or how to become one. Their fathers never taught them because they were too busy working. Beta males were raised by the first generation of working, emancipated mothers who placed value on exorcizing their boys’ male traits. Female kindergarten teachers, elementary school teachers, and naturally their friends all participated wholeheartedly in the effort. After all, testosterone was the class enemy. Yet the beta male phenomenon also poses a problem for women. Their men aren’t behaving like “guys” anymore. And single alpha women face an even greater dilemma. In their professional as well as their love lives all they get are products that are lemons, childlike spirits who refuse to father children or even assume responsibility. There is no question, men are worse off today than ever before. Men live seven years less than women; 95 percent of the children with behavioral issues and two thirds of those with learning difficulties are boys. They have to repeat a year in school twice as often as girls, are expelled from university-track high schools twice as often, and also wind up in special schools twice as often. Nine out of ten ADHD cases are boys, and boys have even cornered the market on red-green color blindness. In the top echelons of the business world, men are failing in leadership positions and driving entire corporations to ruin. Ninety-five percent of prison inmates are men; people who run amok are almost exclusively men and boys, and the same holds true for right-wing radicals. The third most frequent cause of death in men is suicide. Bonner and Weiss intentionally blend novel-like autobiography and the current debate. After all, they are right in the midst of it themselves. Taking turns, they tell of attempts either to be a real man or to find one. Stefan’s standpoint is to have a heart for men. We need them. Help boys and men get on their feet, be nice to them. Anne, meanwhile, is demanding a male upgrade. It simply cannot go on like this anymore. Anne Weiss first encountered boys in kindergarten and has been wondering about them ever since. Her first boyfriend played bass, her second, guitar, and her third drums. Now that the band is complete, Anne has put her personal relationships on hold for the moment. Stefan Bonner was raised in a household full of women. To this day, the world of men and their strange behaviors often remains a mystery to him. Nevertheless, a woman married him, he has a daughter, and enjoys a happy marriage with his work spouse, Anne - so that he once again finds himself alone among women. 33 Bastei Lübbe AG - Foreign Rights Department - Schanzenstraße 6-20 - 51063 Köln - Germany Tel: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 -27 04 oder 27 00 - Fax: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 17 04 Christian Stüwe ([email protected])

Boris Gromodka, Heike Gromodka, Sabine Eichhorst: VEGGIE FAMILY Our New Life without Meat Contemporary/Social/ Politics Approx. 224 pages 978-3-404-60811-9 Paperback November 2014

Sausages made from rotten meat, hormone-injected chicken, ecological and ethical concerns – there are many reasons for not eating meat. For the Gromodkas, it all begins with a schoolyard bet of their son, Janek. The whole family decides to venture into an experiment and switch to a strict vegetarian diet: veggie burgers instead of ham sandwiches, pasta with Tofu Bolognese instead of Beef Meatloaf, and an Avocado & Pear Salad instead of Hot Dogs. The Gromodkas are Heike (50), Boris (47), Jule (13) and Janek (15). A very ordinary family. They start their experiment on October 1, 2013. They are curious – but also a little nervous. Will they persevere? Will the appetite come with eating? Will the vegetarian food that is served in the cafeteria of Jule’s school be tasty? What if Janek’s friends find the whole thing uncool? How will Heike survive without her beloved liverwurst, and what is Boris going to do when he has a business lunch? And what will Grandma Mette say when St. Martin’s Day comes and no one wants to eat her traditional goose…? In VEGGIE FAMILY, the Gromodkas describe their experiment and all its highs and lows. Including ravenous cravings, secret relapses, and everything about vegetables, happiness, and delicious recipes. In the end, the Gromodka family looks back and takes stock: Did we just change our eating habits – or our entire lives?

The Gromodkas are Heike (51), Boris (48), Jule (14), and Janek (16). A very ordinary family from Frankfurt am Main. Sabine Eichhorst studied German philology and sociology and wrote features and reportages for different German radio stations before devoting herself fully to writing books.

34 Bastei Lübbe AG - Foreign Rights Department - Schanzenstraße 6-20 - 51063 Köln - Germany Tel: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 -27 04 oder 27 00 - Fax: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 17 04 Christian Stüwe ([email protected])

Bernd Ingmar Gutberlet: SPIES EVERYWHERE How Agents, Informants, and Conspirators Wrote History Contemporary/Social/ Politics approx. 352 pages 978-3-431-03898-9 Hardcover Rights of Bernd Ingmar Gutberlet’s November 2014 books have already been sold to: Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Korea, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Spain

The story behind a topical subject, including dubious characters, risky operations, and daring undertakings Surveillance scandals, traitors, Wikileaks, and information gathering on entire populations. Espionage is topic number one and delivers new headlines on an almost daily basis. Yet spying and reconnoitering are the second oldest professions in the world. In his new book, history expert Bernd Ingmar Gutberlet takes readers on a journey through the history of intelligence services, informants, and spies. The book focuses on the people who are spying (or being spied on). Drawing on copious factual material, Gutberlet provides entertaining insight into the way intelligence agencies have influenced history. By giving examples of famous spies from the Middle Ages to the Cold War, the author illustrates the influence of espionage on the German history in the last 2,000 years. The recent disclosures of the NSA surveillance methods and other scandals show that the topic has not lost any of its timeliness. The access spies and secret services at home and abroad have on our lives seems boundless. Well-researched and instructive, but at the same time amusing and written in an approachable style Total number Bernd Ingmar Gutberlet’s books in print: 165,000 Also available (among others): WRONG! FIFTY HISTORICAL CORRECTIONS

THE FIFTY GREATEST LIES AND LEGENDS OF WORLD HISTORY

Bernd Ingmar Gutberlet studied history in Berlin and Budapest and has worked as a journalist, editor, and project manager in the cultural sector. His book THE FIFTY GREATEST LIES AND LEGENDS OF WORLD HISTORY became a bestseller. In 2009 it was followed by THE MAYAN CALENDAR, and in 2013, he published WRONG! FIFTY HISTORICAL CORRECTIONS. 35 Bastei Lübbe AG - Foreign Rights Department - Schanzenstraße 6-20 - 51063 Köln - Germany Tel: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 -27 04 oder 27 00 - Fax: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 17 04 Christian Stüwe ([email protected])

Thomas Fuchs: JOHNNY DEPP The Man Behind the Masks Biography approx. 256 pages 978-3-7857-2490-3 Hardcover November 2014

A different kind of biography: entertaining, lively, and brilliantly written The American actor Johnny Depp is one of only a few true global movie stars. The motion picture series Pirates of the Caribbean is one of the most successful movies in history. However, Johnny Depp is not only one of the best character actors of our time, but also a heartthrob, a role model, and the hero to at least one generation. Author Thomas Fuchs made it his mission to honor the life and career of this extraordinary artist. His entertaining, lively, and brilliantly written biography paints a vivid and very intimate portrait of the private person Johnny Depp. With sensitivity and in an effortless writing style, he depicts a rebel who had never really wanted to be an actor, yet leapt from one success to the next with movies such as What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Edward Scissorhands, or Sleepy Hollow. A teenager heartthrob who was romantically involved with Kate Moss, Winona Ryder, and Vanessa Paradis. And an intriguing artist who always managed to reinvent himself despite recurring battles with alcohol and difficulties finding the right roles. This biography comes at a perfect time. Johnny Depp, who has just turned 50, finds himself at a crossroads. Thomas Fuchs provides a glimpse of how his future might look. But no matter what, whether he returns to his roots – music –, whether he starts writing or making his own movies, one thing is safe to say: He will continue to inspire the masses. For readers that love well-written biographies of world famous stars

Thomas Fuchs was born in 1963, the same year as Johnny Depp. Furthermore, he writes for several magazines about movies and music. He lives in Berlin.

36 Bastei Lübbe AG - Foreign Rights Department - Schanzenstraße 6-20 - 51063 Köln - Germany Tel: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 -27 04 oder 27 00 - Fax: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 17 04 Christian Stüwe ([email protected])

Kurt-J. Heering / Emma P.: THAT’S WHAT MEN ARE LIKE Nasty quotes about the stronger sex Humor/ Gift Book approx. 205 pages 978-3-404-60801-0 Paperback September 2014 Kurt-J. Heering / Emma P.: THAT’S WHAT WOMEN ARE LIKE Nasty quotes about the fairer sex Humor/ Gift Book approx. 205 pages 978-3-404-60800-3 Paperback September 2014 The armory for the battle of the sexes in quotes It seems that men and women will always be a mystery to one another, as there are some idiosyncrasies and personal characteristics, superiorities and deficits, for which there is simply no explanation. Yet, for centuries, great minds have been slaving away putting the most startling and most noticeable phenomena of the respective opposite gender into words. The result is a plethora of bon mots and aphorisms of the past 2000 years, of which we chose the wittiest and most ironic for an entertaining collection that is filled with wisdom, wit, and warnings. In this book, you will find quotes by women on men and all issues regarding the coexistence of sexes: seduction, love and sex, vanity, marriage and jealousy, honesty, friendship, beauty, aging, and the male in general. “Men are so simple. Just hand them a phone with lots and lots of buttons and – voilà – they feel important” Elfriede Jelinek “The woman is the puzzle corner in God’s great world newspaper.” Marcel Achard

Kurt-J. Heering, founder of the agency Cologne Media Network, has been working as a journalist and book author since the mid-1980s. After a career as a classical dancer and a 17-year absence from the stage, Emma P, mother of two adult children, decided to start a new career as a cabaret artist. In 2009, she created the character and the monologues for her one-woman-show that she brought to cabaret stages in Berlin. The main focal point of her performance is her very personal view of the problems between men and women, as she comes to the conclusion that the feminists are to blame for social isolation.

37 Bastei Lübbe AG - Foreign Rights Department - Schanzenstraße 6-20 - 51063 Köln - Germany Tel: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 -27 04 oder 27 00 - Fax: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 17 04 Christian Stüwe ([email protected])

Norbert Golluch: SCREWED UP TO THE MAX The dumbest EU regulations Infotainment 208 pages Paperback 978-3-404-60805-8 November 2014

The worst enemy of all Europeans is sitting in Brussels. And this book reveals why it will stay that way The Ten Commandments comprise 279 words, the Declaration of Independence signed in 1776 by representatives of the thirteen founding states of the United States consists of 300 words, but the EU regulation on the import of butterscotch candy is a whopping 25,911 words long… If it were just the butterscotch candy! But no, the EU regulates many, many other things too: The length of pacifier chains, what the requirements are for a cable car to be – or not to be - labeled a cable car, what distinguishes scrambled eggs from fried eggs, and what the EU’s definition of pyjamas is: “Pyjamas are (…) not only sets of two knitted garments which, according to their outward appearance, are to be worn exclusively in bed but also sets used mainly for that purpose.” Good night! Not only does Norbert Golluch present the most peculiar, silliest, and weirdest EU regulations, but he also tells us what is in urgent need of being regulated. An inexhaustible compendium of the technocratic obsession with regulations and at the same time, a feast for all fans of real-life satires.

Norbert Golluch has published numerous Non-Fiction and children’s books. He lives in Cologne with his family.

38 Bastei Lübbe AG - Foreign Rights Department - Schanzenstraße 6-20 - 51063 Köln - Germany Tel: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 -27 04 oder 27 00 - Fax: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 17 04 Christian Stüwe ([email protected])

Bettina Peters: DOG CAT HORROR Stories from a veterinary practice Infotainment approx. 224 pages 978-3-404-60808-9 Paperback October 2014

The everyday madness of a veterinary practice Bettina loves animals – and so she turns her passion to profession and becomes a veterinarian assistant. However, this job is different than she had expected. Crazier. Stranger. And funnier... Time and again, bizarre encounters and peculiar cases challenge Bettina and the other members of her practice team to reach the highest peaks of their personal and professional performance. Whether it’s about mountaineering rabbits, flying hamsters, alcohol-intoxicated dogs, or killer cats in a trash bin: DOG CAT HORROR chronicles a daily routine, which is everything but routine. And the main thing that turns the dream job of being a veterinarian assistant into a true adventure is the human species, people and their quirky and absurd relationships with their pets. Drawing on her personal experiences of twelve years, Bettina Peters shares in her book hilarious stories from a veterinary practice, with dry humor and acerbic wit, but always with a wink. A book for pet owners, pet lovers, and for everyone who has a neighbor with dog that is at times a pain in the neck. Flying hamsters and hung over dogs, hysterical cat owners and immoral bird breeders – the relationships between man and animal provide the context for uproariously funny stories. For all pet lovers and owners Bettina Peters is a registered veterinarian assistant and animal physiotherapist. For twelve years, she worked in different veterinary practices in the region of Ostwestfalen-Lippe garnering funny real-life experiences for her stories. After studying philology, she works today as a copywriter and freelance author. She lives in the vicinity of Bielefeld.

39 Bastei Lübbe AG - Foreign Rights Department - Schanzenstraße 6-20 - 51063 Köln - Germany Tel: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 -27 04 oder 27 00 - Fax: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 17 04 Christian Stüwe ([email protected])

Justus Richter: DUMBER THAN A BAG OF NAILS The stupidest criminals in the world Infotainment approx. 208 pages 978-3-404-60818-8 Paperback February 2015

New stories from the courtroom – Justus Richter writes about the dumbest criminals in the world No kidding: some criminals are dumber than a bag of nails. They devote all their criminal energy to plan the ultimate crime – and serious shortcomings in its execution get them thrown into the Jail. One example is a criminal who had the intention to commit an act of fraud and shot himself in the foot, so to speak. The dentist wanted to fake a brutal attack by Eastern European criminals and even went so far to sacrifice one of his own fingers for the success of his mission. In the end, though, his medical training became his undoing – according to the expert opinion, the incision was much too professional. Equally dumb were thieves when they tried to steal the ATM machine from a bank. They backed their stolen truck through a glass wall into the entrance of the bank, tied a rope around the machine, and attached the other end of the rope to the truck’s tow bar. Then they drove off pulling their loot from the anchorage and got away with it – the only downside was that they had picked the bank statement printer… It is Justus Richter’s opinion that these and other stupid criminals deserve to be named and shamed and so he tries and sentences the world’s dumbest of the dumb. Total print-run of Justus Richter’s books: over 100,000 copies! Also available: SEATING TRIALS ON PUBLIC BENCHES MUST BE CONDUCTED INDEPENDENTLY

SEXUAL HARASSMENT OF PUBLIC GARBAGE CANS IS PROHIBITED BY LAW

Justus Richter is a court reporter who visited the law courts of this world in his search for the most peculiar judicial verdicts and rulings. 40 Bastei Lübbe AG - Foreign Rights Department - Schanzenstraße 6-20 - 51063 Köln - Germany Tel: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 -27 04 oder 27 00 - Fax: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 17 04 Christian Stüwe ([email protected])

Jörg Thomann: HEY, MAN, WHAT’S UP? Experiencing My Youth through Second Chance Schooling Infotainment approx. 208 pages 978-3-7857-2495-8 Paperback December 2014

There are no missed opportunities – by a person who set out to learn what he missed in his youth Jörg Thomann‘s experiment starts with a harmless wish to play soccer really well because, as he correctly observes, everyone else somehow does it better. After all, they learned it as kids. Back then, the author had no desire to play soccer. And so today, at age 42, he finds himself at a soccer field surrounded by 120 kids aged 6 to 14 with whom he is going to attend a training camp. And so his idea was born. Is it possible at 40+ to learn the things you missed as a child? And above all, what happens when you try? Jörg Thomann takes piano lessons and swallows large quantities of water as he tries to learn how to crawl properly. Defying death on a skateboard, he throws himself down the half pipe; he graffitis his name with spray paint; goes for dancing lessons and practices flirting; tries his hand at Boy Scouting and opening beer bottles with his teeth. Thomann’s experiments on himself repeatedly produce absurdly comical situations. He has to put up with ridicule and (even worse) pity. But he can also book some successes and arrives at the reassured conclusion that getting older is actually not all that bad.

Jörg Thomann was born in Berlin in 1971. He studied journalism and completed the editorial training program at the Berlin School of Journalism. Since 1999, he has been working for FAZ (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung), first for the features section, the Berlin pages, and as a media editor, and then at the “lifestyles” desk of Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung. He is married and has two daughters.

41 Bastei Lübbe AG - Foreign Rights Department - Schanzenstraße 6-20 - 51063 Köln - Germany Tel: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 -27 04 oder 27 00 - Fax: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 17 04 Christian Stüwe ([email protected])

Berit Kessler: I WILL ALWAYS FIGHT FOR YOU How my ex-husband took away my children True Story/ Memoir approx. 288 pages 978-3-404-60807-2 Paperback October 2014

A shocking story: Berit Kessler is fighting her battle on behalf of many other victims When Berit Kessler, a young woman from Germany, first fell in love with a Bedouin from Israel, she might have been out for adventure, but love remained. Five years later, she gets pregnant, moves to Israel, and marries Salman. After the wedding, he starts showing his true colors: suddenly, he is deeply religious and wants her to convert to Islam. When he turns violent, she flees with her, by now, three sons. But Salman has a lot of influence in his native land. He pulls all the strings and Berit has to watch helplessly, as he alienates the children from her – to the point that they are scared of her… “My story is hard to believe; and if you are a mother yourself, it is also hard to bear. It is the story of a woman who falls for a man and loses her children to him. All of this happens in Israel. For reasons that are inexplicable to me, many women who live there put up with undignified living conditions and with being beaten and raped. I refused to accept this. Yet, only one of my three sons is still with me. Tragically, my story is not an isolated case. It is a fate that many women in Israel suffer – but no one wants to hear about it.”

Berit Kessler was born in Jena in 1977. After one year of volunteering for the Kibbutz Ein Gedi on the shore of the Dead Sea, she returned to Germany in 1997 and started studying tourism geography at the University of Trier. In 2001, she moved to Israel. Today, she runs the successful online shop „Baby-Roo“ for her home made baby carriers. In the spring of 2014, she was finally able to get a travel permit for her youngest son and returned to Germany where she will continue her fight for her children.

42 Bastei Lübbe AG - Foreign Rights Department - Schanzenstraße 6-20 - 51063 Köln - Germany Tel: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 -27 04 oder 27 00 - Fax: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 17 04 Christian Stüwe ([email protected])

Nana Grosse-Woodley: MTITOS PATH TO FREEDOM History of a Friendship in Africa True Story/ Memoir approx. 272 pages 978-3-431-03890-3 Hardcover November 2014 With many pictures throughout the book

The touching story of a special friendship set against a magnificent backdrop Nana Grosse-Woodley is a German but has lived in Kenya in the wilderness of Tsavo East National Park for many years with her husband, Danny, a park ranger. When a seriously injured Leopard cub, barely a week old, is brought to her one morning, she realizes that she faces a special challenge. The male animals in particular number among the most dangerous predators and have a reputation of being untamable. Nana christens the little leopard Mtito after the river where he was found. The young woman becomes a guiding figure for him. He has absolute trust in her, and rightly so. Nana raises Mtito without making him dependent on her so that after three and a half years he can be successfully returned to the wild as an adult. But until that day comes, the two of them have much to master. While the leopard gradually begins an increasingly independent life in the bush, a new danger emerges. Poachers are causing trouble in the national park. Danny and Nana must not only fear for the survival of the wildlife but also for their own safety. In addition, Nana is expecting a further new arrival. She has become pregnant. Mtito appears to sense this because his previously wild playfulness and tussling make way for careful, even gentle approaches. For the first year, Nana’s daughter, Chloe, is happy and healthy living together with her, while Mtito grows stronger and stronger. But when the little girl is stung by scorpions, they must leave the Bush, and for Nana it becomes time to say farewell to Mtito forever. Two days after the separation, Nana’s leg becomes paralyzed, and she is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. She is happy that she was able to accompany Mtito on his path back to freedom – something she herself will be denied in the future. And she is grateful to have come to know the bush through him in a way that is granted only to very few. Nana Grosse-Woodley takes us to a fascinating world far removed from civilization. We encounter everything it includes: wild animals, floods and droughts, murderous poachers, the bewitching beauty of Kenya, and a highly unreliable bush plane. OUT OF AFRICA meets A STREET CAT NAMED BOB Nana Grosse-Woodley grew up in Kenya, where she also attended elementary school and earned her “Abitur” from the German school in Nairobi. After studying photography in Germany, she returned to Kenya and has since published numerous photo stories. In 2005, two days after Mtito set off for a life of his own in the bush, she came down with MS and was forced to give up her life in the wilderness. Thanks to treatment in German hospitals, the progress of the disease has been stopped for the moment. This allows her once again to live in Kenya, only a stone’s throw from Tania Blixen’s farm at the foot of the Ngong Hills. 43 Bastei Lübbe AG - Foreign Rights Department - Schanzenstraße 6-20 - 51063 Köln - Germany Tel: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 -27 04 oder 27 00 - Fax: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 17 04 Christian Stüwe ([email protected])

Stefan Liebert / Kajo Fritz: COCAINE The career of a German drug dealer True Story approx. 253 pages 978-3-7857-2489-7 Hardcover September 2014

Thrilling insider account by an influential coke dealer: more revealing than any government report on drug abuse This is a true story from Germany. It is the story of Stefan Liebert, a young drug impresario from Hamburg. For years, he supplied physicians, university professors, and federal prosecutors with the white powder. He was one of the most influential drug dealers in the country – until he decided to confess to all of his crimes. Today, many people would rather see him dead than alive. In this book, he tells his whole story, for the first time: As the scion of a family from the Kiez in Hamburg, he grows up being surrounded by greed for money, sex, and ruthlessness. “Be anything you like, just don’t become a drug dealer.” This is what his father is telling him when he is 15 years old. Four years later, he uses the white substance to fulfill his lifelong dream and climb the social ladder into the Hamburg upper class. He wins his customers by giving them the time of their lives. At an age when most trainees and apprentices make around 300 Euros, he doesn’t know after a while where to hide his daily income of up to 5000 Euros. But then he gets into business with the Albanian Mafia – a decision that almost costs him his life. His book provides exclusive insight into the isolated inner world of drug dealers. And what he reveals is shocking: cocaine, once the drug of choice of the elite, has become the fuel for the masses, a toy. They are all doing it: bank tellers, advertising folks, real estate brokers, politicians, waiters, and mechanics. And more than ever before, cocaine has become the substance financing entire criminal organizations. Our authorities know that too. But apart from that they know next to nothing. This book is as thrilling as a crime novel and more revealing than any government report on drug abuse. Liebert discloses in his book how many grams of cocaine are snorted away nowadays, on a daily basis, how many kilograms of cocaine a shipped through the port of Hamburg and why this goes unnoticed by the Police. And he is telling the story of a boy who uses the widespread addiction to cocaine to satisfy his deep need for recognition and respect. Stefan Liebert is a pseudonym. After confessing all of his crimes to the authorities, the Hamburg-born author was taken into witness protection and lives somewhere in the north of Germany. His co-Author, Kajo Fritz jun., has been working since 2008 as an editor, writer, and reporter for Stern TV. Prior to that, he graduated from the German Journalist School Munich and worked – to name just a few - for Süddeutsche Zeitung and sueddeutsche.de, Stern and stern.de, Karriere, GQ, and the West German Broadcasting Corporation Cologne, WDR. 44 Bastei Lübbe AG - Foreign Rights Department - Schanzenstraße 6-20 - 51063 Köln - Germany Tel: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 -27 04 oder 27 00 - Fax: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 17 04 Christian Stüwe ([email protected])

Vanessa Del Rae: SEX DELUXE Sensual aging Guide Book approx. 272 pages 978-3-7857-2495-8 Hardcover October 2014

Sexuality in older age: An important issue that is being discussed more and more openly Sensual and sexy – what woman doesn’t want to be that? And getting older does not mean to lose the need and thirst for love, romance, and sex. Quite the contrary. The over 50 generation is better off than ever. They have money, they have time, and they live longer. And so it is no wonder that they also want to enjoy the second half of their lives to the best that they can. Vanessa del Rae portrays aging as an asset, as an active and productive stage of life that anyone can freely enjoy – also when it comes to sexuality. Her book addresses all aspects of aging and answers the question how it is possible to still be sensual and attractive at age 50, 60, and 70 and have a fulfilling sex life. She writes about people who start a completely new career, who put their relationships to the test or act out their erotic fantasies, and in doing so, she encourages people to face the challenges and changes of this stage of life. And she is not afraid to give practical and effective advice on how to improve one’s love life. How do sexual needs change over time? Which sexual practices and positions are recommended for people with physical disabilities? And what can be done about erectile dysfunction? Sexuality in older age is still a social taboo. Vanessa del Rae has set herself to break this taboo. She herself is living proof that anyone can start over, even at an older age. She was in her mid-forties when she quit her job as the director of a nursing home and went back to school. After studying to become a therapist, she founded the Berlin Sensuality School. In an entertaining, yet serious but not prudish tone, she now explains in her first book how to remain sensual in old age and talk about sex, openly. High-quality layout: The text is complemented by approx. 30 esthetic photographs Vanessa del Rae, born in 1963, is the director of the Berlin Sensuality School and a sexuality and communications coach. Prior to that she worked for almost 30 years as a registered nurse in various fields of nursing, most recently as the director of different nursing homes in the Cologne and Berlin area. She is the co-author and narrator of the 2012 DVD titled Silver Sensual Sexy. In her school, she conducts seminars on the topics of “How to find the man of my dreams?”, “How to touch a woman?”, and “How to enjoy my femininity?”.

45 Bastei Lübbe AG - Foreign Rights Department - Schanzenstraße 6-20 - 51063 Köln - Germany Tel: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 -27 04 oder 27 00 - Fax: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 17 04 Christian Stüwe ([email protected])

Stephanie Lang von Langen: I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TRYING TO TELL ME Learning to understand the language of dogs Guide Book approx. 254 pages 978-3-7857-2508-5 Hardcover October 2014 Competent and hands-on advice for dog owners that will strengthen the bond between animal and human

How to understand your dog and make them your best friend Some people are calling Stephanie Lang von Langen „The dog whisperer” even though she prefers to call herself a translator between dog and human. The conditions, under which Mrs. Lang von Langen learned the language of dogs, were exceptional: She spent her childhood in Africa. Suffering from visual impairment – she was almost blind – she used a pack of dogs to guide her. The dogs were always showing her the right way, also warning her of any dangers. Their body tension told her whether an approaching person was a familiar face or a stranger. So she learned the language of dogs intuitively and in practice. The theory came later, in Zurich, when she started studying animal psychology with special focus on dog-related issues. Today, she has a highly respected reputation as a dog psychologist. She trains therapy and service dogs and is a member of the Bavarian Rescue Dog Squad. Stefanie Lang von Langen is an absolute expert when it comes to working with dogs. In her book, she describes how to create the perfect partnership between man and dog as well as the perfect vocabulary, which means, the dog’s vocabulary. The biggest mistake is trying to turn a dog into a human, e.g., to assume that a dog can think and feel like a human being. Mrs. Lang von Langen explains what really makes your dog tick and, subsequently, how to solve communication problems between man and dog, which is the basis for a harmonious relationship between dog and master or mistress. The result is a feat: a highly informative book that does not read like a dry how-to-guide. She imparts her knowledge in a narrative form and by sharing a large number of exciting and thrilling cases from her many years of practice. Designed to make us understand the true nature of „man’s best friend” and make us learn to love them as dogs without humanizing them Stephanie Lang von Langen was born in Munich in 1976 but she spent most of her childhood in Nairobi, Kenya. When she was 11 years old, her family moved to Bavaria. Later on, Mrs. Lang von Langen studied animal psychology with focus on dogs in Zurich. Today, she works as a dog trainer specializing in behavior training for problem dogs and dogs from foreign countries, and she trains therapy and service dogs as well as search and rescue dogs.

46 Bastei Lübbe AG - Foreign Rights Department - Schanzenstraße 6-20 - 51063 Köln - Germany Tel: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 -27 04 oder 27 00 - Fax: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 17 04 Christian Stüwe ([email protected])

Mary Scherpe: EVERY SINGLE DAY My Life with a Stalker True Story Hardcover 223 pages 978-3-404-60829-4 September 2014

Everything in Mary Scherpe‘s life is ideal. She earns her living with a successful blog called “Stil in Berlin” (Style in Berlin) where she has been writing about everyday occurrences in the city for more than seven years. She takes photos and writes about fashion, the arts, and cuisine. Everything could be perfect if it weren’t for someone (supposedly an ex-boyfriend) who has been making her life hell since June 2012. He follows her, sends her umpteen text messages and emails, orders products and informational mail for her, orders bank transfers, calls anonymously, and has others call her. He tries to ruin her reputation, slander her with her friends, and embarrass her in public. Mary Scherpe is the victim of a stalker, a person who is trying to invade her life, undermine it, and break her. For the first half year, she follows the standard advice stalking victims receive: don’t pay any attention to the offender. From a legal standpoint as well, stalking victims are under obligation to remain strictly defensive. If a victim reacts, it would cast doubt in a court of law that she didn’t want to have any contact whatsoever with the stalker. But ignoring him has no effect, except that Mary Scherpe is in danger of losing her reputation and her sanity. She files a complaint against the man twice, but both investigations are closed after several months due to lack of evidence. Mary tries to explain her situation: at Playboy, where the stalker has raised the subject of a shooting for her; at the editorial office of Vogue, where he drops off falsified mail in her name; at a dentist’s office, where she is supposed to have inquired about implants, etc. Then, in March 2013, she has an idea that will rescue her. Mary starts a blog called “Eigentlich jeden Tag” (Every Day, Actually) where she publishes the stalker’s activities. Using photos and screenshots, she documents his schemes. It does her good. She uploads her burden to the Web and is no longer powerlessly at his mercy. The blog resonates strongly. Among other media, Süddeutsche Zeitung wants to report on it. And then, suddenly, there is silence. No texts, no embarrassments, nothing – for an entire three months. But then he comes back, although more restrained overall than before. The stalking continues to this day. No one knows how long it will last, or how or whether it will cease. The end of the story hasn’t been written, nor does Mary Scherpe know how the stalker will react to her book. But she is taking her chances.

Mary Scherpe was born in 1982 and took her degree in art history and Japanese studies at the universities of Berlin and Karlsruhe. In March 2006, she opened Germany‘s first fashion blog and called it “Stil in Berlin” (Style in Berlin). Mary Scherpe is a full-time blogger and is affiliated with various companies. In addition to that, she is a photographer for Vogue Deutschland and works as a blog and social media consultant.

47 Bastei Lübbe AG - Foreign Rights Department - Schanzenstraße 6-20 - 51063 Köln - Germany Tel: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 -27 04 oder 27 00 - Fax: +49 (0)2 21| 82 00 17 04 Christian Stüwe ([email protected])