The Garden Expert

Baker & Taylor Interviews: 

Dr David Hessayon

Dr David Hessayon is best known for a best-selling series of gardening manuals known as the "Expert Guides". The series started in 1958 with Be Your Own Gardening Expert and in 2008 he celebrated their 50th anniversary and the 50 millionth copy in print. They have become the best selling gardening books in history. Baker & Taylor were very privileged to ask him a few questions:

1.     What one book would you recommend to a novice gardener?

How strange, this question is the hardest one to answer! I can’t think of one for the absolute beginner - so much to read with nothing to hang it on. My advice for the absolute beginner would be to get help from an experienced gardener - there are lots about and they generally love to help. He or she can talk to you on site and actually show you how to do the basic simple jobs. Then the beginner needs a simple general guide to answer the questions which arise. Some of the early ones by people like Thrower and Hamilton were excellent - I have tried to produce an up-to-date book with the Complete Garden Expert.

2.     Which of the Expert books has given you the most satisfaction and why?

Not an easy question to answer. My first book, like my first love, gave me a special type of thrill, but the most satisfying was the Orchid Expert. It was a joy to tell the story of this magical family of plants in simple terms for everyone, and it was satisfying to receive praise from the orchid growers.

3.     What garden has given you the most inspiration and why?

Shaw’s Garden in St Louis. I was in my early twenties and wondering what to do with my life and my degree. The beauty and variety of all those plants and flowers plus the stunning landscaping gave me the answer. Sorry it was not an English garden, but you did ask for the truth!

4.     What do you think is the biggest “crime” made by gardeners?

Two for the price of one. Both concern trees and shrubs. The first one is not checking before buying a plant on   what it needs, eventual height and suitability for the spot you have in mind. The other one is planting trees and shrubs too closely together. Check the expected heights and consult the Tree & Shrub Expert for the planting distance formula.

5.     What book are you currently reading?

No learned book or well-reviewed novel - it is Weird Things Customers Say In Bookshops. My favourite one is “Do you have this children’s book I’ve heard about? It’s supposed to be very good. It’s called ‘Lionel Richie and the Wardrobe’.” This is closely followed by “Do you have any books in this shade of green, to match the wrapping paper I’ve bought?”.

6.     What is your all-time favourite plant?

I’ll give you an answer today and probably a different one if you asked me tomorrow. So for today it is an orchid for beauty, and sloe blossom because it tells me that spring has arrived.

 

7.     You recently spoke at the GCA conference. Aside from this, what has been your all-time favourite public engagement?

My address to the Graduation Day Ceremony on ‘Going That Extra Mile’ at the University of Hertfordshire. However, I feel that the extra mile they went was to the pub!

8.     Which part of delivering a new book gives you the most satisfaction and why?

The first page, which tells the reader (and me) what it is all about, and the last page which means that I can put it to bed. Between the two there are lots of ups and downs.

9.     What is next for Dr Hessayon and Experts?

I’m afraid I don’t plan out my life - as the wise man said - “Life is what happens while you are busy making plans”. However, I know there are no retirement plans in sight. A new Expert book has started and another one is in the scribbled-note stage. One promise though, the books will be written by the name of the person or persons on the covers!

The Complete Garden Expert is available now

Baker & Taylor Interviews:

Julia Donaldson

Julia Donaldson MBE, is an English writer and playwright, best known as author of The Gruffalo and other children's books. Of her 157 published works, 56 are widely available in bookshops. The remaining 101 are intended for school use and include her "Songbirds" phonic reading scheme which is part of the Oxford Reading Tree. She originally wrote songs for children's television, but has concentrated on writing books since one of her songs, A Squash and a Squeeze, was published in 1993. She has also written a number of plays for school drama groups. Donaldson has been appointed Children's Laureate for 2011 to 2013, succeeding Anthony Browne. Baker & Taylor caught up with her to ask a few questions:

1.  Which of all books you have written is your all time favorite?

I don't really have a favourite (they are all my children!) though perhaps I'm proudest of my teenage novel RUNNING ON THE CRACKS.

2.  What’s the funniest question a child has ever asked at one of your signing sessions?

Someone once asked why I was wearing such funny shoes.

3.  Is Silversands in your new book The Singing Mermaid based on a real place?

No. It's just any seaside town. Conveniently, it rhymes with "hands", which is very important, though to explain why would be to give the plot away.

4.  Did you ever dream of being a mermaid as a child?

No. It was Lydia Monk's idea to do a mermaid book. so maybe she did.

5.  What’s the greatest compliment you have ever received about one of your books?

I can't single out one compliment but I really love it when parents thank me for hours of pleasure with their children or tell me that their child knows one of my stories off by heart.

6.  Do you have any famous fans?

Nick Clegg, Gordon Brown, David Cameron and both Miliband brothers, so quite a broad political spectrum! Oh, and Elton John.

7.  What do you think it is about your books that children love so much?

Best to ask them!

8.  What do you like to do in your free time?

I like playing the piano and going for country walks. I'm very interested in wild flowers, and in the autumn I always go fungus-hunting.

9.  What books inspire you?

My hero among children's authors is Arnold Lobel who wrote the Frog and Toad stories, which are so witty and wise.

10.  If you hadn’t been a children’s writer what would you have done?

I always used to want to be an actress. In a way that wish has come true since I often get the opportunity to act out my stories.

11.  What’s next from Julia Donaldson?

A quite poignant book called THE PAPER DOLLS, a funny one called SUPERWORM, a sequel to THE OWL AND THE PUSSY-CAT, and a series of playlets for primary schools are all in the pipeline.

12. Have you ever considered writing for an adult audience?

I do write songs for grown-ups. I have two CDs of these, FIRST FOURTEEN and SECOND FOURTEEN, which you can look up on my website, http://www.juliadonaldson.co.uk/

13.  What wisdom does The Singing Mermaid bring to its readers?

 Beware of flattery.

14.  Where do you write your books?

 Mostly in my study, but I get my best ideas in the bath.

15.  What book are you reading at the moment?

THE TIGER'S WIFE by Téa Obreht.

16.  What’s your favorite place in the world?

It's a toss-up between Siena in Italy and almost any English footpath.

A selection of great Julia Donaldson titles available now:

Please visit http://www.baker-taylor.co.uk/ for more great Julia Donaldson titles.

Now we have given you a flavour of what we supply, we wanted to share more of what Baker & Taylor (UK) offers. 

As the leading Book and gift stationery wholesaler, premium quality and expert knowledge remain at the core of our business. Through our creative and dynamic approach to everything we do, we are now regarded as the UK’s largest and most prolific #book and #gift stationery supplier.

But one thing that remains is our commitment to retaining the intimate and friendly environment combined with an excellent level of customer service that we’ve established a reputation for.

At Baker & Taylor our aim is to ensure that our retail partners have optimal book ranges in store. This means quality ranges that inspire the consumer and maximise retails sales. We pride ourselves on providing specialist ranges which compliment the ‘spirit of place’ and individual customers needs.

New publications and gift stationery designs and formats keep the assortments fresh, ensuring we have up to minute ranges. Our 48 hour despatch allows for reactive replenishment.

Through our creative and dynamic approach, our seasonal campaigns are pivotal to our continued success. Innovative promotional offers and celebratory ranges are released each month. These offer alternatives and additions to static fixtures, increasing additional sales opportunities.

We are committed to establishing relationships with stores and are proud of our National Sales Team who visit customers on a monthly basis. We also boast a core merchandising team which support our Sales Team and customers throughout the UK. The support network continues with a Head office Customer Services Team that ensures everyone’s needs and expectations are exceeded.

We are proud to be the first choice for quality product and will continue to surprise and delight our customers with exclusive #books and #gift stationery published by Baker & Taylor (UK)   

At Baker & Taylor (UK) we create the one stop shop, providing our customers with our expert knowledge and full service package. We make it easier for retailers to sell books and publishers to find the route to our markets.

Visit our website for more details and follow us on twitter for more exciting news!

3D Keyrings & Bookmarks

Following the success of the 3D Moving Bookmark range, Baker & Taylor are excited to bring the launch of the Keyring selection. 

Featuring 8 fantastic designs, and a moving counterpack display (video left) each keyring has a great pick up price of only £2.99 (inc. vat) the pack includes 12 of each design, and has a total retail value of £287.04 including vat. The 8 designs available are as follows:

Complete Counterpack as pictured

Gok Cooks Chinese - Published 10th May

Gok Cooks Chinese

Not only is Gok Wan one of the UK's top fashion stylists, but he can cook too!

Gok's fantastic new book, Gok Cooks Chinese, contains 80 personal and family recipes, which are not only delicious and healthy but incredibly simple to make. His love and passion for Chinese food and cooking techniques shine through from every page. From his unique perspective he gives us his personal and modern take on the Chinese food that he grew up eating, drawing on his Chinese heritage to give us a different angle on how to eat - for Gok, it's all about sitting down, tucking into fantastic food that is fuss-free and relaxed.

Gok's food is about balance, health, flavour and fun. From his absolute favourite recipe for Prawn Wonton Noodle Soup (which he calls 'happiness in a bowl') to Perfect Fried Rice or classics like his dad's Honey-glazed Char Siu Pork, through chapters on Dim Sum, Street Food, One Pot Wonders and Feasting, you will find recipes for all occasions and moods, whether entertaining friends or enjoying a meal at home by yourself. Above all, Gok Wan will demystify Chinese ingredients and equipment. Gok Cooks Chinese shows us how easy it is to shop and cook just like him.

There has been a big reaction from the food editors at the national papers – Xanthe Clay from the Telegraph cooked Gok’s steamed cod and broccoli the night she received the book, and both Susan Smillie from Guardian and Tony Turnbull from The Times love the book. This bodes well if the book is already convincing the foodie-est of the critics.

Thanks to the overwhelming success of his Channel 4 series, How To Look Good Naked, acclaimed fashion stylist and on-screen consultant, Gok Wan, is now an institution on our screens. Not only has Gok appeared in a further six series, he has also hosted three of Gok's Fashion Fix and the follow-on, Gok's Clothes Roadshow, is into its second series. Gok has also made a moving documentary on child obesity, Too Fat Too Young, and explored the modern day issues our teenagers are facing in Gok's Teens: The Naked Truth. He has written four books, including his bestselling autobiography, Through Thick and Thin. His women's wear collection for Sainsbury's broke UK sales records upon its release in October 2011, allowing women up and down the country to fulfill their dreams and get well and truly Gok'd!

Visit http://www.baker-taylor.co.uk/ to see our full book range.