New Releases by Matt Haig

* New novel THE LIFE IMPOSSIBLE available in paperback now * FROM THE NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR Philip Noble is an eleven-year-old in crisis. His pub landlord father has died in a road accident, and his mother is succumbing to the greasy charms of her dead husband''s brother, Uncle Alan. The remaining certainties of Philip''s life crumble away when his father''s ghost appears in the pub and declares Uncle Alan murdered him. Arming himself with weapons from the school chemistry cupboard, Philip vows to carry out the ghost''s relentless demands for revenge. But can the words of a ghost be trusted any more than the lies of the living?

FROM THE NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR Meet the Hunter family: Adam, Kate, and their children Hal and Charlotte. And Prince, their Labrador. Prince is an earnest young dog, striving hard to live up to the tenets of the Labrador Pact (Remain Loyal to Your Human Masters, Serve and Protect Your Family at Any Cost). Other dogs, led by the Springer Spaniels, have revolted. As things in the Hunter family begin to go badly awry – marital breakdown, rowdy teenage parties, attempted suicide – Prince’s responsibilities threaten to overwhelm him and he is forced to break the Labrador Pact and take desperate action to save his Family.

"If somewhere in the afterlife Roald Dahl met Charles Dickens and they cooked up a new Christmas tale, it couldn’t have much on this fleet, verbally rambunctious, heart-stealing follow-up to A Boy Called Christmas."—The New York Times Amelia Wishart was the first child ever to receive a Christmas present. It was her Christmas spirit that gave Santa the extra boost of magic he needed to make his first trip around the world. But now Amelia is in trouble. When her mother falls ill, she is sent to the workhouse to toil under cruel Mr. Creeper. For a whole year, Amelia scrubs the floors and eats watery gruel, without a whiff of kindness to keep her going. It’s not long before her hope begins to drain away. Meanwhile, up at the North Pole, magic levels dip dangerously low as Christmas approaches, and Santa knows that something is gravely wrong. With the help of his trusty reindeer, a curious cat, and Charles Dickens, he sets out to find Amelia, the only girl who might be able to save Christmas. But first Amelia must learn to believe again. . . . “Matt Haig has an empathy for the human condition, the light and the dark of it, and he uses the full palette to build his excellent stories.” —Neil Gaiman, Newbery-winning author of The Graveyard Book "With a little bit of naughty and a lot of nice, this Christmastime yarn is a veritable sugarplum." —Kirkus Reviews

Let the battle for Christmas begin . . . Amelia lives in the magical town of Elfhelm, newly adopted by Father Christmas and Mary Christmas. When the very jealous Easter Bunny launches an attack to ruin Christmas, it’s up to Amelia, her family and the elves to fight off the forces of evil. But can they keep Christmas alive?

Professor Andrew Martin, een vriendelijke wiskundige en een ogenschijnlijk perfecte held voor dit verhaal, gaat dood nog voor het boek begint. Zoals de buitenaardse verstekeling die zich schuilhoudt in zijn lichaam echter al snel ontdekt: Andrew was helemaal niet zo''n aardige man. Vlak voor zijn dood loste professor Martin een ogenschijnlijk onmogelijke wiskundige stelling op, waarop de verstekeling naar onze planeet werd gestuurd om al het bewijs rondom die ontdekking te vernietigen. Gaandeweg leert de verstekeling steeds meer over het leven van de professor, van zijn familie, en van ''de wezens'' op planeet Aarde. Wanneer hij voor zijn eigen vrouw begint te vallen, en zijn eigen zoon aardig begint te vinden - zij hebben geen idee dat hij Andrew niet meer is - zal hij moeten kiezen tussen het succesvol afhandelen van zijn missie, en een nieuw thuis te vinden op onze wereld.

Nicolás era un chico que no tenía regalos en Navidad, y a pesar de que vivía muy humildemente, era feliz. Hasta que su padre decidió emprender un largo viaje para obtener una recompensa y salir de la pobreza... Empeñado en reunirse con su padre, Nicolás atraviesa bosques y montañas nevadas en un recorrido fascinante que le llevará a la tierra de los Elfos. Allí conocerá sorprendentes personajes y vivirá aventuras que desafiarán su imaginación, para comprender al fin cuál es la magia de la Navidad... y cómo salvarla.

Before there was Santa Claus, there was a young boy who believed in the impossible. . . . Lemony Snicket meets Klaus in this warmhearted Christmas caper. Eleven-year-old Nikolas—nicknamed “Christmas”—has received only one toy in his life: a doll carved out of a turnip. But he’s happy with his turnip doll, because it came from his parents, who love him. Then one day his father goes missing, and Nikolas must travel to the North Pole to save him. Along the way, Nikolas befriends a surly reindeer, bests a troublesome troll, and discovers a hidden world of enchantment in the frozen village of Elfhelm. But the elves of Elfhelm have troubles of their own: Christmas spirit and goodwill are at an all-time low, and Nikolas may be the only person who can fix things—if only he can reach his father before it’s too late. . . . Sparkling with wit and warmth, A Boy Called Christmas is a cheeky new Christmas classic-in-the-making from acclaimed author Matt Haig and illustrator Chris Mould. "Irresistibly readable. Destined to become a Christmas and anytime-before-or-after-Christmas classic!" --Chris Grabenstein, New York Times bestselling author of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello''s Library “The definitive (and funny) history of ho, ho, ho! My children loved it.” —Yann Martel, bestselling author of Life of Pi “The most evergreen, immortal Christmas story to be published for decades.” —Stephen Fry "Humorous and heartfelt, A Boy Called Christmas will grow your heart three sizes and make you believe in magic." --Liesl Shurtliff, New York Times bestselling author of Rump "Matt Haig has an empathy for the human condition, the light and the dark of it, and he uses the full palette to build his excellent stories.”—Neil Gaiman, Newbery-winning author of The Graveyard Book

Die absolut wahre Geschichte des Weihnachtsmanns - vom Bestsellerautoren Matt Haig Wie war das eigentlich, als der Weihnachtsmann noch ein Junge war? Er hieß Nikolas, wuchs in großer Armut mitten in Finnland in einer kleinen Holzhütte auf – und dies ist seine wahre Geschichte. Der elfjährige Nikolas begibt sich allein auf eine gefährliche Reise an den Nordpol, um seinen Vater zu finden. Er besteht haarsträubende Abenteuer, begegnet fliegenden Rentieren, einer Elfe, einem gewalttätigen Troll – und er stellt fest: Wichtel gibt es wirklich! In ihm reift ein Entschluss: Er will die Welt zu einem glücklicheren Ort machen. Wie er dieses Ziel erreicht und wie er dabei zum Weihnachtsmann wird – das verrät dieses Buch.

Andrew Martin megoldja a világ legbonyolultabb matematikai rejtélyét. Aztán eltűnik, és a közeli autósztrádán bukkan fel újra. Anyaszült meztelen, és barátságosan leköp minden arra haladót. Ám ez a férfi már nem Martin professzor, hanem egy idegen lény, aki a tudós alakját felvéve azért jött, hogy információkat gyűjtsön és megsemmisítse a képletet, amely veszélybe sodorhatná az univerzum jövőjét. A lény figyel, de nem ért semmit az emberekből. Miért hordanak ruhát, miért alapítanak családot, miért bámulják hétvégenként, ahogy huszonkét férfi kerget egy labdát? De a legfontosabb: mi az a furcsa érzés, amely összeköti az embereket, és amit úgy hívnak: szeretet? Matt Haig könyve egyszerre humoros sci-fi és szívmelengető mű a világegyetem legnagyobb rejtélyéről, azaz rólunk, emberekről. "Matt Haig briliáns módon mutatja meg, hogy mi a szerelem, és mit jelent embernek lenni. Nagyon régóta az egyik legjobb könyv, amit olvastam." (S. J. Watson, a Mielőtt elalszom című világsikerű könyv szerzője) A Könyvjelző magazin 2015. decemberi számában megjelent cikk: Nehéz napok a Föld nevű bolygón

Authentisch und anrührend Ein Buch, das es eigentlich gar nicht geben dürfte. Denn mit 24 Jahren wird Matt Haig von einer lebensbedrohlichen Krankheit überfallen, von der er bis dahin kaum etwas wusste: einer Depression. Es geschieht auf eine physisch dramatische Art und Weise, die ihn buchstäblich an den Abgrund bringt. Dieses Buch beschreibt, wie er allmählich die zerstörerische Krankheit besiegt und ins Leben zurückfindet. Eine bewegende, witzige und mitreißende Hymne an das Leben und das Menschsein – ebenso unterhaltsam wie berührend.

Original stories from Fanny Blake, Elizabeth Buchan, Rowan Coleman, Jenny Colgan, Philippa Gregory, Matt Haig, Veronica Henry, Andy McNab, Richard Madeley and John O''Farrell - with special anniversary recipes from The Hairy Bikers. A young woman with memories of D-Day and a life both dangerous and exciting A father and son with a shared birthday and deeply held secrets A single mum taxi driver, whose envy for the rich couple on their way to the Ritz soon changes The unlikely marriage, born in the depths of war The Tudor wife receives the ghostly message, ''Never marry a dangerous man'' An agoraphobic widower, unable to visit his wife''s grave The Elvis impersonator who finds hope for a new romance with Marilyn Monroe The ex soldiers burdened with the consequences of one bad decision The long-held memories of a wartime tragedy The anniversary supper which changed the world... THE ANNIVERSARY - a collection of the very best short fiction around.

10th anniversary edition, revised and updated with a new introduction from the author THE NUMBER ONE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER WINNER OF THE BOOKS ARE MY BAG READERS AWARD FOR NON-FICTION WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO FEEL TRULY ALIVE? Aged 24, Matt Haig''s world caved in. He could see no way to go on living. This is the true story of how he came through crisis, triumphed over an illness that almost destroyed him and learned to live again. It has helped millions of people do the same. Moving, funny and even joyous, these are the lessons Matt learned. His reasons to stay alive.

From the author of A Little Princess and The Secret Garden comes a masterful adventure that will capture the imagination: a tale of destiny, revolution, family and friendship Twelve-year-old Marco and his father, Stefan, are exiled citizens of the impoverished Eastern European nation of Samavia. They live in London, where Stefan often receives mysterious visitors and where Marco befriends a street urchin known only as Rat. Stefan decides to send the pair on a secret mission in Europe, carrying a coded message to fellow Samavian patriots across the continent. On their arrival in Europe, it quickly becomes clear that Marco and Rat might not know the whole story; everywhere they go, Samavian exiles show Marco particular attention, but it is not until their return to London that the magnitude of the secret hidden within him becomes clear. Burnett''s evocation of early 20th-century Europe is masterful, and her imaginative tale of political intrigue and family destiny will appeal to readers of all ages.

DO YOU A) Know a human? B) Love a human? C) Have trouble dealing with humans? IF YOU''VE ANSWERED YES TO ANY OF THE ABOVE, THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU Whether you are planning a high level of human interaction or just a casual visit to the planet, this user-guide to the human race will help you translate their sayings, understand exotic concepts such as ''democracy'' and ''sofas'', and make sense of their habits and bizarre customs. A phrase book, a dictionary and a survival guide, this book unravels all the oddness, idiosyncrasies and wonder of the species, allowing everyone to make the most of their time on Earth.

The bestselling, award-winning author of The Midnight Library offers his funniest, most devastating dark comedy yet, a “silly, sad, suspenseful, and soulful” (Philadelphia Inquirer) novel that’s “full of heart” (Entertainment Weekly). When an extra-terrestrial visitor arrives on Earth, his first impressions of the human species are less than positive. Taking the form of Professor Andrew Martin, a prominent mathematician at Cambridge University, the visitor is eager to complete the gruesome task assigned him and hurry home to his own utopian planet, where everyone is omniscient and immortal. He is disgusted by the way humans look, what they eat, their capacity for murder and war, and is equally baffled by the concepts of love and family. But as time goes on, he starts to realize there may be more to this strange species than he had thought. Disguised as Martin, he drinks wine, reads poetry, develops an ear for rock music, and a taste for peanut butter. Slowly, unexpectedly, he forges bonds with Martin’s family. He begins to see hope and beauty in the humans’ imperfection, and begins to question the very mission that brought him there. Praised by The New York Times as a “novelist of great seriousness and talent,” author Matt Haig delivers an unlikely story about human nature and the joy found in the messiness of life on Earth. The Humans is a funny, compulsively readable tale that playfully and movingly explores the ultimate subject—ourselves.

Twelve-year-old Barney Willow gets his wish to be a cat but soon discovers that not all felines are cute and cuddlyNsome are downright evilNand his life is in grave danger, but his missing father may be able to help. Illustrations.

Brand success equals business success. To achieve this goal, Haig applies a range of criteria including financial success, longevity, technological advancement, new product development, work place revolution and mass communication. The result is a comprehensive, illuminating collection.

ROWAN: Nunca duerme. Usa protector solar de factor 60. Es un freak. CLARA: Quiere ser vegetaria, pero la falta de carne la pone enferma. PAPÁ: Médico de familia con permanente dolor de cabeza. Está sediento, muy sediento. MAMÁ: Quiere evitar a toda costa un desastre familiar y jamás metiría a sus hijos... ¿o sí? TÍO WILL: Cool. Peligroso. El tío pródigo vuelve para desenterrar los más oscuros secretos. Y mucha, mucha sangre fresca.

In the aftermath of his wife and son''s deaths, antiques dealer Terence Cave imposes over-protective rules of conduct on his surviving daughter, who rebels and incites in Terence a violent act when he learns that the girl''s boyfriend was present at the scene of the fatal accident.

The most evil creature in Shadow Forest, The Betterer, is furious when a troll boy escapes to be with human Samuel Blink. Samuel hides the troll under his bed but that won''t stop the Betterer from coming to find them. Suggested level: primary, intermediate.

The story of a family in crisis and the loyal dog that holds them together, from the author of How To Stop Time and Reasons to Stay Alive. "Matt Haig has an empathy for the human condition, the light and the dark of it, and he uses the full palette to build his excellent stories." —Neil Gaiman, author of American Gods Meet Prince, the canine narrator of this tragi-comic tale of family life. As with all Labradors, he has devoted his entire existence to preserving the happiness and security of his human masters. Not that his human masters realise this, of course. After all, when the Hunter family rescued him, they had no idea that they were the ones who were really being saved. But as events unfold Prince realises he’s got his work cut out. The trouble is that while he has no problem in remembering his duty, the Hunters themselves seem to have greater difficulty remembering theirs. Of particular concern is Adam Hunter, who forgets his responsibilities as a father and husband when he becomes sexually attracted to a young and flirtatious aromatherapist. Then there’s Kate, Adam’s wife. As Prince watches her increasingly neurotic behaviour he detects something is wrong and decides to sniff out the source of the trouble. What he eventually discovers is a treacherous secret that could tear Adam, Kate, and their two children apart. The Labrador Pact explores the hidden dangers of family life from the perspective of the only family member who gets to see everything – the knee-high, four-legged observer in the corner of the room. Through Prince’s eyes (and nose) we come to realise the secrets which hold families together and which, once dug up, can lead to their destruction.

Having been careful to heed his Aunt Eda''s warnings to not enter the dangerous Shadow Forest, twelve-year-old Samuel Blink finds himself in a difficult situation when Troll-Son runs away from his Shadow Forest home to come and live with Samuel, his humanhero.

Samuel Blink is the hero of this story, but he doesn''t know it yet. Right now, he and his sister Martha are in the back of his parents car. He has no idea a giant log is about to fall from the sky and change his life forever. He doesn''t know that he and Martha will be forced to move to Norway and eat their Aunt Eda''s smelly brown cheese. He hasn''t the slightest clue Martha will disappear into Shadow Forest. A forest full of one-eyed trolls, the sinister huldre-folk, deadly Truth Pixies and a witch who steals shadows. A forest ruled by the evil Changemaker. A forest so dangerous that people who enter never return. No. Samuel Blink doesn''t know any of this. So don''t tell him. It might ruin the book . . .

Accompanied by his aunt''s Norwegian elkhound, Ibsen, twelve-year-old Samuel ventures into a weird forest filled with strange and dangerous creatures to rescue his younger sister, Martha, who has been mute since their parents'' recent death.

More than simply a comprehensive collection of brand success stories, this text will also help businesses and students to easily identify the factors behind these successes, and to place them into a broader business and social context.

It''s not just smaller, lesser-known companies that have launched dud brands. On the contrary, most of the world''s global giants have launched new products that have flopped - spectacularly and at great cost. Haig organizes these 100 ""failures"" into ten types which include classic failures (e.g., New Coke), idea failures (e.g., R.J.Reynolds'' smokeless cigarettes), extension failures (e.g. Harley Davidson perfume), culture failures (e.g., Kellogs in India), and technology failures (e.g., Pets.com).

Mobile marketing [using SMS - the short messaging service to send text messages via mobile phones] is emerging as a direct and powerful way to communicate with customers. This is the first book devoted exclusively to exploring the potential of this new medium.

A guide to using the Internet for a company''s competitive growth and advantage. How Come You Don''t Have an E-strategy? explores: the technology required; e-security; your e-brand; the market; pricing and making money; customers online; promotion/marketing techniques; measuring return on investment (ROI); and more.