Scotsman.com News - UK - Writers will add chapter to aid efforts

Scotsman.com News - UK - Writers will add chapter to aid efforts

DAVID ROBINSON
BOOKS EDITOR


JM COETZEE, the South African author who has won both the Booker and Nobel prizes, is one of the world's leading writers who will be contributing to a new anthology to raise money for tsunami-hit countries.

He joins at least 13 others, including fellow Booker Prize winners Ian McEwan and Margaret Atwood, in New Beginnings, which will be published by Bloomsbury on World Book Day (3 March).

The book will consist of the first chapters of the next books from some of the most popular and acclaimed writers in the English language. From the United States, Stephen King and Scott Turow will offer a taste of books which are not yet on the schedule of their publisher.

From Britain, Mark Haddon, author of the best-selling Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, will offer a sneak peek at Blood and Scissors, his black adult comedy which is not due to be published until 2006.

New Beginnings will also be the first opportunity to look at Nick Hornby's A Long Way Down, his first novel for five years; the latest novel by Nicholas (The Horse Whisperer) Evans; and an as yet untitled piece by Tracey Chevalier.

Alexander McCall Smith, the only Scot on the list, has contributed the opening chapter from Friends, Lovers, Chocolate, the second in his series about Edinburgh moral philosopher Isabel Dalhousie.

'Im very impressed with this project, and certainly by the speed with which it has been implemented,' said McCall Smith last night.

'And from the authors point of view, it is also good to let the public know what direction their work is taking.'

Maeve Binchy, Marian Keyes, Paulo Coelho and Vikram Seth complete the provisional line-up.

All proceeds from the book, which will be priced £5, will go to charities working in the 12 countries ravaged by the Boxing Day tsunami.