10 new Quick Reads and new partner announced Friday, October 29, 2010 - 16:41

The ten new Quick Reads for 2011 include stories from the world Number One James Patterson, leading light of Irish novelists, Sheila O'Flanagan, rising star Linwood Barclay and ex-Python, Terry Jones.

Now in their sixth year, Quick Reads have introduced hundreds of thousands of people to the joys of reading by providing short, beautifully written books by bestselling writers and celebrities.

The other Quick Reads include a laugh-out-loud comedy by Mike Gayle, a heart-rending tale of childhood sibling-love by Lucy Cavendish, a shocking novel about a train journey going awry by Priya Basil, a crazy martial arts adventure by Benjamin Zephaniah, a powerful story of adoption gone wrong by Cathy Glass and a true story of a footballing bad-lad-made-good by Brighton & Hove Albion's Charlie Oatway.

A GALAXY® spokesperson, said:

"Quick Reads was a natural partner for GALAXY®. The ‘pleasure of reading' has always been important to us, so we are delighted to be supporting a charity whose core mission is to bring the pleasure of reading to many more people."

Gail Rebuck, Chair of Quick Reads, said:

"We are delighted that GALAXY® is partnering with Quick Reads. The advertising campaign is a fantastic opportunity for thousands more people to discover Quick Reads and the joys of reading whilst also improving confidence, skills and self-esteem. Quick Reads are now firmly established and the ten new titles being announced today are a stellar line up of best-selling authors and household names."

Richard Crabb, Head of Campaigns at NIACE, said:

"We're thrilled that GALAXY® have joined the Quick Reads initiative. We know, through our outreach work, the incredible impact these books have had in transforming people's lives, particularly those who are reading for pleasure for the first time in their lives. Having GALAXY® as a partner will ensure that many more adults will be reached and exposed to the magical and liberating world of reading and books. We look forward to working with GALAXY® in this new partnership."

We know, through our outreach work, the incredible impact these books have had in transforming people's lives, particularly those who are reading for pleasure for the first time in their lives. Having GALAXY® as a partner will ensure that many more adults will be reached and exposed to the magical and liberating world of reading and books.

Richard Crabb, Head of Campaigns at NIACE

The 2011 Quick Reads titles are:

• Clouded Vision by Linwood Barclay (Orion)

• Strangers on the 1602 by Priya Basil (Transworld)

• Jack and Jill by Lucy Cavendish (Penguin) 

• Men at Work by Mike Gayle (Hodder)

• My Dad's a Policeman by Cathy Glass (HarperCollins)

• Follow Me by Sheila O'Flanagan (Headline)

• Trouble on the Heath by Terry Jones (Accent Press) 

• Tackling Life by Charlie Oatway (Transworld)

• Bloody Valentine by James Patterson (Random House)

• Kung Fu Trip by Benjamin Zephaniah (Bloomsbury)

GALAXY® branding and strapline "GALAXY® proudly supports ..." will be included on the cover of every Quick Read (approximately half a million books) and on all point of sale and outreach materials, which includes 250,000 posters, around 2,000 dumpbins and half a million bookmarks. Quick Reads' outreach materials are sent to 15,000 colleges, workplaces and libraries across the UK.

GALAXY® has been involved with reading for the last five years, sponsoring the ‘Richard and Judy Book Club' on Channel 4, as well as the Book Industry Awards. In 2010, GALAXY® will continue to unite chocolate and reading - the perfect partners to ensure readers everywhere enjoy their ultimate me-time moment. This November will see the return of the hugely popular GALAXY® Reading 1 million book giveaway, as well as sponsoring the GALAXY® National Book Awards, which will be broadcast on 13 November on More4.