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'Letters from Yelena' cracks top 100 in 'Amazon Bestsellers in Contemporary Fiction' chart

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'Letters from Yelena' was today added to the Amazon 'Twelve Days Of Kindle' promotional offer, where selected titles are available as E-books for 99p. Excitingly it peaked at #61 in the 'Bestsellers in Contemporary Fiction' chart. And at one point narrowly overtook 'Fifty Shades Of Grey'- which I would not have expected for a particularly dark novel about a troubled Ukrainian ballerina! Would be great if you could share the link below and help push the novel even higher for this short-lived offer- http://www.amazon.co.uk/Letters-From-Yelena-ebook/dp/B008PPMY9W/ref=tmm_kin_title_0

Reviews for 'Letters from Yelena'

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  ‘Guy Mankowski has written a truly wonderful novel. Considering that the author is male, he has managed to capture a realistic portrayal of a female ballerina. I found this beautifully written novel a joy to read. Five Stars.’  New Books Magazine ‘Unfolding through the letters between a Ukrainian dancer and her lover, the novel explores art and how people use it in their lives to complex and compelling effect.’   Attitude Magazine ‘A beautifully written story with convincing characters and a good if sometimes heart-breaking plot. Overall, a great novel from Mankowski.’   Novel Kicks Website ‘This epistolary novel takes the always present fascination with the torments of ballet dancers and adds a romantic twist. Mankowski brings every bruises foot and strained limb to life.’   The Simple Things Magazine ‘It’s unusual to find a young male writer who can write with such sensitivity and maturity. Guy Mankowski’s portrayal of the balleri

Performance of 'Letters from Yelena'

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On 01/10/12 at Dance City in Newcastle guests were invited to a performance of 'Letters from Yelena'. The event saw literature and dance brought to one stage. The night opened with a reading from one of the letters which were then performed by ballerina Laila Sanz, with choreography from Dora Frankel Dance and music from Jeremy Bradfield. A short video of the performance can be watched online on the link below- http://vimeo.com/52803418 'Letters from Yelena' can be purchased now at all good bookstores (Waterstones etc) and bought from Amazon on this link- http://www.amazon.co.uk/Letters-Yelena-Guy-Mankowski/dp/1909039101 With thanks to Hal Branson

Photos from Letters from Yelena by Guy Mankowski launch party at Dance City

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'Letters from Yelena' is released tonight

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I'm very excited that at Dance City, Newcastle this evening my second novel is being released. The launch will coincide with a performance of a scene from the book choreographed by Dora Frankel, featuring the Argentinian ballet dancer Laila Sanz (talking with me above during the development of the performance). In case that is a little too far afield, below are some of the advance quotes for the novel which I hope will entice you to buy it-   ‘It’s unusual to find a young male writer who can write with such sensitivity and maturity. Guy Mankowski’s portrayal of the ballerina Yelena is wholly convincing, taking us inside her thoughts and feelings as she describes the course of her life, from harrowing childhood to professional success, punctuated with turbulent emotional crisis. This is clearly a writer of great talent.’  Andrew Crumey, Booker Prize longlisted author. Guy Mankowski’s second novel, Letters from Yelena, is a fantastic literary achievement, Ma

How's Victoria Pendleton's Powerful Disclosure Highlights Stigma Of Mental Illness

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  On Saturday there was great newspaper coverage surrounding the fact that Victoria Pendleton, one of Britain’s most successful athletes, had revealed a history of self-harm. In a new memoir she describes how she cut herself with a pair of nail scissors, even on the night after she had won her first cycling Gold at the Beijing Olympics. In so doing I feel she has shed a strong light on the way our culture views mental illness. There is increasing acknowledgement of the fact that mental health issues carry with them a stigma. This story had such an impact because Pendleton is ‘a high achiever’, and this disclosure therefore flies in the face of many prejudices about mental illness. The prevailing view seems to still be that some people are ‘mentally well’ and the rest ‘suffer mental illness’, though this binary understanding flies in the face of mental health research, which indicates that mental health problems exist on a spectrum. I noticed one tweet from a sports feed, wh