This month we publish two very different works of fiction: an award-nominated literary novel from one of New Zealand’s leading Maori writers, and a rom-com sequel from the author of a number one best-selling Kindle title.

The Imaginary Lives of James Pōneke tells the story of a 19th-century Maori orphan who agrees to come to Britain to be exhibited to paying visitors.

It’s written by Tina Makereti, who has been festooned with literary awards in her native New Zealand. This novel was longlisted for the country’s main literary prize, the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards.

The distinguished New Zealand writer Dame Fiona Kidman calls it ‘a riveting vision of the world seen form the inside out’, while author Stella Duffy describes it as ‘a historical love letter to London, a coming-of-age story, a love story’. She adds: ‘Do yourself a favour – read it!’

To follow her advice, you can order The Imaginary Lives of James Pōneke at 25% off using the  code BOTM, with free UK p&p.

In a very different vein but equally acclaimed, Meet Me in Cockleberry Bay is the sequel to The Corner Shop in Cockleberry Bay, the romantic comedy by Nicola May which was the best-selling Kindle book in the UK in January, and which we republished in paperback in February.

The sequel, too, was first published as an ebook on its initial release earlier this summer. Since then it has had more than 300 five-star reviews on Amazon, as well as attracting rave verdicts from book bloggers on a blog tour in July.

Novelist and blogger Kim Nash spoke for many when she called it ‘a brilliantly written, feel-good, fantabulous read that really does warm the cockleberries of your heart’.

We were delighted to see Nicola getting the credit she deserves for her extraordinary publishing story with a feature recently in the Daily Mail and a news story in The Times.

To see what the fuss is all about, you can order both Meet Me in Cockleberry Bay and The Corner Shop in Cockleberry Bay at 25% off using the discount code BOTM, with free UK p&p.