Thanks A Million, Big Fella is expected to be the hit of the Christmas bestsellers. The book, on you know who and about you know what, is already well under way, says Blackwater Press publisher John O'Connor, but as the author is still deep in research, he is not willing to reveal himself just yet. He has material, says O'Connor, that has not emerged at the tribunal, at least the current one.
Blackwater has a talent for producing controversial and timely political books. It had bestsellers with Mara by Tim Ryan and One Spin On The Merry Go Round by Sean Duignan. It also published Dear John by Sam Smyth - a leading figure in the current drama - and Michael Nugent in 1993. The authors sent £5 notes to various celebrities seeking absurd favours, such as autographs. They wrote to Charlie Haughey begging him to return to power and stating they had a sizeable nest-egg available for a campaign; he replied suggesting a meeting. Ben Dunne didn't reply at all. The Pope kept the fiver and sent his blessing.