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Winner of the Judge's Choice Category Announced at the Business Book Awards

James Thorton and Martin Goodman

What I was determined to do somehow was to create a book that was an evidence-based narrative of hope.

The organisers of the inaugural Business Book Awards are delighted to announce the winners of the Judges Choice category are James Thorton and Martin Goodman, authors of Client Earth. The winner of this category was decided upon by a majority vote of the judging panel, lead by Lucy McCarraher, the founder of the Business Book Awards.

Martin Goodman from Leicester, Leicestershire, UK, said “For me, I was writing the narrative of the book and it was an inspirational journey. What I was determined to do somehow was to create a book that was an evidence-based narrative of hope.”

James Thorton said “The client really is the earth, and all of you who live on earth so we’re working for you. You are all our clients. My heavens, we never thought we’d win a business Book Award so thank you!”

James Thornton is an environmental lawyer and writer. He is the founding CEO of ClientEarth, a not-for-profit environmental-law organisation with offices in London, Brussels, and Warsaw. The New Statesman named James as one of ten people who could change the world.

Martin Goodman was born in Leicester, and has lived and worked in China, Qatar, the USA, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Germany, The Netherlands, Italy and France. Travel forms a large part of his writing: both for strictly travel-related books and also for novels and biographies.

The awards were hosted by Nadine Dereza, a business presenter and experienced conference chair and Simon de Cintra who has recently left the corporate world to train as a professional actor. The event took place at the Grange City Hotel in London where the authors of this year’s best business books gathered to celebrate the first Business Book Awards. Other nominated authors in this category were Andrew R Jennings with ‘Almost is Not Good Enough’, Steven van Belleghem with ‘Customers The Day After Tommorow’ and Lyn Bromley and Donna Whitbrook with ‘Trusted’.

Lucy McCarraher, author of 11 books, co-founder and Managing Editor of Rethink Press and the founder of the awards said “Our aim has been to develop a new and inclusive set of awards for the authors of all kinds of business books, who have taken any and every route to getting their book published.”

Judge’s Choice Nominees
Judged by Lucy McCarraher

Almost is Not Good Enough by Andrew R Jennings (Andrew R Jennings)
Client Earth by James Thorton and Martin Goodman (Scribe UK)
Customers the Day After Tomorrow by Steven van Belleghem (Lannoo)
Trusted by Lyn Bromley & Donna Whitbrook (Practical Inspiration Publishing)

The overall winner of the Business Book Awards was Campbell Macpherson, author of The Change Catalyst who also received the award in the Leading the Team Category.

ENDS

Lucy McCarraher and the event organisers are available for interview.

For further information please contact Mary-Jane Rose at mary-Jane@famouspublicity.com, Adam Betteridge at adam@famouspublicity.com or Tina Fotherby at tina@famouspublicity.com or call 0333 344 2341.

Lucy McCarraher, Managing Editor

Lucy McCarraher started her first publishing company at university, and has been publishing, editing and writing ever since. She has been a magazine and book editor and publisher, print and TV journalist in Australia and the UK; a writers’ agent, and editor for Methuen. As Director of Development at Lifetime Productions International, she developed, wrote and edited UK and international TV and video series, including three series of Runaway Bay, a children’s series shot in Martinique and starring Naomie Harris; Go Wild! with Chris Packham; and the Lovers Guide video series and books.

Lucy became a national expert in work-life balance, writing academic and business reports for clients and authoring The Work-Life Manual and The Book of Balanced Living. Her clients included multinational and blue chip companies, large public sector and voluntary organisations, and SMEs. She has also worked as a coach with many individuals on their work-life balance and personal development.

Lucy is the author of ten published books, including her latest, best-selling How To Write Your Book Without The Fuss, with her business partner Joe Gregory; and the acclaimed How To Write Fiction Without The Fuss. Her first novel, Blood and Water, was shortlisted in a major competition and published by Macmillan New Writing, followed by Kindred Spirits and Mr Mikey’s Ladies. Lucy’s self-help books include A Simpler Life and The Real Secret, both co-authored with social psychologist, Annabel Shaw. The Real Secret was published by Bookshaker and Lucy subsequently became Commissioning Editor of the publishing company, contributing to its 14-year experience of niche business and self-development books.

Lucy became the Publish Mentor for KPI UK in 2013, for KPI Singapore in 2015, and enjoys working with the wide variety of talented KPI entrepreneurs to plan, write, and publish their business books.

She mentors and coaches individual writers; gives keynotes, workshops, masterclasses and webinars in all aspects of writing and publishing; and has a post-graduate diploma (DTLLS) in teaching Creative Writing and Literacy.