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Square Peg swoops for Moss’ biography of the owl

8/31/2023

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Square Peg has acquired The Owl, the fifth in Stephen Moss’ series of bird biographies.

Marianne Tatepo, publishing director at Square Peg, acquired world all-language rights in a two-book deal from Broo Doherty The Owl and an unnamed second project. The Owl will be published on 5th October 2023.

The publisher says: “Following his bestselling biographies of some of our favourite birds – The Robin, The Wren, The Swallow and The Swan – author and naturalist Stephen Moss now turns his attention to a group of birds we rarely see, occasionally hear, yet are always on our minds: the owls.”

It goes on: “With this book, Stephen Moss takes us on a journey to discover the secret lives they live between twilight and dawn, from the moment they first hatch, to their nightly hunts and how they raise the next generation, weaving together his insights as a naturalist, his experiences encountering these birds in the wild, international folklore and history, and some tips for how – with a bit of luck – you can catch a glimpse of them yourself.”

​Moss said: “As always with these bird biographies, I have really enjoyed discovering incredible facts and sharing fascinating stories about some of the world’s most distinctive and charismatic birds – the owls. I hope you enjoy the book too!”

Tatepo said: “Stephen is a stalwart of Square Peg and one of Britain’s most beloved naturalists. So it is fitting that he would turn his attention to one of our favourite and the most erudite of birds: the owl.

“With this new gifty bespoke hardback replete with full colour illustrations, we will be building on the global success of his five previous books from the ‘Bird Biography’ series – which now exceed 100,000 copies sold in the UK alone and have been translated the world over – to reveal the secret lives of the most elusive and storied bird in our collective imagination.

“Stephen’s warmth, passion and deft mix of zoological observations, cultural lore and historical facts, paired with expert tips on how to spot owls in our midst, comes through in this volume that follows the interactive approach of The Robin. We hope The Owl becomes an equally cherished volume among bird enthusiasts and nature lovers of all stripes.”

From The Bookseller article | Lauren Brown
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HarperCollins’ signs Frost’s ‘savage’ Christmas crime novel

8/30/2023

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HarperCollins has acquired The Killer’s Christmas List by Chris Frost.

Daisy Watt, commissioning editor at HarperNorth, acquired world all-language rights from David Headley for publication in paperback, e-book and audio on 23rd November 2023.

The publisher will reveal the cover on the first day of Capital Crime Festival (31st August), where the author will be appearing on the panel “Box-Breakers: the books that defy genre”.

Its synopsis reads: “When a body is discovered in the shadow of the Angel of the North, DI Tom Stonem’s hopes for a peaceful Christmas alone are shattered. In the dead man’s pocket is what appears to be a little girl’s Christmas list, with the first item crossed off.

“But as the chain of killings continues, Stonem becomes convinced that the seemingly innocent list is a murderer’s twisted code. With the body count snowballing and with only a few sleeps left until Christmas, will Stonem catch the killer before they get everyone on their list?”

Frost is the author of 10 crime books under the name Chris McDonald, including the Erika Piper trilogy and The Stonebridge Mysteries. By day he is a scriptwriter and a regular voice on podcasts “The Blood Brothers” and “Friends of the North”.

Watt said: “The Killer’s Christmas List is the perfect gift for your most savage family member. Chris is an absolute delight to work with, and we couldn’t be more thrilled that he’s joined us at team HarperNorth.”
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Frost said: “The Killer’s Christmas List was such a fun book to write, and I’m so glad it found a home at the wonderful HarperNorth. Working with Daisy and the team has been a joy, and I am so excited for the world to meet DI Tom Stonem. Roll on November!”
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DHH News Roundup 21st - 27th August 2023

8/28/2023

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Last week, we spied client Phyllida Shrimpton's The Storyteller by the Sea being spotlighted in the Exmouth Journal, given the book's setting is that of the town's former Selly Beach (now a marina). 

Catch up with the article here and don't miss the book's debut outing, on 14th September!

We're welcoming the first of two new clients to the Agency this week. 

Claire Wilson joins David H Headley's list, after winning the inaugural Penguin Michael Joseph Undiscovered Voices prize. In winning the prize, Claire, an Intelligence Analyst based in a Scottish prison, has secured a book-deal with Michael Joseph and representation with David. 

Five By Five​ will be her debut novel. 
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The cover for Phillipa Ashley's new festive winter-warmer, Four Weddings and a Christmas​ (November 2023, Avon), has been revealed:
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Can the spirit of Christmas reignite an old flame?

With her thriving business Cottage Angels, Freya Bolton prepares the Lake District’s holiday homes for Christmas visitors. It’s her job to think of everything, from cinnamon-scented candles to tasteful decorations and hampers of seasonal treats.

If only her love life were such a success… After being burned by past relationships, she’s now determined to steer clear of love for good.
So when she bumps into gorgeous – and single – ex-boyfriend Travis, a no-strings festive fling seems perfect.
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But when her feelings for him begin to develop, is she on track for another romantic calamity? Or could this Christmas give her the gift of true love?


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​Client Lucinda Hawksley will be appearing at this year's Smithdown Litfest, to talk about her great-great-great-grandfather, Charles Dickens.

The talk - 'Charles Dickens and Travel with Lucinda Hawksley' - will take place on Friday 22nd September at 7pm. Get your tickers here!

We were thrilled / over the moon / delighted (genuinely, all of these things, all at once) to see Anita Frank's latest book, The Good Liars, storm its way into the Sunday Times​ Top 10 bestseller list, within its first week on sale!
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The book is a gripping murder mystery set in the 1920s, and has been described as 'exquisitely written' by A Fatal Crossing author Tom Hindle and comes 'highly recommended' from M. W. Craven.

Congratulations, Anita!

Our second new client this week comes in the form of Ed James, the bestselling author of the DI Rob Marshall, DI Fenchurch, Scott Cullen, Craig Hunter and DS Vicky Dodds series, respectively. 

Ed, a former IT project manager and now full-time writer, joins David Headley's list. 
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The BBC has commissioned Virdee, a new detective series based on A. A. Dhand’s best-selling crime novels and starring Sacha Dhawan (Doctor Who, The Great, Wolf). 

The new six-part drama for BBC One and BBC iPlayer  introduces Detective Harry Virdee (Sacha Dhawan), a Bradford cop disowned by his Sikh family for marrying Saima, who is Muslim. Harry struggles with the abandonment, constantly attempting to reunite with his family. With his personal life in chaos, he must hunt down a killer targeting the Asian community.

When the murderer kidnaps a local MP’s daughter in Bradford and holds the entire city to ransom, Harry realises that he is going to need the help of his brother-in-law Riaz, a drugs kingpin who runs the largest cartel in the county. Pulled together in an alliance that could ruin them both, Harry must make a choice: save himself and his family or save his city. He will not be able to do both.

A. A. Dhand will be adapting the books for the series. ​

Finally, a huge congratulations to Suzie Edge! Last week, it was announced that she had signed a three-book deal with Hachette Children's Group, for three non-fiction titles: the text-led titles History Stinks!: Poo Through the Ages and  History Stinks!: Wee Through the Ages, illustrated by Luke Newell (to be published in April 2024 and April 2025 respectively) and the colour title A Hole in the Head: A Gruesomely Grisly History of Medical Firsts, illustrated by Sam Caldwell (publishing in September 2025). 

​Anna Martin, senior commissioning editor, and Leah James, publishing director at Hachette Children’s Group, acquired world English rights from
Emily Glenister.​
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Hachette Children’s Group scoops three ‘hilarious’ historical titles from Edge

8/25/2023

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Hachette Children’s Group has acquired three non-fiction titles by Suzie Edge: the text-led titles History Stinks!: Poo Through the Ages and  History Stinks!: Wee Through the Ages, illustrated by Luke Newell (to be published in April 2024 and April 2025 respectively) and the colour title A Hole in the Head: A Gruesomely Grisly History of Medical Firsts, illustrated by Sam Caldwell (publishing in September 2025). 

Anna Martin, senior commissioning editor, and Leah James, publishing director at Hachette Children’s Group, acquired world English rights from Emily Glenister.

These are Edge’s first children’s titles; her book Vital Organs: A History of the World’s Most Famous Body Parts will be published by Wildfire this autumn. Wildfire also published her first book, Mortal Monarchs: 1,000 Years of Royal Deaths, in September 2022.

The publisher says: “In the new series, History Stinks!, readers will learn all about history through poo and wee – from Tudor monarchs and humble Roman plumbers, to stinky Saxons and Aztecs – told in Suzie’s hilarious middle-grade voice. In  A Hole in the Head, Suzie will take readers through medical firsts in all their technicolour gory and gruesome detail, from neolithic skull-drilling to Victorian body snatchers.”

Edge is medical historian whose TikTok channel (@suzieedge) has amassed more than 323,600 followers and 6.3 million "likes" since August 2020.

She said: “I am delighted to be working with Hachette Children’s alongside Luke and Sam, whose illustrations will bring the work to life. Having written two adult non-fiction books, it’s incredibly exciting to be able to create something that I hope will get children of many ages excited about history — warts and all!”

James said: “We’re so thrilled to be publishing three titles with Suzie Edge. Suzie’s trademark humour and expert knowledge is perfect for distilling gruesome historical facts to kids. Complemented by illustrator Sam Caldwell’s injection of colourful fun and gore, colour title A Hole in the Head: A Gruesomely Grisly History of Medical Firsts will hit just the right levels of hilarious grisly grossness to entertain and inform children.”

Martin added: “History Stinks!: Poo Through the Ages  and  History Stinks!: Wee Through the Ages are wonderful additions to our text-led list, and we can’t wait for readers to uncover loads about the loo, piles about poo and the funniest and foulest facts from the smelliest corners of history. Suzie’s new middle-grade series will be brought to life by Luke Newell’s amazingly cheeky line art, too.”

From The Bookseller​ article | Lauren Brown
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DHH News Roundup 14th - 20th August 2023

8/20/2023

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We're kicking off this week's DHH News Roundup with the first of three cover reveals. First up, the gloriously witty and unputdownable debut from Ola Tundun, Roommates (September 2023, Storm Publishing):​
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Perfect job? Check.
Perfect home? Check.
Perfect fiancé? Check.

None of this is by accident. Ariella is a card-carrying perfectionist.

On the other side of the city lives Ariella’s polar opposite. Caleb Black is an unrepentant smart-ass, seat-of-his-pants, arrogant party-boy getting through life on charisma and raw sex appeal (his words).

So why, one night, does Ariella turn up with her bags, asking to rent Caleb’s spare room?

Ariella has done a complete 180 on her life. And nothing good could ever come of this … Could it?


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We also have three fabulous publication days to celebrate this week! 

Anita Frank's The Good Liars is a thrilling WW1 murder mystery, and dubbed by author M. W. Craven as "claustrophobic, addictive and utterly compelling."

In the hot summer of 1914 a boy vanishes, never to be seen again.

Now, in 1920, the once esteemed Stilwell family of Darkacre Hall find their already troubled lives thrown into disarray when

new evidence leads to the boy’s case being reopened – and this time they themselves are under police scrutiny.

As the dead return to haunt the living, old resentments resurface and loyalties are tested, while secrets risk being unearthed that could destroy them all.

Also published this week was the brand new book from Icelandic author, Ragnar Jónasson and co-written with Icelandic PM, Katrín Jakobsdóttir - Reykjavík. 

What happened to Lara Marteinsdóttir?
Iceland, 1956. Fifteen-year-old Lára spends the summer working for a couple on the small island of Videy, just off the coast of Reykjavík.

In early August, the girl disappears without a trace.

The mystery becomes Iceland's greatest unsolved case. What happened to the young girl? Is she still alive? Did she leave the island, or did something happen to her there?
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Thirty years later in August, 1986, as the city of Reykjavík celebrates its 200th anniversary, journalist Valur Robertsson begins his own investigation into Lara's case. But as he draws closer to discovering the secret, and with the eyes of Reykjavík upon him, it soon becomes clear that Lara's disappearance is a mystery that someone will stop at nothing to keep unsolved...

Our next cover reveal this week comes in the form of the debut police procedural from T. M. Payne, Long Time Dead (March 2024, Thomas & Mercer):
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A cold case that’s no longer cold. A suspect who’s been murdered. A silenced witness.

DI Sheridan Holler is used to solving crimes on Liverpool’s streets, but after a decayed corpse turns up in a cemetery, she finds herself reopening not one but two cold cases. Seven years earlier, two women were gunned down and the only suspect, small-time drug dealer John Lively, was never seen again. Case closed. Until the body in the cemetery is identified as his.
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Holler needs to work out if Lively was killed out of revenge for the murders, or was just a victim of the criminal world he inhabited. When shocking evidence is revealed about the murder weapon, Holler’s cold case starts to look hopeless once more.

But defeat is not an option. Driven by the unsolved and traumatic murder of her brother when they were children, DI Holler’s pursuit of justice is relentless. As old wounds are reopened, the police close in on the women’s killer, but the threat of them striking again is all too real. Can DI Holler put the pieces of the puzzle together before anyone else winds up dead?

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Last week, it was announced that seven short stories from M. W. Craven have been given the green light and will be released as audiobooks. 

The collection, Cut Short, features the stories Once In A Red Moon; Why Don't Sheep Shrink?; A Permanent Solution; The Killing Field; Strange Ink; Dead Man's Fingers and Mondo Bizzarro.

It will be published on the 5th December 2023, and is available for pre-order now!

E. V. Seymour's brand new psychological thriller, The Widow's Boyfriend, was published this week and is now available in eBook.

Verity's widowed mother thinks her new boyfriend is the perfect gentleman, handsome and distinguished. Verity thinks he's a lying conman. Can she prove it...?
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Our final cover reveal comes in the form of the highly-anticipated third book from bestselling and award-winning author, Stuart Turton. The Last Murder at the End of the World will be published by Bloomsbury Raven in March 2024.
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Solve the murder to save what's left of the world.

Outside the island there is nothing: the world destroyed by a fog that swept the planet, killing anyone it touched. On the island: it is idyllic. 122 villagers and 3 scientists, living in peaceful harmony. The villagers are content to fish, farm and feast, to obey their nightly curfew, to do what they're told by the scientists.

Until, to the horror of the islanders, one of their beloved scientists is found brutally stabbed to death. And they learn the murder has triggered a lowering of the security system around the island, the only thing that was keeping the fog at bay.

If the murder isn't solved within 92 hours, the fog will smother the island – and everyone on it.

But the security system has also wiped everyone's memories of exactly what happened the night before, which means that someone on the island is a murderer – and they don't even know it…

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Finally, we are very happy to welcome author Beth Lewis to the Agency. 

Beth, who is the author of books including The Wolf Road and Children of the Sun, joins David H Headley's list and will be working with him on her new novel, set in the Gold Rush era.
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DHH News Roundup 7th - 13th August 2023

8/13/2023

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Annie Taylor's recently released The Truth About Her, is the Apple Books Thriller of the Month!

The book, an insanely propulsive and gripping look at the darker side of social media, also reached No.1 in the Apple Books charts over the weekend.

The soon-to-be-published debut non-fiction from Lucy Fulford, The Exiled, has received two fantastic endorsements over the last couple of weeks:

"Weaving together tenderly reported personal stories with the grand sweep of imperial history, this is a compelling and impressive account of a time - and population - often overlooked."
Samira Shackle, journalist and author of ​Karachi Vice

"A lyrical and penetrating examination of what happened to one family and the Ugandan Asians more broadly."
Giles Foden, author of The Last King of Scotland
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Over the weekend, Ragnar Jónasson and Katrín Jakobsdóttir were interviewed by The Sunday Times over the weekend about their upcoming novel together, Reykjavík. 

The book is published in the UK this week (after becoming an instant bestseller in Iceland in 2022), and in the article, Jakobsdóttir delves into why Iceland, one of the 'safest countries on earth' is so obsessed with the genre. 

​Catch up here.

The Tyranny of Faith, the epic sequel to Richard Swan's Sunday Times bestselling The Justice of Kings, was published in paperback last week. 

Sir Konrad Vonvalt - the most powerful and feared of the Emperor's Justices - must face down a growing threat to the Empire. 

​Order your copy here!
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Also published last week was Kathleen Whyman's Would You Ask My Husband That?, a hilarious and honest look at juggling a work / life balance - and what happens when the gender switch is flipped in a traditional 2.4 marriage...

The book is available in eBook, print-on-demand and audiobook. 

Living North magazine conducted an interview with bestselling author, M. W. Craven, asking him about his recent Theakston's win as well as his most recent book, Fearless, and what influences his writing career.

A fascinating and insightful article that you can catch up on now.
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Louise Swanson's dystopian thriller, End of Story, was reviewed in Yorkshire Living magazine last week:

"This is the ultimate terrifying scenario for fiction lovers ... This moving book chills and captivates throughout. My fear now is that Swanson's fiction will come true."

And finally, congratulations to Stephen Moss, whose Ten Birds That Changed the World, has been shortlisted for the James Copper Wainwright Prize 2023. 

Wainwright Prize celebrates the finest nature, travel and environmental writing that encourages exploration of the great British outdoors. The winner will be announced on the 14th September.
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DHH News Roundup 31st July - 6th August 2023

8/6/2023

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As we enter a new month, we have a few fantastic Kindle Monthly Deals for you to take full advantage of! Simply click on the book jacket below to nab the book for a fraction of the price - this month only​!
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A very happy publication day in Denmark to M. W. Craven, whose Botanikeren (The Botanist) was released last week by Danish publishers, Jentas. The book was also published in Germany by Droemer Knaur as Der Botaniker​.
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Mike was also interviewed by the Independent for their 'One Minute With...' column. Catch up here.

We were delighted to see Prima mag's recommendations for August included Anita Frank's historical crime mystery, The Good Liars, and Victoria Selman's new psychological thriller, All the Little Liars. 

"Get ready to be lost in a story of lies and murder in this fabulous story set in 1920 ... Will real Agatha Christie vibes, this will have you captivated." The Good Liars

"I was gripped reading this one, I even had to go back to reread passages to confirm what I thought. The dual timeline added to the tension and kept me eagerly turning the pages." All the Little Liars​

Two writers of the dark genre at the absolute top of their game, the books are available for pre-order now.
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We loved seeing this feature by client Mandy Robotham in Prima mag last week, which spotlights the true stories of some of the bravest female heroes of the war Mandy's latest book. The War Pianist, centres around two women from separate nations, brought together by intrigue and espionage.​
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A very warm welcome to new client, Will Carver. 

Will, who joins David Headley's list, is the bestselling author of the January Series – Girl 4 (2011), The Two (2012), The Killer Inside (2013), Dead Set (2013) – and the critically acclaimed Detective Pace series, which includes Good Samaritans (2018), Nothing Important Happened Today(2019) and Hinton Hollow Death Trip (2020), all of which were selected as books of the year in mainstream international press.

Finally, we are delighted to announce that HarperCollins imprint, One More Chapter, have bought three more books from bestselling author, Julie Caplin, including her recently released The French Chateau Dream. It was also announced this week that Julie has hit the 2 million copies sold mark, with her 'Romantic Escapes' series.

Publisher Charlotte Ledger acquired world all-language rights from Broo Doherty. The next book is due spring 2024 and the third will come in autumn 2024.

Read the full announcement here. 
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One More Chapter secures three more from Caplin

8/6/2023

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One More Chapter (OMC) has signed three new titles by Julie Caplin including her 10th book The French Chateau Dream.

Publisher Charlotte Ledger acquired world all-language rights from Broo Doherty. The first book is due spring 2024 and the second will come in autumn 2024.
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"With her hugely popular Romantic Escapes series, Caplin has seen incredible success both in her home market and further afield and her books have hit the print bestseller charts in Germany, Italy and the Czech Republic among others," the publisher said.

The HarperCollins rights team have now sold her books into 19 languages and, at London Book Fair, One More Chapter hosted a dinner for the author and her foreign teams with publishers from 10 countries attending and celebrating the success of the series around the globe.

The new deal also features "ambitious growth plans", HarperCollins said, for Caplin’s series in the UK, starting with The French Chateau Dream, which is out now and available in all formats.

Caplin said: "After 20 books, I can say I’ve found my publishing home with the amazing One More Chapter [OMC] team. Working with Charlotte Ledger, publisher at OMC, is an absolute dream. I know authors say this about their editors but she really does brings something special to the editing process.

"She’s been endlessly supportive and encouraging, especially when I’ve wanted to write something in a new genre or go in a different direction. The real bonus has been the work that the rights team have done, they’re the unsung heroes of the publishing world and have secured some amazing foreign rights deals for my series."

Doherty said: "One More Chapter have taken Jules’s books to new heights, both in the UK and on the international stage and I know with this new deal they will surpass themselves."
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Ledger added: ‘There aren’t enough words to describe how proud I am of all that Jules has achieved. We’ve worked together for eight years now and I still love her writing every bit as much as the first time I read her on submission. The whole team here at OMC is hugely ambitious for Jules’s career and this new deal will see a step-change in her publishing in all formats and territories."

From The Bookseller article | Heloise Wood
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