PRH And Charlie Mackesy Celebrate Global Bestseller Success
The British author and illustrator’s new book tops the bestseller lists in several countries.
“Always Remember,” the new book by Charlie Mackesy, published globally by Penguin Random House on October 9, has gone straight to No. 1 on the bestseller lists in the U.S., the U.K., and Canada. The book returns to the world of his bestselling “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse,” which has now reached more than ten million readers worldwide. The British author and illustrator appeared at the Bertelsmann Management Meeting in Gütersloh this June, where he spoke with Gail Rebuck, Group Creative Coordinator and member of Bertelsmann’s Group Management Committee, about his work.
Mackesy’s new bestseller “Always Remember” was released in a coordinated global publication week led by Ebury in the U.K., a Penguin Random House UK imprint, in collaboration with Penguin Life in the U.S. Translations were published simultaneously in 15 countries, with more releases planned for next year. Global publishing partners include Penguin Random House Verlagsgruppe in Germany and Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial in Spain, both of which also released the book on October 9. On October 20, Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial in Portugal followed with a Portuguese-language edition. In the U.K., the book topped both the overall market and the “Sunday Times” bestseller list, while in the U.S. it leads this week’s “New York Times” list.
Global book tour
To accompany the book’s publication, Charlie Mackesy embarked on a worldwide book tour that will continue into next year. The tour includes events and media appearances in the U.K., the U.S. (Washington, Boston, New York), and Canada (Toronto), as well as in key European markets such as the Netherlands and Germany, where initial sales figures also look promising. The international Penguin Random House stand at the Frankfurt Book Fair in mid-October featured illustrations from the book and a special “Mole Mail” box.
Ebury supported the launch of “Always Remember” with a large-scale global campaign built around the book’s core themes – community, vulnerability, and creativity. Interviews with outlets such as the BBC and popular podcasts have brought Mackesy’s message to millions of people. An exclusive edition of the book was published in partnership with Waterstones in the U.K. and with Barnes & Noble in the U.S., both of which will also host the author during his tour.
Send Mole Mail postcards to Charlie Mackesy
More than 50 special “Mole Mail” boxes have been placed in bookstores worldwide this fall – even as far away as Hawaii. They invite visitors to pause, write, sketch, or doodle on the provided Mole postcards and drop them in the mailbox to send to the author. Independent bookstores have received exclusive wrapping paper along with merchandising items such as Mole pins, bookmarks, and character stickers. To bring the book’s illustrations to life, more than 1,000 standees and hanging displays have been shipped to bookstores worldwide, and a new advertising campaign will launch in November to remind readers that “the blue sky above never leaves.”
In London, the department store Fortnum & Mason is hosting “The Mole at The Parlour.” Visitors can enjoy a café decorated with illustrations from the book, where the store’s executive pastry chef has created a three-tier “Mole Cake.” A special window display has been unveiled, and Fortnum & Mason is offering a gift bundle that includes the book, a Mole plush toy, a special tote bag, strawberry preserves, and a recipe card.
„The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse“
Charlie Mackesy’s first bestseller “The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse” was published in 2019 and has since been translated into more than 50 languages. In 2023, Mackesy co-wrote and co-directed a short animated adaptation, which won the BAFTA Award for Best British Film. In “Always Remember,” the four unlikely friends – the boy, the mole, the fox, and the horse – journey once again through the wilderness. They’re not quite sure what they’re searching for. They know life can be hard, but they also know they love one another – and that cake is usually the answer. But when dark clouds appear, will the boy remember what he needs to weather the storm?
