Barbara Broccoli, co-producer of the James Bond films, has penned a personal Prelude to Splendid Books’ new title Catching Bullets: Memoirs of a Bond Fan. Barbara, whose father Albert R. “Cubby” Broccoli co-founded the 007 films, has described Mark O’Connell’s debut book as “a wonderfully funny and touching memoir.”
“To be given Barbara Broccoli’s personal and heartfelt salute to Catching Bullets is a real honour,” says Mark O’Connell. “Barbara’s encouragement and warm praise sees the journey of writing this book come full circle. And like those white circles that launch every 007 movie, her kind Prelude is a fitting way to start this book and honour my Grandfather Jimmy who, in different ways, drove us both to Bond.”
Catching Bullets: Memoirs of a Bond Fan is witty and smart and comes from the offbeat vantage point of a gay teenager whose Grandfather Jimmy was chauffeur to 007 producer Cubby Broccoli. It is a love-letter to James Bond, Duran Duran title songs and bolting down your tea quick enough to watch Roger Moore falling out of a plane without a parachute.
“We are delighted that Barbara Broccoli has lent her support to Mark and Catching Bullets in this way,” says Steve Clark, Publishing Director at Splendid Books. “It’s a real tribute to Mark, who has always sought to present his personal take on the institution that is James Bond – and his Grandfather’s story – with integrity, originality and humour.”
In addition to Barbara Broccoli’s Prelude, Catching Bullets has a Foreword by writer and actor Mark Gatiss and an Afterword by former Bond girl Maud Adams, who starred with Roger Moore in the 007 film Octopussy.
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