Sylvie is a dresser working for the 80s pop band Concierge, who are currently enjoying a 21st century revival. Sylvie becomes romantically involved with Nick – reluctant heart-throb and the least unhinged member of the band – after bonding amid the chaos of touring life over a shared obsession with Television’s seminal album ‘Marquee Moon’. However, a dark secret threatens to destroy their future together and much more besides.
PRAISE FOR ‘SHINE ON, MARQUEE MOON’:
‘I really enjoyed it. It’s funny! And a bit freaky.’ Wilko Johnson;
Included in NME’s ‘Objects Of Desire’ spread, Nov 18th 2016;
‘Hilarious and poignant, a rock n roll love story about a woman seeking her own place in a cock-centric industry. A stylish ride through band-life, written by a woman well-versed in music’s tricks and secrets…’ Bestselling novelist Emma Jane Unsworth (Animals; Hungry, The Stars and Everything);
‘Kick ‘em in the nuts and leave ‘em laughing comic genius.’ Music journalist Gavin Martin (NME, Daily Mirror);
‘Very funny, superbly written, and at times a little too close to the rock ‘n’ roll truth.’ Writer, DJ and director Graham Bendel (Subway Sect: Derailed Sense);
‘An instant rock ‘n’ roll classic. Independent book of the month.’ Blackwell’s High Holborn;
‘Bursting with ascerbic wit and savvy truth-telling. A great debut.’ Louder Than War;
“A great story, full of sharp and funny observations. Someone needs to form a Concierge tribute band.” Gideon Coe, BBC 6Music;
“Shine on, Marquee Moon is everything you’d expect from Howe: warm, wry, evocative and unconventional. This is an author who knows the idiosyncrasies of the music business and captures them with candour and affection in a novel that is funny, fierce and better than most comeback tours.” Jane Bradley, director of For Books’ Sake;
‘Fab – it’s Smash Hits edited by Scooby Doo, or Murder She Wrote written by Nick Kent.’ Mark Hart, Rock ‘n’ Roll Book Club;
“Tangled romance, ripe idiocy, monstrous self-delusion and ‘that familiar backstage smell – hairspray, sweat, alcohol, dust burning on lightbulbs’ … Zoë Howe’s crackling account of life around a rock band is fast, funny and superbly well-observed” Mark Ellen, renowned music journalist and editor (Smash Hits, The Word, Select, Mojo, Q), broadcaster and author of Rock Stars Stole My Life;
“Heroin, and a fine heroine – Zoë Howe knows exactly how it’ll pan out. Classic, clever, funny tale of what happens in the covens around those all boy-clubs of bands…” Kirsty Allison, editor of Cold Lips, books/arts editor of DJ Magazine;
‘I’ve already read it twice and declare it a truly hip read.’ Pete Donohoe, Hastings Independent Press;
ZOË HOWE’s other books include the upcoming ‘Dayglo: The Poly Styrene Story’ (Omnibus Press 2019), ‘Lee Brilleaux: Rock ‘n’ Roll Gentleman’ (Polygon, 2015), ‘Barbed Wire Kisses -–The Jesus and Mary Chain Story’ (Polygon, 2015), ‘Wilko Johnson – Looking Back At Me’ (Cadiz 2012), ‘Stevie Nicks – Visions, Dreams and Rumours’ (Omnibus Press, 2014), ‘Florence + The Machine – An Almighty Sound’ (Omnibus Press 2011) and ‘Typical Girls? The Story Of The Slits’ (Omnibus Press, 2011). She is also a visual artist and plays the drums.
