Here's a very exciting thing that has happened.

For years now I've been a huge fan of the novels of @ElinorLipman. I have read them all; they are witty and wise and never less than a delight.

She is one of those authors whose books I foist upon people — I compare her to Nora Ephron, Anne Tyler and Nick Hornby which usually piques their interest — and every one of them has thanked me afterwards.

But her recent books have not been published in the UK so I have had to rely on US editions.

As an enthusiast who is also a publisher I found this frustrating so, one day, I dropped her a line using the contact page on her website just to introduce myself and say that if she was ever interested in being published by a tiny indie then I was her man.

I was delighted, and more than a little surprised, when she replied pretty much straight away with enthusiasm and gusto. She put me in touch with her agent and, well, I am about to publish one of my favourite authors and bring her two most recent books to a UK readership.

For the past couple of months we have been emailing regularly, discussing cover designs and publicity and her love of Liverpool FC (she flew over to watch them play a couple of months ago) as well as building up a list of people who have said they are fans of her work.

And that list includes Maria Semple, Nigella Lawson, Liane Moriarty, Maggie O'Farrell, Jonathan Franzen, Judy Blume, Fay Weldon, Amanda Craig, Jill Mansell, Sarra Manning and many more. Feel free to add your name!

We are publishing two books, Good Riddance and On Turpentine Lane next year. The covers are splendid.

I will be banging on about these loads next year, and with good reason. Until then, do please check out her earlier books. I started with The Pursuit of Alice Thrift. Bother your local bookshop for copies.