Latest news with #PlotTwist
Glasgow Times
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow author Breea Keenan wins prestigious award
Breea Keenan scooped the Debut Romantic Novel Award at the Romantic Novelists' Association's (RNA) Romantic Novel of the Year Awards 2025. Published by Headline, an imprint of Hachette UK, Plot Twist impressed judges with its originality and fresh voice in the romantic fiction genre. Read more: 'Emotional rollercoaster': Mum who beat cancer completes challenge in friend's memory Breea, a former journalist with a first-class honours degree in English Literature, Journalism, and Creative Writing from Strathclyde University, now works in marketing and communications. She said: "It was fantastic to attend the Romantic Novelists' Association Awards for the first time this year and meet the amazing authors, publishing representatives, literary agents, and RNA members. "I was absolutely thrilled when Plot Twist was announced as the winner. "It is fantastic to get such positive recognition, especially as a debut author." The prestigious awards ceremony was held at the Leonardo Royal London City Hotel on May 19 and hosted by prize-winning author Brigid Coady. Awards were presented by leading figures in romantic fiction, including RNA President and Sunday Times bestselling author Sue Moorcroft and RNA Chair and award-winning author Seána Talbot. The evening also included the presentation of the Joan Hessayon Award for New Writers, sponsored by the estate of the late Dr David Hessayon, and presented by Maryam Oliver (writing as Melissa Oliver), who won the award in 2020 and now serves as its coordinator. Seána Talbot said: "The RNA is proud to celebrate the work and achievements of these talented authors, whose work represents the extraordinary strength, success, and diversity of romantic fiction as a genre. "Huge congratulations to our worthy winners and many thanks to our respected reader-judges and to the awards volunteers, without whom the awards simply could not happen." RNA winners 2025 (Image: Supplied) Read more: Top five BBQ hacks from Glasgow MasterChef champion Sharon Ibbotson, RNA awards coordinator, said: "I am delighted to congratulate our winners on their well-deserved awards. "Thanks also to our wonderful reader-judges, without whom these awards could not take place.' The RNA Awards, established in 1960, celebrate excellence in romantic fiction across all forms. They are highly respected within the UK publishing industry, with previous winners including bestselling authors Santa Montefiore, Joe Heap, Julie Cohen, and Milly Johnson.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Thunderful Group AB (OSTO:THUNDR) Q1 2025 Earnings Call Highlights: Stability Amidst ...
Release Date: May 15, 2025 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Thunderful Group AB (OSTO:THUNDR) reported a slight increase in net revenue to 62 million SEK, indicating stability despite not having major new releases. The restructuring programs have led to significant cost reductions, particularly in personnel costs, which decreased by 27 million SEK. The company signed a new publishing contract with a talented developer, Plot Twist, indicating future growth potential. The existing game catalog continues to perform well, providing a stable revenue backbone. The co-development and services segment saw an 11% growth, driven by project milestone deliveries and stable costs. Cash flow from operations was negative at minus 12 million SEK, partly due to restructuring costs. The liquidity position decreased significantly from 150 million SEK to 83 million SEK. The company is still facing challenges in achieving positive cash flow and long-term commercial sustainability. There were delays in some co-development projects, affecting the average billing rate and revenue. The game 'Rainbreaker' had a muted sales impact, aligning with limited financial expectations. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 3 Warning Signs with OSTO:THUNDR. Q: What are you most satisfied with in the publishing segment this quarter? A: Martin Wolfishsch, CEO: Despite not having any major new releases in Q1, the stability of our existing catalog was the best performer. This stability is crucial for our business, supported by the efforts of our sales and marketing teams. Q: Did you conduct any specific events in the quarter that boosted transactional sales? A: Martin Wolfishsch, CEO: We didn't have any specific events this quarter, but we did various activities for games like ASCA, which helped increase revenue. Q: How did Rainbreaker perform in terms of sales, and was it in line with expectations? A: Martin Wolfishsch, CEO: Rainbreaker received good reviews but had a muted sales impact, which was in line with our limited financial expectations for the game. Q: Can you provide details about the games pipeline, especially regarding the new contract with Plot Twist? A: Martin Wolfishsch, CEO: We have an exciting pipeline for this year and are signing new titles for 2026 and beyond. The publishing contract with Plot Twist is part of this, and more details will be visible in the Q2 report. Q: How has productivity improved since the organizational changes? A: Martin Wolfishsch, CEO: Productivity has improved, though it's hard to quantify. The focus is on operational excellence, and improvements are ongoing, which will reflect in our commercial performance. Q: How should we think about the co-development and services segment's growth and profitability? A: Miguel Faulkner, CFO: The segment saw an 11% growth, and profitability improved. We aim to maintain a strong EBIT margin, but fluctuations are expected. The segment should be viewed like a consulting business with potential revenue share boosts. Q: Is the current cash position sufficient to reach positive free cash flow? A: Miguel Faulkner, CFO: Our goal is to reach positive cash flow without needing additional investments, but this depends on the performance of our releases this year. We constantly evaluate our cash position with the board. Q: What impact do you hope the new creator program, Thunderful Insiders, will have? A: Martin Wolfishsch, CEO: The program aims to engage more influencers and enhance community activity around our games, potentially improving marketing efficiency and community engagement. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Thunderful Group AB (OSTO:THUNDR) Q1 2025 Earnings Call Highlights: Stability Amidst ...
Release Date: May 15, 2025 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Thunderful Group AB (OSTO:THUNDR) reported a slight increase in net revenue to 62 million SEK, indicating stability despite not having major new releases. The restructuring programs have led to significant cost reductions, particularly in personnel costs, which decreased by 27 million SEK. The company signed a new publishing contract with a talented developer, Plot Twist, indicating future growth potential. The existing game catalog continues to perform well, providing a stable revenue backbone. The co-development and services segment saw an 11% growth, driven by project milestone deliveries and stable costs. Cash flow from operations was negative at minus 12 million SEK, partly due to restructuring costs. The liquidity position decreased significantly from 150 million SEK to 83 million SEK. The company is still facing challenges in achieving positive cash flow and long-term commercial sustainability. There were delays in some co-development projects, affecting the average billing rate and revenue. The game 'Rainbreaker' had a muted sales impact, aligning with limited financial expectations. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 3 Warning Signs with OSTO:THUNDR. Q: What are you most satisfied with in the publishing segment this quarter? A: Martin Wolfishsch, CEO: Despite not having any major new releases in Q1, the stability of our existing catalog was the best performer. This stability is crucial for our business, supported by the efforts of our sales and marketing teams. Q: Did you conduct any specific events in the quarter that boosted transactional sales? A: Martin Wolfishsch, CEO: We didn't have any specific events this quarter, but we did various activities for games like ASCA, which helped increase revenue. Q: How did Rainbreaker perform in terms of sales, and was it in line with expectations? A: Martin Wolfishsch, CEO: Rainbreaker received good reviews but had a muted sales impact, which was in line with our limited financial expectations for the game. Q: Can you provide details about the games pipeline, especially regarding the new contract with Plot Twist? A: Martin Wolfishsch, CEO: We have an exciting pipeline for this year and are signing new titles for 2026 and beyond. The publishing contract with Plot Twist is part of this, and more details will be visible in the Q2 report. Q: How has productivity improved since the organizational changes? A: Martin Wolfishsch, CEO: Productivity has improved, though it's hard to quantify. The focus is on operational excellence, and improvements are ongoing, which will reflect in our commercial performance. Q: How should we think about the co-development and services segment's growth and profitability? A: Miguel Faulkner, CFO: The segment saw an 11% growth, and profitability improved. We aim to maintain a strong EBIT margin, but fluctuations are expected. The segment should be viewed like a consulting business with potential revenue share boosts. Q: Is the current cash position sufficient to reach positive free cash flow? A: Miguel Faulkner, CFO: Our goal is to reach positive cash flow without needing additional investments, but this depends on the performance of our releases this year. We constantly evaluate our cash position with the board. Q: What impact do you hope the new creator program, Thunderful Insiders, will have? A: Martin Wolfishsch, CEO: The program aims to engage more influencers and enhance community activity around our games, potentially improving marketing efficiency and community engagement. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus.
Daily Record
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Ross Kemp's 'rollercoaster' first marriage and wife who 'straightened him out'
Ross Kemp has been married twice and is a proud father of four. The former EastEnders actor's first marriage was to Rebekah Wade, and he described their relationship as a 'rollercoaster' Ross Kemp returns to our screens this week as he delves into his family history on the popular series Who Do You Think You Are? But how much do you know about his life behind the scenes? From a turbulent first marriage to becoming a father of four, we take a closer look at the EastEnders star's personal life beyond the spotlight... Rebekah Wade Ross encountered his first spouse, Rebekah Wade, at a golf event; she was then serving as deputy editor of News of the World while he played the iconic role on EastEnders. The duo pledged their commitment in 1996 but hit pause in 1997 citing 'work pressures', reports the Mirror. They soon reunited, leading to a Las Vegas wedding in June 2002. Their marriage, however, experienced turbulence, with Rebekah confessing later on that their union resembled a 'rollercoaster', openly acknowledging infidelity. By 2006, the partnership unravelled, ending in divorce by March 2009. In the same year, Rebekah tied the knot with racehorse trainer Charlie Brooks. Reflecting on her departure from Ross, she remarked: "I think we were both working incredibly long hours... in completely different industries. The whole relationship was a bit of a roller coaster. Sometimes it was really good, and sometimes it wasn't so. I think that's how he would describe it." Renee O'Brien In 2012, Ross tied the knot with his second wife, Australian native Renee O'Brien, and they continue to enjoy marital bliss. The couple prefers to keep their personal life under wraps, hence little is known about Renee. However, Ross has occasionally mentioned his wife in interviews. While discussing the demanding nature of his filming schedule, the ex-EastEnders actor expressed remorse over spending time away from his family. Speaking to Metro Online, he confessed: "Guilt, I think that's part and parcel of it. But I think, my wife didn't really know me from my soap days [...] So when we [he and Renee] first got together, she just thought I was some kind of grumpy old bald bloke like in a bar – and she's probably right about that today, I'm still a grumpy old bald bloke in a bar." During a 2022 interview on the Plot Twist podcast, he delved deeper into why his marriage has stood the test of time. "Renee's pretty practical, she's Australian, she's a lawyer, she's very straight. She'd never seen EastEnders. She had no idea I was Grant Mitchell or anything like that and she didn't really understand that I was doing documentaries," Ross explained. He also disclosed how he behaved poorly during the initial stages of their relationship, but Renee managed to 'straighten him out'. He admitted: "I'd just come back from Afghanistan when I first met her and I generally behaved quite badly the first four or five weeks." "I've changed now, obviously, but I used to go on a bit of a bender with some of the guys, and she sort of straightened me out. But she knows what I do and you know, there's a great saying, particularly used by mates of mine in the armed forces, which is 'quick goodbyes and long hellos'." Children Ross proudly dotes on his four children. Following his divorce from first wife Rebekah, his next relationship with makeup artist Nicole Coleman saw the arrival of his first son. With Renee, he had three more children: son Leo, born in 2015, and twins Ava and Kitty, who arrived in 2017. In an interview with Mail Online back in 2019, Ross expressed contentment with his family life, saying, "I'm very happy I've got my children and wouldn't have it any other way. I could have done it about a decade earlier though, I should've done." He reflected on his previous lifestyle before fatherhood, noting: "I was old, I was in my 40s, I was quite selfish before, in terms of you put yourself first, you look at what's going to be best for you and that totally goes out the window when you have children, you put your children way in front of everything you do."
Daily Mirror
06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Ross Kemp's wild love life - 'rollercoaster' marriage and wife who 'straightened' him out
Former EastEnders star Ross Kemp might be a well-known face on TV - but he prefers to keep his private life out of the spotlight. Here's everything we know about his love life Ross Kemp is back on screens this week, researching his ancestors for the hit series, Who Do You Think You Are? But how much do you know about his family life at home? From his rollercoaster first marriage through to the arrival of his four children, we've taken a closer look at the EastEnders star's private life away from the cameras... Rebekah Wade Ross met his first wife, Rebekah Wade, at a golf tournament when she was deputy editor of News of the World and he was starring as Grant Mitchell in EastEnders. The couple got engaged in 1996, but in 1997 took a brief break 'due to work pressures'. They soon reunited and, in June 2002, they got married in Las Vegas. They encountered a rocky relationship, and Rebekah later revealed that their marriage was a 'rollercoaster', with her admitting to having an affair. They separated in 2006 and divorced in March 2009. That same year, Rebekah married racehorse trainer Charlie Brooks. Speaking about her split from Ross, she said: "I think we were both working incredibly long hours… in completely different industries. The whole relationship was a bit of a roller coaster. Sometimes it was really good, and sometimes it wasn't so. I think that's how he would describe it." Renee O'Brien In 2012, Ross married his second wife, Australian-born Renee O'Brien, and the couple remains happily married to this day. The family like to keep their personal life private, and little is known about Renee. But Ross has briefly spoken about his wife in the past. While discussing his intense filming schedule, the former EastEnders actor revealed his guilt about leaving his family. He told Metro Online: "Guilt, I think that's part and parcel of it. But I think, my wife didn't really know me from my soap days […] So when we [he and Renee] first got together, she just thought I was some kind of grumpy old bald bloke like in a bar – and she's probably right about that today, I'm still a grumpy old bald bloke in a bar." In an interview on the Plot Twist podcast in 2022, he went into more detail and explained why his marriage has lasted. "Renee's pretty practical, she's Australian, she's a lawyer, she's very straight. She'd never seen EastEnders. She had no idea I was Grant Mitchell or anything like that and she didn't really understand that I was doing documentaries," Ross said. He also revealed how he misbehaved in the early days of their relationship, but Renee 'straightened him out'. "I'd just come back from Afghanistan when I first met her and I generally behaved quite badly the first four or five weeks," he admitted. "I've changed now, obviously, but I used to go on a bit of a bender with some of the guys, and she sort of straightened me out. But she knows what I do and you know, there's a great saying, particularly used by mates of mine in the armed forces, which is 'quick goodbyes and long hellos'." Children Ross is a proud father of four. After his divorce from his first wife, Rebekah, he welcomed his first child, a boy, with his former partner and makeup artist, Nicole Coleman. He and Renee also share three children together; a son Leo, born in 2015, and twins Ava and Kitty, born in 2017. Speaking to the Mail Online in 2019, Ross said: "I'm very happy I've got my children and wouldn't have it any other way. I could have done it about a decade earlier though, I should've done. "I was old, I was in my 40s, I was quite selfish before, in terms of you put yourself first, you look at what's going to be best for you and that totally goes out the window when you have children, you put your children way in front of everything you do."
