Stephen Leather
Stephen Leather | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 25 October 1956 Manchester, Lancashire, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Education | BSc in biochemistry[1][2] |
| Alma mater | Bath University[2] |
| Occupation | Author |
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Known for | Thriller books: Dan Shepherd Mystery and Nightingale Series |
| Website | Official website |
Stephen Leather (born 25 October 1956) is a British thriller author whose works are published by Hodder & Stoughton. He has written for television shows such as London's Burning, The Knock, and the BBC's Murder in Mind series.[3][4] He is one of the top selling Amazon Kindle authors, the second bestselling UK author worldwide on Kindle in 2011.[5][6]
Biography
Early life
Leather was born in
Early career
Leather was employed as a biochemist for
Writing career
Leather began writing when he was in college; however, he "never managed to get beyond a few pages,"[9] and did not begin writing full-time until he had worked as a journalist for more than ten years.[8]
His first novel, Pay Off, was written while he was still employed at The Daily Mirror.
His second novel, The Fireman, was written while he was working as the business editor of the South China Morning Post.[9][10] In The Fireman, a British tabloid journalist travels to Hong Kong to discover why his sister committed suicide. Both novels, and his third, Hungry Ghost, were published by HarperCollins.
Leather wrote his fourth novel,
Published works
Leather's novels frequently include themes of crime, imprisonment, military service, and terrorism. Settings are typically London and the Far East. Leather writes different series in slightly different genres. The main character of one series, Dan 'Spider' Shepherd, is a former Special Air Service soldier who becomes an undercover policeman. Another series, Jack Nightingale, is about a former police negotiator who becomes a private investigator;[14] this supernatural detective series is also published by Hodder & Stoughton and includes the books Nightfall, Midnight, Nightmare, Nightshade[15] and Lastnight.
Leather has written screenplays for
Amazon Kindle releases
Leather became successful in the
Early in 2011, Leather's books The Basement, Hard Landing, and the vampire novella Once Bitten occupied the top three places in the UK Kindle bestseller list, a feat matched only by Stieg Larsson with his The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo trilogy.[20] That same year, Leather was the second bestselling UK author on the Kindle worldwide, beaten only by Lee Child.[21][22]
Awards and recognition
In 2002, Leather's book Tango One was nominated for the inaugural CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger, awarded by the Crime Writers' Association.[23][24] His book Hard Landing was nominated for the award in 2004.[25]
His book Cold Kill was nominated for Best Novel in 2007 by International Thriller Writers Inc.[26] In 2011, Leather sold over 500,000 eBooks[citation needed] and was voted by The Bookseller magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the UK publishing world.[12]
2012 Harrogate Crime Writing Festival
On 5 August 2012, journalist Nick Cohen wrote in The Observer that Leather had created phony Twitter accounts in the name of another writer, and used those accounts to praise Leather's own books.[27] Cohen quoted Leather's response to a question, as a panelist, at the Harrogate Crime Writing Festival, which was recorded for BBC Radio 4:[28]
"As soon as my book is out I'm on Facebook and Twitter several times a day talking about it. I'll go on to several forums, the well-known forums, and post there under my name and under various other names and various other characters. You build up this whole network of characters who talk about your books and sometimes have conversations with yourself."[27]
Leather's comment was widely reported,
Jeremy Duns and Steve Mosby have alleged that Leather has harassed them online.[37][38]
Bibliography
Novels
| Publication year | Title | Series | Original publisher | ISBN | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Pay Off | St. Martin's Press | ISBN 0312014872
|
Hardcover (1988), Paperback (2002), Audio Book (2011), and eBook (2009) | |
| 1989 | The Fireman | St. Martin's Press | ISBN 0312038313
|
Hardcover (1990), Paperback (1996), Audio Book (2011), and eBook (2008) | |
| 1991 | Hungry Ghost | HarperCollins | ISBN 0002236370
|
Hardcover (1991), Paperback (2008), Audio Book (2008), and eBook (2008) | |
| 1992 | The Chinaman
|
Mike Cramer #1 | Pocket Books | ISBN 0671743015
|
Hardcover (1992), Paperback (1992), Audio Book (2007), and eBook (2008). Also published as The Foreigner (2017) |
| 1992 | The Double Tap | Mike Cramer #3 | Hodder & Stoughton | ISBN 9780340628393
|
Hardcover (1996), Paperback (1997), and Audio Book (2006) |
| 1993 | The Vets | Pocket Books | ISBN 0671743031
|
Hardcover (1993), Paperback (1994), and eBook (2004) | |
| 1994 | The Long Shot | Mike Cramer #2 | Hodder & Stoughton | ISBN 9780340632376
|
eBook (2009) |
| 1996 | The Birthday Girl | Hodder & Stoughton | ISBN 0340632364
|
Hardcover (1995), Paperback (2006), Audio Book (2007), and eBook | |
| 1997 | The Solitary Man | Ulverscroft | ISBN 0340628375
|
Hardcover (2004), Paperback (1997), and Audio Book (2010) | |
| 1997 | The Tunnel Rats | Ulverscroft | ISBN 0753170655
|
Hardcover (2004), Paperback (2006), Audio Book (2009), and eBook (2009) | |
| 1999 | The Bombmaker | Hodder & Stoughton | ISBN 0340689552
|
Hardcover (1999), Paperback (2005), Audio Book (2003), and eBook (2009) | |
| 2000 | The Stretch | Hodder & Stoughton | ISBN 0340770325
|
Hardcover (2000), Paperback (2001), Audio Book (2001), and eBook (2009) | |
| 2002 | Tango One | Hodder & Stoughton | ISBN 0340770341
|
Hardcover (2002), Paperback (2006), Audio Book (2004), and eBook (2009) | |
| 2003 | The Eyewitness | Hodder & Stoughton | ISBN 034082400X
|
Hardcover (2003), Paperback (2003), Audio Book (2004), and eBook (2008) | |
| 2004 | Hard Landing | Dan 'Spider' Shepherd #1 | Hodder & Stoughton | ISBN 0340734116
|
Hardcover, Paperback, Audio Book, and eBook |
| 2005 | Private Dancer | Three Elephants | ISBN 9810539169
|
Paperback and eBook | |
| 2005 | Soft Target | Dan 'Spider' Shepherd #2 | Hodder & Stoughton | ISBN 0340834072
|
Hardcover (2005), Paperback (2005), Audio Book (2005), and eBook (2008) |
| 2006 | Confessions of a Bangkok Private Eye | Monsoon Books | ISBN 981054832X
|
With Warren Olson | |
| 2006 | Cold Kill | Dan 'Spider' Shepherd #3 | Hodder & Stoughton | ISBN 0340834102
|
Hardcover, Paperback, Audio Book, and eBook |
| 2007 | Hot Blood | Dan 'Spider' Shepherd #4 | Hodder & Stoughton | ISBN 0340921692
|
Paperback and eBook |
| 2008 | Dead Men | Dan 'Spider' Shepherd #5 | Hodder & Stoughton | ISBN 0340921706
|
Hardcover (2008), Paperback (2008), Audio Book (2008), and eBook (2008) |
| 2009 | Live Fire | Dan 'Spider' Shepherd #6 | Hodder & Stoughton | ISBN 0340921730
|
Hardcover (2009), Paperback (2010), Audio Book (2009), and eBook (2009) |
| 2010 | Dreamer's Cat | Three Elephants | ASIN B00486U6VU | eBook | |
| 2010 | The Basement | Amazon Encore
|
ISBN 1612181481
|
Paperback (2011), Audio Book (2012), and eBook (2011) | |
| 2010 | Rough Justice | Dan 'Spider' Shepherd #7 | Hodder & Stoughton | ISBN 0340924934
|
Hardcover (2010), Paperback (2010), Audio Book (2010), and eBook (2010) |
| 2010 | Nightfall | Jack Nightingale #1 | Isis Large Print | ISBN 1612182291
|
Hardcover, Paperback, Audio Book, and eBook (2012) |
| 2011 | Once Bitten | Amazon Encore | ISBN 1455871702
|
Paperback (2011), Audio Book (2012), and eBook (2011) | |
| 2011 | Bangkok Bob and The Missing Mormon | Monsoon Books | ISBN 9810877765
|
Paperback (2011) and eBook (2010) | |
| 2011 | Fair Game | Dan 'Spider' Shepherd #8 | Hodder & Stoughton | ISBN 0340924969
|
Hardcover (2012), Paperback (2012), Audio Book (2011), and eBook (2012) |
| 2011 | Midnight | Jack Nightingale #2 | Hodder & Stoughton | ISBN 1444700669
|
Hardcover (2011), Paperback (2012), Audio Book (2012), and eBook (2012) |
| 2012 | False Friends | Dan 'Spider' Shepherd #9 | Hodder & Stoughton | ISBN 1444736779
|
|
| 2012 | Nightmare | Jack Nightingale #3 | Hodder & Stoughton | ISBN 1455866792
|
Hardcover (2012), Paperback (2012), Audio Book (2012), and eBook (2012) |
| 2013 | True Colours | Dan 'Spider' Shepherd #10 | Hodder & Stoughton | ISBN 978-1444736564
|
|
| 2013 | Nightshade | Jack Nightingale #4 | Hodder & Stoughton | ISBN 9781444740684
|
Hardcover (2013), Paperback (2013), Audio Book (2013), and eBook (2013) |
| 2014 | White Lies | Dan 'Spider' Shepherd #11 | Hodder & Stoughton | ISBN 978-1444736588
|
Hardcover (2014), and eBook (2014) |
| 2014 | Lastnight | Jack Nightingale #5 | Hodder & Stoughton | ISBN 1444742655
|
Hardcover (2014), and eBook (2014) |
| 2014 | San Francisco Night | Jack Nightingale #6 | Three Elephants | ISBN 978-0-9566203-9-2
|
Hardcover (2015), and eBook (2014) |
| 2015 | Black Ops | Dan 'Spider' Shepherd #12 | Hodder & Stoughton | ISBN 978-1444736656
|
Hardcover (2015), and eBook (2015) |
| 2015 | New York Night | Jack Nightingale #7 | Three Elephants | ISBN 978-0956620378
|
Hardcover (2015), and eBook (2015) |
| 2016 | First Response | Hodder & Stoughton | ISBN 978-1473604605
|
Hardcover (2016), and eBook (2016) | |
| 2016 | Takedown | Lex Harper #1 | Hodder & Stoughton | ISBN 978-1473605596
|
Hardcover (2017), and eBook (2017) |
| 2016 | Dark Forces | Dan 'Spider' Shepherd #13 | Hodder & Stoughton | ISBN 978-1473604063
|
Hardcover (2016), and eBook (2016) |
| 2016 | The Sandpit | Dan 'Spider' Shepherd: SAS #1 | CreateSpace | ISBN 978-1532959394
|
Novella |
| 2017 | Light Touch | Dan 'Spider' Shepherd #14 | Hodder & Stoughton | ISBN 978-1473604131
|
|
| 2018 | The Shout | Hodder & Stoughton | ISBN 978-1473671782
|
||
| 2018 | Last Man Standing | Hodder & Stoughton | ISBN 978-1473671867
|
||
| 2018 | Tall Order | Dan 'Spider' Shepherd #15 | Hodder & Stoughton | ISBN 978-1473604179
|
|
| 2018 | Moving Targets | Dan 'Spider' Shepherd: SAS #2 | CreateSpace | ISBN 978-1985232051
|
|
| 2018 | Tennessee Night | Jack Nightingale #8 | Independently published | ISBN 978-1717751133
|
Paperback (2018), and eBook (2018) |
| 2019 | The Bag Carrier | Independently published | ISBN 978-1794095274
|
||
| 2019 | Rogue Warrior | ASIN B07XQ3M13B | Novella | ||
| 2019 | Plausible Deniability | Lex Harper #2 | Independently published | ISBN 978-1075865565
|
Novella |
| 2019 | Short Range | Dan 'Spider' Shepherd #16 | Hodder & Stoughton | ISBN 978-1473671928
|
|
| 2020 | The Runner | Hodder & Stoughton | ISBN 978-1529345155
|
||
| 2020 | Slow Burn | Dan 'Spider' Shepherd #17 | Hodder & Stoughton | ISBN 978-1473671973
|
|
| 2021 | Fast Track | Dan 'Spider' Shepherd #18 | Hodder & Stoughton | ISBN 978-1473672031
|
Hardcover, Paperback, and eBook |
Short stories
| Publication year | Title | Series | Collection | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | "Cursed" | Jack Nightingale #1.5 | Nightingale - A Short Story Collection (2017) | |
| 2011 | "Inspector Zhang Gets His Wish" | Inspector Zhang #1 | The Eight Curious Cases of Inspector Zhang (2014) | Novella |
| 2011 | "Inspector Zhang and the Falling Woman" | Inspector Zhang #2 | The Eight Curious Cases of Inspector Zhang (2014) | Novella |
| 2011 | "Inspector Zhang and the Dead Thai Gangster" | Inspector Zhang #3 | The Eight Curious Cases of Inspector Zhang (2014) | Novella |
| 2011 | "Inspector Zhang and the Disappearing Drugs" | Inspector Zhang #4 | The Eight Curious Cases of Inspector Zhang (2014) | Novella |
| 2012 | "Friendly Fire" | Dan 'Spider' Shepherd | Spider Shepherd Short Stories (2013), Spider Shepherd: SAS: Volume 2 (2014) |
|
| 2012 | "Dead Drop" | Dan 'Spider' Shepherd | Spider Shepherd Short Stories (2013), Spider Shepherd: SAS: Volume 2 (2014) |
|
| 2012 | "Still Bleeding" | Jack Nightingale #4.4 | Nightingale - A Short Story Collection (2017) | |
| 2012 | "Inspector Zhang and the Perfect Alibi" | Inspector Zhang #5 | The Eight Curious Cases of Inspector Zhang (2014) | Novella |
| 2012 | "Breaking" | Inspector Zhang #6.1 | Short Fuses (2012) | |
| 2012 | "Strangers on a Train" | Inspector Zhang #6.2 | Short Fuses (2012) | |
| 2012 | "Inspector Zhang and the Hotel Guest" | Inspector Zhang #6.3 | Short Fuses (2012), The Eight Curious Cases of Inspector Zhang (2014) |
|
| 2012 | "Cat's Eyes" | Inspector Zhang #6.4 | Short Fuses (2012) | |
| 2012 | "Inspector Zhang Goes To Harrogate" | Inspector Zhang #7 | The Eight Curious Cases of Inspector Zhang (2014) | Novella |
| 2013 | "Hard Evidence" | Dan 'Spider' Shepherd | Spiders Web (2013) | |
| 2013 | "Hiatus" | Dan 'Spider' Shepherd | Spiders Web (2013) | |
| 2013 | "Hard Targets" | Dan 'Spider' Shepherd | Spiders Web (2013), Spider Shepherd: SAS: Volume 1 (2014) |
|
| 2013 | "Kill Zone" | Dan 'Spider' Shepherd | Spider Shepherd Short Stories (2013), Spider Shepherd: SAS: Volume 2 (2014) |
|
| 2013 | "Natural Selection" | Dan 'Spider' Shepherd: SAS | Spider Shepherd: SAS: Volume 1 (2014) | |
| 2013 | "Warning Order" | Dan 'Spider' Shepherd: SAS | Spider Shepherd: SAS: Volume 1 (2014) | |
| 2013 | "Hostile Territory" | Dan 'Spider' Shepherd: SAS | Spider Shepherd: SAS: Volume 1 (2014) | |
| 2013 | "Rough Diamonds" | Dan 'Spider' Shepherd: SAS | Spider Shepherd: SAS: Volume 1 (2014) | |
| 2013 | "Inspector Zhang and the Island of the Dead" | Inspector Zhang #8 | The Eight Curious Cases of Inspector Zhang (2014) | Novella |
| 2014 | "Narrow Escape" | Dan 'Spider' Shepherd: SAS | Spider Shepherd: SAS: Volume 1 (2014) | |
| 2014 | "Personal Protection" | Dan 'Spider' Shepherd: SAS | Spider Shepherd: SAS: Volume 2 (2014) | |
| 2014 | "The Rope" | Dan 'Spider' Shepherd: SAS | Spider Shepherd: SAS: Volume 2 (2014) | |
| 2014 | "Planning Pack" | Dan 'Spider' Shepherd: SAS | Spider Shepherd: SAS: Volume 2 (2014) | |
| 2014 | "Remote Control" | Dan 'Spider' Shepherd | ||
| 2014 | "My Name Is Lydia" | Jack Nightingale #2.5 | Nightingale - A Short Story Collection (2017) | |
| 2014 | "Blood Bath" | Jack Nightingale #4.5 | Nightingale - A Short Story Collection (2017) | |
| 2014 | "Tracks" | Jack Nightingale #5.5 | Nightingale - A Short Story Collection (2017) | |
| 2015 | "I Know Who Did It" | Jack Nightingale #4.6 | Nightingale - A Short Story Collection (2017) | |
| 2015 | "The Whisper Man" | Jack Nightingale | Novella | |
| 2016 | "Children of the Dark" | Jack Nightingale #5.6 | Nightingale - A Short Story Collection (2017) | |
| 2017 | "The Cards" | Jack Nightingale #3.5 | Nightingale 2 - A Short Story Collection (2018) | |
| 2017 | "The Creeper" | Jack Nightingale #5.7 | Nightingale - A Short Story Collection (2017) | |
| 2017 | "The Asylum" | Jack Nightingale #5.8 | Nightingale 2 - A Short Story Collection (2018) | |
| 2017 | "The Undead" | Jack Nightingale #5.9 | Nightingale - A Short Story Collection (2017) | |
| 2017 | "The Doll" | Jack Nightingale #5.10 | Nightingale 2 - A Short Story Collection (2018) | |
| 2017 | "The Mansion" | Jack Nightingale #5.11 | Nightingale 2 - A Short Story Collection (2018) | |
| 2017 | "Possession" | Jack Nightingale #5.12 | Nightingale 2 - A Short Story Collection (2018) | |
| 2017 | "Devilzone - A Jack Nightingale Screenplay" | Jack Nightingale | ||
| 2017 | "Wrong Turn" | Jack Nightingale | Nightingale 2 - A Short Story Collection (2018) | |
| 2018 | "The House on Gable Street" | Jack Nightingale | ||
| 2018 | "Knock Knock" | Jack Nightingale | Nightingale 2 - A Short Story Collection (2018) | |
| 2018 | "Watery Grave" | Jack Nightingale | Nightingale 2 - A Short Story Collection (2018) | |
| 2018 | "Claws" | Jack Nightingale | Nightingale 2 - A Short Story Collection (2018) |
Screenplays
| Date | Show title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2001–2003 | Murder in Mind | Wrote two of the first series episode (2001) and two episodes of the second series (2002). Also wrote an episode for the 2003 series.[16] |
| 2000 | The Bombmaker | Made for TV movie based on the book written by Leather |
| 2000 | The Knock (Series 5) | Episode 2. 90-minute special |
| 2000 | The Stretch | Made for TV movie based on the book written by Leather. Movie created, written, and produced by Leather |
| 1999 | London's Burning | Episode 9 & 10. Screened March 2000 |
| 1998 | The Knock (Series 4) | Episode 4, 5, and 6. Screened in 1999 |
Adaptations
- The Stretch (2000), mini-series directed by Frank W. Smith, based on novel The Stretch
- The Bombmaker (2001), mini-series directed by Graham Theakston, based on novel The Bombmaker
- The Foreigner (2017), film directed by Martin Campbell, based on novel The Chinaman
- Tango One (2018), film directed by Sacha Bennett and Helena Holmes, based on novel Tango One
References
- ^ "Stephen Leather features on Thailand Tatler". University of Bath. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
- ^ a b c d "Stephen Leather". Thailand Tattler. Archived from the original on 12 January 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
- ^ a b "Murder in Mind – Drama". DigiGuide. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
- ^ "Stephen Leather". The Bookseller. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
- ^ Allen, Katie. "Lee Child most successful UK Kindle author". The Bookseller. Retrieved 27 May 2013.
- ^ a b c "Kindle gives thriller writer a plot for success – at 71p a shot". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
- ^ Unsworth, Emma (25 January 2007). "Hot on the trail of terror". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
- ^ a b c d e Ingham, Tim. "Stephen Leather". Metro. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
- ^ a b c Leather, Stephen. "The Author". Retrieved 14 August 2012.
- ^ Spelman, Judith (August 2008). "Judith Spelman Talks to a Best Selling Author Who Produces A Thriller A Year". Writing Magazine: 8–9.
- ^ "The Chinaman". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
- ^ a b "Bookseller 100". The Bookseller. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
- ^ Busch, Anita; Fleming Jr, Mike (5 June 2015). "Jackie Chan To Star in 'The Foreigner' for STX Entertainment". deadline.com. Retrieved 30 June 2017.
- ^ "Success Story 11 – Stephen Leather". Writers Services. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
- ^ "Nightshade". Hodder & Stoughton. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
- ^ a b "Joe Andoe". Star Trader. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
- ^ "Stephen Leather". TV.com. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
- ^ "The Stretch – Drama". DigiGuide. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
- ^ Skidelsky, William (27 February 2011). "Kindle gives thriller writer a plot for success – at 71p a shot". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
- ^ Jones, Phillip. "'Confessions' is e-book of the year". The Bookseller. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
- ^ "Lee Child most successful UK Kindle author". The Bookseller. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
- ^ "The top 50 e-book bestsellers of the year". Future Book. Archived from the original on 3 July 2013. Retrieved 1 May 2013.
- ^ "Tango One". Isis Publishing. Archived from the original on 23 December 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
- ^ "The CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger 2002". Crime Writer's Association. Archived from the original on 28 June 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
- ^ "THE CWA's 2004 Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Award". Crime Writer's Association. Archived from the original on 25 December 2005. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
- ^ "ITW Thriller Award nominees and winners". Thriller Writers. Archived from the original on 21 February 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
- ^ a b Cohen, Nick (5 August 2012). "Welcome to Britain, a home fit for shysters". The Observer. London. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
- ^ "The e-book debate - threat or opportunity?". Front Row. BBC Radio 4. 29 August 2012. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
(Quote, in response to audience question, at around 26.53)
- ^ Kerridge, Jake (6 August 2012). "A crime author, at the festival, with a kindle". The Telegraph. London. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
- ^ Kerridge, Jake (4 September 2012). "Are RJ Ellory's faked reviews the tip of the iceberg?". The Telegraph. London. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
- ^ Miller, Laura (10 August 2012). "Social media scamsters". Salon.com. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
- ^ Flood, Alison (3 September 2012). "Sock puppetry and fake reviews: publish and be damned". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
- ^ Miller, Laura (1 January 2013). "Talking with Daniel Mendelsohn about the year in literary criticism". Salon.com. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
- ^ Hough, Andrew (3 September 2012). "RJ Ellory: fake book reviews are rife on internet, authors warn". The Telegraph. London. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
- ^ Hayes, Steve (4 September 2012). "Leading writers condemn fake online reviews". Digital Journal. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
- ^ Page, Benedicte (3 September 2012). "Condemnation grows for sock puppet reviews". The Bookseller. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
- ^ "A thriller writer has been accused of running an online smear campaign". independent.co.uk. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
- ^ Flood, Alison. "Stephen Leather accused of cyberbullying by fellow thriller writers". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
External links
- Official website
- Stephen Leather at IMDb
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |