LONDON, October 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Britain's favourite meerkat, Aleksandr Orlov, looks set to be a surprise contender for this year's Christmas bestseller with his latest literary offering, Meerkat Tales.

The collection of six books about his meerkat friends has soared into the Top 10 of the Amazon "Movers and Shakers," two weeks before it goes on sale on 25^th October, making it one of the most hotly anticipated releases this year.

The publication of Meerkat Tales follows the success of Aleksandr's autobiography, A Simples Life, published in 2010, which sold over 500,000 copies and beat celebrities including Lord Sugar, Katie Price, Michael McIntyre, Tony Blair and Keith Richards to the coveted No. 1 slot in the lead-up to Christmas. This year Meerkat Tales will be going head-to-head with offerings from Cheryl Cole, Miranda Hart, and Paul O'Grady.

Narrated by Aleksandr in his own unique style, Meerkat Tales tell the stories of Aleksandr's own dreams as well as those of five of his meerkat friends. Speaking from his Russian mansion in Meerkovo, Aleksandr said, "I have sit down at my typewriter and create very special treat. Six thrillsy books full of adventure, bravery and handsomeness. Book crickets are calling them best piece of meerkat based literature since A Simples Life! Perfect for read in limousine, helicopter or even hot tub."

The Meerkat Tales collection by Aleskandr Orlov is published by Ebury Press (RRP £35.94) and is available to pre-order now from http://www.amazon.co.uk and will be on sale nationally from all leading book retailers from 25^th October 2012. The six books can also be purchased individually priced at RRP £5.99.

Notes to Editors:

About the Meerkat Tales  Collection

Narrated by Aleksandr in his own unique style, the Meerkat Tales tell the stories of Aleksandr's own dreams as well as those of five of his meerkat friends: his faithful head of IT Sergei who dreams of a space adventure to the moon; Bogdan the mischievous meerpup who takes part in the Meerkovian Grand Prix; Maiya the school mistress who dreams of debuting in the 'Romeero and Juliet' ballet; Yakov the toymaker who must help save Christmas when 'Santa Claws' falls ill; and leather-clad rocker Vassily who finally achieves rock stardom.

About Aleksandr Orlov

Aleksandr Orlov has amassed over 800,000 Facebook fans and around 50,000 followers on Twitter since he first appeared on TV in January 2009, urging those looking for car insurance at http://www.comparethemarket.com not to come to http://www.comparethemeerkat.com by mistake.  

His iSimples iphone application attracted over 700,000 subscribers, reaching No.1 on the iTunes free app download chart.  His catchphrase "Simples" has even entered the Oxford English Dictionary.  Aleksandr's biography A Simples Life sold 500,000 copies, topping the Christmas bestseller list in 2010. More recently he has given over a million people an official Meerkat soft toy as a reward for knowing the difference between http://www.comparethemarket.com and http://www.comparethemeerkat.com

SOURCE comparethemarket.com