The forthcoming book from Godblind author, Anna Stephens, The Stone Knife has an exclusive excerpt in Fantasy Fiction. 

This is the first in Anna's new Songs of the Drowned series, out later in November and you can read the excerpt right here.

Both The Devil and the Dark Water and Micaiah Johnson's The Space Between Worlds have been nominated for the Goodreads Choice Awards 2020. 

Stuart's book is in the Best Mystery and Thriller category and Micaiah's is up for Best Science Fiction. 

​Votes are cast by the public and you can vote for your favourite books in all categories by clicking on this link. Voting closes 8th November 2020.

Wishing a very Happy Publication Day to the below books, all of which were released last week in their respective formats:

• EB The Berlin Girl (Mandy Robotham)
• PB Finding Love at the Christmas Market (Jo Thomas)
  
• HB The Swallow (Stephen Moss)
  
• PB Inside Out (Chris McGeorge)
  
• PB Christmas for the Shop Girls (Joanna Toye)

In addition, Nordic rights for The Berlin Girl, have been sold by its primary publisher HarperCollins, to their Danish house.

If you yourself are a keen or budding ornithologist, Stephen Moss has written a piece for November's issue of BBC Wildlife magazine, detailing their flightpaths and what awaits them after a long journey to South Africa.

Alison Bruce's new novel, The Moment Before Impact, was released just over a week ago and we were thrilled with the quite bestowed upon it by Ian Rankin last week:

UK Crime Book Club's anthology, Criminal Shorts is out later in November and we are happy to announce one of its contributing authors is M. W. Craven. 

The anthology is sold for the benefit of The Red Kite Academy in Corby, Northamptonshire, a 'richly diverse community in which children with many special needs, languages, cultures and religions learn together in harmony'. All authors have contributed their work for free, and you can pre-order your copy here.

Shops Girls series author Joanna Toye and fellow author Veronica Henry will be taking part in a Facebook Live event on Wednesday 4th November at 7.30pm GMT. 

The event, sponsored by HarperFiction, will see the two ladies in conversation with HarperCollins' Lynn Drew, regarding their latest books, Christmas for the Shop Girls and A Wedding at the Beach Hut, respectively. 

Finally, the cover for Mark de Jager's long-awaited sequel to the his Chronicles of Stratus series, Firesky, has been revealed. 

​Relentless. Unstoppable. Dragon. Desire burns in Stratus' soul, powerful like an inferno. With his memory returning, he finally knows who-and what-he is. His is a dragon, brought low by the hand of a dark magician known as the Worm King, separated from his true love, tortured for centuries and now trapped inside the body of a human. But with the memories of his old life comes a return of his true magic, and with it, his true form is slowly returning. And Stratus wants revenge. Bloody and relentless, he slaughters his way through hordes of the undead to reach his archenemy, fighting not only for his own justice but for the whole of humanity...

The book is due for publication from Rebellion in May 2021, and the first in the series, Infernal, will be republished, also by Rebellion, later this month.

It's been quite the week for Stuart Turton's second book, The Devil and the Dark Water. 

Portuguese rights for the title were sold to Grupo Almedina, the same home as that of the Stuart's first book, The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle. 

The New York Times reviewed the book and had this to say: "Compulsively readable ... ​Pipps and Hayes are such charming company that I was happy to travel with them for the extended journey."

Publishers Weekly named it one of The Best Books of 2020 going on to comment: "Turton shows he's the modern master of the classic impossible crime mystery."

Finally, board game rights for the book were sold to Giochi Uniti in Italy. Stay tuned for more news and visuals on this in due course, but it's sure to be a stunner!

Also published this week, was Anna Jacobs' new book, Marrying Simone, a heartwarming tale of second chances and starting over.

The Moment Before Impact by Alison Bruce saw its publication day this week as well as The House, a collaboration by former MP Tom Watson and client Imogen Robertson. 

M. W. Craven's The Puppet Show, the first in his Washington Poe series, had Lithuanian rights acquired by Leidykla Sofoklis, making it the landmark 20th territory the book has sold in.

Last week, we told you that Richard Swan's debut trilogy series, Empire of the Wolf, had been sold to Orbit in a six-figure pre-empt before the Frankfurt Book Fair and also to Piper in Germany.

On top of that, Book 1 in the series has been pre-empted by Host in the Czech Republic.

It was announced this week that independent publisher Canelo has acquired a number of titles from the Dome Press, including books from the following DHH clients: Adrian Magson, Andrew Swanston, Janie Millman, Jean Levy, Rachael Featherstone, R. C. Bridgestock and Shelan Rodger. 

All the titles are now available as Canelo eBooks on major platforms, with a wider review of the list including rebrandings and print offerings for 2021 release. 

To read the full press release, click here.

The publisher, who acquired and released the eBooks for Brian's Inspector Benedict Devlin novels earlier this year, have also taken on the rights to his DS Lucy Black series, and the covers were revealed this week. 

Carys Jones' The List was published last week and we were pleased as punch that the book was reviewed in heat magazine and the Lancashire Evening Post. 

"You won't be able to turn the pages quick enough as you connect together the pieces of this gripping psychological thriller." heat

"Expect shocks, blind alleys, an enthralling vast, superb plotting and a palpable sense of foreboding as Jones blurs the liens between truth and lies, and thrills and chills our way to that final, unexpected act." Lancashire Evening Post

We were delighted to see that People of Abandoned Character, the Victorian chiller mystery debut from Clare Whitfield has been selected as one of Nick Rennison's pick of the best in historical fiction October 2020, for the Sunday Times.

Not only that, the book entered the hardback bestseller chat art no.23. Congratulations, Clare!

We're saying hello to two new authors who joined the DHH stable in the last week. 

Sharon Duggal is the author of acclaimed debut novel, The Handsworth Times, and is also one half of the long-running The Ruben and Sharon Show, the UK's only regular radio show featuring a mother and son presenter team. Sharon joins Broo Doherty's list.

Also joining the agency is S.V. Leonard. Sarah will be represented by Emily Glenister and is currently working on her debut novel, a page-turning thriller that is And Then There Were None meets Love Island. Keep your eyes peeled for more on this author soon...

We're wishing huge congratulations to Ragnar Jónasson, whose book The Mist - the third in his Hidden Iceland series, starring DI Hulda Hermansdóttir - has won the Capital Crime and Amazon Publishing Readers Award, in the Mystery category. 

Having launched in 2019, as part of the inaugural Capital Crime festival, the prize is sponsored by both Amazon and Capital Crime, and readers are invited to vote for their favourite books in a variety of categories. 

The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton has had Bengali rights sold to Paper Voyager Publishers. 

This marks the 33rd territory the Costa-winning debut has sold in. 

Also in Stuart Turton news, his new novel, The Devil and the Dark Water, has had a few brilliant write-ups that we would like to share with you:

"Wildly inventive, Turton's defies definition as either historical or a crime novel, but provides all the pleasures of both genres and more."
The Times

"Turton flits between characters with trademark intricacy, the plot tossing around on the high seas. Each crest and fall adds to the bewilderingly compelling story, culminating in a completely unpredictable yet thoroughly satisfying ending."
i Newspaper

"An unforgettable and brilliant read."
17 Degrees

We've got a couple of gorgeous cover reveals that we've been itching to share for what feels like forever, and now the time has come!

First up is The Crackledawn Dragon (May 2021), the fourth and final magical book in Abi Elphinstone's Unmapped Chronicles series. Join Zebedee Bolt as he attempts to navigate the kingdom of Crackledawn after being hauled in by an evil harpy, Morg. ​This is a story about saving the world but it’s also a story about trusting friends, and chameleons, even when kingdoms are falling apart.

And next is The Dressmaker of Paris (January 2021), the sumptuous and gorgeous historical debut from Georgia Kaufmann. Rosa Kusstatscher has built a global fashion empire upon her ability to find the perfect outfit for any occasion. But tonight, as she prepares for the most important meeting of her life, her usual certainty eludes her. What brought her to this moment? As she struggles to select her dress and choose the right shade of lipstick, Rosa begins to tell her incredible story. Perfect for fans of Lucinda Riley and Kate Morton. 

Finally, we had a fantastic end to the week when it was announced that Richard Swan's epic fantasy debut trilogy had been snapped up by Orbit in a six-figure pre-empt before Frankfurt. 

Editor James Long pre-emptively acquired world rights in a three-book deal agreed with Harry Illingworth at the D H H Literary Agency. Orbit UK will publish alongside sister imprint Orbit US as a "major" global launch with a co-ordinated campaign, with the first book in the Empire of the Wolf series scheduled for spring 2022. German rights have been pre-empted by Piper.

The Empire of the Wolf trilogy centres around Sir Konrad Vonvalt, who the synopsis describes as "an 'Emperor's Justice' ... a detective, judge and executioner rolled into one. Vonvalt travels the Empire investigating crimes and dispensing justice, but when he investigates the murder of a noblewoman, Vonvalt uncovers a plot that threatens to bring down the entire empire."

​To read more about this exciting acquisition, click here.

Orbit UK has pre-empted a debut epic fantasy trilogy by British author Richard Swan in a six-figure deal. 

Editor James Long pre-emptively acquired world rights in a three-book deal agreed with Harry Illingworth at the D H H Literary Agency. Orbit UK will publish alongside sister imprint Orbit US as a "major" global launch with a co-ordinated campaign, with the first book in the Empire of the Wolf series scheduled for spring 2022. German rights have been pre-empted by Piper.

The Empire of the Wolf trilogy centres around Sir Konrad Vonvalt, who the synopsis describes as "an 'Emperor's Justice' ... a detective, judge and executioner rolled into one. Vonvalt travels the Empire investigating crimes and dispensing justice, but when he investigates the murder of a noblewoman, Vonvalt uncovers a plot that threatens to bring down the entire empire."

Long called it "exceptional". "Sir Konrad Vonvalt is a captivating and unconventional fantasy hero – think Shardlake and the Witcher rolled into one," he said. "The narrative voice drew me in immediately and I was gripped by the authenticity of Richard’s world-building and how the central mystery snowballs to truly empire-shattering stakes. Intrigue, action and magic combine to deliver a truly memorable reading experience. I’m thrilled to welcome Richard to Orbit."

Swan said: "Having grown up obsessed with Iain M Banks’ Culture series, being published by Orbit has, since my early teens, been a long-held ambition of mine. To see that ambition realised so fully is absolutely exhilarating, and I am tremendously grateful to my agent, Harry Illingworth, and the Orbit team for their vote of confidence in the trilogy."
​
Illingworth said: "Sir Konrad Vonvalt is one of the most interesting characters I’ve read in a fantasy novel for quite some time and I was hooked within a few pages of starting this smart novel. I couldn’t be more pleased that Rich’s trilogy has found the perfect home at Orbit. Its energy and excitement on both sides of the Atlantic made the decision a no brainer, and I’ve not doubt that Rich’s fantasy writing career is going to be launched in style."

From The Bookseller article | Katherine Cowdrey

The second book from Stuart Turton, The Devil and the Dark Water, has landed straight in at no.4 in the Sunday Times bestseller list & we couldn't be more delighted. 

Along the way, the book picked up the following glowing reviews:

"Turton has fantastic time laying out the details of his intricate plot, leaving the reader wondering if it is something human or supernatural causing the devilry on the Saardam." The Observer New Review

"A rollicking tale of devils, lepers and witchfinders." Irish Times

"An equally expansive and enjoyable convoluted successor - Turton's prose is jaunty and vivis. And unlike most whodunits, I wouldn't recommend it for pre-lights-out reading - not just because of the spooky bits, but because such a lovingly complex construct needs readers who are fully awake." Telegraph

Finally in Devil news, Swedish rights have been sold to Modernista, the very same house to have published Turton's first book, The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle​.

Our colleague, Emily Glenister, has been promoted to Associate Literary Agent. 

Having joined DHH Literary Agency in 2016 as David Headley's PA, Emily will continue to assist David in the day-to-day running of the agency, but will also be steadily building up a client list of her own. 

At the end of last week, Emily took over representation of Reagan Lee Ray, originally taken on by David earlier this year. Of the acquisition, Emily said "After finding [Reagan's] MS alongside David, I have not been able to stop thinking about her haunting and dark debut novel, set in 1930s Bedlam. I am delighted that both David and Reagan have trusted me with representing her going forward."

​To find out what Emily is looking for, and to see how to submit your work to her, click here.

If you're looking for the perfect pick-me-up read, then you really can get no better than Keris Stainton. Her warm and cheeky humour shines through in her writing and you can pick up The One Who's Not the One for only 99p for the entire month of October. Click this link to buy.

Ragnar Jónasson's next Ari Thor book, Winterkill, was published in Iceland last week. The book is the sixth in the Dark Iceland series, following Snowblind, Nightblind, Blackout, Rupture and Whiteout. 

On its publication, Winterkill picked up a brilliant review in one of Iceland's leading newspapers: "Ragnar’s best crime novel to date. Not only a crime novel, but also a family story, a story of love, expectations and desires ... and the twist in the tale is Ragnar’s skill in leading readers astray."

The cover for Jules Wake's next book, The Spark, has been revealed and it is a thing of BEAUTY. 

Jess is falling for Sam.

Sam is falling for Jess.

But it seems life will do whatever it takes to make them fall apart.

When Jess and Sam lock eyes at a party, a spark ignites. The spark. But love at first sight isn’t like the movies, especially when Sam’s ex, Victoria, is determined to make their honeymoon period a living hell.

Is love at first sight enough?

The eBook is due for release on 11th December, and the paperback will follow on 4th March 2021.

Finally, we will be throwing open our doors once again for Pitch DHH and this time, we're going virtual!

Ordinarily, we'd be getting ready to go back out on the road (our previous Pitch DHH sessions have taken us to venues around London, and in York and Liverpool). However, thanks to the current situation, we're unable to do that. However, we aren't going to let a little thing like a pandemic stop us from finding hidden talent. 

We will be holding a virtual Pitch DHH session on Friday 4th December. These one-on-ones will take place via the medium of Zoom / Skype or Microsoft Teams (whichever is mutually agreeable for both the agent and pitcher). 

Details on how to submit your work can be found here. We cannot wait to read your work!

#PitchDHH

David Headley, managing director of D H H Literary Agency, has promoted Emily Glenister from agent’s assistant to associate literary agent with immediate effect.

Glenister will continue to assist Headley in the day-to-day running of both the agency and Goldsboro Books, but she is now open to submissions and will be building a client list of her own.

She has been Headley's assistant since 2016 and before that worked as a theatrical agent, and an agent’s assistant in offices that represented Sir Roger Moore, Charlotte Rampling, Max von Sydow and Liv Ullmann.

Headley said: “Emily has proved herself to be an astute assistant, with a great eye for talent. Emily is an invaluable member of our team and we are delighted that she will now be developing her own distinctive client list in addition to her existing roles.”

Glenister added: “I am so thrilled to be taking the next step in my career, and can think of no better place to do so than at D H H. The support I have received as an assistant, and know I will continue to receive as an associate agent, is unparalleled. I feel very fortunate to have David’s, and the other D H H directors’, faith in me.”
​
On Glenister's wish-list for submissions are crime and thriller titles, post-1800 historical, gothic/ghost stories, and upmarket women’s fiction with a unique hook. Submissions can be sent to eg.submission@dhhliteraryagency.com.

​From The Bookseller article | Mark Chandler

This week saw the publication of Stuart Turton's highly-anticipated second novel, The Devil and the Dark Water, picking up the following reviews along the way:

"Murder, conspiracy and gothic mayhem abound... an irresistible maritime mystery."
Guardian

​"It’s a tad Holmes and Watson, a touch Treasure Island, but there’s so much else, too ... if you read one book this year, make sure it’s this one."
Daily Mail

"Artfully combines intriguing characters, fascinating historical details and a seafaring labyrinth of twists and turns—not to mention a demon named Old Tom. There is never a dull moment in this 480-page whodunit… History and mystery lovers alike will delight in the heart-racing escapades of The Devil and the Dark Water."
BookPage

"A rollicking adventure yarn that makes the most of the superstitious terrors of its 17th-century setting."
​Metro

In addition to this, it has been selected for one of BBC Radio 2's books for their Book Club with Jo Wiley and it was announced that the book has been shortlisted for the Books Are My Bag Awards. The awards, now in its fifth year, is curated by booksellers around the UK and Ireland, and nominated by readers.

​Voting closes on 25th October and you can cast your vote, and read more about the awards here.

A further two territories were also sold for the book: Ithaki in Turkey, and Ednorog in Bulgaria.

The paperback for Adrian Magson's latest Harry Tate thriller, Terminal Black, was published last week. Tate has had his fair share of hairy situations, but when he's drawn back into the field to find an old friend who has gone missing, he may well have bitten off more than he can chew...

The US edition of Eve Smith's hauntingly prevalent The Waiting Rooms was released this week.

"A medical thriller à la Michael Crichton." Guardian 

We were delighted to see a couple of our fantastic YA titles being given recognition by a couple of Awards this week:

• Asking For A Friend by Kate Mallinder has been shortlisted for the Redhill Academy BookTrust Award

• Wranglestone by Darren Charlton has been longlisted for KSC Book Awards, in the Teen Book category

October's CrimeMonthly selected both The Devil and the Dark Water and Carys Jones' forthcoming gripping psychological thriller, The List, as two of their Top 5 Reads. 

The eBook for The List was released in July and the paperback will be published on 15th October.

Finally, Clare Whitfield's debut novel, People Of Abandoned Character was released last week and we couldn't be more excited for this haunting Victorian chiller to hit the shelves. 

"An astonishing book." M. W. Craven
"Loved it." Lisa Hall
"A perfectly thrilling read for those long winter nights. Highly recommended." Adam Hamdy
"This impressive debut builds superbly, with plenty of twists and turns." Woman & Home

A brilliantly dark and historical crime novel with a murderous hook. What would you do if you thought your husband was Jack the Ripper?