We're kicking off this week's news roundup with the brilliant news that two-books by debut author S. V. Leonard have been acquired by Canelo's new Canelo Crime imprint, beginning with an 'Agatha Christie for the digital age', The Islanders.
The Islanders is an unputdownable crime thriller featuring former police officer Kimberley King, who is selected for the hit dating show LoveWrecked. It’s the chance of a lifetime, but Kimberley quickly finds her island paradise becomes a nightmare and within hours, one of her fellow contestants is found dead. Then the announcement comes: one of the Islanders is a murderer and Kimberley must find out who, live on television. For every hour it takes her, one more person will die.
The deal was negotiated by Emily Glenister and the The Islanders is due for publication in March 2021.
The Islanders is an unputdownable crime thriller featuring former police officer Kimberley King, who is selected for the hit dating show LoveWrecked. It’s the chance of a lifetime, but Kimberley quickly finds her island paradise becomes a nightmare and within hours, one of her fellow contestants is found dead. Then the announcement comes: one of the Islanders is a murderer and Kimberley must find out who, live on television. For every hour it takes her, one more person will die.
The deal was negotiated by Emily Glenister and the The Islanders is due for publication in March 2021.
| Also acquired this week was a brand new two-book deal from The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle and The Devil and the Dark Water author, Stuart Turton. Raven Books Publishing Director Alison Hennessey acquired UK & Commonwealth rights, including audio, for the two as yet unnamed high concept novels from Harry Illingworth at DHH Literary Agency in a major deal. Says Stuart Turton: "I can't believe Alison's bought my next two books! They're both nuts. She's nuts. I'm thrilled. Honestly, I can't believe how lucky I am to carry on working with the brilliant team at Raven, and shamelessly taking the credit for their talent and hard work. I'm so proud of everything we've achieved together already, and what we're going to do next. It's going to be fun! And nuts. Did I mention nuts?" To read more about the deal, click here. |  |
In addition, this week saw The Devil and the Dark Water scoop a Books Are My Bag Readers Award, in the Fiction category.
The book has garnered high praise since its publication with the New York Times dubbing it "compulsively readable", the Guardian "an irresistible maritime mystery" and "intoxicating" by the Independent.
The book has garnered high praise since its publication with the New York Times dubbing it "compulsively readable", the Guardian "an irresistible maritime mystery" and "intoxicating" by the Independent.
An exclusive short story from Amanda Jennings was featured in the most recent issue of Best magazine: Dinner At Luigi's.
Amanda's latest novel, The Storm, was published earlier this year to rave reviews and is available to buy now.
Amanda's latest novel, The Storm, was published earlier this year to rave reviews and is available to buy now.
A date for your diary...
M. W. Craven, author of the acclaimed Washington Poe series, will be taking part in a virtual event, with fellow author Katie Hale, to talk about the important of place and setting in fiction.
Both writers are based in Cumbria, and this is a chance for readers to see how the the windswept county inspires both their writing.
The event will be on Thursday 16th February at 7pm, and you can book your tickets here.
M. W. Craven, author of the acclaimed Washington Poe series, will be taking part in a virtual event, with fellow author Katie Hale, to talk about the important of place and setting in fiction.
Both writers are based in Cumbria, and this is a chance for readers to see how the the windswept county inspires both their writing.
The event will be on Thursday 16th February at 7pm, and you can book your tickets here.
| In other M. W. Craven news, his collection of short stories featuring Washington Poe and much-loved sidekick Tilly Bradshaw, Cut Short, have been sold to Roca Editorial in Spain. |  |
We've got a couple of brilliant quotes for one already-published novel and two forthcoming, and the excitement is real...
"A terrifying story of guilt and remorse. A chilling reminder that the past doesn't always stay there no matter what stories we tell ourselves or others! The truth sits in the shadows and will always come to light."
Alex Hart on Carys Jones' The List (October 2020, Orion)
"Femi Kayode’s debut novel about an investigative psychologist’s quest to uncover the truth behind the mob killing of three university students is an original and fast-paced thriller which masterfully explores the smouldering historical tensions underpinning modern-day Nigeria, the role of social media, and the complexities of family, friendship and belonging."
Lauren Wilkinson on Femi Kayode's debut Lightseekers (Feb 2021, Bloomsbury Raven)
"A tense-as-hell high-body count page turner, but a rarer thing too - one that's full of genuine warmth and humanity."
William Shaw on David Fennell's debut adult novel The Art of Death (Feb 2021, Zaffre Books
"Chilling, unsettling and wonderfully atmospheric, it grips from the first page to the last. I hope we’ll be hearing much more from Fennell and his brilliant detective, Grace Archer."
Brian McGilloway on The Art of Death
"Hair-raisingly dark ... Make sure you look out for it in February as you won't be able to put it down."
Araminta Hall
"A terrifying story of guilt and remorse. A chilling reminder that the past doesn't always stay there no matter what stories we tell ourselves or others! The truth sits in the shadows and will always come to light."
Alex Hart on Carys Jones' The List (October 2020, Orion)
"Femi Kayode’s debut novel about an investigative psychologist’s quest to uncover the truth behind the mob killing of three university students is an original and fast-paced thriller which masterfully explores the smouldering historical tensions underpinning modern-day Nigeria, the role of social media, and the complexities of family, friendship and belonging."
Lauren Wilkinson on Femi Kayode's debut Lightseekers (Feb 2021, Bloomsbury Raven)
"A tense-as-hell high-body count page turner, but a rarer thing too - one that's full of genuine warmth and humanity."
William Shaw on David Fennell's debut adult novel The Art of Death (Feb 2021, Zaffre Books
"Chilling, unsettling and wonderfully atmospheric, it grips from the first page to the last. I hope we’ll be hearing much more from Fennell and his brilliant detective, Grace Archer."
Brian McGilloway on The Art of Death
"Hair-raisingly dark ... Make sure you look out for it in February as you won't be able to put it down."
Araminta Hall
 |  |  |
| Out of the Woods author Luke Turner made a very special appearance on Damian Barr's Big Scottish Book Club for BBC Scotland over the weekend. Luke spoke candidly to Damian about his Wainwright Prize-nominated debut and what the memoir means to him: an exploration of bisexuality and guilt, set against the backdrop of a tribute to Epping Forest. You can watch the full episode here. |  |
Congratulations to Ragnar Jónasson, who this week saw the paperback publication of his latest Hulda Hermansdottir novel, The Mist.
An unexpected guest, a liar, a killer. Not all will survive the night. And Detective Hulda will be haunted forever...
Get your copy now.
An unexpected guest, a liar, a killer. Not all will survive the night. And Detective Hulda will be haunted forever...
Get your copy now.
More for Ragnar, a new two-book deal has been scooped up by Michael Joseph, home of his Hidden Iceland series (The Darkness, The Island and The Mist) and his forthcoming standalone, The Girl Who Died. More on that deal here.
Finally, we are delighted that both Micaiah Johnson's SFF debut The Space Between Worlds and Stuart Turton's The Devil and the Dark Water have been reached the Semifinal Round for the Goodreads Awards.
Voting for this round closed yesterday (Sunday 15th November), and the final round will run from the 17th - 30th November. Winners will be announced on 8th December.
To read more about the Awards, click here.
Voting for this round closed yesterday (Sunday 15th November), and the final round will run from the 17th - 30th November. Winners will be announced on 8th December.
To read more about the Awards, click here.
 |  |
RSS Feed