News
Thriller-seekers strike big deals T
WORDS Lisa Campbell
HE POPULARITY OF psycholog- ical thrillers shows litle sign of abating, with commis-
sioning editors at the London Book Fair signing up many such titles— including one pre-empted for a seven-figure sum in the US. Sphere publishing director Lucy Malagoni snapped up UK and Commonwealth rights (exclud- ing Canada) to The Perfect Mother by Aimee Molloy from Jenny Meyer, acting on behalf of Elisa- beth Weed at The Book Group, and plans to publish the title in 2018. The thriller, set in the wake of the abduction of a six-week-old baby, was pre-empted by HarperCollins in the US for seven figures. Film rights to the title were sold
to TriStar, with actor Kerry Wash- ington to star and Amy Pascal to lead production. The book has sold in 12 territories to date, with Malag-
Steadman
oni stating that “the writing really gets under your skin”.
Sphere also signed a “high- concept” thriller, with commission- ing editor Lucy Dauman securing world English-language rights to S R Mastrantone’s début, The Killer You Know, from Joanna Swainson at Hardman & Swainson. The novel
follows of a circle of friends who get together for a reunion—and discover that one of them is a serial killer. Dauman said the book, set for spring 2018, had “unforgetable characters” and an “edge of your seat plot”. At yesterday’s fair Simon &
Schuster also sealed a suspense- ful novel, Something in the Water by actor Catherine Steadman, aſter editorial director Anne Perry bought UK and Commonwealth rights from Camilla Wray of Darley Anderson in a two-book deal. Due in July 2018, the first book in the deal follows “perfect couple” Erin and Mark, who are honeymoon- ing in Tahiti when they find a bag full of money. Perry likened the plot thereaſter to “A Simple Plan” crossed with The Couple Next Door. Steadman has acted in leading roles in dramas broadcast on the BBC, Sky, ITV and Channel 4, as well as on stage in the West End.
Hannah and Hercule to reunite for Harper Hannah’s first two Poirot novels, The
HarperCollins has bagged two further Hercule Poirot novels by crime writer Sophie Hannah left. The publisher acquired world English-language rights for the continuation novels starring Agatha Christie’s iconic character. The deal was struck by David Brawn, publisher of estates at HarperFiction, with Agatha Christie Ltd and Peter Straus of RCW. The books are to be co-published by William Morrow in the US.
Monogram Murders, published in 2014, and Closed Casket (2016), were both Sun- day Times bestsellers. The new titles will be released in 2018 and 2020 respectively, and will see the Belgian detective inves- tigating two new cases. Hannah said: “It has been a joy and an honour to work with the Christie family and with Harper- Collins on my first Poirot novels. I can’t wait to get to work on his next two cases.”
LBF awards herald trade
Turkish agent Nermin Mollaoglu, HarperCollins UK and Sharjah ruler Sultan bin Mohammed Al-Qasimi were among the winners at last night’s London Book Fair International Excellence Awards. Sultan Al-Qasimi was given the Simon Master Chair-
man’s Award for his contribution to the UAE’s publish- ing industry. The Literary Translation Initiative Award
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will also return to the emirate, with Arabic Literature (in English) founder Marcia Lynx Qualey triumphant for her “dedication to creating cross-cultural under- standing in the diverse world of Arabic literature”, the judges said. Kalem Agency founder Mollaoglu won the Literary Agent Award, with the judges stating that “in one decade [she has become a] bridge to the outside world for her writers, at a point in Turkish history when that connection is more crucial than ever”. HarperCollins UK was named the inaugural winner of the new Inclusivit in Publishing Award, and was lauded for its “efforts and achievements towards improving inclusivit in publishing, a drive which is much needed for our industry”. Other winners included Paris’ Shakespeare & Company pictured, named Book- shop of the Year; Wydawnictwo Dwie Siostry, winner of The Market Focus Poland Children’s and Young Adult Publisher Award; and Book Aid International (Africa), which won the Educational Initiatives Award.
Harry Hill turns his quill to kids’ series for Faber
Another celebrity is set to move into kids’ publishing, after Faber Children’s snapped up a series by comedian Harry Hill above. World rights to three books were signed from Paul Stevens at Independent Talent. The first, Matt Millz, intro- duces 12-year-old Matt, who is desperate to be a stand-up come- dian and perform at the Hammer- smith Apollo. Due in November 2017, it will be illustrated by Steve May, best known for his work on Dennis the Menace.
Débutante Salam looks to blossom with Fig Tree
Fig Tree has snapped up UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada, to literary début Central by Anbara Salam after a three- way auction. The book follows two missionaries who visit a remote Melanesian island and find it has been radicalised by an exorcism cult. Their relationship becomes increasingly strained and the duo are eventually driven to violent extremes. Blake Fried- mann’s Hattie Grunewald struck the “mid five-figure” deal.
Cambridge don reveals How Democracy Ends
Profile m.d. Andrew Franklin has bought rights to How Democracy Ends by Cambridge University professor of politics David Runci- man above from Peter Straus at RCW. Inspired by the current political climate, the title explores how “nothing lasts forever” and asks “how democracy ends”. The book is slated for spring 2018.
Lezard to map the best translated literature
Peter Owen has signed Guardian literary critic Nicholas Lezard’s Read the World, a compendium of the 100 best books in transla- tion. The publisher holds world English-language rights, with the book to be published in 2019. Beginning next month, one pick of Lezard’s— who also writes for the New Statesman and Indepen- dent—will be featured on a weekly basis on Peter Owen’s website.
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