21st March 2025
LBF 2025: ‘Busy’ fair upbeat as US spends big
L
ondon Book Fair 2025 was bursting at the s e ams, with US publishers splashing serious cash as “solu-
tions-based” non-fiction and escapist fiction soared. Meanwhile, literary agent Rachel Mills’ ( 1) debut novel was an Olympia hit, and many agents reported concerns about the International Rights Centre (IRC). Atlantic Books MD Drummond
Moir described a thirst for solu- tions from publishers. “We are seeing a particular interest in solutions-based non-fiction... Romanian, Spanish, US pre- empts,” he said. “Titles with a practical premise seem to be of more interest to foreign publishers. We’re selling more than buying this year. It feels to me really dynamic, lively and a good buzz.” Moir was one of several exhibi-
tors to cite American interest: “The biggest deals we’re seeing are from American publishers. Many of them are pre-empts.” Oneworld publisher Juliet Mabey
also noted the presence of US editors, saying: “This year’s book fair definitely feels busier than last.” However, The Bright Agency CEO Vicki Willden-Lebrecht noted that “possible American tariffs on books is a concern”. Many agents reported serious
problems with the IRC, which, owing to Olympia’s ongoing
1
renovations, was split into two sections. One agent reported being moved due to the “ceiling falling in”, while Molly Ker Hawn of The Bent Agency said a mix-up had four agencies assigned to her table. “[Day one] felt like a mostly wasted day... My complaint to the LBF organisers’ office has so far yielded absolutely no response,” she said. “It’s galling to have paid for this.” LBF told The Bookseller: “Our
booking system shouldn’t allow multiple agencies to book the same table. We had checked in advance of the fair that all tables had been allocated correctly, so we are inves- tigating how this could have come about. We were able to reallocate tables to the few affected agencies and will stay in touch to ensure there are no further issues.”
REPORTING Heloise Wood and Melina Spanoudi
2
Joe Wicks jumps to LEAP for two-book deal
Joe Wicks ( 2) will move to Bonnier Books UK’s new wellness and life- style imprint LEAP, reuniting with his first editor, Carole Tonkinson. LEAP publisher Tonkinson
acquired world English-language rights from Nikki Wicks, CEO of the fitness guru and presenter’s company, The Body Coach, with the publication of the first title, Protein in 15, planned for late 2025. Tonkinson had brought Wicks to
her Pan Macmillan imprint Bluebird for his debut title, Lean in 15, which at 1.4 million print units for £11.5m is the second biggest-selling cookery book in Britain since accurate records began. Tonkinson joined Bonnier Books UK in 2023, first as an editor-at-large, with the LEAP imprint launching a year later. Protein in 15 will feature 80 “deli-
cious full-colour, main-meal recipes to help anyone at any age and stage of life add more protein to their diet”.
REPORTING Melina Spanoudi
Lucy Foley to pen new Miss Marple
HarperCollins will publish The Guest List author Lucy Foley’s book featuring Miss Marple, the first full-length continuation of Agatha Christie’s iconic sleuth. Foley’s currently untitled novel is slated to be released in autumn 2026, the 50th anniver- sary of the publication of the last Marple, Sleeping Murder. The deal for world English- language rights was negotiated by former HarperFiction MD and publisher Kimberley Young (now Transworld MD) with Agatha Christie Ltd, along with Curtis Brown’s Cathryn Summerhayes on behalf of Foley. The project will be overseen
in the UK by HarperFiction publishing director Charlotte Brabbin and David Brawn, HC’s publisher for Estates; the US side will be handled by Morrow VP and editorial director Emily Krump and Jennifer Hart, the HC US division’s SVP and deputy publisher. Agatha Christie Ltd is handling foreign rights. Foley has published eight
Amanda Harris unveils new agency at LBF 2025
Former YMU books division managing director Amanda Harris ( 3) launched her new “fresh take” on representation, Maven Literary Management, at London Book Fair. Harris had previously announced
her departure from YMU, which she joined in 2019, in July of last of year. She will bring existing and new
clients to Maven. In non-fiction that includes Professor Noel “the Supervet” Fitzpatrick, pop singer
38
Paloma Faith, food writer Kathryn Bruton, cookery book star/influencer Christina Kynigos and King’s College London nutritional science professor Sarah Berry. The fiction list
features romantasy author Megan Scott, jour- nalist turned 2025 debut
books since her debut in 2015, all by HC in the UK, and had her breakout success with 2019’s The Hunting Party. She contributed to 2022’s Marple (HarperCollins), a collection of short stories reim- agining the detective. Foley also wrote the foreword to last year’s Agatha Christie’s Marple: Expert on Wickedness by “Agathologist” Mark Aldridge. Foley called Miss Marple her
historical novelist Emma Cowing, and Blindboy Boatclub, AKA David Chambers. Harris said: “It’s a privilege to launch Maven with such a strong and bestselling client list. The golden thread running through our roster is that our authors are
experts in their chosen fields, whether they write spellbinding
fiction, thought-leading non-fiction or delicious recipe collections.”
3 REPORTING Tom Tivnan
favourite Christie sleuth. “I love her intuitive intelligence; her sense of humour; her brilliantly cynical view of humanity; and the way she uses her invisibility – as an older woman, she is frequently patronised and misjudged by those around her – as her superpower.” Agatha Christie Ltd chair and
CEO (and the late author’s grand- son) James Prichard said: “Miss Marple is an extraordinary and special character, and this project promises to be immense fun.”
REPORTING Melina Spanoudi
Features
London Book Fair Round-up
DES ILES
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72
