Big deals signed for study of a 19th-century family of killers, Hell’s Half-Acre, and Murder Isn’t Easy, a mortician’s take on Agatha Christie’s forensics The spectre of true crime was stalking the aisles at this year’s London book fair, with publishers snapping up investigations into past evils in the wake of successes in podcasting and television such as Dirty John, Serial and The Teacher’s Pet.Offers were flying in for former Waterstones bookseller Susan Jonusas’s first book Hell’s Half-Acre, a study of the the Bender family of serial killers in Kansas in 1873. Jonusas, 24, left Waterstones in December to write full-time. “Buried on a homestead seven miles south of the town were 11 bodies in varying states of decay. Further investigation revealed a well containing remains of even more victims. The number of people murdered was estimated at 20,” said Jonusas’s literary agency. “The idea that a family of seemingly respectable homesteaders were capable of operating ‘a human slaughter pen’ appalled and fascinated the nation. But who the Benders really were, why they committed such a vicious killing spree and what became of them when they fled from the law is a mystery that has remained unsolved to this day.” UK rights are still being finalised, with Viking snapping it up for a six-figure deal in the US. Agent Georgina Capel, who was fielding offers for the book, said: “I suspect the true-crime podcast thing is driving the current interest.” Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'
[ The Guardian | 2019-03-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
With the acquisition of the literary agency Fletcher & Company, UTA added hundreds of authors to its client roster. The deal comes amid consolidation in the entertainment industry. Continue reading at The New York Times
[ The New York Times | 2023-01-04 17:18:03 UTC ]
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The Hollywood talent agency is further expanding its presence in book publishing with the acquisition of the independent literary agency Fletcher & Co. After buying U.K.-based agency Curtis Brown in June 2022, the acquisition will see UTA add 12 full-time staffers to its publishing division. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-01-04 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Tributes have flooded in for the much-loved writer, who wrote more than 40 books for children and adults including the recent Be the Change handbooksAuthor Marcus Sedgwick, who wrote more than 40 books for children and adults, has died aged 54. His literary agency RCW has confirmed his death,... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2022-11-17 13:02:14 UTC ]
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Every few months, I receive an email or phone call from someone who claims to work for a literary agency or publishing entity. In the lengthy messages variegated with bold-faced sentences, or voicemails in which the speaker mispronounces my maiden name, I’m promised six-figure book deals with... Continue reading at Literrary Hub
[ Literrary Hub | 2022-08-22 08:52:55 UTC ]
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After she was dropped by her agent, Alex Aster turned to a books-obsessed corner of TikTok to gauge interest in her YA novel … and now Lightlark is one of the most eagerly anticipated releases of the yearHaving finally published her first novel, Alex Aster was feeling disheartened. The book had... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2022-08-16 13:32:30 UTC ]
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Bloomsbury has acquired Peasants, the "extraordinary" non-fiction work by Dr Maryam Aslany, securing the debut in a hotly contested auction for a six-figure sum. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2022-01-31 15:25:14 UTC ]
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My father, Trevlyn D’Cruz, who has died aged 83, was an accountant who became managing director of the publishing company New English Library (NEL) in 1974. His years there read like a primer of 70s culture: he distributed Bob Guccione’s Playboy magazine rival, Penthouse, was involved in the... Continue reading at The Guardian
[ The Guardian | 2021-12-24 16:49:25 UTC ]
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Robbie Guillory is leaving the Kate Nash Literary Agency to start his own agency in Glasgow. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-02 13:20:05 UTC ]
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The Good Literary Agency (TGLA) has promoted Gyamfia Osei to junior literary agent to build a commercial and upmarket fiction list alongside one for non-fiction authors. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-02 05:38:45 UTC ]
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Walker Books has acquired two titles in a six-figure deal from novelist and podcaster Caroline O’Donoghue, including the final instalment in her Gifts series and a brand new title. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-10-12 23:36:41 UTC ]
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Literary agency Peters Fraser + Dunlop is launching the Queer Fiction Prize, with author Okechukwu Nzelu among the judges for the inaugural award. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-10-05 18:48:23 UTC ]
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Mark Tauber, former publisher of HarperOne and who oversaw Chronicle's Prism imprint and audio division, has formed a new literary agency. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-09-08 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Transworld has scooped a "joyful and emotional" debut novel by author and blogger Sarah Turner, also known as The Unmumsy Mum, in a six-figure, two-book deal. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-08-26 01:27:52 UTC ]
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Literary agency Greene & Heaton is to launch a submissions initiative and mentoring scheme for writers from underrepresented backgrounds, as part of The Greene Door Project. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-08-19 09:26:48 UTC ]
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The RCW literary agency and publisher Knights Of have announced the return of a free children’s publishing workshop for aspiring authors of colour, now in partnership with development scheme Megaphone. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-07-08 01:37:05 UTC ]
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The DHH Literary Agency is celebrating its 10th anniversary this month with an expansion accompanied by a string of major debut writer deals signed through lockdown Zoom sessions. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-06-21 13:29:00 UTC ]
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Award-winning screenwriter Abi Morgan’s memoir, which follows family life after her partner's sudden illness, has gone to John Murray for “a strong six-figures". Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-06-20 19:48:18 UTC ]
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Norton has temporarily halted the shipment and promotion of Blake Bailey's 'Philip Roth: The Biography' following allegations of sexual misconduct leveled against the author by a number of women. On Monday, Bailey’s literary agency, the Story Factory, dropped the author when those allegations... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-04-22 04:00:00 UTC ]
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While not celebrating its half century in exactly the manner it had planned, literary agency Watson, Little has had a solid year despite the pandemic, according to its managing director. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-03-05 06:27:31 UTC ]
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Welbeck has signed a “significant” six-figure deal for “profoundly moving” new novel Little Wing and one other book by Freya North. Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2021-02-22 01:44:35 UTC ]
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