Sourcebooks triumphs in auction for THE RESORT by Sara Ochs

Kate Burke has sold US rights to Sara Ochs’ unputdownable debut thriller THE RESORT and a second unnamed novel to MJ Johnston at Sourcebooks for a significant six-figure sum. THE RESORT will be published in hardback this Autumn.

THE RESORT is set at a scuba diving school on one of Thailand’s world-famous party islands – a place where backpackers go to find themselves or get lost for ever. When a young woman is found dead during a scuba diving lesson, the morning after a full moon party, the diving instructor and her group of ex-pat friends realise they aren’t the only people who have fallen in love with paradise. A killer has too.

Rights have already been sold to this exciting debut in pre-empts or at auction in the United Kingdom, Germany, Finland, Holland and Russia. The UK hardback edition will be published in July by Transworld as THE DIVE.

About Sara Ochs

Sara Ochs is an attorney, law professor, and author who splits her time between the United States and Sweden. When she’s not writing psychological thrillers set in far-flung destinations, Sara can usually be found on a flight with a glass of wine in one hand and a novel in the other.

Praise for THE DIVE

‘THE DIVE is an escapist, up-all-night thriller that holds you under and doesn’t let you surface for air until the very final page. Utterly compelling!’ – Lucy Clarke, Sunday Times Top Ten bestselling author of ONE OF THE GIRLS

‘A compelling and accomplished debut, perfect for fans of Ruth Ware and Lucy Foley.’ – Steve Cavanagh, Sunday Times bestselling author of THIRTEEN

‘A deadly, dangerous, beautiful nightmare. THE DIVE will leave you breathless yet gasping for more.’ – Chris Whitaker

‘THE DIVE turns paradise into a nightmare… and I loved every minute of it… I was captivated by Sara’s writing and can’t wait to see what she does next.’ – Amy McCulloch, author of BREATHLESS

Follow Sara on Twitter and Instagram.

Visit Sara’s website.

AVON SCOOPS TWO NOVELS FROM EMMA COWELL

Avon Books has acquired two novels from Emma Cowell, including her heart-warming debut, ONE LAST LETTER FROM GREECE. Editor Lucy Frederick won world English language rights from Kate Burke of Blake Friedmann at auction. ONE LAST LETTER FROM GREECE is to be published in May 2022.

ONE LAST LETTER FROM GREECE follows the story of Sophie who, devasted by the death of her beloved mother, longs to get away from the echoing, empty rooms of her once happy home. So, when a chance discovery reveals something unexpected about her mother’s past, she is more than ready to hop on a plane and escape to the magical, idyllic town of Methoni to find out more. Once there, however, Sophie discovers more than she could ever have foreseen… about her mother, yes, but also about herself…

Lucy Frederick says: ‘Never have I longed for a holiday more than when I first dove into Emma’s opening pages. ONE LAST LETTER FROM GREECE is romantic, life-affirming and wonderfully escapist. But beyond the beautiful Greek backdrop, Emma’s story is touching and emotive, introducing an enduring mother-daughter bond and a love that stretches across all time and distance. I know I speak on behalf of the whole Avon team when I say we are over the moon to welcome Emma to the list as an incredibly exciting new voice and we can’t wait for the world to fall in love with Sophie’s journey with us.’

Emma Cowell says: ‘I am thrilled to have the perfect home for my debut novel. Writing this story has been such an emotional experience, exploring the highs and lows of love and grief, touching on some of the universal issues that affect women today. I am so grateful to Kate Burke at Blake Friedmann and the amazing team at Avon for believing in me with such passion and enthusiasm.’

Kate Burke says: ‘I’m delighted to have this deal in place for Emma – both she and the dynamic Avon team are a perfect pairing! Emma’s writing is absorbing and gripping, and her setting is just magical.’

Praise for Emma Cowell:

‘A compelling and tender story, beautifully told by an exciting new voice.’ – Santa Montefiore

‘Emma Cowell tells an emotional, gripping tale about family secrets, love and loss in her debut novel. I am reminded of page turners like EAT, PRAY, LOVE and UNDER THE TUSCAN SUN when I read these delicious pages.’ – Adriana Trigiani

About the author:

Emma lives in Cornwall with her husband, Tony, and their fur baby, a Russian Blue called Papoushka Gerald Cowell. A former actress and BBC presenter Emma has worked in the fundraising division of children’s palliative care for the last decade and is currently Head of Philanthropy for national charity Together for Short Lives. Segueing from being paid to talk for a living into writing was a natural progression, since story telling has been at the heart of her career to date. Outside of work, Emma is a keen angler and held a Cornish record for over 10 years until her crown was toppled. She is yet to get over it but tries to keep calm by practising yoga. Also, a keen linguist, Emma is attempting to learn Greek to maintain her love affair with the country where she has set her debut novel. She is yet to achieve a level of proficiency outside of tavernas and bakeries.

Follow Emma on Twitter and Instagram.

PIPPA VOSPER'S ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO BABY LOSS SNAPPED UP AT AUCTION

Headline Home has won UK & Commonwealth rights for Pippa Vosper’s BEYOND GRIEF: Navigating the Journey of Pregnancy and Baby Loss, after a hotly-contested auction.

Senior Commissioning Editor Anna Steadman acquired UK and Commonwealth rights at auction from Juliet Pickering for publication in hardback, ebook and audio edition in summer 2022, and the book can be pre-ordered here.

Pippa Vosper, who tragically lost her son Axel in 2017 when she was five months pregnant, has written about baby loss online and in a series of pieces for British Vogue. BEYOND GRIEF promises to be the book she wishes had been available when her son died. It will cover every aspect of pregnancy and baby loss, from the practical to the emotional, and offer both an inclusive perspective and a guiding hand to anyone experiencing a loss of their own, as well as those who are trying to support them through it.

The book will also contain interviews, advice and stories from a number of experts and people with personal experience of baby loss. Confirmed contributors include Elizabeth Day, Funmi Fetto and Jools Oliver.

Pippa Vosper is a writer, presenter and brand consultant. Most noted for her honest series of written features for Vogue, Pippa is frequently requested as a public speaker on issues ranging from fertility to fashion and her own life experiences. Previously a fashion editor, Pippa has contributed to Harper’s Bazaar American Vogue, Grazia, Interview and W magazine.

Anna Steadman says: “I have been looking for a book about baby loss for some time, a subject that is sadly relevant to so many women and those around them. As soon as I spoke with Pippa I knew that I wanted to publish BEYOND GRIEF. This is a book that is going to both resonate with and provide comfort to so many people, and I’m very proud to be publishing it next year.”

Pippa Vosper says: “When I experienced pregnancy loss at five months, I urgently needed to know there was life beyond my grief. My book brings together everything I wish I had known about pregnancy loss, at any stage, and the years that follow. I want to give others' the hope and encouragement that life will not always feel as painful as it does soon after pregnancy loss. In Headline Home I have found a publisher who perfectly understands the importance of bringing further awareness to this often-silenced subject.”

Juliet Pickering says: “When Pippa’s proposal first arrived in my inbox, I wrote back to her within 12 minutes to tell her I’d love to discuss it: so many women experience baby loss, it’s still hugely under-discussed in public spaces, and I was thrilled to at last have found the book I can recommend to friends and mothers who’ve experienced this devastating event. We’ve found the perfect publishing home with Anna, and I’m so pleased that this book will exist for those who need it.”