DOUBLE TOP TEN FOR SHEILA O’FLANAGAN’S THREE WEDDINGS AND A PROPOSAL

Sheila O’Flanagan’s latest paperback THREE WEDDINGS AND A PROPOSAL features simultaneously in both the UK and Irish Top Ten Bestseller charts. Published by Headline, THREE WEDDINGS AND A PROPOSAL has made it to Number Eight in the Irish Times Bestseller list this weekend, and Number Nine in the Sunday Times paperback charts in the UK. Last year, the hardback of THREE WEDDINGS AND A PROPOSAL flew into the Irish Times Bestseller list, hitting the Number Two spot and remaining in the Top Ten for ten weeks.

In THREE WEDDINGS AND A PROPOSAL, Delphie is enjoying her brother's wedding; her surprise last-minute Plus One has stunned her family – and it's also stopped any of them asking again why she's still single. But when she sees all the missed calls that evening, she knows it can't be good news. And she's right.

Delphie has been living her best life, loving her job, her friends, her no-strings relationships and her dream house by the sea. Now she has to question everything she believed about who she is and what she wants. Is her mum right – is it time to settle down? Or does she want to keep on trying to have it all?

Each wedding of a glorious summer brings a new surprise. And as everything Delphie thought she had is threatened, she has the chance to reshape her future…

Sheila O’Flanagan’s brand new novel, WHAT EDEN DID NEXT, will be published by Headline on 28th April 2022, in hardback in the UK and trade paperback in Ireland, along with the audio edition narrated by Aoife McMahon. Mobius will publish in the US in June 2022. The publication of this thirtieth novel with Headline will be marked by a major celebratory campaign.

Sheila O’Flanagan is an international bestselling novelist, with more than 9 million copies sold. Numerous novels have been immediate and long-lasting No 1s in Ireland and, UK Top 10 Sunday Times Bestsellers, and she is published in more than 20 languages around the world. Her books have been Number 1 bestsellers in Sweden. She is the recipient of the prestigious Irish Tatler Literary Woman of the Year Award.

Praise for THREE WEDDINGS AND A PROPOSAL

‘This novel sees Sheila O’Flanagan at her insightful best. It flows along naturally, with a plot that feels unforced. There’s great characterisation, natural dialogue, and a sprinkling of clever one-liners. Overall, it’s a very smart feminist novel, examining the choices women have to make, and the obstacles still put in their way.’ — Five gripping books to lose yourself in this summer, Irish Examiner

‘Written with Sheila O’Flanagan’s trademark warmth and wisdom, this is an inspiring story of strength and self-discovery, with a touch of romance, by a writer who goes from strength to strength.’ — Anne Cater, Sunday Express S Magazine

‘In true O'Flanagan style, it's a compelling story of love, belonging and friendship, with a strong message.’ — Woman’s Weekly

‘A brilliant read from one of our favourite authors.’ – New Must-Reads, Bella Magazine

‘As a lover of all things Irish, how is it possible that I hadn’t discovered Sheila O’Flanagan’s books before THREE WEDDINGS AND A PROPOSAL? Thanks to this wonderful story of a woman’s journey of self-discovery, I can’t wait to read more by this very talented author.’ — #1 New York Times bestselling author Sherryl Woods

‘Sheila O’Flanagan delivers the perfect summer escape with THREE WEDDINGS AND A PROPOSAL. Engrossing, entertaining, and emotional—and featuring a protagonist you can’t help but root for—this one will keep you turning the pages.’ — Farrah Rochon, USA Today Bestselling author of THE BOYFRIEND

‘Great characters and many twists and turns make this page turner thoroughly enjoyable.  A great read!’ — Katie Fforde

‘An involving, thought-provoking novel and a masterclass in storytelling. I was drawn in from page 1.’ — Sue Moorcroft

‘Reading a Sheila O'Flanagan novel always feels like sitting down for a cup of tea with a friend — she writes with such warmth and empathy.’ — Beth O’Leary, author of THE FLATSHARE

‘Putting a spin on wedding stories, each wedding of a glorious summer brings a new surprise for Delphie, who has the chance to reshape her future.’ – Denise O’Donoghue, Irish Examiner, ‘Best of the Year Lists’ 

Praise for Sheila O’Flanagan

‘'O'Flanagan doesn't skirt the pain of heartache but embraces it along with the humour (and imperfect judgment) that give her characters their aching credibility... Despite some dark themes, the book's overall tone is light and hopeful.' - Irish Independent on HER HUSBAND’S MISTAKE

‘O'Flanagan is one of our best-known, best-loved and most prolific women's fiction authors’ – Irish Independent

‘One of my favourite authors’ – Marian Keyes

‘O'Flanagan's writing is crisp and concise and her plotting deft’ – Belfast Telegraph

'One of our best storytellers' – Irish Mail on Sunday

Visit Sheila’s website.

Follow Sheila on Twitter.

Avon To Publish Three More Books by Bestseller Sue Moorcroft

Photo Credit: Charlotte Barnes

Avon Books have signed a three-book deal with Sue Moorcroft, taking her publishing schedule up to summer 2020. Rachel Faulkner-Willcocks acquired World English Language rights from Juliet Pickering at Blake Friedmann.

As part of Avon’s overall strategy to grow Sue Moorcroft’s brand globally, Avon also expanded their portfolio for her existing books to include North American and Canadian rights (A Christmas Promise, Just for the Holidays, The Little Village Christmas, One Summer in Italy and A Christmas Gift).

Rachel Faulkner-Willcocks, Senior Commissioning Editor at Avon said: ‘Sue Moorcroft’s wonderful novels have become highlights of summer and Christmas for her legion of devoted readers, and we are delighted that we’ll be working with Sue for these next three books. Her novels are full to the brim with warmth, but never shy away from the darker realities of life, and with universal themes of family, friendship, love and community, we’re excited to be publishing Sue globally, and bringing her wonderful narratives to an even wider readership.’ 

Sue Moorcroft said: ‘It’s such a privilege and a pleasure to continue to work with the Avon team, because they approach the publication of my books with unparalleled professionalism and enthusiasm. I’m thrilled they’re proving their confidence in my brand by taking it into North America and Canada and thank Juliet for, once again, brokering exactly the right deal for me. I can’t say how delighted I am to move into the future with all at Avon and Blake Friedmann.’

Pickering said: ‘Sue's partnership with Avon continues to go from strength to strength, and we're delighted that Avon wish to take Sue's fantastic list to North America, too. Along with an ever-increasing number of translation markets for Sue's novels, this move across the Atlantic cements Sue's future as an internationally-bestselling author, and we couldn't be more pleased for her.'

 ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sue Moorcroft is a Sunday Times and international bestselling author who has held the coveted #1 spot on Amazon Kindle. She’s won the Readers’ Best Romantic Novel award and the Katie Fforde Bursary, and has twice been nominated for a Romantic Novel of the Year Award. Her short stories, serials, columns, writing ‘how to’ and courses have appeared all over the world. Her first hardback, A Christmas Gift, publishes this November, following a Sunday Times top ten position last Christmas, and a summer of stellar Ebook sales.

Praise for Sue Moorcroft:

‘A delight to read. Full of laughter and tears.’ – Katie Fforde

 ‘Sue’s gift for description and characters and a well-paced, funny yet tender plot makes this the idea holiday read.’ — My Weekly

Visit Sue's website

Sue on Twitter

Sue on Facebook

Visit THE GIN SHACK ON THE BEACH: New novel from Catherine Miller published today!

THE GIN SHACK ON THE BEACH, the first in a new series by Catherine Miller, is published today in ebook by HQ Digital. This is the perfect summer read: a story of friendship, defiance, and the quest for the perfect gin and tonic.

You’re never too old to try something new!

When octogenarian Olive Turner is persuaded by her son to move into a retirement home, she congratulates herself on finding the secret to an easy life: no washing up, cooking or cleaning. But Olive isn’t one for mindless bingo with her fellow residents, and before the first day is over she's already hatching a plan to escape back to her beloved beach hut and indulge in her secret passion for a very good gin & tonic.

Before long Olive’s secret is out and turning into something wonderful and new. Only a select few are invited, but word spreads quickly about the weekly meetings of The Gin Shack Club. Soon everybody on the beach wants to become a gin connoisseur and join Olive on her journey to never being forced to grow older than you feel.

Praise for THE GIN SHACK ON THE BEACH:

“Immensely entertaining, utterly enjoyable from the first page to the last and downright brilliant! Hugely inspiring and absolutely charming” – Kim Nash

About the author:

When Catherine Miller became a mum to twins, she decided her hands weren't full enough so wrote a novel with every spare moment she managed to find. By the time the twins were two, Catherine had a two-book deal with Carina UK. There is a possibility she has aged remarkably in that time. Her debut novel, Waiting For You, came out in March 2016.

Catherine was a NHS physiotherapist, but for health reasons (Uveitis and Sarcoidosis) she retired early from this career. As she loved her physiotherapy job, she decided if she couldn't do that she would pursue her writing dream. It took a few years and a couple of babies, but in 2015 she won the Katie Fforde bursary, was a finalist in the London Book Fair Write Stuff Competition and highly commended in Woman magazine's writing competition. Soon afterwards she signed with Carina. Soon after that, she collapsed in a heap and was eventually revived by chocolate.

THE LAST DAYS OF LEDA GREY published today!

‘Fox's vivid, sensual prose … is as seductive as a siren's song’ – Heat Magazine

Essie Fox’s latest novel, THE LAST DAYS OF LEDA GREY - A bewitching novel about an enigmatic silent film actress, and the volatile love affair that left her a recluse for over half a century - is published in the UK by Orion today.

During the oppressive heat wave of 1976 a young journalist, Ed Peters, finds an Edwardian photograph in a junk shop in the seaside town of Brightland. It shows an alluring, dark-haired girl, an actress whose name was Leda Grey. Enchanted by the image, Ed learns Leda Grey is still living - now a recluse in a decaying cliff-top house she once shared with a man named Charles Beauvois, a director of early silent film. As Beauvois's muse and lover, Leda often starred in scenes where stage magic and trick photography were used to astonishing effect.

But, while playing a cursed Egyptian queen, the fantasies captured on celluloid were echoed in reality, leaving Leda abandoned and alone for more than half a century - until the secrets of her past result in a shocking climax, more haunting than any to be in found in the silent films of Charles Beauvois.

THE LAST DAYS OF LEDA GREY was chosen as The Times Newspaper’s October Book of the Month. The Times describes the novel as  “luminous … with a sensuousness to the prose … Leda Grey’s world is utterly beguiling.”

Follow this link for a look at the stunning trailer for the book.

Essie’s debut novel, THE SOMNAMBULIST, was shortlisted at the National Book Awards for New Writer of the Year, and was also picked up by TV Book Club and optioned by Hat Trick Productions. It is also published by Castelvecchi in Italy and Damm in Sweden and sold to Bertrand in Brazil. Her other novels, ELIJAH'S MERMAID and THE GODDESS AND THE THIEF have received a swathe of glowing reviews.

See Essie Fox's website here

See Essie Fox's blog The Virtual Victorian here

Praise for THE LAST DAYS OF LEDA GREY

'...luminous...there is a sensuousness to the prose...Leda Grey's world is utterly beguiling.' -- Antonia Senior, The Times Book of the Month

‘an ethereal fantasy which is both seductive and tragic…the intensely sensual and untamed echoes of the past come alive in The Last Days of Leda Grey…an exquisitely written, tantalising mystery heaving with imagination, atmosphere and drama…Bravo!’ -- Little Bookness Lane

‘Essie Fox writes with passion and authority…bring[ing] to life some of the film stories of yesteryear, giving the reader a tantalising glimpse into the intriguing world of cinema history. Evocative and haunting, this story is beautifully told, it is multi-layered and hugely engaging. The characters are rich, mysterious and surprising and the setting is fabulous…The author has created a stifling atmosphere…so inventive, so surprising and quite enchanting.’ -- Random Things Through My Letter Box

‘This enchanting story transports you into the past to discover the haunting truth behind Leda’s past- which is far more dramatic than any of the silent films she starred in’ -- Jenny Freeman, Essentials 

“Dark, haunting, compelling…equal to Daphne du Maurier’s novels. This book held me in its grip. Loved it.” -- Liz Fenwick

“Spent a sunny day hunched tensely over THE LAST DAYS OF LEDA GREY...Macabre, transporting, thick with atmosphere and allusion.” -- Morgan McCarthy

'Have just read THE LAST DAYS OF LEDA GREY and have woken up in a haze of incense with a beaded shawl over my head … the flickering images, the shadowy figures, and the ghostly backdrop of Brighton … will tingle and chill you in equal measure.” -- The Booktrail

“Noir meets gothic in this fantastic book … a dark and brooding narrative that is bristling with suspense and atmosphere.” -- Book and Brew

“Descriptions were amazing …really felt as if I was there in that house, both in the past and the present of the 1970’s. Very very clever!” -- Jenn Ashworth

“It’s hypnotic!” -- Kellie Jackson, Words Away

“Darkly sparkling. Very much enjoyed my days in Leda’s twilight world. Doubt I’ll sleep all that well tonight…” -- Anna Mazzola

“Wonderfully creepy tale. Leda is a triumph.” -- Vanessa Lafaye

Praise for ELIJAH'S MERMAID:

'[ELIJAH'S MERMAID] delights in the underworld and the exotica of Victorian Britain... Memorable and unusual.' -- Nick Rennison, Sunday Times

'Dark secrets, hidden pasts and childhood mysteries are the focus in this sensual melodrama...an entertaining slice of Victoriana, rich in historical detail...a tale of obsessive love and betrayal.' -- Marie Claire Magazine

Praise for THE SOMNAMBULIST:

'Gothic Victorian tale of complicated thespian lives, old secrets and many a twist and turn. It's an absorbing easy read, well worth recommending.' -- The Bookseller

'Essie Fox's debut novel paints a vivid picture of Victorian Times.' -- The Star