THE MISSING LIST BY CLARE BEST ACQUIRED BY LINEN PRESS

Linen Press has acquired UK and Commonwealth Rights, for prize-winning poet Clare Best’s powerful memoir THE MISSING LIST, from Hattie Grunewald at Blake Friedmann.

Andrew O'Hagan has called it ‘a tapestry of time – brightly coloured, beautifully orchestrated, emotionally pure.’

Clare’s memoir, THE MISSING LIST, is poised at the approaching death of a father who may never acknowledge or resolve family secrets that brought her untold distress in her childhood and into her adult life. His silence could leave her emotionally adrift, searching for freedom from the past, and an ending. Runner-up in the Mslexia Memoir Competition 2015, the writing is layered and delicate, exploring memory and reflection, illusion and reality, lies and truth. Crafted from ‘a collection of off-cuts’, the book binds together parts of Clare’s own journal, tape-recordings of her father talking about his life, and family scenes from Super 8 home movie footage which her father filmed. She says that writing her story was ‘the most difficult thing I’ve done.’

With five poetry publications to her name, Clare has won and been shortlisted for numerous poetry prizes including the Bridport and Seamus Heaney. She has been published in anthologies from Bloodaxe, Bloomsbury, Emma Press, HappenStance, Five Leaves Press and Frogmore Press amongst others. She teaches creative writing for the Open University and for the Autobiography and Life Writing Programme in Brighton. She led the ‘Tools for Writing’ workshops for life prisoners at HMP Shepton Mallet (Outside In project, 2004) and was writer in residence at Woodlands Organic Farm from 2006 to 2008 and at the University of Brighton in 2015.

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THE PEARLER’S WIFE Roxane Dhand’s stunning debut out today

An arranged marriage, an alien country and buried secrets: Maisie Porter has much to learn in Roxane Dhand’s sensational debut THE PEARLER’S WIFE, published in trade paperback, audio and ebook by Bantam Australia today. Kate Forsyth author of BITTER GREENS called THE PEARLER’S WIFE ‘an assured debut novel ... a sweeping romance set in a little-known corner of Australian history ... a story full of tension, drama and romance.’

UK readers will be able to grab a copy of this tale of forbidden love on March 22 when it will be released in paperback and ebook by Harper Impulse. Rights for the heart-wrenching tale have also been bought in Italy by Piemme Edizioni and Lithuania by Baltos Lankos.

It is 1912, and Maisie Porter stands on the deck of the SS Oceanic as England fades from view. Her destination is Buccaneer Bay in Australia’s far north-west. Her purpose: marriage to her cousin Maitland, a wealthy pearling magnate – and a man she has never met.

Also on board is William Cooper, the Royal Navy’s top man. Following a directive from the Australian government, he and eleven other ‘white’ divers have been hired to replace the predominantly Asian pearling crews. However, Maitland and his fellow merchants have no intention of employing the costly Englishmen for long . . .

Maisie arrives in her new country to a surprisingly cool reception. Already confused by her hastily arranged marriage, she is shocked at Maitland’s callous behaviour towards her – while finding herself increasingly drawn to the intriguing Cooper.

But Maisie’s new husband is harbouring secrets – deadly secrets. And when Cooper and the divers sail out to harvest the pearl shell, they are in great danger – and not just from the unpredictable and perilous ocean . . .

Roxane Dhand was born in Kent and entertained her sisters with imaginative stories from a young age. She studied English and French at London University, and in 1978 she moved to Switzerland, where she began her professional career in public relations. Back in England and many years later on, she taught French in both the maintained and private sectors. Now retired, she is finally able to indulge her passion for storytelling. THE PEARLER'S WIFE is her first novel.

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DEON MEYER’S CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED NOVEL FEVER PUBLISHED IN PAPERBACK TODAY!

Deon Meyer’s ‘compelling, action-packed’ post-apocalyptic novel FEVER is published in paperback in the UK today by Hodder. In this Number One bestseller, a father and son’s relationship is put to the test as they attempt to salvage civilisation in a world decimated by a deadly pandemic. FEVER has won international praise since it was first published around the world, with Stephen King comparing it to his own novel THE STAND. TV rights to FEVER have also been optioned to UK independent production company Sid Gentle.

FEVER was a number one bestseller in South Africa after its release by Tafelberg in 2016 in Afrikaans as KOORS and again in 2017 when Jonathan Ball published the English edition translated by K.L. Seegers. Across the Atlantic, it has found a home in Canada with House of Anansi and in the USA with Grove Atlantic. FEVER has also been published in France by Le Seuil, in Germany by Aufbau and Holland by A. W. Bruna, among others. The Dutch edition leaped into the Top 20 in the Netherlands, where Deon was selected as the national Crime and Thriller Week’s Author and commissioned to write a special novella – DE VROUW IN DE BLAUWE MANTEL (THE WOMAN IN THE BLUE CLOAK),

In July 2017, FEVER was shortlisted for the prestigious Nielsen Bookseller’s Choice Award, Meyer’s third title to be nominated for the award. His ground-breaking novel SEVEN DAYS won the award in 2012.

Nico Storm and his father drive across a desolate South Africa, constantly alert for feral dogs, motorcycle gangs, nuclear contamination. They are among the few survivors of a virus that has killed most of the world's population. Young as he is, Nico realises that his superb marksmanship and cool head mean he is destined to be his father's protector.

But Willem Storm, though not a fighter, is a man with a vision. He is searching for a place that can become a refuge, a beacon of light and hope in a dark and hopeless world, a community that survivors will rebuild from the ruins. And so Amanzi is born.

FEVER is the epic, searing story of a group of people determined to carve a city out of chaos.

Deon Meyer’s work has been published in over 27 countries. In 2016, he was the second bestselling author in South Africa in any language, after J.K. Rowling. He won the Deutsche Krimi Preis 2009 for BLOOD SAFARI, the Le Grand Prix de Littérature Policière 2003 for DEAD BEFORE DYING and Le Prix Mystère de la Critique 2004 for DEAD AT DAYBREAK, which was adapted for an Afrikaans M-Net TV series (SA). THIRTEEN HOURS was the winner of the Barry Award in the Best Thriller category 2011 and was shortlisted for the Macavity Best Mystery Novel Award. He has been shortlisted for the CWA International Dagger three times and many of his books have been optioned for film. DEAD BEFORE DYING was filmed for a 6-part TV series, titled CAPE TOWN, featuring his character Mat Joubert.

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Praise for FEVER:

‘FEVER by Deon Meyer is reminiscent of THE STAND and THE PASSAGE. Great stuff.’ — Stephen King

‘Wonderful writing... It is a crime thriller, but it's far more... absorbing, emotional and atmospheric... There are shades of Cormac McCarthy’s superb THE ROAD, but FEVER grips even more.’ — Marcel Berlins, The Times Book of the Month

‘This is less a mystery than a thought-provoking, post-apocalyptic examination of the human condition …With its stunning final revelation, this is a remarkable literary achievement.’ — Booklist Starred Review

‘Compelling, action-packed and fraught with emotion. At its heart it is a powerful exploration of humanity at its best and worst and bears favourable comparison with landmarks of the genre such as Stephen King's The Stand and Cormac McCarthy's The Road. Simply stunning.’ — Daily Express

‘FEVER explores human relationships and resourcefulness and is also a poignant meditation on the love that rises from catastrophe: the love of a parent for a child, a child for his hero, a people for their country and the love of life’ — Foyles

SHEILA O’FLANAGAN’S WHAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT PUBLISHED IN PAPERBACK TODAY

WHAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT, Sheila O’Flanagan’s captivating tale of impulsive choices and their lasting effects, is published today in paperback by Headline in the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand today. Lola and Bey’s story will available in paperback in South Africa in late March and in Canada in June. The novel which Heat called ‘a fabulous tale with refreshingly inspiring heroines’ was released in audiobook in June 2017, read by popular O’Flanagan narrator Aoife McMahon, alongside the bestselling hardback edition.

Sheila recently signed a new two book deal with Headline, so fans of her work can anticipate two brand new titles in 2019 and 2020 from the Headline Review imprint. Younger readers have a treat ahead too, as Kaia and Joe return in SHIELD OF LIES, the second instalment of Sheila’s first Young Adult series THE CRYSTAL RUN, which will be published by Hachette Children’s Books on 8 March. THE HIDEAWAY, Sheila’s next novel for adults will be published on 31 May, just in time for summer.

Lola Fitzpatrick is bright and ambitious but she’s also headstrong and stubborn. When one evening, out of the blue, she has to make a life-changing choice, she decides quickly and rashly. And without a piece of vital information that might have changed everything.

Lola’s daughter Bey has inherited Lola’s determined nature. Yet her impulsive reactions place her in danger, leading her to run away from what she wants most. And then, one night, she’s standing in front of the man she loves, with her own choice to make…

For both Lola and Bey, everything changes in a moment. But their biggest mistakes might also turn out to be their greatest opportunities…

Sheila O’Flanagan is the author of twenty-five thought-provoking, gripping and unforgettable Sunday Times and ebook bestsellers, including THE MISSING WIFE which was published in the US this month by Grand Central following its UK success. It became a Sunday Times and Irish Times paperback bestseller in 2017, as well as becoming a No.1 ebook bestseller, and one of Amazon’s Top Ten Bestselling ebooks of the year. Her interlinked short story collection CHRISTMAS WITH YOU reached No. 2 in the Irish bestseller lists in the run up to Christmas. Headline has sold over 7 million copies of Sheila’s books.

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Praise for Sheila O’Flanagan:

‘Must-read’ – Express

‘Insightful, witty and full of fun... This is touching, tense and clever writing.’ – Irish Independent

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

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

Harvill Secker acquires two new books from STAR OF THE SEA author Joseph O’Connor

© Gerry Sandford

Harvill Secker has snapped up two new titles by award-winning novelist Joseph O’Connor, including the author’s first thriller. SHAWDOWPLAY and MY FATHER’S HOUSE will be published in 2019 and 2021 respectively. Liz Foley, Harvill Secker Publishing Director, acquired UK and Commonwealth rights from Isobel Dixon at Blake Friedmann.

SHADOWPLAY is a masterful account of Bram Stoker’s life as a young man in London working with Henry Irving, the world’s first superstar actor, as they both fall under the spell of dazzling actress Ellen Terry. A domineering personality of volcanic charisma and mesmerizing talent, Irving hires an unremarkable Dublin clerk to help him with his daring project: to open his own London theatre, and make it the greatest playhouse in the world. Through Bram Stoker’s extraordinary experiences at the Lyceum, his tempestuous relationship with Irving and the bittersweet closeness he finds with Ellen Terry, Stoker will be inspired to pen DRACULA, the most iconic supernatural tale of all time. SHADOWPLAY is a captivating novel about desire, celebrity, the creation of art, ambition and love. Rights for SHADOWPLAY have already been bought by Natur Och Kultur in Sweden and Guanda in Italy.    

MY FATHER’S HOUSE is a powerful literary thriller set during the Second World War. It is based on the true story of Monsignor Hugh O’Flaherty, an Irish priest in the Vatican who risked his life to smuggle thousands of Jews and escaped Allied prisoners out of Italy under the nose of his nemesis, the Nazi Lieutenant Colonel Herbert Kappler. A deadly high-stakes battle of wits ensues in this astonishing, unforgettable story of love, faith and sacrifice, exploring what it means to be truly human in the most extreme circumstances.

Liz Foley said, ‘We are delighted to have two such exciting projects in the works from one of our most accomplished and well-loved authors’

Joseph O’Connor said, ‘In thirty years of being an author, I have never got over the thrill that goes with a book being accepted for publication. I am truly delighted to be working with Secker and Vintage again. To see your work appear on those iconic lists is an absolute honour, as well as a joy. I have high hopes for these two novels about remarkable people who defied convention and changed the troubled world they found themselves in.’

Isobel Dixon said, ‘Two remarkable stories from a truly remarkable author – and for me the thrill of this deal is heightened by the anticipation of the pleasure SHADOWPLAY and MY FATHER’S HOUSE will bring to readers around the world. Harvill Secker have sensational plans, translation rights are already sold in Italy and Sweden, and there is much, much more to come.’

Joseph O’Connor was born in Dublin. His books include eight novels: COWBOYS AND INDIANS (Whitbread Prize shortlist), DESPERADOES, THE SALESMAN, INISHOWEN, STAR OF THE SEA (American Library Association Award, Irish Post Award for Fiction, France’s Prix Millepages, Italy’s Premio Acerbi, Prix Madeleine Zepter for European novel of the year), REDEMPTION FALLS, GHOST LIGHT (Dublin One City One Book Novel 2011) and THE THRILL OF IT ALL. His work has been published in forty languages. He received the 2012 Irish PEN Award for outstanding achievement in literature and in 2014 he was appointed Frank McCourt Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Limerick.

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Praise for Joseph O’Connor:

‘A masterful storyteller.’ — Neel Mukherjee, The Times

'Like Joyce, O'Connor combines his panoramic range with a close eye to the grain and texture of the phrase ... An astonishingly accomplished writer.' — Terry Eagleton, The Guardian
‘Once again. Joseph O'Connor proves that along with Banville, Tóibín, Doyle and the others of that golden Irish generation, he's right up there alongside them.’ — Bob Geldof

‘O’Connor’s prose is satisfyingly sensitive to his protagonists and enchantingly rhythmical, his pacing is perfect, his dialogues masterful at revealing what is really swimming to-and-fro between characters.’ — Sunday Independent

‘O’Connor has a lovely touch for the nuances of important moments – he captures how relationships start, and how they fall apart, beautifully. — Evening Standard