Nicolas Cheetham, CEO of Head of Zeus, has acquired rights in two new books by David Gilman from Isobel Dixon, Head of Books at Blake Friedmann.
Cheetham has acquired UK and British Commonwealth rights (excluding Canada) in the third title in Gilman’s international thriller series, THE ENGLISHMAN. The first book featuring French Foreign Legionnaire Dan Raglan was longlisted for the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize in 2021 and was a Financial Times Thriller of the Year in 2020. The second book in the series, BETRAYAL, is out in hardback on 6 January 2022, with the third title to be published in February 2023.
AGC Studios have optioned THE ENGLISHMAN for development as a feature film in the vein of the Jason Bourne franchise with 300, ACT OF VALOR and ATOMIC BLONDE scriptwriter Kurt Johnstad set to write the adventure-thriller script.
Head of Zeus has also signed up World English language rights in the eighth instalment of Gilman’s hugely popular MASTER OF WAR series, set during the 100 Years War and starring English stonemason and archer, Thomas Blackstone, who becomes a renowned knight. The series has sold over half a million copies in English and is a Top Ten paperback and ebook bestseller in Germany. The eighth Thomas Blackstone title will be published in February 2024.
Nicolas Cheetham says: Ten years and ten books ago, David was one of the first writers to throw his lot in with the newly-formed Head of Zeus. Together we have survived armoured cavalry charges, the Black Death, the Boer War and Nazi-occupied Paris. Now with his new series of contemporary thrillers we line up behind Dan Raglan, aka THE ENGLISHMAN, as we close in on one million sales – with more adventures for Thomas Blackstone and his comrades to follow too.’
David Gilman says: ‘I am extremely fortunate to have Nic Cheetham as my publisher at Head of Zeus, whose enthusiasm for my work allows me to write books covering medieval to contemporary times. It has proven to be a successful partnership that has created two ongoing literary heroes with Thomas Blackstone in the 14th Century MASTER OF WAR series and Dan Raglan in the 21st Century THE ENGLISHMAN series. I’m looking forward to seeing where they go next!’
Isobel Dixon says: ‘I’m always in awe of David Gilman’s versatility and work ethic, and the way he creates such engaging characters from very different time periods. I am so happy that readers can keep following both Dan Raglan and Thomas Blackstone, as David writes more brilliant stories and Head of Zeus continues to build the reach of these two superb series.’
Praise for David Gilman
‘Verve, pace, shocks and intrigue … an author at the zenith of his powers.’ – Peter James
‘Electrifying proof that high-tension international thrillers are back – and with an absolute vengeance.’ – William Shaw
‘The pace is relentless, the action and fight scenes superbly choreographed and Raglan is nicely complex: an action man with inner depths... THE ENGLISHMAN is a cracking, finely crafted thriller.' – Adam Le Bor, Financial Times
'Incisive prose – and the pulse-pounding pace just never lets up.’ – Peter May
‘What Gilman does superlatively is heart-pounding action.’—The Times
'I'm totally bedazzled. I'd never thought that another writer could rival Bernard Cornwell … but David is giving him a real run for his money.’— Sharon Penman
‘Move over Bernard Cornwell! Historical fiction at its best.’ — Historical Novel Society
About David Gilman
David Gilman lives in Devon. He was a firefighter, soldier, photographer, then award-winning screenwriter and writer of an acclaimed adventure series for young readers, before turning to writing his much-loved and bestselling MASTER OF WAR series full-time. Head of Zeus have sold more than half a million copies of David Gilman’s novels in English, and his work is translated into more than a dozen languages. The MASTER OF WAR titles featuring Thomas Blackstone has been widely reviewed and titles have featured several times on the Der Spiegel bestseller lists in Germany.
THE LAST HORSEMAN, a standalone novel following Irish involvement in the Anglo-Boer War, was shortlisted for the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize and his new contemporary thriller series, THE ENGLISHMAN, starring ex-Foreign Legion soldier Dan Raglan, was longlisted for the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize as well. He is also the author of a popular WWII espionage thriller, NIGHT FLIGHT TO PARIS.