rights guide · film/tv: furniss lawton audio: furniss lawton on submission spring 2017. 5 general...
TRANSCRIPT
2
CONTENTS
FICTION 3
INSPIRATIONAL 13
MEMOIR 17
IDEAS 23
PARENTING 27
HEALTH & DIET 30
POETRY 33
CONTACTS 34
3
GENERAL FICTION
‘I’ve done nothing wrong,’ Gabriel says and the colour rising from the crown of his head is the glacial blue green of a mountain lake. The cold purity of truth.
For Anna, the colour of lies is clementine. Anger is a deep, crusted red and fear a burnt ochre. Only her older sister Billie knows about her synaesthe-sia and how it lets her read a person’s emotions, even when they’re trying to hide them.
At 32 years old, Anna is adrift with no job. Her most meaningful relation-ship is in the past and she has nothing to tie her to one place, until Billie gets her a position as mother’s help with her neighbours, the O’Keefe’s.
The town where Billie and the O'Keefe's live is home to a Petrifying Well, the chalk in the water meant Victorians once brought their keepsakes here to be turned into stone and made eternal. The Well now forms part of a small museum in the Pavilion in the centre of town and casts a long shadow over the community.
Anna moves in to the O’Keefe’s only to discover a family torn apart by grief. Suzy O’Keefe’s teenage niece Lily - who has lived with them since she was a child - has disappeared a few months previously. When Anna is given the missing girl’s room, the mystery around Lily begins to haunt her.
Rumours surround the family, Gabriel O’Keefe in particular. Even her sis-ter, who loathes gossip, believes something inappropriate had taken place between Gabriel and Lily. The more Anna learns, the fewer people she dares trust. And the more her attraction to Gabriel grows.
Her one certainty is that Gabriel is innocent – his colours tell her so - but
no-one else believes her.
THE PETRIFYING WELL is a contemporary gothic novel – hugely atmos-pheric and compelling, this is Daphne Du Maurier for our times.
LEZANNE CLANNACHAN was born in Denmark before moving to England when
she was fourteen. She lives in West Sussex with her husband and three children.
This is her second novel.
Agent: Rowan Lawton
UK Publisher: Orion
UK Editor: Laura Gerrard
Extent: TBC
Publication date: 2018
Translation: Furniss Lawton
US: Furniss Lawton
Film/TV: Furniss Lawton
Previous Titles:
JELLYBIRD
THE PETRIFYING WELL
Lezanne Clannachan
4
GENERAL FICTION
FALLS CROSSING
Jennifer Leggo
Falls Crossing is a tightknit mining town in outback Australia. In the 1970s the discovery of local teenager Julene Ecklund’s body floating in a water-hole shocks the community, and devastates those close to her. Twenty-two years later Julene’s younger sister, Marybeth, returns from London with her husband and daughter, and finds that while her home town and the people in it have moved on, the past still lingers.
FALLS CROSSING tells of the town’s inhabitants and the impact the past has had on their present. Marybeth, haunted by the loss of her sister, must rediscover who she is. Helen Cobb, diagnosed with terminal cancer, tries to make sense of her life. Aubrey Cobb, who pulled Julene’s body from the waterhole, has to come to terms with his wife’s illness. Single mum, Amy, is longing for a better life. George, the 50-something school caretaker, has turned into an unlikely lothario. And Charlie, Julene’s best friend, still has unwanted visions - a gift and a curse she must learn to em-brace.
For fans of Elizabeth Strout and Marilynne Robinson, FALLS CROSSING is a novel about loss and transformation, the power of community and the nature of secrets, mortality and love.
JENNIFER LEGGO is a graduate of the Bath Spa creative writing MA. She is Aus-tralian and splits her time between the UK and Australia. FALLS CROSSING is her debut novel.
Agent: Rowan Lawton
Translation: Furniss Lawton
US: Furniss Lawton
Film/TV: Furniss Lawton
Audio: Furniss Lawton
On Submission Spring 2017
5
GENERAL FICTION
THE MAID’S ROOM
Fiona Mitchell
THE MAID’S ROOM tells the story of three women experiencing two very different sides of life in Singapore. Jules, a British ex-pat, and sisters Dolly and Tala, Filipina maids.
Jules has left her job as a midwife to move to Singapore with husband Da-vid. They are waiting to find out if their third and final round of IVF has been successful. Seeking distraction she takes up photography and throws herself into ex-pat life, but is horrified by the service culture she finds. Filipina maids have to work 6 to 7 days a week, their passports are often confiscated and they are banned from having boyfriends. Most live in the ‘maid’s room', a tiny, boiling, windowless room off the kitchen in the purpose built condos occupied by their ex-pat employers.
Dolly works for Jules’ neighbours Amber and Tor, cooking, cleaning and looking after their two young sons. She sends money back home for her own daughter, Mallie, being brought up by her grandmother in the Philip-pines. Dolly is pregnant again, by someone she shouldn’t, and she is des-perate not to be. It is against the maid rules and she could be deported. Dolly won't disclose who the father is, and her older sister, Tala, is jump-ing to conclusions.
Tala has been in Singapore for many years, her two sons are grown-up now and most of her relationship with them takes place over Skype. Tala is incensed by popular blogger, Vanda, who rails against ‘bad’ maids. Tala decides to start her own blog, Maidhacker, in response to Vanda, defend-ing the rights of maids in Singapore.
Over the course of the novel Dolly and Tala’s paths cross with Jules and their lives – and fates – entwine.
There are now 230,000 female domestic workers in Singapore and an estimated 53 million people working as domestic helpers across the globe - a quarter of these are afforded no legal rights at all. THE MAID’S ROOM shines a light on modern day servitude whilst telling us the story of three indomitable women. It is perfect for fans of THE HELP.
FIONA MITCHELL is an award-winning short story writer and journalist who spent three years living in Singapore. This is her first novel. She lives in Lon-don with her husband and daughter.
Agent: Rowan Lawton
UK Publisher: Hodder
UK Editor: Kate Howard
Extent: 288
Publication Date:
16 November 2017 (HB)
Translation: Furniss Lawton
US: Furniss Lawton
Film/TV: Furniss Lawton
Audio: Hodder
Rights Sold
Denmark: Rosinante
Italy: Mondadori
Norway: Glydendal
Spain: Grijalbo, PRH
6
GENERAL FICTION
An upmarket women’s fiction debut with a darkly comic twist, from well-established stage and TV writing duo Jonathan Pett & Fiorella Ruas.
Photographer Isabella has fallen into depression a year before turning 40. Despite receiving the biggest commission of her career, and living what seems to be a wonderful life in the South of France, she is unable to pick up her camera to complete it. Her husband Simon has the idea of organis-ing a surprise 40th birthday party in an attempt to pull her out of depres-sion.
We meet Isabella’s seven best college friends as they leave behind their partners, children, pets, careers and everyday problems—all anxious for very different reasons to reunite. The chosen venue is an idyllic, luxurious property that Simon has borrowed from his hideously immature, misogy-nist millionaire neighbour and friend Mitch on the condition that he leaves for the weekend.
But Mitch, instead of vacating the property, has in fact wired the whole place with video cameras. His intention: to spy on the women from his forest hideaway and then make a highly seductive entrance.
In the meantime, the women rediscover themselves as they rediscover each other, as secrets are revealed, home truths delivered and revelations made.
Just as things reach an emotional apex, they find they have another prob-lem. Mitch, no longer able to contain himself rushes into the driveway - unfortunately colliding with their drunken drive out for cigarettes.
The women know they all have important decisions to make in their lives, starting with what to do with the body of their host Mitch…
8 WOMEN IN SEARCH OF A PARTY is a caustic, darkly humorous look at friendship, relationships and ambition, dealing along the way with di-vorce, widowhood, singlehood, early menopause, boredom, breast cancer and what it means to be turning forty; with scenes of hilarious comedy and deep pathos along the way.
JONATHAN AND FIORELLA'S writing background is in theatre and TV. Their first play The Pariahs was selected to be part of the Royal National Theatre Studio’s New Writing Festival. Their second play The Hanuman was directed by Edward Hall and featured Caroline Quentin at the National Theatre. The Hanuman was nominated for the prestigious George Devine Award by George Devine's widow and Beckett's set designer Jocelyn Herbert. They went on to write many more plays and have won many awards. Their TV and film credits include Carnival’s Right Here Right Now and the forthcoming The Gilliken Gang.
Jonathan and Fiorella have also been Script Consultants for the Royal Shake-speare Company and Simon Reade, Working Title TV ( Analisa Baretto) and Film London. They have both lectured and lead drama workshops at the Churchill Theatre. Jonathan has been a visiting lecturer on the media course at Winches-ter University while Fiorella has translated for the United Nations: Rain Prosper-ity & Peace, a compilation of stories from the global pastoralist gathering held in Ethiopia in 2005.
Agent: Rachel Mills
Translation: Furniss Lawton
US: Furniss Lawton
Film/TV: Furniss Lawton
On Submission Spring 2017
8 WOMEN IN SEARCH OF A PARTY
Jonathan Pett & Fiorella Ruas
7
GENERAL FICTION
THE A-Z OF EVERYTHING Debbie Johnson
Sisters Poppy and Rose used to be as close as two sisters could be, but it’s been over a decade since they last spoke. Until they both receive a call that tells them their mother has gone – without ever having the chance to see her daughters reunited. Andrea, though, wasn’t the kind of woman to let a little thing like death stand in the way of her plans. Knowing her daughters better than they know themselves, she has left behind one very special last gift – the A-Z of Everything. Using video clips, handwritten notes, keepsakes and even treasure maps, Andrea takes her children on an emotional and inspiring journey through life. P is for Paris, where it all began, J is for jealousy, L for the seaside home of long forgotten happy memories...and the biggest letter of them all is F for Forgiveness. Andrea shares her views on the world as she knows it – and as she wants her daughters to know it. Giving them 26 chances to say goodbye, she hopes the sisters can put aside their bitterness and find their way back into each other’s lives.
DEBBIE JOHNSON is a best-selling author based in Liverpool. She has sold al-most half a million copies of her books.
Agent: Rowan Lawton
UK Publisher: HarperCollins
UK Editor: Charlotte Ledger &
Kimberley Young
Publication date: May 2017 (PB)
Translation: Furniss Lawton
US: Furniss Lawton
Film/TV: Furniss Lawton
Audio: HarperCollins
Rights Sold:
Germany: Fischer
Previous Titles: COLD FEET AT CHRISTMAS PIPPA’S CORNISH DREAM NEVER KISS A MAN IN A CHRIST-MAS JUMPER THE BIRTHDAY THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING SUMMER AT THE COMFORT FOOD CAFÉ
'Original and thought provoking, I very much enjoyed this.' Katie Fforde
‘Funny and poignant – a celebration of life and the enduring power of love.’ Carys Bray, bestselling author of A SONG FOR ISSY BRADLEY
8
GENERAL FICTION
BLOOD FOREST Geraint Jones
GLADIATOR meets FULL METAL JACKET in Geraint Jones’ spectacular debut BLOOD FOREST, where honour and duty, legions and tribes clash in bloody, heart-breaking glory.
It is AD 9. In Northern Europe an army is dying, and an empire is being brought to its knees.
The Roman Empire is at the height of its power. Rome's soldiers brutally enforce imperial rule, and its legions are the most efficient and aggressive fighting force in the world. Governor Varus leads 15,000 seasoned legion-naires north to subdue the Germanic tribes. To Rome these people are savages, ripe for conquest. But the Romans know little of this densely for-ested territory governed by fiercely independent chieftains. Rome's sup-posed ally, Arminius, has unified the disgruntled tribes, leading the would-be conquerors towards a deadly trap. As the army marches deeper into enemy territory, one small band of soldiers must face the deadliest of foes alone.
GERAINT JONES joined the British Army Reserves at 17, whilst studying towards his BA in History and Politics from Lancaster University.
Upon graduating, he entered regular service with the infantry, deploying on three tours of duty to Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as experiencing dozens of countries around the world. For his actions in Iraq, Geraint earned the General Officer Commanding’s Award for Gallantry. Upon leaving the military, Geraint worked to protect commercial shipping against Somali and Nigerian based piracy.
Writing as Rees Jones, Geraint has co-authored two of the internationally bestselling James Patterson BOOKSHOTS series, PRIVATE ROYALS and HEIST. BLOOD FOREST is his debut novel, and the first in a series.
Agent: Rowan Lawton
UK Publisher: Michael Joseph,
Penguin Random House
UK Editor: Rowland White
Extent: 480
Publication date:
4 May 2017 (HB)
5 October 2017 (PB)
Translation: Furniss Lawton
US: Furniss Lawton
Film/TV: Furniss Lawton
Audio: Michael Joseph, Penguin
Random House
Rights Sold
Italy: Newton Compton
Germany: Heyne
Previous Titles as Rees Jones:
PRIVATE ROYALS: BOOKSHOTS
HEIST: BOOKSHOTS
9
GENERAL FICTION
LAST SUMMER
Tasmina Perry
They told you her death was an accident...They lied.
This dark, twisting novel of betrayal and secrets from the Sunday Times bestselling author Tasmina Perry will keep you on the edge of your seat. Perfect for everyone who's been gripped by Showtime TV's THE AF-FAIR, Adele Parks' THE STRANGER IN MY HOME and J. P. Delaney's THE GIRL BEFORE.
When you're invited to spend a summer in the Hamptons with a group of new friends, you agree - who wouldn't? But then you realise you're taking the place of someone else, a woman who died in mysterious circumstanc-es in the same beach house, just the summer before.
Behind closed doors, who can you trust? And which of your housemates has something to hide?
Praise for THE HOUSE ON SUSNSET LAKE:
‘'Vividly told...with a dark twist' Good Housekeeping
‘Atmospheric and engrossing’ Sunday Mirror
‘Seductive and mysterious, this is the perfect novel to while away a sum-
mer's afternoon’ Daily Express
‘Buried secrets, lost loves, betrayal and heartbreak fuel this intriguing, at-
mospheric love story with plenty of twists to keep you turning the pages’
Sunday Express S Magazine
‘Beautifully descriptive and achingly romantic, this absorbing tale is a pure
delight. *****’ Heat Magazine
TASMINA PERRY is a Sunday Times bestselling author. She left a career in law to
enter the world of women’s magazine publishing, going on to win the New Mag-
azine Journalist of the Year Award, edit numerous national publications and
write on celebrity and style for tiles such as Elle and Glamour. In 2004 she
launched her own travel and fashion magazine, Jaunt, and was Deputy Editor of
InStyle magazine when she left the industry to write books full time. LAST SUM-
MER is Tasmina’s twelfth novel. She lives with her husband and son in Surrey.
Agent: Eugenie Furniss
UK Publisher: Headline, Hachette
UK Editor: Sherise Hobbs
Extent: 400
Publication date:
7 September 2017 (HB)
Translation: Furniss Lawton
US: Furniss Lawton
Film/TV: Furniss Lawton
Audio: Headline, Hachette
Option Publishers: Czech Republic: BB Art
Germany: Blanvalet
Hungary: XXI. Század Kiadó
Latvia: Konitents
Lithuania: Sofoklis
Norway: Cappelen Damm
Poland: Illuminatio
Russia: Family Leisure Club
Previous Titles:
DADDY’S GIRLS
GOLD DIGGERS
GUILTY PLEASURES
ORIGINAL SIN
KISS HEAVEN GOODBYE
PRIVATE LIVES
PERFECT STRANGERS
DEEP BLUE SEA
THE PROPOSAL
THE LAST KISS GOODBYE
THE HOUSE ON SUNSET LAKE
10
GENERAL FICTION
THE THOUSAND LIGHTS HOTEL Emylia Hall
THE THOUSAND LIGHTS HOTEL is the gorgeous new novel from Emylia Hall, author of Richard & Judy Summer Pick THE BOOK OF SUMMERS. Set in idyllic Italy, it's the perfect holiday read, for fans of Louise Douglas and Hannah Richell.
When Kit loses her mother in tragic circumstances, she feels drawn to fi-nally connect with the father she has never met. That search brings her to the Thousand Lights Hotel, the perfect holiday escape perched upon a cliff on the island of Elba. Within this idyllic setting a devastating truth is brought to light: shaking the foundations upon which the hotel is built, and shattering the lives of the people within it.
A heartbreaking story of loss, betrayal, and redemption, told with all the warmth and beauty of an Italian summer.
Praise for EMYLIA HALL’s previous novels:
‘[An] extraordinary story by an author who's fast becoming one of our firm
faves’ The Sun
‘A novel that glints with passion, loss and doubt’ Marie Claire
‘A beautifully written, intricately observed love story that's both lyrical and
enchanting… This is a novel that deserves to be savoured’ Hannah Becker-
man
EMYLIA HALL was born in 1978 and grew up in the Devon countryside, the
daughter of an English artist and a Hungarian quilt-maker. After studying English
& Related Literature at the universities of York and Lausanne, she spent five
years working in a London ad agency, before moving to the French Alps. It was
there that she began to write. Emylia now lives in Bristol with her husband and
son. Her first novel, THE BOOK OF SUMMERS, inspired by childhood holidays in
rural Hungary, was one of the bestselling debuts of 2012 as well as being the
Richard & Judy 2012 Summer Book Club winner. Her second novel, A HEART
BENT OUT OF SHAPE, was the Novelicious Book of the Year 2013.
Agent: Rowan Lawton
UK Publisher: Headline,
Hachette
UK Editor: Leah Woodburn
Extent: 336
Publication date:
13 July 2017 (PB)
Translation: Furniss Lawton
US: Furniss Lawton
Film/TV: Furniss Lawton
Audio: Headline, Hachette
Option Publishers: Germany: BtB
Previous Titles:
THE BOOK OF SUMMERS
A HEART BENT OUT OF SHAPE
THE SEA BETWEEN US
11
GENERAL FICTION
WHITE CHRYSANTHEMUM
Mary Lynn Bracht
It is 1943 in Japanese occupied Korea, two sisters are growing up within the Haenyeo community on Jeju Island. The Haenyeo women are famed for their diving skills, theirs is the rare community where women are the breadwinners.
The elder sister, Hana, is out diving one day with their mother while her younger sister plays on the beach. When she sees Japanese soldiers ap-proaching, she swims back to shore to protect her sister and is abducted in her place. Hana is transported to a Japanese army base in China, set up in a Comfort Station and given a new Japanese name, Sakura. She is to be a 'Comfort Woman'. Comfort stations were brothels for the Japanese sol-diers, 'Comfort Women' their unwilling prostitutes.
Moving between 1943 and modern day South Korea, the novel tells the story of two sisters separated by war.
Historians believe up to 200,000 women were forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese military during Japan's annexation of Korea. Only 46 'Comfort Women’ are still alive today and there have only been a handful of books published previously that try to tell their stories.
WHITE CHRYSANTHEMUM is a sweeping, page-turner of a novel with real commercial potential - perfect for reading groups. It will appeal to fans of MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA and WILD SWANS.
MARY LYNN BRACHT is an American author of Korean descent who has lived in
London for over ten years. She completed an MA in Creative Writing at Birkbeck
in 2015. She grew up in a large ex-pat community of South Korean women in a
small town in Central Texas where she was hugely influenced by the hardships
her mother, and the many women like her, suffered growing up in post-war
South Korea. In 2002 Mary visited her mother’s childhood village, and it was
during this trip she first learned of the ‘Comfort Women’.
Agent: Rowan Lawton
US Publisher: Putnam, Penguin
Random House
US Editor: Tara Singh Carlson
Publication date:
25 January 2018
Extent: TBC
UK Publisher: Chatto & Windus,
Penguin Random House
UK Editor: Beckie Hardie
Translation: Furniss Lawton
Film/TV: Furniss Lawton
Audio: Chatto & Windus (UK);
Putnam (US)
Rights Sold:
Brazil: Companhia das Letras
Denmark: Gad
France: Robert Laffont
Germany: Blanvalet
Greece: Livanis
Holland: Ambo-Anthos
Italy: Longanesi
Norway: Gyldendal
Poland: Prozunski
Spain: HarperCollins Spain
Sweden: Bookmark
Thailand: Sanskrit
12
GENERAL FICTION
LIE TO ME Jess Ryder
Meri (Meredith) has just broken up with her police officer boyfriend, Eliot. She is helping her father clear out his attic when she comes across a rare piece of family memorabilia - an old VHS tape marked ‘Meredith July 1990’. She thinks it may contain footage of her mother, Becca, taken be-fore Becca disappeared from the psychiatric unit where she was being treated for schizophrenia. Against her Dad’s wishes, Meri takes the tape and watches it. In it her mother is quizzing four-year–old Meri about a woman called Cara Travers. Prompted by Becca, Meri is saying that she used to be Cara and was murdered by someone called Christopher Jay. Meri doesn’t believe in reincarnation, she puts her own bizarre childhood behaviour down to her mother’s increasing mental instability, but she wonders if these two names, Cara and Christopher, could hold clues as to what actually happened to her mum. Meri decides to enlist the help of ex-boyfriend Eliot to try and find out more.
Back in 1984 Cara Travers has moved in with her parents after graduation and is working in a dead-end admin job when university best friend, Iso-bel, asks her to come and set up a theatre collective with her instead. The theatre company will be based in the house Isobel has recently inherited from her grandparents on Darkwater Terrace in Birmingham. Cara and Isobel audition for new members and Purple Blaze is formed. They begin rehearsing their first play, devised and directed by Isobel.
The novel moves between the modern day and 1984. As the story unfolds we see Meri question her own mental health as she delves further into the past. What happened to Cara? How is it connected to her? Who is Christopher Jay? Where is Becca? And will Meri ever find out…
LIE TO ME is a compulsive, intricately plotted thriller that will appeal to fans of Clare Mackintosh.
JESS RYDER is a pseudonym for Jan Page, a previously published children's au-thor, screenwriter, playwright and television producer with over twenty years’ experience. She has contributed to many well-known UK television series and runs her own independent production company. Jan has written thirteen pro-fessionally-produced plays, including main house shows for the Nottingham Playhouse. She is married with four grown-up children and lives in London.
Agent: Rowan Lawton
UK Publisher: Bookouture
UK Editor: Jessie Botterill
Extent: TBC
Publication Date: 31 March 2017
Translation: Furniss Lawton
US: Bookouture
Film/TV: Furniss Lawton
Audio: Bookouture
Translation Sales;
Polish: Prozynski
13
NON-FICTION
Drawing on a wealth of inspiring snack-sized sources, ON TIME shows how we have become drenched by the present. Then it unveils easy, practical ways to use time better.
Exploring the psychological, organisational and biological dimensions, Catherine Blyth delves into the secret lives of habits, decisions and motiva-tion; explains why time goes at different rates in different hours and activi-ties, and reveals how cunning time-thieves take our good intentions for a walk.
Find out what makes good timing; why some hours trudge while others sprint by; how bright colours, fast food and rapid breathing affect our tem-po; how autonomy takes the stress out of pressure, and what hours suit which activities best. Then take a course in time-travel that lets you seize every day and make it feel like a long weekend.
Each of us can expect 1000 months on this planet, if we are lucky. Let the
next 24 hours usher in the life that you keep meaning to live, if only you
had the time. ON TIME will help you cease clock-watching, stop stockpiling
self-reproach and quit chasing white rabbits. Don't mark time: make it
work for you.
CATHERINE BLYTH is a writer and editor. Her work has appeared in numerous
British publications, including The Times and The Daily Telegraph. Despite her
marriage to a mischievous gossip columnist, she still manages to enjoy a thriv-
ing social life. Her acclaimed first book, THE ART OF CONVERSATION, was trans-
lated into five languages.
Agent: Eugenie Furniss
UK Publisher: William Collins
UK Editor: Arabella Pike
Extent: 216
Publication date:
1 June 2017 (HB)
28 December 2017 (PB)
Translation: Furniss Lawton
US: Furniss Lawton
Film/TV: Furniss Lawton
Audio: William Collins
Previous Titles:
THE ART OF CONVERSATION
THE ART OF MARRIAGE
ON TIME
UNDERSTANDING THE POWER OF SLOW IN A WORLD ADDICTED TO FAST
Catherine Blyth
Praise for Catherine Blyth:
‘It is a treasure trove of literary and historical delights, with each page
containing a little gem in the form of a quotation or a factoid.’
– Independent on Sunday
'Blending science with psychology and philosophy with literature, she ar-
gues the case for banter and badinage. It's free, fun and gets your brain
cells firing like the prettiest of firework displays.' – Marie Claire
‘Witty, charming and appropriately garrulous.’ – Mail on Sunday
'This is a gushingly erudite, high-spirited and enjoyably bossy book . . . a lot of wit and wisdom.' – Literary Review
14
NON-FICTION
THE WISH: 99 THINGS WE THINK WE WANT
Bill Griffin
In many ways we've never had it so good. Yet, still we continue to relent-
lessly aspire, wistfully yearning after that which feels just out of our reach,
wondering if we'd be more content if we could obtain certain possessions
or experiences. Is this just a perennial part of the human condition? Or
have we been conditioned by advertising and consumerism to endlessly
wonder, 'what if?'
THE WISH reviews 99 of our most popular wishes, asking: what are the
things we really want, how can we get closer to them, and how much hap-
pier would we be if we had these things? Ranging from 'I wish I were a
better cook' to 'I wish I were more confident' to 'I wish there were a cure
for cancer', THE WISH will offer practical and achievable next steps to
help people progress towards their wish, as well as opportunities to email
Crowdwish for additional information and help.
By turns poignant, funny, truly practical and delightfully whimsical, THE
WISH is designed to be helpful, entertaining and thought-provoking - a
snapshot of the hopes, dreams and desires that unite us all.
BILL GRIFFIN started the website Crowdwish in 2014, with the aim of collating the world's hopes, dreams and desires. The site has actioned a wish from a member of the public every 24 hours for over 1,000 days and has followers all over the world.
Prior to the launch of Crowdwish, Bill Griffin worked in various roles in the me-dia sector, including head of marketing of Channel 4, marketing director of Comedy Central and managing director of the radio station Kiss FM. He was also an account director at the ad agencies St Luke's and Ogilvy.
Bill lives in West London with his girlfriend and his two daughters.
Agent: Rachel Mills
UK Publisher: Constable,
Little, Brown
UK Editor: Andreas Campomar
Extent: 224
Publication date:
5 January 2017 (HB)
Translation: Furniss Lawton
US: Furniss Lawton
Film/TV: MTV
Rights Sold:
Germany: Heyne
Spain: Maeva
Taiwan: Domain Publishing
15
NON-FICTION
Ever sworn off alcohol for January and found yourself drinking by the 7th? Think there's 'no point' in just one drink. Welcome! There are millions of us. 43% of British women want to drink less. Catherine Gray was stuck in a hellish whirligig of getting drunk, making horrible decisions, wrangling the hangover... and repeat. She had her fair share of 'drunk tank' jail cells and topless-in-a-hot-tub misadventures. But this book goes beyond the tales of binges and blackouts, deep-diving into uncharted territory. What happens after you quit drinking. This gripping, heartbreaking and hilarious book takes us down the rab-bithole of an alternative reality. A life with zero hangovers. Through sober weddings, sex, Christmases and break-ups. It shines a light on society's drink-pushing, talking to top experts. Why do other people want you to drink? How does boozing affect our brains? Why do we feel and look so much better when we're alcohol-free? This is much more than a tale from the netherworld of addicted drinking; it's about the escape. The happy-ever-after. And why a sober life can be more intoxicating than you ever imagined. Whether you're a hopelessly devoted drinker, merely curious, or you've already ditched the drink, you will love this book.
CATHERINE GRAY is a journalist and editor who has eight years' experience working on staff for magazines such as Cosmopolitan, GLAMOUR and The Sun's Fabulous supplement. As a freelance journalist she writes for publications in-cluding Grazia and The Guardian, Shortlist and The Daily Mail.
Agent: Rachel Mills
Translation: Furniss Lawton
US: Furniss Lawton
Film/TV: Furniss Lawton
Audio: Furniss Lawton
On Submission Spring 2017
THE UNEXPECTED JOY OF BEING SOBER
Catherine Gray
16
NON-FICTION
FIGHT: HOW TO RESOLVE YOUR INNER BATTLES
Hazel Gale
As human beings, we have an unlimited capacity for self-sabotage. Some-times it feels like a part of us is devoted to stifling success or disallowing happiness, and it can be enormously frustrating to realise that we are being our own worst enemy. But the mind has its reasons for doing these things, and they are by no means as self-destructive as they can appear at first.
FIGHT is a book for people who want to understand, and ultimately influence, the workings of their unconscious mind. It will help you to let go of self-imposed limitations, negative emotions and mental blocks, enabling you to improve on your existing attributes as well as develop new strengths, skills and abilities.
Over a decade of competitive kickboxing and boxing, Hazel Gale was forced to recognise and deal with her own inner conflict in an extreme and often public context. She went on to train and practice as a Cognitive Hypnotherapist. This book takes you on her journey, and provides you with the knowledge needed to resolve your own emotional struggles and mental blocks.
HAZEL GALE is a former World and European champion in kickboxing and has won multiple National and European titles in ABA Boxing.
Now working as a Cognitive Hypnotherapist and mental coach for athletes, Ha-zel practices full time in London and holds master practitioner qualifications in Cognitive Hypnotherapy and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), as well as a diploma in Clinical Hypnotherapy.
Hazel's unique combination of skills position her perfectly to tell a story of sporting success and personal struggle from a psychological
Agent: Rachel Mills
UK Publisher:
Yellow Kite, Hodder
UK Editor: Tamsin English
Publication Date: TBC
Extent: TBC
Translation: Furniss Lawton
US: Furniss Lawton
Film/TV: Furniss Lawton
Audio: Hodder
17
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CHASE THE RAINBOW
Poorna Bell
An honest, humbling and ultimately uplifting memoir of a woman's life
affected—but not defined—by the suicide of her husband and the
deadly paradox of modern-day masculinity.
Punk rocker, bird nerd and book lover Rob Bell had a full, happy life. He
had a loving wife, a big-bottomed dog named Daisy and a career as a re-
spected science journalist.
But beneath the carefully cultivated air of machoism and the need to help
other people, he struggled with mental health issues and a drug addiction
that began as a means to self-medicate his illness. In 2015, he ended his
life in New Zealand on a winter’s night.
But what happened? How did a middle-class Catholic boy from the sub-
urbs, who had an ocean of people who loved him, and a brain the size of a
planet, end up dying alone by his own hand?
In the search to find out about the man she loved, and how he arrived at
that desperate, dark moment, Poorna Bell, Executive Editor of The
Huffington Post UK, went on a journey spanning New Zealand and Britain
to discover more about him.
A month after his death, she shared her personal tragedy in an open letter
to Rob on the Huffington Post site, which went on to be read by hundreds
of thousands of people across the world. Suicide is the biggest killer of
men under 45 and a staggering 1 in 4 of us will experience mental illness
at some point in our lives, but the stigma surrounding mental health
means that millions continue to suffer in silence.
CHASE THE RAINBOW is an affecting, poetic, and deeply personal journey
which teaches to seek hope and happiness, even in the most tragic of cir-
cumstances. Shattering the stigma surrounding depression and suicide,
Poorna Bell challenges us to talk about what we most fear, and to better
understand the personal struggles of those closest to us.
POORNA BELL is the executive editor of the Huffington Post in the UK. She is in
her mid thirties.
Agent: Rowan Lawton
UK Publisher: Simon & Schuster
UK Editor: Nicola Crossley
Extent: 320
Publication date:
4 May 2017 (PB)
Translation: Furniss Lawton
US: Furniss Lawton
Film/TV: Furniss Lawton
Audio: Furniss Lawton
18
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THE MAGIC BAY LEAF
Alex Andreou
Winner of Jane Grigson Trust Award 2016 Within food is the memory of childhood, of generations; the DNA of a peo-ple. It embodies the laughter, hospitality and hardship of an entire nation. It contains the remnants of a woman losing pieces of her identity, in the midst of a country selling pieces of its own. This is the story of a nation in crisis, of a family in crisis, of joy and redemption, of generational shifts, migration and caring. This is the story of real Greek food. Alex Andreou is a successful journalist and actor in London. As his beloved home country, Greece, found itself in crisis, he emerged as a key writer for the British press on events there. But when his father died suddenly of pancreatic cancer and his mother became sick with Alzheimer’s, he had to find ways to combine his work with spending time at home in his native Mykonos to care for her. As their parent-child roles became reversed, he began to recreate her dishes for her – and the love, tenderness and patience with which they were prepared – from his childhood. In doing so, he found a way for them both to share delight and joy daily, despite her illness. In THE MAGIC BAY LEAF he shows us how.
Praise for ALEX ANDREOU: ‘There’s no better writer on Greece right now than Alex Andreou, who combines sharp analysis with great passion and essential levity’ Irvine Welsh ‘Alex is able to tell us about Greece from the inside with passion and preci-sion in a way that makes me realise just how crucial Greece is to the rest of the world. Insightful, surprising, warm he is an absolute must read’ Suzanne Moore ‘I am very excited by the prospect of this book!’ Nigella Lawson
ALEX ANDREOU writes regularly for The Guardian, Byline and a number of re-spected international publications, as well as for BBC Radio 4. He is also an actor whose credits include plays at London’s West End, the National Theatre, South-bank Centre, Manchester Royal Exchange, Liverpool Playhouse, Bath Royal and many others. He has a fantastic social media presence. He blogs on Wordpress, instagrams as @themagicbayleaf and has 32,000 followers on Twitter (@sturdyalex). He featured in The Telegraph’s Top 100 UK Tweeters and the Evening Standard’s Top 50 London Tweeters lists. Alex is a regular panellist on BBC Radio and he was recently on World Service’s Weekend programme dis-cussing this book.
Agent: Rachel Mills
UK Publisher: Chatto & Windus,
Penguin Random House
UK Editor: Parisa Ebrahimi
Publication date: August 2017
Extent: tbc
Translation: Furniss Lawton
Film/TV: Furniss Lawton
Audio: Chatto & Windus, Penguin
Random House
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INSIDE VOGUE
Alexandra Shulman
Editor-in-Chief Alexandra Shulman kept a diary of one year at British
Vogue. And what a year. She reveals the emotional and logistical mine-
field of producing the 100th anniversary issue (that Duchess of Cambridge
cover surprise), organizing the star-studded Vogue 100 Gala, working with
designers from Victoria Beckham to Karl Lagerfeld and contributors from
David Bailey to Alexa Chung.
But narrowly-contained domestic chaos hovers - spontaneous combustion
in the kitchen, a temperamental boiler and having to send bin day remind-
ers all the way from Milan fashion week. For anyone who wants to know
what the life of a fashion magazine editor is really like, or for any woman
who loves her job, this is a rich, honest and sharply observed account of a
year lived at the centre of the global fashion industry.
ALEXANDRA SHULMAN has edited British Vogue since 1992. She is a
contributor to The Times, Daily Mail, Guardian and Daily Telegraph and lives in
London. She is the author of two novels, also published by Fig Tree, Pen-
guin, CAN WE STILL BE FRIENDS? and THE PARROTS.
In September 2016, the BBC broadcast a two-part documentary series, Abso-
lutely Fashion, based on Alexandra Shulman and Vogue UK.
Agent: Eugenie Furniss
UK Publisher: Fig Tree,
Penguin Random House
UK Editor: Juliet Annan
Extent: 320
Publication date:
27 October 2016 (HB)
Translation: Furniss Lawton
US: Furniss Lawton
Film/TV: Furniss Lawton
Audio: Fig Tree, Penguin Random
House
Previous Titles:
CAN WE STILL BE FRIENDS?
THE PARROTS
20
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This gastronomic memoir will take you on Lisa's year long journey to learn to cook (and think) like a chef.
When The Independent on Sunday was closed down and Lisa lost her edi-torship, she decided to dive into the world of her greatest passion - food. Lisa did a month long course at the world renowned Leith's Cookery School and realised it held the secrets to all those seemingly intimidating techniques used by chefs, from relative novices on Masterchef to the bigggest names in the business. Lisa became so hooked she decided to undertake their year long diploma. This is the story of that year.
Honest, funny and engaging—as well as enjoying the ride, readers will also come away from HOLDS KNIFE LIKE PEN with a multitude of clever cooking techniques under their belts. Lisa already has a monthly column in The Sunday Times' food supplement, DISH, in which she is charting her experiences.
LISA MARKWELL is a columnist in The Sunday Times’ food supplement, Dish. She
was the editor of The Independent on Sunday until April 2016, and previously
executive editor of The Independent, i and The Independent on Sunday. She has
edited the features pages, and both the Saturday and Sunday supplements. Dur-
ing her years as editor, The Independent on Sunday won the Newspaper award
for Weekend Newspaper of the Year, and the Press Award for Front Page of the
Year. She is an enthusiastic foodie who wrote restaurant reviews for the New
Review supplement, is the mother of two teenagers and drives an electric car.
Agent: Eugenie Furniss
Translation: Furniss Lawton
US: Furniss Lawton
Film/TV: Furniss Lawton
Audio: Furniss Lawton
On Submission Spring 2017
HOLDS KNIFE LIKE PEN
Lisa Markwell
21
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In July 2006, a hastily assembled unit of British and Irish soldiers was
scrambled to the remote town of Musa Qala—an isolated outpost in the
heart of Taliban-occupied Helmand. Equipped with only the most basic
resources and severely limited weaponry, Easy Company’s mission was to
hold the town at all costs. No sooner had they entered the ramshackle
compound, however, that they were besieged by wave after wave of bru-
tal Taliban attack. Hopelessly outnumbered and with their ammunition
running low, they held off more than 500 Taliban during 56 days and
nights of relentless, nerve-shredding combat. Finally they came down to
their last rounds and death (or worse) stared Adam and his men in the
face... What followed was one of the most remarkable escapes from the
jaws of defeat in British military history.
Fearing a public relations disaster, the Ministry of Defence originally tried
to keep the story of the siege quiet—until now. The siege is coming to be
recognised as one of the greatest feats of British military history, referred
to as ‘the contemporary Rourke’s Drift’ for its similarity to the infamous
Zulu siege where British soldiers held fast.
NO WAY OUT is the story of Easy Company and the extraordinary events
of the Siege of Musa Qala, told by their commanding officer, Major Adam
Jowett. Co-written with Geraint Jones, NO WAY OUT brings the siege to
the page with all the pace and intensity of a thriller. In the vein of classics
and bestsellers such as Lone Survivor, Black Hawk Down, and Zero Six Bra-
vo, this is the true tale of a vastly outnumbered unit fighting gallantly
against a relentless enemy.
MAJOR ADAM JOWETT is a hugely experienced career soldier who served in the
British Army’s elite Parachute Regiment. Adam joined the army in 1991 and
over his career he has served in numerous countries, most notably Bosnia, Ko-
sovo, Sierra Leonne, Liberia, and of course Afghanistan, where he returned for a
second tour in 2008. Adam found himself in appointments ranging from a com-
pany commander at war to a defence attaché with the foreign office in Eastern
Europe. Adam is now Assistant Regimental Secretary to the Parachute Regiment
and lives in Colchester with his family.
GERAINT JONES joined the British Army Reserves at 17, whilst studying towards his BA in History and Politics from Lancaster University. Upon graduating, he entered regular service with the infantry, deploying on three tours of duty to Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as experiencing dozens of countries around the world. For his actions in Iraq, Geraint earned the General Officer Commanding’s Award for Gallantry. Upon leaving the military, Geraint worked to protect com-mercial shipping against Somali and Nigerian based piracy. Writing as Rees Jones, Geraint has co-authored two of the internationally bestselling James Patterson BOOKSHOTS series, PRIVATE ROYALS and HEIST. His debut novel, BLOOD FOREST is being published by Penguin Random House in May 2017.
Agent: Rory Scarfe
UK Publisher: Pan Macmillan
UK Editor: Ingrid Connell
Extent: TBC
Publication date: TBC
Translation: Furniss Lawton
US: Furniss Lawton
Film/TV: Furniss Lawton
NO WAY OUT: THE SIEGE OF MUSA QALA
Major Adam Jowett
22
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This is the story of how Ji Sung Ho lost a hand and foot during the Great Famine in North Korea. How he led a flock of young beggars the ‘Kotjebi’ or 'The Flower Swallows’, started a successful business in North Korea, and escaped the regime, twice, enduring horrific torture in between. This story is also about what came next: losing his father trying to flee North Korea, traveling 10,000-km across the jungle on a single crutch, and arriving in South Korea with just the shirt on his back to become a college student and study law: his lifelong dream. The story does not end there. After graduating Ji went on to found an organisation called NAUH (Now Action & Unity for Human Rights), which rescues North Korean defectors with an astounding success rate. He has been one of few North Korean defectors who has raised awareness and encouraged activism to improve his country’s human rights situation. He is a member of the Global Coalition for the North Ko-rean Human Rights Act, a group of prominent individuals who advocate for and raise awareness of the NKHRA, a bill that has been stalled in South Korea’s National Assembly since 2005. This is a story of ultimate human resilience, a triumph of will, and of one of the most remarkable people living. It is for fans of THE RAILWAY MAN, UNBROKEN by Lauren Hildebrand or TOUCHING THE VOID. Ji has been featured in The Guardian, The Telegraph, The Daily Mail and Wired but this is the first time his whole story will be told.
JI SUNG HO is from a desolate mining town in North Korea. He escaped
from the regime, with only one arm and one leg, travelling 6000 miles
with a homemade wooden crutch. He found freedom, studied law, and
ultimately became a globally renowned human rights activist speaking
at major conferences all over the globe.
Ji Sung Ho is writing his memoir with author JANG KANG-MYUNG. Jang
Kang-myung is known as ‘the hope of Korean literature’. He recently
won the 20th Munhakdongne Author Award for his novel CRESCENT
MOON. He has also won the 2015 Jeju April 3rd Peace Literary Awards,
the 2014 The Soorim Culture Award and the 2011 Hankyoreh Literary
Award: the most prestigious literary awards in South Korea.
Agent: Rachel Mills
UK: Furniss Lawton
US: Furniss Lawton
Film/TV: Furniss Lawton
Audio: Furniss Lawton
On Submission Spring 2017
THE FLOWER SWALLOWS
Ji Sung Ho
23
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BIKE NATION: HOW CYCLING CAN SAVE THE WORLD
Peter Walker
A revolution on the roads is approaching. Is it time for drivers to Give
Way? Guardian news correspondent, Peter Walker, takes us on a journey
around the world, exploring the varying attitudes to cycling on our high-
ways.
Visit the shining examples of Amsterdam and Copenhagen, where cycling
culture is an intrinsic part of the approach of politicians and officials. How
have these cities made provision for cyclists and what are the extraordi-
nary benefits?
And then take to the less welcoming roads of Britain, USA and Australia,
where cycling can still be a terrifying experience. What are the tragic mis-
takes being made when planning and developing cities, and how do these
mistakes lead to aggression towards the cycling community?
Millions of us find ourselves frustrated by the motor mentality and
fighting for our rights to ride. This brilliant, shocking investigation will pre-
pare you with all you need to know to confidently claim your place on the
road.
PETER WALKER is a journalist for the Guardian. He runs the Guardian’s popular
Bike Blog, and has been named as one of the fifty most influential people in
British cycling. He has been a news reporter and editor for fifteen years, cover-
ing everything from Iraq to North Korea to politics. He has also been a regular
cyclist since working as a cycle courier in London and Sydney.
Agent: Rachel Mills
UK Publisher: Yellow Jersey,
Penguin Random House
UK Editor: Tim Broughton
Extent: 256
Publication date:
6 April 2017 (PB)
Translation: Furniss Lawton
US: Tarcher-Perigee, Penguin
Random House
US Editor: Joanna Ng
Film/TV: Furniss Lawton
Audio: Yellow Jersey,
Penguin Random House
‘Peter Walker has written the book I wanted to write. It should be compul-
sory reading for anyone in a decision making role. This might seem a
sweeping statement but when you see the diverse and positive impact
more cycling could have on our lives - cyclist or not - you’ll understand.’
Chris Boardman
‘Stacked with stats and filled with stories, this book is as exhilarating as a
clear stretch of highway. If we are at a turning point for cycling in big
cities, this book is it.’ Jeremy Vine
24
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In FIRE, Dan Hume explores the magic of fire-making and takes readers on an adventure to discover examples around the world of the invention that first made us human. As ‘Head of Operations’ of Ray Mears’ outdoor adventure empire, Dan Hume knows all there is to know about bushcraft and the art of survival in the wild. Dan’s greatest passion from a young age, though, has been the art of making (and keeping) a fire. As Dan explains, by rediscovering this largely forgotten skill, we can learn much about the history of humankind, our civilizations, and also about ourselves. Dan takes us on a journey to discover the many different methods of fire-making that exist around the world today, exploring the origins and mean-ings of each, and teaching us how to create fire using each of these fasci-natingly varied techniques. Beautifully produced, with black and white line drawings to illustrate the different methods of fire-making, FIRE is both a practical guide and a med-itative book that will capture the imagination of readers. In the vein of recent bestsellers, such as Norwegian Wood by Lars Mytting, and captur-ing a trend for both ‘outdoor’ publishing and practical mindfulness, this is a book for anyone drawn by the call of the outdoors or who simply wants to lose themselves in the study of an ancient craft.
DAN HUME is a hugely knowledgeable bushcraft expert. He is Head of Opera-
tions at Woodlore Limited—the UK’s leading school of Wilderness Bushcraft and
Tracking, founded in 1983 by Ray Mears. Dan has worked in Woodlore for 10
years and the largest part of his role is leading courses in the UK and abroad on
a range of outdoor topics, instructing many people, from civilians through to the
Armed Forces and Police. Dan’s passion for the natural world and wilderness
skills goes right back to early childhood. Since then, he has mastered all the na-
tive techniques of conjuring fire from around the world. He has travelled to
many of the Earth’s remotest regions to meet the indigenous people and to
guide others and allow them to share similar experiences.
Agent: Rory Scarfe
UK Publisher: Century, Penguin
Random House
UK Editor: Ajda Vucicevic
Extent: TBC
Publication date: TBC
Translation: Furniss Lawton
US: Century
Film/TV: Furniss Lawton
Foreign Publishers:
Germany: S. Fischer Verlag
Holland: Bruna
FIRE
Dan Hume
25
NON-FICTION
In a world where there are more men called David running FTSE 100 com-
panies than there are women, where 93% of the Internet is written by
men, and where rape continues to be used the world over as a weapon of
war, EQUAL POWER is a timely assessment of the state we're in and a call
to action for all of us.
Jo argues that the reason gender inequality is so persistent is the same
reason why tackling it is so important - it all comes down to power.
In EQUAL POWER, Jo spells out the extent of gender inequality in all
realms of society, from business and advertising, to sport, and violence
against women and girls. She highlights how every one of us has the pow-
er to create change, and provides lots of practical suggestions we can im-
plement in our everyday lives to really affect this change.
JO SWINSON’s career to date has spanned business and politics, including ten
years as a Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament and three years as
the Government Minister for Women (2012-15). Her achievements include co-
founding the Campaign for Body Confidence, changing the law to introduce
shared parental leave in the UK, and securing legislation for gender pay
transparency.
Agent: Rowan Lawton
UK Publisher: Atlantic
UK Editor: Clare Drysdale
Extent: TBC
Publication date: TBC
Translation: Furniss Lawton
US: Furniss Lawton
Film/TV: Furniss Lawton
Audio: Atlantic
EQUAL POWER
Jo Swinson
26
NON-FICTION
The world has been fascinated and stunned by what’s happening in the US. We have watched, aghast, as our American friends have strayed from the path of conventional politics and flocked in ever greater numbers to the extremist fringe. At the same time, racial injustice, social unrest and desperate economic inequality seem to be tearing the country apart from within. As the country begins a new era in its history, the time is long overdue for us to try to understand modern America.
As the BBC’s North America Editor, Jon Sopel has experienced ‘the Great-est Country on Earth’ from a perspective that most could only dream of: he has travelled aboard Air Force One, interviewed Presidents Obama and Trump, visited the White House on multiple occasions, and seen at first hand the gaudy splendour of Trump’s billion-dollar empire. He was on the ground in Ferguson, Missouri as the riots took hold; he has visited gun shows, where lethal weapons are exhibited and sold like DIY tools; and he has listened to would-be-presidents turn TV evangelists, as they place their judgements in the hands of God.
As a resident of Washington, Jon has also experienced the hospitality and warmth of American people and the unique quirks of life in the US.
What Jon has discovered is that the USA is – now more than ever – a truly foreign land. On this journey, Jon meets both the most powerful people in the land as well as average Americans, to take the pulse of this new coun-try.
IF ONLY THEY DIDN’T SPEAK ENGLISH is a fascinating, insightful portrait of American life and politics seen through the eyes of a political and cultural expert. It sets out to answer our questions about a country that once stood for the grandest of dreams but which is now mired in a storm of political extremism, racial division, and increasingly perverse beliefs.
At this most pivotal moment in world history, with all eyes on the US, Jon Sopel’s book will be a seminal taking of the pulse of ‘the strangest country on earth’.
JON SOPEL is a British television presenter and correspondent for the BBC's in-
ternational news channel, BBC World News, currently serving as the North
America Editor for the BBC.
Agent: Rory Scarfe
UK Publisher: BBC Books
UK Editor: Yvonne Jacob
Extent: 400
Publication date:
7 September 2017 (HB)
Translation: Furniss Lawton
US: Furniss Lawton
Film/TV: Furniss Lawton
Audio: BBC Books
IF ONLY THEY DIDN’T SPEAK ENGLISH
Jon Sopel
27
NON-FICTION
There is a ticking time bomb in our children’s lives. It is in our homes, in
our bedrooms, in our living rooms and under our roofs, easily accessible
24 hours a day. It is affecting our children’s brains, their behaviour, their
weight and their development. That time bomb is screen-use and the
frightening thing is most parents feel powerless to stop it.
The Internet has replaced TV for the first time as the most popular past
time for children in the UK. A staggering 47% of parents worry their chil-
dren spend too much time ‘plugged in’. Neuroimaging research has shown
how excessive screen time physically damages the brain. Addiction to the
Internet or screen time is now being acknowledged globally. Rehab cen-
tres are springing up throughout the US; there are boot camps all over
China. Countries like China, Taiwan and Korea have long recognised Inter-
net Addiction Disorder as a national health crisis.
How can we tackle this phenomenon?
In UNPLUGGED PARENTING, Dr Kilbey draws on 12 years of experience as
a clinical child psychologist to provide a comprehensive and realistic guide
for parents to help children create good digital habits. She offers practical
solutions for parents to help their children make screen use part of a bal-
anced, active childhood full of genuine and meaningful interactions. As
well as offering a stage-by-stage roadmap that allows our children to
‘unplug’ and blossom in their development, Dr Kilbey guides parents in
unplugging and becoming mindful in their parenting.
UNPLUGGED PARENTING will empower parents on issues including how
we protect our children from sexualisation online; how we talk to them
about the World and all its horrors,; how we support our children in de-
veloping body confidence in these image and social media-obsessed times
and how we can help our children to build friendships and develop social
skills when they seemingly prefer the company of an app or game. It is the
necessary bible for parents rearing children in the digital age.
DR ELIZABETH KILBEY is a consultant clinical psychologist who has spent 12 years
working with children both within the NHS and privately. She has a Masters in
Child Development and has appeared as an expert on the Channel 4 series The
Secret Life of Four, Five and Six Year Olds (currently airing on Channel Four) as
well as the BBC series All New House of Tiny Tearaways. Over the course of her
career, she’s helped families tackle everything from toddler tantrums to teenage
meltdowns as well as more complex and challenging mental health difficulties.
She is a single mother of three children, aged 8, 11 and 14 and understands
firsthand the struggles of parenting in the digital age.
Agent: Rory Scarfe
UK Publisher: Headline
UK Editor: Lindsey Evans
Extent: TBC
Publication date: Summer 2017
Translation: Furniss Lawton
US: Furniss Lawton
Film/TV: Furniss Lawton
UNPLUGGED PARENTING
A MINDFUL APPROACH TO RAISING CHILDREN IN THE DIGITAL AGE
Dr Elizabeth Kilbey
28
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I’M WRECKED, THIS IS MY JOURNAL
Shannon Cullen
When Shannon Cullen’s daughter was born in 2013, she found that, de-spite relying on her smartphone for staying in touch with the outside world, surfing the web during night-time feedings, and Googling unlikely ‘rash on baby’ results, she turned to a physical written diary to record her experiences as a new parent. As well as noting feeding times and other daily events, each day she would commit to writing just one sentence about what had happened. The entries were as simple and varied as ‘Great day in the park, lying in the sunshine’ or ‘Difficult day – lots of re-flux and crying’ but as a new parent navigating the thrilling and some-times scary new world, they provided a source of fun and comfort. And that gave her an idea… I’M WRECKED, THIS IS MY JOURNAL is an offline diary for a parent’s first year, with humour at its heart. Combining the thriving trend for journals, mindfulness and colouring books with the success of recent hit books showing what it’s really like to be a parent, the book is designed to be a keepsake that parents will enjoy using at the time, as well as something to look back on once the fog of the first 365 days has passed. This is a book for parents to record their own experiences – both the highs and the lows – and to chart the incredible journey of parenthood. All while noting down some of those tiny, miraculous things we often forget to put in the thoughtfully gifted baby record books that often go unused after the first day month. The book will also tap into the extraordinary popularity of the mindful-ness and colouring trends, with light, parent-focused tasks each day to pass the time during night-time feeds, simply for amusement or a bit of offline downtime. I’M WRECKED, THIS IS MY JOURNAL is a fun, warm-hearted, inspiring book that dispels the myth of perfect parenting – a book for parents to chart their experience day by day, and something that can be looked back on in years to come.
SHANNON CULLEN is the Publishing Director at Puffin, Penguin Random House, and is the publisher behind John Green, amongst many others.
Agent: Rory Scarfe
UK Publisher: Michael O’Mara
UK Editor: Clare Tillyer
Extent: 208
Publication date:
2 March 2017 (PB)
Translation: Furniss Lawton
US: Furniss Lawton
Film/TV: Furniss Lawton
Audio: Furniss Lawton
Rights sold:
Germany: Piper
Holland: Luitingh-Sitjhoff
Italy: DeAgostini
Poland: Marginesey
Portugal: 20:20
Russia: Eksmo
Spain: Planeta
Turkey: Arkadya
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THE FIRST 1000 DAYS
A REVOLUTIONARY DIET PLAN SETTING CHILDREN ON THE PATH TO
LIFELONG HEALTH AND HAPPINESS
Dr Clare Llewellyn & Hayley Syrad
Dr Clare Llewelyn & Hayley Syrad of University College London are at the forefront of a revolution in the way we feed our children. As the authors of the largest study ever conducted into toddlers’ diets, published in the British Journal of Nutrition, they have uncovered a dietary time-bomb that is putting children at high risk of poor lifelong health at the most crucial stage of their development: the first 1000 days. Their study following 5,000 children between the ages of 4 months and 18 months created a frenzy in the press. Dr Llewellyn and Syrad uncovered how critical the first 1000 days of a child’s diet are in deciding their health not just through childhood but throughout their life; and how the current diets of young children in England are, as Syrad says, ‘a cause for great concern’. The findings of their study – endorsed by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and leading parent forums including NetMums – have for the first time identified seismic problems in both what children eat and how much they eat. To take a few examples: Overfeeding of milk: 99.9% of the children sampled received vastly too much protein. On average 40g of protein was consumed daily versus the recommended 15 g. Salt: the average intake of children in the study was 3 times higher than recommended. Fibre: the average child received half the recommended amount. Vitamin D: the average child received roughly a third of the amount they required. In this book, Hayley and Clare will use the exclusive results of their ground-breaking survey and their expertise to set out an easy, accessible plan packed full of helpful, practical advice that will enable parents to reverse bad habits of childhood diet. In so many cases, the changes required are small but the positive effects are huge: diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, and even cancer are all strongly linked to early diet. THE FIRST 1000 DAYS is required reading for all parents who want their children to have a good start in life and provide them with a diet that sets them on the path to long-lasting health and happiness.
Dr CLARE LLEWELLYN MA (Oxon) GDip MSc PhD CPsychol FHEA is Lecturer in Behavioural Obesity Research at the Health Behaviour Research Centre, Depart-ment of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London. HAYLEY SYRAD is lead author of the Gemini twin cohort study at University Col-lege London, exploring associations between appetite, behavioural aspects of diet, such as frequency of eating, and weight gain. Her areas of focus are child-hood obesity, dietary behaviours, appetite trends, and nutrition.
Agent: Rory Scarfe
UK Publisher: Yellow Kite
Hodder
UK Editor: Liz Gough
Publication date:
Autumn 2017
Translation: Furniss Lawton
US: Furniss Lawton
Film/TV: Furniss Lawton
Audio: Kite, Hodder
30
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Last year, world-renowned British Cardiologist Dr. Aseem Malhotra and
Donal O’Neill (producer and star of critically acclaimed documentary Cere-
al Killers) set out on a quest to uncover the misunderstood secrets of Medi-
terranean longevity and heart health, from the place where it all began…
Pioppi (population 190) is a tiny fishing village two hours south of Naples.
This seemingly inconspicuous place is officially recognised by UNESCO as
the home of the Mediterranean Diet. In the 1960s, it was this remote Ital-
ian village that became the unlikely epicentre of global nutritional Re-
search and it was from here that the iconic American scientist Ancel Keys
would live and work amongst local residents, laying the foundations for a
modern interpretation of the traditional Mediterranean Diet. No region –
or indeed era – has had a greater impact on global nutritional policies.
However, closer inspection reveals that much of the magic that inspired
the original diet may have been lost in translation.
In THE PIOPPI PLAN, Aseem and Donal draw on five years of research, in-
cluding 100+ scientific studies, examining the wisdom held in this tiny Ital-
ian village where, as the saying goes, ‘the people forget to die’. The result
is an easy to follow, 21-day lifestyle plan that is scientifically proven to
radically improve cardiovascular, physical and mental wellbeing and lon-
gevity: ‘The Pioppi Plan’.
Described as an ‘inspiration’ by Jamie Oliver, British Cardiologist DR ASEEM
MALHOTRA is one of the most well-known and well-respected health campaign-
ers in the UK. He writes regularly in academic medical journals and print news-
papers such as the Guardian and Daily Mail and is regularly seen on broadcast
media in his campaign against sugar and highlighting the harms of too much
medicine. He has been heralded alongside anti-obesity activists such as Michael
Bloomberg and Michelle Obama and was featured in the New York Times on his
documentary film The Big Fat Fix. The Sunday Times named him one of the most
influential people in science and medicine in the UK.
DONAL O’NEILL is an independent documentary filmmaker and better-health
activist. A former international track and field athlete, Donal’s passion for
health and human performance resonates throughout his films. His debut fea-
ture length documentary Cereal Killers (2013) was tipped as one of the top 10
independent movies that could change the world and the sequel – Run on Fat
(2015) – has been billed as the future of sports nutrition. In 2015, he joined forc-
es with Dr Malhotra to make The Big Fat Fix (2016). Donal has been featured by
the New York Times, the BBC, SKY News, The Times of India and the British Jour-
nal of Sports Medicine, among others.
Agent: Rory Scarfe
UK Publisher: Michael Joseph
UK Editor: Dan Bunyard
Extent: TBC
Publication date: 29 June 2017
Translation: Furniss Lawton
US: Sterling Lord Literistic
Film/TV: Furniss Lawton
Audio: Michael Joseph
Foreign Publishers:
Denmark: Politikens
Portugal: 20:20
THE PIOPPI DIET
21 DAYS TO WHOLE HEART, BODY & MENTAL HEALTH AND LONGEVITY
Donal O’Neill & Dr Aseem Malhotra
31
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Tom Daley is an Olympian. He has learnt from the very best about how to stay healthy, fit and positive – and now he’s ready to share those secrets with you. Incredibly simple to follow, TOM’S DAILY PLAN includes delicious food, workouts anyone can do plus invaluable motivational and lifestyle tips. Ditch those fad diets and stop worrying about needing to put in hours in the gym. Tom’s healthy and nutritious recipes won’t ever leave you hun-gry – and even include pasta dishes, curries, cakes and chocolate, plus Tom’s Ultimate Bacon Butty! And with his weekly plan of 20 minute workouts you’ll be stronger, fitter and healthier in no time. All with rest days and tasty treats included!
TOM’S DAILY PLAN includes:
-Over 80 quick and easy recipes so you and your family can eat well from breakfast until bedtime, with feasts and treats for every taste
-Super-effective Daily Workouts and brilliant ‘life-hacks’ for a healthy, bal-anced body and mind
-Specifically designed to fit around you and your busy lifestyle
Get a leaner, stronger, healthier you in no time!
One of the world’s most recognised Olympic athletes, TOM DALEY is well known
for the incredible achievements he has made at such a young age. Tom first
made a name for himself when he won gold at the European Championship in
2008 as a 13-year old, becoming Britain’s second youngest male Olympian of all
time. 2012 found him winning the overall FINA World Series title, alongside his
second European gold, before qualifying for London 2012. Since scooping a
bronze medal at the London Olympics and the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,
his drive to win gold has gone from strength- to-strength.
Agent: Rory Scarfe
UK Publisher: HQ, HarperCollins
UK Editor: Lisa Milton
Extent: 224
Publication date:
29 December 2016
Translation: Furniss Lawton
US: Furniss Lawton
Film/TV: Furniss Lawton
Audio: HQ, HarperCollins
TOM’S DAILY PLAN
Tom Daley
32
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MIND BODY BOWL
Annie Clarke
Annie Clarke, creator of the popular Mind Body Bowl blog, shares her journey from poor health to strength and happiness by way of her three pillars of wellness – a healthy mind; a fit body and delicious new recipes.
Inspired by Annie's own experience, this book is a celebration of eating
well and finding the right balance for you. We are all individuals and one
prescriptive programme will never suit us all. Mind Body Bowl helps to
guide and sign post some key parts of the journey towards connecting
with our own body and mind in order to find our own individual sense of
balance. The book includes a selection of plant based recipes that are
nourishing and delicious, focusing on simple, fresh ingredients that are
easy to source.
With half of the book devoted to recipes, the other half focusses on An-
nie's lifestyle advice, including how we can use the breath, meditation,
yoga and other practices to calm our minds; how we can discover the best
style of exercise to suit our bodies and how by eating natural food we can
heal inflammation. By linking the mind and body practises together and
applying some small changes, it is possible to set yourself on the path to
wellness and greater happiness.
ANNIE CLARKE is a yoga teacher and wellness warrior. She is the creator of the
blog and brand Mind Body Bowl, which she set up following a
period of illness and depleted energy. By stripping her diet back to
basics, she managed to get back on track but her cooking had become boring
and bland. It was then that she started experimenting and cooking up the deli-
cious dishes featured on her blog. Her holistic approach to well-being is based
on the importance of tuning into your own body and eating and living
accordingly.
Agent: Rachel Mills
UK Publisher:
Thorsons , HarperCollins
UK Editor: Carolyn Thorne
Extent: 288
Publication date:
9 February 2017 (PB)
Translation: Furniss Lawton
US: Furniss Lawton
Film/TV: Furniss Lawton
Audio: Thorsons, HarperCollins
33
NON-FICTION
A POEM FOR EVERY NIGHT OF THE YEAR
Allie Esiri
A POEM FOR EVERY NIGHT OF THE YEAR is a magnificent collection of 366
poems compiled by Allie Esiri, one to share for every night of the year. The
poems - together with introductory paragraphs - have a link to the date
on which they appear. Shakespeare celebrates midsummer night, Maya
Angelou International Women's Day and Lewis Carroll April Fool's day.
Perfect for reading aloud and sharing with all the family, it contains a full
spectrum of poetry from familiar favourites to exciting contemporary
voices. Alfred, Lord Tennyson, W. B. Yeats, A. A. Milne and Christina Ros-
setti sit alongside Roger McGough, Carol Ann Duffy and Benjamin
Zephaniah.
Allie is open to adapting the collection to include more poetry from any
country that decides they would like to publish their own version.
'The Poetry Powerhouse' Tatler ‘This book will bring a little magic into your day and into your heart’ Helena Bonham Carter ‘Bedtime story goodness; the contents are as lovely as the cover’ Samuel West
‘A truly awesome collection of poetry in such a beautiful new volume. Thank you Allie Esiri… we are reading it every night.’
Plum Sykes, writer on American Vogue
‘Look what the brilliant @AllieEsiri has done now! We're hooked!’ Gina Bellman
ALLIE ESIRI is a former English stage, film and television actress, now a writer.
Her iF Poems app was launched to great acclaim in November 2011 and was the
Apple Editors' Choice All Time Favourite app. iF: A TREASURY OF POEMS FOR
ALMOST EVERY POSSIBILITY was published in 2012 and THE LOVE BOOK in 2014.
She has hosted poetry events at The Times and the Sunday Times Cheltenham
Literature Festival, The Sunday Times Festival of Education and The Oldie Soho
Literary Festival.
Agent: Eugenie Furniss
UK Publisher: Macmillan
UK Editor: Gaby Morgan
Extent: 544
Publication date:
8 September 2016 (HB)
Translation: Furniss Lawton
US: Furniss Lawton
Film/TV: Furniss Lawton
Audio: Macmillan
34
CONTACTS
FURNISS LAWTON
180 Great Portland Street
London
W1W 5QZ
Telephone: 020 8742 4950
www.furnisslawton.co.uk
Rachel Mills
Agent & International Rights Director
Liane-Louise Smith
Foreign Rights Manager