Sarah Underwood's LIES WE SING TO THE SEA publishes in the US
Our very first Paper Literary deal – Sarah Underwood’s dazzling debut novel, LIES WE SING TO THE SEA publishes in the US today! The UK publication is the following week on 16th March. We are so delighted for Sarah and wish her a very happy publication.
A lead title from HarperTeen and Electric Monkey, LIES WE SING TO THE SEA is a fantasy romance, inspired by Greek mythology and the tale of Penelope’s twelve hanged maids.
It’s received some wonderful quotes:
”A lovely, lyrical fantasy which takes the fate of the hanged maids of the Odyssey and weaves something brand new. A story overflowing with emotion and full of magic.”
Jennifer Saint, internationally bestselling author of Ariadne and Elektra
“Lies We Sing to the Sea is a lyrical, elegant debut bursting with imagination and heart. Underwood expertly weaves a tale about the inevitability of fate—and the love that makes us rail against it anyway. Bittersweet and wholly cathartic.” Allison Saft, New York Times bestselling author of A Far Wilder Magic
“A wondrous tale of love, death, and sacrifice. The vivid characters give depth and adventure to a story with roots in classic Greek mythology.” Natasha Bowen, New York Times bestselling author of Skin of the Sea
In the cursed kingdom of Ithaca, each spring brings the hanging of twelve maidens, a gift to the vengeful Poseidon. But when Leto awakens from her death on the shore of a long-forgotten island, its enigmatic keeper Melantho tells her that there’s only one way the curse can be broken. Leto must kill the last prince of Ithaca . . .
A reclamation of a story from thousands of years ago, LIES WE SING TO THE SEA is about love and fate, grief and sacrifice, and, ultimately, the power we must find within.
Sarah Thomas' QUEEN K publishes in the UK
We are delighted that Sarah Thomas’s QUEEN K, a lead title from Serpent’s Tail publishes today in the UK.
QUEEN K has been receiving critical acclaim and named on the ‘Best of 2023 lists’ by the FT and the Evening Standard. The Times described QUEEN K as ‘Balzac in Balenciaga’ — it will be sold in displays at Selfridges and Harrods — with ‘escapist, beach-read vibes, then bares its teeth with a devastating portrait of the emotional cost of greed’.
Inspired by Thomas’ experiences as a private tutor to the super-rich, QUEEN K is set in a glittering world of luxury and greed.
On a balmy evening in late March, an oligarch’s wife hosts a party on a superyacht moored in the Maldives. Tables cover the massive deck, adorned with orchids, champagne bottles, name cards of celebrities. Uniformed staff flank a red carpet on the landing dock. This is what Kata has wanted for a long time: acceptance into the glittering world of high society. But there are those who aim to come between Kata and her goal, and they are closer to home than she could have imagined.
Witness to the corruption and violence underneath the shiny surfaces is Mel, a young English woman employed to tutor Kata’s precocious daughter and navigate her through the class codes of English privilege. Now the closest Mel gets to such privilege is as hired help to the wealthy, and she is deeply resentful.
Exquisitely written and deliciously unreliable, QUEEN K takes the reader to some of the most luxurious places in the world. But a dark refrain sounds from the very beginning of the story and grows towards its operatic finale: a novel about insatiable material desire can only ever be a tragedy.
Rae Rashad's THE BLUEPRINT sold in 'significant' six-figure pre-empt
We are delighted to announce that Rae Rashad’s debut, THE BLUEPRINT has been sold in a ‘significant’ six-figure pre-empt to Sarah Ried at Harper.
Sarah Ried acquired North American rights in a one book deal from Catherine Cho at Paper Literary. THE BLUEPRINT is a speculative novel set in an alternate America where an uprising during the 1950s led to the re-enslavement of black women. It follows the story of Solenne, a young woman who becomes the concubine of a powerful white government official.
THE BLUEPRINT is a story about choosing one’s destiny, about sacrifice, about one woman’s journey to reclaim her power. Inspired by the life of Sally Hemings and the true accounts of enslaved Black girls who became concubines to powerful white men, this is a novel that reaches across genre, and – in the way that the most powerful speculative novels do – sheds light on the truths of our world.
Rae Rashad says: “Solenne’s journey to find emotional and physical freedom is both heartbreaking and empowering. As the author, there is freedom in being able to share such a deeply personal story with readers. Many thanks to my agent, Catherine Cho, and my editor, Sarah Ried at Harper. I will forever be grateful for their steadfast encouragement and belief that Solenne’s story deserves to be told with truth and honesty.”
'Major' six-figure deals for Tasha Coryell's debut IF I KILL YOU
We are absolutely delighted to announce deals for Tasha Coryell’s debut thriller IF I KILL YOU, represented by Katie Greenstreet. North American rights were acquired in a ‘major’ six-figure deal by Jen Monroe at Berkley, and UK and Commonwealth rights were acquired in a ‘major’ six-figure deal by Leodora Darlington at Orion.
UK and Commonwealth rights were sold at auction following multiple pre-empt attempts that were turned down, including one that came in less than 24 hours after submission.
Greenstreet and the Paper Literary rights team have closed lightning speed deals, including a pre-empt in France by Robert Laffront. Coryell’s debut is also at auction in Italy after turning down a pre-empt, with first offers in for Germany.
“Razor-sharp, fresh, funny, and irresistibly compelling, If I Kill You, is a brilliant thriller that examines our fascination with true crime. When a handsome lawyer named Wesley is arrested for a series of murders, recently ghosted 30-something Hannah begins writing him letters as an outlet for both her frustration at her failure to launch and her feminist rage. The exercise empowers her, and even feels healthy at first – until Wesley writes back. Their correspondence tips Hannah’s interest in the case from curiosity to obsession, leaving space for nothing else as her life implodes around her. Hannah is the first person Wesley calls upon his release, and they quickly fall into a routine of domestic bliss. Well, as blissful as one can feel while secretly investigating their partner for serial murder…”
Darlington said: “I was bowled over when Tasha’s manuscript landed on my desk. The pitch was compelling, and only a few sentences in, I knew that Tasha’s voice was something special, too. Tasha perfectly encapsulates the millennial experience; the frustration of looking around and seeing that you don’t have what other people your age have; the ease with which interest can slip into obsession; how selective society is about the voices and lives we choose to raise up as important. I could wax lyrical for days about If I Kill You, but I’ve just got to let readers discover this incredible book for themselves. Guaranteed, you will be thinking about the characters Tasha writes long after you turn the final page.”
Coryell said: “Hannah’s search for love and serial killers has lived inside my head for so long and I am thrilled to be working with Leodora Darlington at Orion to bring that journey to readers. All the thanks go to my agent Katie Greenstreet who saw my vision and recognised all that the book could be.”
Greenstreet said: “Discovering Tasha’s book in my submissions pile was truly the stuff of publishing dreams – it’s the literary thriller I’ve been looking for my whole career. Propulsive, biting, and shot through with millennial ennui, I defy future readers not to finish If I Kill You in one sitting! The passion that Leodora and her team have shown for Tasha’s work from the moment my pitch landed in her inbox has blown me away, and I’m delighted to be partnering with Orion to introduce the world to this exceptional novel.”
Karen Ball's THE BEAUTY CASE sold in six-figure pre-empt to Viking
We are delighted to announce that Viking has acquired The Beauty Case by Karen Ball in a six-figure pre-empt. Katie Greenstreet sold world English language rights to Vikki Moynes at Viking for publication in summer 2024. Auctions for translation rights have already begun.
The Beauty Case follows Loretta, “a quick-witted and plucky young woman who harbours a dubious past and is trying to succeed as a make-up artist in the glamorously debauched, misogyny-steeped world of 1950s Hollywood. But La La Land better beware, because there’s something deadlier than make-up lurking in her beauty case, and not all her clients will make it out alive…”
Ball said: “Writing The Beauty Case has been a joy from the very start. Loretta is a character who demanded to be written – she’s very insistent that way. I am humbled by and in awe of the exceptional work from my agent, Katie Greenstreet, and Vikki Moynes’ energy and vision. Together with Loretta, I think we’ll make quite the team!”
Moynes added: “Karen has written a novel that defies typical genre conventions in the best way, bringing Loretta, her formidable yet loveable whip-sharp protagonist to life with a voice that punches its way off the page. She merges the escapism in the luxe debauchery of the Hollywood setting with a darker undercurrent of righteous justice being served with just a hint of sugar and a heavy helping of pizazz. I am so thrilled to be bringing her storytelling prowess and dark wit to the Viking list and can’t wait for readers to get their hands on this delectably juicy, utterly moreish novel.”
A former Bookseller Rising Star with her publishing consultancy Speckled Pen, The Beauty Case is Ball’s debut adult novel having written more than 25 children’s books.
Sarah Thomas's QUEEN K to be lead debut for Serpent's Tail
We are delighted to announce that Sarah Thomas’ Queen K has been sold as a lead debut for Serpent’s Tail. Luke Brown, editorial director, acquired world rights excluding North America from Katie Greenstreet.
Queen K is a literary thriller exploring the dark world behind Russian wealth. It will publish as a lead debut in February 2023.
The story was inspired by Thomas’ work as a private tutor to the super wealthy, which she began doing after leaving university. The events of Queen K are narrated by an unreliable tutor who, while teaching an oligarch’s daughter, becomes privy to suspicious deaths and to the downfall of his wife.
“On a balmy evening in late March, Kata hosts a party on the superyacht that she owns with her husband,” the synopsis reads. “Tables cover the massive deck, adorned with orchids, champagne bottles, name cards of famous people, while uniformed staff flank a red carpet on the landing dock. This night marks the attainment of something she’s wanted for a long time: acceptance into the glittering world of high society. But there are those who wish to come between Kata and her goal. They are complex and angry, full of resentment. And they are closer to home than she could ever have imagined.
“Narrated with delicious unreliability by a troubled young Englishwoman employed to tutor this family’s precocious daughter, Queen K pulls back the curtain on the power plays within one extraordinary family, as world politics begin to encroach on their corrupt and fiercely defended haven.”
Brown said: “Queen K is a glittering literary thriller about a subject we are particularly aware of at the moment: the dark side of Russian money and what happens to the oligarchs who get on the wrong side of Putin. It’s a debut that reminded me of Fitzgerald, Highsmith and le Carré.”
“In my 20s I worked all over the world as a private tutor for the super-rich,” Thomas said. “I drew on this experience to write Queen K and realised as I did that the best form to crystallise their world was that of a tragedy. I am very excited to be published on the Serpent’s Tail imprint alongside writers I admire such as Mary Gaitskill, Chris Kraus, Pola Oloixarac and Elfriede Jelinek.”
Brooke Robinson's THE INTERPRETER acquired in six figure pre-empt
We are delighted to announce that Harvill Secker has acquired the UK rights for debut author Brooke Robinson’s “devastating” psychological thriller The Interpreter in a six figure pre-empt.
Katie Ellis-Brown, deputy publishing director for crime, thriller and crossover fiction, acquired UK and Commonwealth rights from Katie Greenstreet at Paper Literary in a two-book deal. The novel will publish as Vintage’s lead crime thriller debut for 2023.
US rights were pre-empted by Emily Griffin at HarperCollins and rights have been sold to Piemme at auction in Italy and to Droemer Knaur in Germany.
The novel follows a police interpreter and single mum who begins deliberately mistranslating statements to secure convictions, only for someone to discover what she’s doing and seek justice of their own.
Ellis-Brown said: “This is a book I’ve been waiting years to publish – it is full of emotional-depth, is exceptionally well-written and has a wholly satisfying plot with a twist that is genuinely brilliant – there is nothing like this in the genre right now.
“I can already hear readers saying ‘have you read the one about the interpreter?’ Brooke is a dream author and really has delivered a very special thriller. I feel privileged that she has chosen Harvill Secker as her partner to launch what is sure to be a huge writing career.”
Robinson, who hails from Australia and is also a playwright, said: “From the beginning it was clear to me that Katie and Harvill Secker were the perfect team for The Interpreter. Their vision and ambition for this book is truly exciting and I’m beyond thrilled to be working with them. Thanks go to my fabulous agent Katie for her energy and passion in making it all happen.”
Soon Wiley’s highly anticipated debut WHEN WE FELL APART publishes in the US
We are delighted that Soon Wiley’s highly anticipated debut novel, When We Fell Apart publishes in the US today from Dutton. Named one of the “Best New Books of 2022” from Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue, When We Fell Apart is a moving and unforgettable read.
North American rights were acquired in a ‘major’ deal at auction by Lindsey Rose at Dutton and UK rights were acquired at auction by Bethan Jones at Simon & Schuster.
When We Fell Apart has received some incredible praise. Kirkus describes it as: “Fueled by deep feeling and a powerful sense of place, the book gains real emotional traction in capturing the despair of striving individuals pushed to the margins by conformist norms…A dark coming-of-age tale in the form of a mystery.”
In a starred review from Booklist: “Wiley’s tale is a knockout, its assured narrative ebbing and flowing with grace while painting a haunting and anguished portrait of youth in all its quiet desperation.”
It has received numerous early endorsements, including:
“A marvelous debut novel, moving and suspenseful, a reminder that the greatest mysteries are those of being and belonging. Soon Wiley is a young writer to watch.”
—Jess Walter, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Beautiful Ruins and The Cold Millions
“A lyrical exposition on what it’s like to be biracial, with one foot firmly planted in two distinct worlds, never completely fitting in, but capable of seeing what others do not. A lonely, heartbreaking, spellbinding story of love, self-discovery, and belonging.”
—Jamie Ford, New York Times bestselling author of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet
“When We Fell Apart explores the tender and chaotic intersections of culture, community and the search for self. Rich with philosophical nuance, heart-stopping and exquisitely plotted, this is a novel to get lost in.”
—Patricia Engel, New York Times bestselling author of Infinite Country
Introducing Melissa Pimentel
We are very excited to welcome Melissa Pimentel, our new editorial director. Melissa brings so much knowledge and multi-faceted experience in publishing, we are excited to have her join the team.
From Melissa:
I’m really delighted to be joining Paper Literary as an editorial director.
I worked in publishing for over fifteen years, first in publishing houses in New York and London and then at Curtis Brown Literary Agency, where I spent most of my career. For ten years, I worked as a Translation Rights Agent, selling the rights to authors’ work across the globe and negotiating six-and-seven-figure deals. One of my favorite aspects of my role involved working closely with Primary Agents, offering editorial feedback that would help shape clients’ work for submission.
In addition to my work as an Agent, I’m also a published author, having written three novels under my own name and two under the pseudonym Jessica Barry. After several years of juggling both careers, I left publishing to write full-time.
As if that wasn’t a big enough adjustment, my husband and I moved back to my native New England after fifteen years in London, and we now live in a drafty Victorian in Mid-Coast Maine with an overgrown yard filled with squirrels.
Writing full-time is a privilege, and I know how lucky I am, but a couple years into just me and my laptop, I found I missed the buzz that comes from collaborating with clever, creative people.
When I saw that Paper Literary was looking for an in-house reader and editor, I jumped at the chance. I had the pleasure of working with both Catherine and Katie during my years at Curtis Brown and know that they are both whip-smart and genuinely nice people, so I’m thrilled that I’ll be working with them again in this new role.
Introducing Katie Greenstreet
We are so excited to welcome Katie (and Effie!)
From Katie:
Hello! I’m excited to introduce myself and tell you a bit more about the type of books I am hoping to champion in 2022 and beyond…
As someone who spent years desperate to crack into the publishing industry, I view my job as an agent as an immense privilege. I’m a keen traveller when the world is operating as normal, and I’m always looking to be transported somewhere new when I crack open a novel. I grew up in a conservative small town in the American South and books were my first window into the wider world, so the escapism and alternative worldviews that reading can provide are things I still value immensely.
Please query me with stories across any genre that have unusual and/or immersive settings as a focal point, or which bring previously unheard/suppressed
A huge focus of my list at Paper will be finding stories that uplift – after the past two years, we could all do with more books that make us smile and help restore our faith in humanity! The first major project I sold was a hilarious, heart-breaking novel about the power of dogs to bring out the best in people. My mischievous little cavapoo (Effie Doodle) is the light of my life, and I love novels that highlight how incredible animals are. Unlikely friendships are another soft spot of mine, and narratives tackling the theme of loneliness have really resonated with me lately.
That said, my tastes have a slightly twisted side as well, and I’ve always found myself drawn to stories steeped in darkness. While I don’t do gore or true horror, I do love suspense in all its forms, though even the most wicked protagonists must have some sort of redemptive quality to keep me interested. The Anna Delvey scandal kicked off an obsession in me with con artists and scammers – if you pitch me something as adjacent to The Talented Mr. Ripley, it will likely shoot straight to the top of my reading pile. I’m also a sucker for a revenge story, unreliable narrators, and any plot that might be described as ‘rich people behaving badly.’
My favourite non-client reads of 2021 were: The Maid by Nita Prose, Hostage by Clare Mackintosh, A Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins, Magpie by Elizabeth Day, and The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz. You’ll notice a trend there – I love a good twist! It’s rare that a story leaves me truly shocked or surprised, and I’m dying to find something for my own list that has that gasping, what the heck, chuck-the-book-across-the-room moment…
I’m also a bit of a TV junkie and what I’m watching often informs what I want to be reading. The White Lotus, Succession, Superstore,
I wake up every day excited at what might tumble into my inbox, so please do send me your stories!