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 consultant. 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 consultant.
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 a freelance 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!
Katie Greenstreet Joins Paper Literary
We are excited to announce that Paper Literary has made its first hire. Katie Greenstreet from C&W has joined as an agent focusing on adult fiction and crime.
A former lawyer, Greenstreet began her publishing career at ICM Partners in New York as an assistant to Binky Urban. After moving to London, she has been at C&W Agency for five years, working alongside Sue Armstrong and Sophie Lambert. She has sold multiple projects across upmarket women’s fiction and crime, including Comedy Women in Print shortlisted The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman, Amazon bestseller The Safe Place by Anna Downes, and Ericka Waller’s Dog Days, which was snapped up by Doubleday in a six-figure pre-empt.
Katie Greenstreet says: ‘Catherine was one of the first people I met when I made the leap into publishing, and she’s remained a stalwart colleague, confidante, and friend across the many years since. I’ve had the opportunity to learn from some of the best agents in the business during my time at ICM and C&W, but I am delighted to be taking this next step in my career alongside someone as focused and forward-thinking as Catherine. I’ve welcomed some incredible new authors to my list over the past year, and Paper Literary is the perfect place from which to launch their careers. I’m excited to see their stories fly and to discover even more new talent in 2022.’
Sophie Lambert (Director, C&W) says: ‘Whilst we’re undeniably sad to lose Katie, we know how alluring the prospect of working with Catherine at Paper Literary is. As a long standing member of our team joining forces Catherine, who is also a much beloved author we represent, we know we will continue to stay in close touch. Katie’s eye for stand out commercial fiction is excellent, and I’m thrilled for her to be focusing wholly on building her own list. We wish Katie and Catherine great success.’
Catherine Cho says: “I’ve long admired Katie’s brilliant taste and dedication to her writers. We share a lot – we’re both Americans from the south, former lawyers who’ve crossed into publishing, and I know that we also share a vision for what we would like agenting to be. Katie is an exceptional talent, and I’m excited for this next stage for Paper.
Katie’s email is: katie@paperliterary.com
Soon Wiley’s WHEN WE FELL APART to be published April 2022
Soon Wiley’s debut When We Fell Apart will be published by Dutton in April 2022.
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 is a moving and suspenseful drama about a young Korean American man’s search for answers about his girlfriend’s mysterious death becomes a soul-searching journey into his own bi-cultural identity.
It has received some wonderful praise:
“Propulsive and deeply felt, Soon Wiley’s phenomenal debut When We Fell Apart takes on the friction between family bonds, cultural expectations, and personal desires in a way that feels both urgent and intensely real. Even as I raced through the pages to find out what happened to Yu-jin, for me the true heart of the book was Min, and his search for a sense of belonging that neither America nor Korea is quite able to offer him. His story is truly unforgettable.”
— Abi Daré, New York Times bestselling author of The Girl with the Louding Voice
“In this gorgeous, poignant meditation on identity, love, and desire, Soon Wiley illuminates the liminal state of being biracial, of belonging but not, of desperately wanting the world to let you be as you are. When We Fell Apart will stay with me for a long time. “
— Angie Kim, bestselling author of Miracle Creek
‘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
“Melancholic, atmospheric, and consistently surprising. Like Norwegian Wood, there is a minor key running through this love story played out on the frenetic and lonely streets of Seoul. When We Fell Apart is a transportive and poignant debut.”
— Susie Yang, New York Times bestselling author of White Ivy
“A ravishing neo-noir about the search for identity in modern-day Seoul, When We Fell Apart dazzles like neon on a rainy night. In lush, perfectly-tuned prose, Soon Wiley leads readers around dark corners and into the heart of a kaleidoscopic city, unraveling the mystery of one young woman’s tragic death through the eyes of a haunted outsider. This is a magical debut.”
— Amy Gentry, bestselling author of Good as Gone and Bad Habits
“When We Fell Apart is so expertly plotted and paced, told in prose so lean and lucid that it’s hard to believe that this book in my hands is a first novel. It’s thrilling, deeply human, heartbreaking. It’s equal parts mystery and exploration of identity and duality. What isn’t hard to believe is that Soon Wiley is writer we’ll be hearing from for years to come. “
— Michael Knight, author of Eveningland
“The business of being yourself is anything but simple, and Wiley’s powerful novel knows it.”
— Peter Behrens, award-winning author of Carry Me
“When We Fell Apart is an absolutely mesmerizing and important novel, delving into all sorts of issues that everyone will find relatable. This book is a page-turner, propelling the reader toward the conclusion, which is both surprising and perfectly rendered when reached. A bravado debut.”
— Don Lee, award-winning author of Yellow and Country of Origin
Sarah Underwood’s LIES WE SING TO THE SEA sold in ‘major’ pre-empt
We are delighted to announce Paper Literary’s first deal.
Sarah Underwood’s debut novel, Lies We Sing to the Sea was sold in a ‘major’ pre-empt to Stephanie Stein at HarperTeen. UK rights were sold in a six figure pre-empt to Lindsey Heaven and Sarah Levison at Farshore. Rights have been sold in Italy (Mondadori), France (Casterman), Spain (Anaya), Russia (Mann, Ivanov & Ferber), and Korea (Yibom).
Lies We Sing to the Sea is a sapphic, feminist reimagining of The Odyssey, in which a failed oracle and a vengeful immortal must break the curse on their kingdom by killing its prince.
Underwood said: “I am unbelievably thrilled to be working with Sarah, Lindsey, Stephanie and everyone at Farshore and HarperTeen. Their enthusiasm for Lies We Sing to the Sea blows me away, and to be published alongside so many fantastic authors is such a childhood dream come true. I’ve always loved that Greek mythology is so deeply rooted in oral storytelling. Myths are made to be pulled apart and put back together, and I wanted to continue this tradition by giving voice to Melantho—one of the Odyssey’s 12 slaughtered maids—and sharing the story I always felt she deserved. I’m so grateful to HarperCollins—and, of course, my brilliant agent Catherine Cho at Paper Literary—for giving me the opportunity to do so.”
Levison added: “The Fates were truly on our side the day that Lies We Sing to the Sea sailed into our inboxes. This stunning novel, inspired by The Odyssey, has it all—fantasy, passion, mystery, romance and drama—and is astonishingly accomplished for a young debut writer. Sarah Underwood has an incredible author career ahead of her as one of the biggest names in YA and crossover publishing, and we’re delighted that Electric Monkey can once again be part of this very special story.”
Stein commented: “Sarah’s sapphic, feminist riff on Greek mythology is a YA debut for the ages. She has taken a single forgotten thread from The Odyssey and spun it into a spectacular tapestry of myth, magic, romance and destiny. It absolutely swept me away in its current, and I defy anyone to read it without falling in love (or shedding a tear). I could not be more thrilled to be launching Sarah’s YA career at HarperTeen.”
Underwood recently graduated in computational bioengineering from Imperial College London and will be starting her Masters at the University of Cambridge this autumn.
Lies We Sing to the Sea will be published in Winter 2023.