Canelo acquires two new romances from Caroline Khoury

Canelo has signed two standalone contemporary romances by Caroline Khoury. Editorial director Emily Bedford bought world English language rights from Kate Burke in a two-book deal. The first title, STILL UNWRITTEN, is out in paperback and ebook in February 2024, followed by the second book in 2025.

STILL UNWRITTEN stars K-pop star JC, lead singer of soon-to-be global sensation JYNKS. To Francesca, he's Choi Jae-Seung, the new barista at her London coffee shop. When her agent tells her that she has 48 hours to find the passion missing from her auditions to land the acting role of her dreams, Jae-Seung offers to help. Together they embark on 'a journey that will not only test the limits of their dreams, but also stoke the embers of the forbidden attraction between them.'

Caroline Khoury said: ‘I am thrilled to be continuing my writing journey with Canelo and know that STILL UNWRITTEN - my K-pop inspired romance - is in excellent hands with my new editor Emily Bedford. I was completely blown away by Emily's passion for the novel and believe she has the vision to take my writing to the next level. This book is very close to my heart and takes you on a journey from the suburban London town I grew up in to South Korea, Sicily and North Carolina. I am beyond excited to partner with the excellent team at Canelo to bring Francesca and Jae-Seung's love story to readers.’

Emily Bedford said: ‘I couldn't be more excited to work with Caroline; the moment I picked up STILL UNWRITTEN I knew I had something special on my Kindle. From her warm and deeply human characters, her ability to bring any setting - be it New Malden or Seoul - to crackling life on the page, to the sizzling chemistry between Francesca and Jae-Seung, there is so much to love about Caroline's writing that I cannot wait to share with readers. As a big K-pop fan myself, this is an absolutely dreamy romance for me to have the opportunity to publish!’

Kate Burke said: ‘I'm so excited about this deal. Caroline and I were blown away by Emily and Canelo's brilliant pitch, and I can't wait for readers to get their hands on STILL UNWRITTEN!’

Caroline Khoury is also author of romances IT MUST BE LOVE (Century, 2022) and ALWAYS YOU, which Century will publish in print and Bolinda in audio in April 2023.

Canelo acquires historical fiction debut from Sunday Times bestseller Paul Finch

Credit: Eleanor Finch

Canelo will publish three historical fiction titles from Sunday Times bestselling author Paul Finch, writing as P.W. Finch. Commissioning Editor Craig Lye acquired World English Language rights from Kate Burke at Blake Friedmann Literary Agency in a three-book deal.

The novels will be published as a standalone and a duology. The standalone, provisionally titled WOLFHEAD, is set in Northumbria in 1066. When seventeen-year-old Cerdic’s father and brother fall in battle against the invading Earl Tostig and his Viking ally, Harald Hardraada, he briefly becomes Earl of Ripon before the town is seized by the raiders. On the run and fearing for his life, Cerdic must fight to reclaim his birthright.

The duology is set at the end of the 12th century, and follows the adventures of Thurstan Wildblood, a knight who journeys back to England from the Third Crusade, transporting a precious relic at the behest of Richard the Lionheart, and desperately hoping to redeem his soul in the process.

Craig Lye says: ‘I was absolutely delighted to hear that Paul was looking to write historical fiction alongside his superb thrillers. I devoured WOLFHEAD on submission; its pacing is relentless, and Paul’s characterisation and lightly worn historical knowledge are brilliant.’

Paul Finch says: ‘What can I say … I’ve always loved the Middle Ages, especially as a setting for full-on action/adventure fiction. I’m an avid reader of historical action novels, and have been dying to get in there as a writer, to spin some yarns of my own. Canelo have now made that possible.’

Kate Burke says: ‘I'm delighted to have this deal in place with Craig and the Canelo team. This second strand of Paul's publishing is a really exciting one and I'm looking forward to publication next year!’

WOLFHEAD will be published in April 2023 in mass-market paperback and ebook, with the duology to follow in 2024.

About Paul Finch

Paul Finch is an ex-cop and journalist turned author. He is the author of the bestselling Mark Heckenburg and Lucy Clayburn crime series (published by Avon/HarperCollins) as well as standalone thrillers ONE EYE OPEN and NEVER SEEN AGAIN (Orion). Paul lives in Lancashire with his wife and business partner, Cathy.

Praise for Paul Finch

‘Exceptional crime writing. Paul Finch continues to raise the bar.’ – M.W. Craven

‘Edge-of-the-seat reading…Heck is formidable – a British Alex Cross.’ – The Sun

‘Wonderfully dark and peppered with grim humour. Finch is a born storyteller and writes with the authentic voice of the ex-copper he is.’ – Peter James

‘Big star…part edge-of-the-seat, part hide-behind-the-sofa! An excellent series.’ – The Bookseller

Visit Paul's blog. 

Follow Paul on Twitter

CANELO ACQUIRES TWO NOVELS BY HANNAH TREAVE

Senior commissioning editor Emily Bedford of Canelo Books has acquired WEL rights to two standalone novels by Hannah Treave from Senior agent Kate Burke.

The first of these novels, THE NOTEKEEPER, is a warm and uplifting story set in a hospice in Bath. Zoe, a care nurse, has taken it upon herself to become ‘The Notekeeper’ – writing down the last words of her patients to deliver to their loved ones. She knows just how much comfort last words can bring, having experienced losses of her own. However, her new boss, Ben, isn’t too pleased that Zoe is getting so involved in her patients’ lives. His disapproval dissipates once he too opens up to Zoe, and he realises that facing one’s past is the only way to get closure.

Zoe and Ben start to become closer and on their journey to deliver the last words of their patients, love begins to blossom between them. Some devastating news threaten their new-found happiness though – is Zoe about to have her heart broken all over again?

Emily Bedford says: ‘It’s so rare to come across a story that has the power to utterly break your heart and then piece it all together again, but that is exactly what THE NOTEKEEPER does and I am thrilled to be publishing the novel. Hannah is an incredibly gifted writer, able to bring hope and joy even to the most heart-wrenching of scenes. I was utterly spellbound by Zoe’s journey throughout the story and her experiences are a gentle balm that will leave readers feeling both moved and soothed.’

Hannah Treave says: ‘I am beyond delighted to be published by Canelo and know THE NOTEKEEPER is in the best possible hands with the utterly fabulous Emily Bedford as my editor. Writing THE NOTEKEEPER was a real passion project, with a story that consumed me, which is something Emily understood immediately. I can’t wait to introduce readers to Zoe and Ben and am thrilled to be continuing my publishing journey with Canelo.’

Kate Burke says: ‘Emily’s passion and vision for THE NOTEKEEPER were clear from the start, and I’m delighted to have this deal in place with her and the Canelo team.’

THE NOTEKEEPER will be published in November 2022, in ebook and paperback, with a second standalone novel to follow in 2023.

German rights have already been sold in a multi-publisher auction, Chinese rights pre-empted, and audio rights were won at auction by Bolinda.

Praise for Hannah Treave (writing as Fiona Ford)

‘A wonderful, uplifting story of friendship and courage. Characters that you can't help falling in love with! This new saga series will surely touch the hearts of saga readers everywhere’ — Nancy Revell, author of THE SHIPYARD GIRLS series

‘I loved the warmth of the friendship between Mary and her friends and the wonderful world of Liberty’s. It’s a page turner of a book with twists and turns than make you keep on reading to find out what happens next.’ — Rosie Hendry, author of the EAST END ANGELS series

‘A compelling first novel by Fiona Ford, which I promise you won't be able to put down.’ — Daisy Styles, bestselling author of THE BOMB GIRLS

‘A fabulous debut from an immensely talented author.’ —Annie Groves

‘Ford gets to the heart of what it was like to live through the dangerous war years in this warm, captivating, down-to-earth story which is brimming with engaging characters, adventure, romance and heartbreak.’ — Lancashire Post

About Hannah Treave

Hannah Treave is a freelance journalist with fifteen years’ experience working with women's weekly and monthly magazines. Under the name of Fiona Ford she has written four historical novels (set during WW2), published by Penguin Random House, and three contemporary ones (HQ and Head of Zeus).

Visit Hannah/Fiona’s website and her follow her on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Debut thriller, I KNOW WHERE SHE IS, by S.B. Caves published today!

I KNOW WHERE SHE IS, S.B. Caves' exhilarating debut thriller is published in the UK today, by Canelo, after hitting the Amazon Top 100 in its pre-publication weekend.

A heart-stopping novel, for fans of Karin Slaughter, Linwood Barclay and Karen Dionne, I KNOW WHERE SHE IS sees Francine, on the tenth anniversary of her daughter Autumn's abduction, receive an anonymous note containing just five words: I KNOW WHERE SHE IS

When a young woman approaches her claiming to be the one who sent the letter, Francine wants to dismiss it as a cruel, twisted joke. But the stranger knows things that only Autumn would know.

It soon becomes clear that Francine must go to dark places in order to learn the truth about her child’s kidnapping. She will discover that danger comes from unexpected sources. She will do things she never imagined herself capable of.

But will Francine get her daughter back – or is it too late?

I KNOW WHERE SHE IS is published today in the UK, by Canelo, reaching the Amazon Top 100 in its pre-publication weekend. It will be published in Germany by HarperCollins and in Sweden, by Modernista in 2018.

About SB Caves

Born and raised in North London, S.B. Caves is a screenwriter and boxing fanatic. He is currently writing his second novel, a thriller based in London.

Find out more about the author on Blake Friedmann’s website.

Follow him on Twitter.

THE BLUE POOL BY SIOBHÁN MACDONALD PUBLISHED TODAY

Siobhán MacDonald’s ingenious and unpredictable psychological thriller THE BLUE POOL will be published by Canelo 15 August 2016.

Following her acclaimed debut TWISTED RIVER - 'Evocative and richly detailed... a page-turning mystery' –  THE BLUE POOL is alive with unpredictable twists and MacDonald’s trademark ingenuity.  THE BLUE POOL is a mesmerising exploration of loyalty, friendship, and the corrosive effects of guilt that will appeal to readers of Clare Mackintosh, Paula Hawkins, and B A Paris.

Published to acclaim by Piper in Germany in 2015, THE BLUE POOL is further proof that MacDonald is a master of her craft.

For foreign rights information, please see here.

Praise for Siobhán MacDonald and TWISTED RIVER

‘TWISTED RIVER is a superb thriller – gripping, surprising, and terrifically rewarding.’ – Chris Pavone, author of THE EXPATS

‘MacDonald toys with the reader, leading right then feinting left with plot twists that genuinely surprise. Infidelity, deception, revenge, and murder all come into play, but the big thrill here is the constant undermining of assumptions.’ – Kirkus Reviews

‘Macdonald does an exquisite job of leading her readers by the noses and then throwing grand twists into the plot to catch them completely off guard. She plays off stereotypes to successfully muddy the plot waters and enhance the mystery… The suspense is well-developed to maintain intrigue and an eerie atmosphere consistently throughout the book.’ – Jen Forbus, Jen’s Book Thoughts

About Siobhán MacDonald

Siobhán MacDonald grew up in Bishopstown, Cork and her family later moved to Limerick. She studied electronic engineering in Galway and has worked as a technical writer in Scotland and France. She lives with her family in Limerick and has written three novels.

Find out more about Siobhán through Blake Friedmann, or visit her website.

Follow Siobhán on Twitter.