Bookouture snaps up new series from ‘East End Saga Queen’ Jean Fullerton

Bookouture has snapped up the first four novels in a brilliant new World War Two saga series from Jean Fullerton, bestselling author of the East End Ration Book series, seeing her move from Atlantic (Corvus). This exciting new series will follow the wartime lives, loves and heartbreaks of a group of four extraordinary young women, who join the WAAF and are stationed in the East End of London as barrage balloon operators. Publishing Executive Lizzie Brien acquired World English Language rights, including audio, from Kate Burke at the Blake Friedmann Literary Agency.

Jean Fullerton says, ‘I’m so thrilled to be joining Bookouture’s friendly, supportive and dynamic team so watch this space for more heart-felt authentic East End sagas.’

Lizzie Brien says, ‘As soon as I read Jean’s first synopsis, I knew I wanted to work with her to tell the stories of these incredible women. Jean’s saga fiction has such wonderful warmth and heart, and is rooted so deeply in the history of the people and places in the East End of London that she knows and loves so well. I couldn’t be more thrilled to be working with her on this very special series!’

Kate Burke says, ‘Jean is a legend in the saga genre and a brilliant storyteller. I’m very excited for this new chapter in her publishing.’

 The first in the series (title to be announced soon) will be published in May 2025.

 About Jean Fullerton

Jean was born and bred in the overcrowded streets surrounding London Docks where her family have lived since 1825. Being born within the sound of Bow Bells, she’s a true cockney who grew up in what was then the working-class dockland community in Wapping and Stepney, East London. All her published books are set in the streets and alleyways she roamed as a child.

Jean worked for 30 years as a community nurse in East London, starting as a staff nurse and finishing as a university lecturer in Health Studies at London South Bank University.

 Praise for Jean Fullerton

 ‘The queen of East End sagas’ – Elaine Everest

‘Warmth, humour and characters readers care about are Fullerton’s hallmarks.’ – Peterborough Evening Telegraph

 ‘A brilliant author who is not afraid of the truth’ – Geoffrey Harfield, Historical Novels Society

 Visit Jean’s website.

 Follow Jean on X (previously Twitter) and Instagram.

Two book deal for Catherine Miller at Bookouture

Commissioning Editor Christina Demosthenous has acquired World English Language rights for two women’s fiction novels by Catherine Miller from Hattie Grünewald. Catherine was previously published by Carina (WAITING FOR YOU and ALL THAT IS LEFT OF US) and HQ for her novels THE GIN SHACK ON THE BEACH and CHRISTMAS AT THE GIN SHACK.

99 DAYS WITH YOU is a heart-breaking yet ultimately hopeful novel about Esther and Nathan, who meet in a doctor’s surgery while each awaiting a cancer diagnosis. Not knowing how many days they have left, the pair fall in love against all the odds – promising to make every moment count. It will be published in June 2019, followed by a second book in November 2019.

Christina Demosthenous said:

“I couldn’t be more excited to be welcoming Catherine to Bookouture. She has spun a spellbinding tale that left me reaching for the tissues and weeping – yet smiling and raring to live life to the absolute full. I cannot wait for this magical story to be out in the world, winning over readers’ hearts.”

Catherine Miller said:

“I've always admired Bookouture so I was absolutely thrilled when they loved my latest book and Christina offered to be my editor. One of the characters in the book has a reoccurring dream and this outcome has to be my dream come true! I'm so excited for Esther and Nathan to exist beyond the realm of my laptop and I know I've got the best publishing team to help my characters meet their readers, for this book, and beyond.”

PRAISE FOR GIN SHACK BOOKS

‘I absolutely adored this book! Utterly enjoyable, uplifting and charming, CHRISTMAS AT THE GIN SHACK is heartwarming and feel good fiction at its very best. Highly recommended and best read whilst enjoying Olive's Christmas gin cocktail!’ – Alison Sherlock

‘This book was immensely entertaining, utterly enjoyable from the first page to the last and downright brilliant! Hugely inspiring and absolutely charming…THE GIN SHACK ON THE BEACH serves every single one of its five big fat gin & tonic stars from me.’ – My Book Reviews

About the Author

When Catherine Miller became a mum to twins, she decided her hands weren't full enough, so wrote a novel with every spare moment she managed to find. By the time the twins were two, Catherine had a two-book deal with Carina UK. There is a possibility she has aged remarkably in that time. Her debut novel, WAITING FOR YOU, came out in March 2016.

Catherine was a NHS physiotherapist, but for health reasons (Uveitis and Sarcoidosis) she retired early from this career. As she loved her physiotherapy job, she decided if she couldn't do that she would pursue her writing dream. It took a few years and a couple of babies, but in 2015 she won the Katie Fforde bursary, was a finalist in the London Book Fair Write Stuff Competition and highly commended in Woman magazine's writing competition. Soon afterwards she signed with Carina. Soon after that, she collapsed in a heap and was eventually revived by chocolate.

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Bookouture Acquire Two New Romantic Comedies by Debut Author Drew Davies

Bookouture have acquired two new romantic comedies by Drew Davies from Hattie Grunewald. First up in November this year will be Drew’s hilarious and heart-warming THE SHAPE OF US, with a second title out in May 2019. The debut follows the interweaving lives of four love and luckless strangers as they navigate the peaks and pitfalls of finding romance in the bustling London metropolis.

World English Language rights were snapped up by Commissioning Editor Christina Demosthenous who said:

“I’m over the moon to be publishing Drew. THE SHAPE OF US is a very special book. It doesn’t matter how many times I read and re-read it, it just gets better – making me laugh, cry and sigh with pure joy every single time. I can’t wait for readers to experience its magic.”

Drew Davies said:

“Wow, this is happening. I’m being announced! Ma, look – they’re announcing me! Where was I? Oh yes, I’m absolutely over the moon to be joining Bookouture, I really am. The team’s drive and talent are unmistakeable. And Christina is my dream editor, working with her is such a pleasure – I’m so excited about launching my first two books with her and the team. Both novels will be romantic comedy – and yes, I promise they’re much funnier than the opening to this paragraph.”

Drew Davies was born in London and grew up in Whanganui, New Zealand. He attended the Unitec School of Performing Arts in Auckland and won a Playmarket New Zealand Young Playwright of the Year award in 2000. After a brief stint on a kiwi soap, he has worked in Search for the past 15 years. Drew’s other claim to fame is that Stephen Fry once called him droll. Either that, or he got his name wrong. He now lives in Wanstead, London.