Ebury Press has secured pre-emptive rights for two crime novels from debut author Jane Casey, whose manuscript was picked from the agent’s slush-pile.
Gillian Green, editorial director for fiction at Ebury, bought UK and Commonwealth rights (with Europe exclusive) from Simon Trewin at United Agents for an undisclosed sum.
Trewin said: “My brilliant assistant Ariella Feiner called me at home on a Sunday to say that she had plucked Jane’s manuscript off my slush pile on the way home on Friday and hadn’t been able to put it down. I quickly caught up with her and by Wednesday Jane was sitting in my office as my newest client.
“Nothing beats the excitement of launching a new young voice onto the publishing scene, and Jane is going to be a powerful addition to the crime/thriller genre.”
The first title Past Grief will be published in 2010. The book tells of a young schoolteacher who discovers the body of one of her pupils lying in the woods.
Green said she was “blown away” by Casey’s writing. “Past Grief is a beautifully written and utterly compelling crime novel with shades of Nicci French, Sophie Hannah and Kate Atkinson. This is quite simply, one of the most assured debuts I’ve read in a long time.”
Casey has worked in publishing for nine years and is currently an editor working on Macmillan’s children’s list.
Ebury Press has secured pre-emptive rights for two crime novels from debut author Jane Casey, whose manuscript was picked from the agent’s slush-pile.
Gillian Green, editorial director for fiction at Ebury, bought UK and Commonwealth rights (with Europe exclusive) from Simon Trewin at United Agents for an undisclosed sum.
Trewin said: “My brilliant assistant Ariella Feiner called me at home on a Sunday to say that she had plucked Jane’s manuscript off my slush pile on the way home on Friday and hadn’t been able to put it down. I quickly caught up with her and by Wednesday Jane was sitting in my office as my newest client.
“Nothing beats the excitement of launching a new young voice onto the publishing scene, and Jane is going to be a powerful addition to the rime/thriller genre.”
The first title Past Grief will be published in 2010. The book tells of a young schoolteacher who discovers the body of one of her pupils lying in the woods.
Green said she was “blown away” by Casey’s writing. “Past Grief is a beautifully written and utterly compelling crime novel with shades of Nicci French, Sophie Hannah and Kate Atkinson. This is quite simply, one of the most assured debuts I’ve read in a long time.”
Casey has worked in publishing for nine years and is currently an editor working on Macmillan’s children’s list.
An auction is underway in Germany and Dutch rights were pre-empted by Ambo Anthos. Contact for foreign rights is Jessica Craig. US rights are being handled by Zoe Pagnamenta.
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