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HarperCollins has signed a deal for two psychological thrillers from debut author Claire Kendal in a six-figure deal.
Sarah Hodgson, deputy publishing director at HCUK, secured UK and Commonwealth rights for the titles following a six-way auction for the books held by Euan Thorneycroft at A M Heath.
North American rights for the books were pre-empted within 48 hours of submission by Claire Wachtel at Harper Books in the US and Iris Tupholme at Harper Canada for what is thought to be a high six-figure sum.
Kendal’s first novel, The Book of You, is the story of Clarissa, a woman being stalked who hopes to escape her situation when she is selected for jury duty. However, as the harassment escalates, Clarissa keeps a record in her notebook, giving an insight into her own fears and the stalker’s cunning.
Hodgson said: "We have been looking for the perfect psychological thriller for the HarperFiction list for some time, and believe we have found it with The Book of You.”
Translation rights for the book have already been sold after auction or pre-empt by A M Heath in Germany (Ullstein), Holland (Unieboek), Brazil (Intrinseca), Serbia (Laguna), France (Albin Michel) and Italy (Garzanti Libri) with auctions on-going in other territories, while film rights are being handled by Joseph Veltre of the Gersh Agency.