HarperVoyager falls for three new books from Saara El-Arifi in ‘significant’ six-figure deal
HarperVoyager has signed a “significant” six-figure pre-empt for three new books from Nibbies winner Saara El-Arifi. UK and Commonwealth rights to Sinnerman and two further untitled fantasy novels were acquired from Juliet Mushens at Mushens Entertainment. Editorial director Charlotte Trumble will publish the titles.
US rights in two books were sold "amid multiple rival pre-empts" to Mika Kasuga at Union Square, negotiated by Ginger Clark at Ginger Clark Literary on behalf of Mushens.
Sinnerman, scheduled for a September 2027 launch, is set in 1950s London and follows an immortal who masquerades as a detective – a lucrative job for a man who consumes sins to survive. But one day his prey, a young man accused of murder, slips away. Unable to feed on another once he has made his mark, the Sinnerman "must find the murderer and complete the reaping, giving chase across cities and continents: from Parisian jazz scenes to Havana’s rum-filled casinos. But with each exchange the Sinnerman begins to fall in love with the sinner, even as his body begins to fail. He must feed to survive, but neither can he kill his newfound lover".
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Prior to becoming an author, El-Arifi spent a decade of working in marketing and communications,before she returned to academia to complete a master’s degree in African studies, specialising in Cleopatra’s myth and her impact on Black women. Her initial six books, the Ending Fire and Faebound trilogies, were released by HarperVoyager. El-Arifi then moved to The Borough Press for a two-book historical fiction deal, the first of which, Cleopatra, was released earlier this year.
El-Arifi said: “Sinnerman is a story that has lingered in the shadows of my mind for some time, and I’m overjoyed to be shining a light on it. Dark fantasy was where I started, and I’m so excited to once again work with the fantastically talented Charlotte Trumble to bring this novel to life.”
Mushens said: “Saara is an amazing talent – and hot on the heels of her first historical fiction bestseller, I’m thrilled to have a new deal for a fantasy which is going to be both epic in scope, but deeply personal in its portrayal of love and obsession.”
Trumble said: “Saara has proven herself to be an incredible writer across fantasy, romantasy and historical fiction, with our sister imprint The Borough Press – and, with Sinnerman, brings a masterful blending of them all. This new standalone is beautifully written with a fateful love story at its heart, set in a dark yet vibrant world just a few shades from our own.”
