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HQ pre-empts Anna James’ ‘glorious’ adult debut
HQ publisher Kate Mills has pre-empted Good Fortunes, the adult debut novel by international bestselling children’s author Anna James. Mills acquired UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada, from Claire Wilson at RCW.
US rights have been sold to Kerry Donovan at Berkley, by Pete Knapp and Stuti Telidevara at Park, Fine & Brower Literary Management, with offers in hand in Germany, Italy and France.
Good Fortunes tells the story of “an unbookish woman who gets a job at a local bookstore after her professional life and love life combust, only to find a stockroom door leading to the world of Pride and Prejudice, which she is hilariously unequipped to navigate.”
Mills said: “Good Fortunes is the most glorious of romantic comedies: witty, wise, full of joyful humour and heart, with an irresistible heroine and a love story that will delight readers. It will speak to anyone who has fallen for the wrong person at the wrong time or needed to find their way back home. The whole HQ team fell in love with Anna’s fresh take on this beloved classic and it is fair to say it has bewitched us, body and soul.”
Wilson added: “Woven through with a deep understanding and love of the world of books, and told with the most luminous charm and wit, Good Fortunes is a novel that only Anna James could write. It is truly irresistible and is already winning hearts all over the world. We are so thrilled to see the ambition held by Kate and the HQ team to bring this extraordinary story to so many readers here in the UK.”
Anna James is the New York Times Number One bestselling author of two fantasy adventure series for 7+ readers – Pages & Co and Chronicles of Whetherwhy – published by HarperCollins Children’s Books. Formerly a librarian, a journalist for The Bookseller and literary editor at Elle, she hosts literary events along with her podcast Bookwandering.
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James said: “I am delighted that my adult debut has found its home with Kate at HQ and Kerry at Berkley, who both felt like exactly the right home for the book. I’m very pleased to be continuing my publishing on both sides of the pond with adult imprints at my existing publishers and am very excited to be branching out into the world of adult publishing with a story that means so much to me.
“As a former librarian, bookish books are always going to be what I love to write but I’ve had huge fun introducing Marianne, my decidedly unbookish heroine, into a world of grumpy booksellers, charming cads and Jane Austen.”
