Sphere snaps up Omid Scobie and Robin Benway's royal romcom in six-figure deal
Sphere Fiction has won a "hotly contested" five-way auction for Omid Scobie and Robin Benway’s workplace romcom set in the Buckingham Palace press office in a six-figure deal. Former Sphere commissioning editor Rebecca Roy acquired the UK and Commonwealth rights to Royal Spin from Meredith Miller at United Talent Agency (UTA) before going freelance last year.
The book will be published in hardback by senior commissioning editor Elisha Lundin in the first quarter of 2026, and will be a "major" publication for Little, Brown. Lisa Grubka and Albert Lee at UTA sold North American rights to Liz Stein, VP and executive editor at William Morrow.
The book is the first collaboration between Scobie and Benway, as well as Scobie’s fiction debut and Benway’s adult fiction debut. The publisher described the novel as a "fun, fish-out-of-water romantic workplace comedy" about a young American woman, Lauren Morgan, who leaves her press role at the White House for one at Buckingham Palace. The synopsis continues: "There, she’s thrown into a whirlwind of office politics, a string of scandals and a risky love triangle between an infuriatingly charming royal reporter and a very handsome duke whose PR makeover is Lauren’s first project."
Universal Television is already developing a series based on Royal Spin with Scobie serving as a writer, co-creator and executive producer, alongside showrunner Emily Fox. Benway will also serve as executive producer.
Scobie is the author of two biographies of Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, Finding Freedom and the follow-up Endgame, following their marriage, royal life and eventual exit. Benway is a National Book Award-winning author of nine YA novels, including Far from the Tree and Emmy & Oliver.
Lundin said: "Royal Spin is a sharp, swoon-worthy romantic comedy with irresistible charm, witty banter and a backstage pass to the inner workings of the palace. With a fish-out-of-water heroine, a scandal-prone royal institution, and enough intrigue to keep readers hooked, Scobie and Benway deliver a fresh, playful take on love and scandal in the most high-profile of settings. I can’t wait for readers to dive into this royally entertaining romance."
Scobie and Benway said: "No book has ever gone inside the frenzied world of the Buckingham Palace press office, and we can’t wait to throw Lauren – our young American protagonist fresh from the White House communications team – into the deep end of it."
