Rights-Hotlist-London-Book-Fair-2018

LONDON BOOK FAIR RIGHTS HOTLIST 2018 – TABLE 22N Head of Rights: rebecca@rebeccawinfield.com (Tel 07932 673 244) Rights Manager: Nick Walters (Tel 07900 490 701) FICTION Shadows of the Lake by Rachael Blok NEW Contemporary thriller (first in a series featuring Maarten Jansen) On submission in the UK Jenny dreams of a young girl drowning in a lake, and wakes the next day to find it was more than a dream With only 12 days remaining until Christmas, she is struggling; with a young baby to look after, and snow that keeps falling, she finds herself inexplicably and repeatedly pulled towards the lake The community of the Cathedral city is rocked by the murder of Elizabeth Hoarde, only 14 years old It’s left to the Dutch-born Maarten Jansen, the DCI in charge of the investigation, to unravel the strands binding the worlds of Jenny, Elizabeth and a dark figure, hidden in plain sight, in the heart of the snow drenched town Rachael Blok grew up in Durham and studied Literature at Warwick University After spending some time exploring South America and Asia, she finished a PGCE and an MA at Durham University She moved to London and worked as an English teacher in a boys’ comprehensive in Holland Park She now lives with her husband and two children in St Albans This is her first novel How Far We Fall by Jane Shemilt NEW Michael Joseph UK & Commonwealth (Maxine Hitchcock) Contemporary medical suspense thriller From the international bestselling author Jane Shemilt TV rights optioned to Twelve Town Productions (formerly Pinewood Studios) – the team behind the adaptation of Ian McEwan’s A Child in Time The perfect wife: Beth is devoted to her new husband But she's also keeping a secret from him Albie must never know about the affair she once had with his boss, Ted Nor the reason that it ended The perfect husband: Albie is a rising star at Great Ormond Street Hospital With his ideal woman at his side and Ted as his mentor, nothing can hold him back from claiming his place as Ted's successor The perfect storm: Beneath the surface of their happy marriage, Beth's betrayal is eating away at her And when Ted threatens everything Albie has worked for, his treachery ignites a passion for revenge in Beth It would only take a small push to silence the man poisoning their marriage, and keep her secret safe But how far will the fall take them? Publication: June 2018 in hardcover (338pp) Primary agent: Eve White Translation rights: DLA Sold: Newton Compton (Italy), General Press (Hungary) Options in Germany (Blanvalet) The House of Hopes and Dreams by Trisha Ashley NEW Black Swan (Transworld) WEL (Francesca Best) Incredible Sunday Times bestselling author For fans of Katie Fforde and Jenny Éclair Commercial Women’s Fiction Sunday Times Top Ten Bestseller in hardcover and paperback When Carey Revell unexpectedly becomes the heir to Mossby, his family’s ancestral home, it’s rather a mixed blessing The house is large but rundown and comes with a pair of resentful relatives who can’t be asked to leave Still, newly dumped by his girlfriend and also from his job as a TV interior designer, Carey needs somewhere to lick his wounds And Mossby would be perfect for a renovation show He already knows someone who could restore the stained-glass windows in the older part of the house… Angel Arrowsmith has spent the last ten years happily working and living with her artist mentor and partner But suddenly bereaved, she finds herself heartbroken, without a home or a livelihood Life will never be the same again – until old friend Carey Revell comes to the rescue They move in to Mossby with high hopes But the house has a secret at its heart: an old legend concerning one of the famous windows Will all their dreams for happiness be shattered? Or can Carey and Angel find a way to make this house a home? Publication: May 2018 Primary agent: Judith Murdoch Translation rights: DLA Miss Mary’s Daughter by Diney Costeloe NEW Head of Zeus UK & Commonwealth Mass Market Historical Fiction DINEY COSTELOE HAS NOW SOLD OVER 850K COPIES OF HER BOOKS! READERS LOVE HER! 4,OOO 5* REVIEWS A gritty and heartrending drama set in 19th-century Cornwall Orphan Sophie and her friend Hannah are welcomed into the Penvarrow family but tensions rise and family secrets are revealed After her mother's death, twenty-year-old Sophie Ross is left orphaned in London With no money and little chance of an income, she tries to get work as a governess to avoid destitution Now alone in the world, she only has the company of her erstwhile nursemaid and faithful friend, Hannah But unbeknown to Sophie, her mother instructed Hannah to post a letter to Trescadinnick House in Cornwall upon her death The letter will be the catalyst that changes Sophie's life forever as she learns of her mother's romance, marriage and then ultimate rejection by her own father and the estranged family she left behind in Cornwall The Penvarrow family welcome Sophie and Hannah into their fold, but tensions rise and family secrets are revealed as Sophie attempts to rebuild her life and find happiness Publication: May 2018 Primary agent: Judith Murdoch Translation rights: DLA Death in the Stars by Frances Brody Piatkus, UK & Commonwealth Cosy crime The 9th instalment in the Kate Shackleton series! Wednesday, 29 June 1927 A hundred thousand people flock to the Yorkshire Dales to witness the total eclipse of the sun Kate has chartered a small plane to fly Selina Fellini, popular star of stage and wireless, to the grounds of Giggleswick School where the astronomer royal and his party from Greenwich have set up camp on high ground by the chapel Selina has concerns about her safety because of previous “accidents” to two fellow performers She feels the threats closing in but has not given Kate a full story Accompanying Kate and Selina on the plane is comedian Billy Moffatt Billy believes misery and disappointment provide the best material for funny stories He hopes that forecasters are correct in predicting a probability of cloud Publication: October 2017 Primary Agent: Judith Murdoch US & Canada: St Martin’s Press Translation rights: DLA Germany: first three titles in series to Bastei Luebbe Russia: first three titles in series to AST Liar, Liar by Sarah Flint Aria Fiction, UK & Commonwealth Mass market, gritty contemporary crime / Female Sleuths From the bestselling author of Mummy's Favourite and The Trophy Taker DC 'Charlie' Stafford returns with a superb new, brutally gripping serial killer thriller, where the hunter becomes the hunted Perfect for the fans of Angela Marsons A faithful dog lies wounded beside the mutilated body of its owner A woman is discovered bound and gagged, dead in her own bed Both are police officers Both have a red rose at their side worryingly more will follow Lies and accusations abound but who is behind the murders and why are the victims being targeted? Charlie, Hunter and the team must find the killer targeting their own before another body is found Publication: December 2017 Primary agent: Judith Murdoch Translation rights: DLA ALSO IN THE SERIES: The Trophy Taker Mummy’s Favourite SOLD 105,000 COPIES IN THE UK! Sold: Germany (Weltbild), Poland (Amber), Omega (Czech Republic) Murder on the Green by H V Coombs NEW Avon, UK & Commonwealth ‘An irresistibly mouth-watering mix of sleuthery and cooking’ Trisha Ashley Midsomer Murders meets The Great British Bake Of in this foodie delight with murder at its heart Hampden Green has been a quiet for months, allowing Ben Hunter to concentrate on running The Old Forge Café That is until celebrity chef Justin McCleish announces he is opening a pop-up restaurant at the local opera festival and wants Ben to help out Ben couldn’t prouder or more flattered, until he discovers he hasn’t been hired for his cooking abilities… Justin is being blackmailed and he needs help to crack the case That is, until extortion turns deadly! Now Ben must whatever it takes to find the killer before they strike again… Publication: June 2018 Primary Agent: Judith Murdoch All rights: DLA The First Dance by Catherine Law Zaffre/Bonniers WEL Spellbinding historical romance Perfect for fans of Judith Lennox, Santa Montefiore and Tracy Rees http://www.catherinelaw.co.uk/ To find what she has lost, she must go back to the beginning 1924 The First World War is over and eleven-year-old Alexa is growing up on the idyllic Cornish coast with her best friend Harvey But she soon discovers there are secrets at the heart of her family that have been hidden for years 1931 Alexa flees Cornwall for the intoxicating city of Venice But her new glamorous life is not what she hoped for and, with dark shadows closing in on her, Alexa will question everything she thought she wanted Publication: March 2018 Primary agent: Judith Murdoch All rights: DLA Miss Nightingale’s Nurses by Kate Eastham Michael Joseph Series fiction, historical for fans of Donna Douglas’ nursing series Kate Eastham’s debut historical saga is set to very well indeed as the appetite for historical nursing stories continues apace! Ada Houston is alone Her brother has gone missing, last seen working on the Liverpool docks, and everyone assumes him to be dead But she will not give up hope Ada's determined search takes her to the Crimea where she joins the team of Florence Nightingale's nurses She may have set off looking for her brother, but along the way Ada finds friends, romance and a new purpose in her own life Miss Nightingale’s Nurses is the first in a four book series from Michael Joseph publishers The next novel, The Liverpool Nurses, is set amidst the surge of postCrimean Nightingale nursing and features the first probationer nurses at the Liverpool Royal Infirmary Kate has over thirty years nursing experience and knows her stuff! Publication: June 2018 Primary agent: Judith Murdoch Translation rights: DLA The Concubine’s Child by Carol Jones 1930s Malaysia Historical Romance Head of Zeus In 1930s Malaya a sixteen-year-old girl, dreaming of marriage to her sweetheart, is sold as a concubine to a rich old man desperate for an heir Trapped, and bullied by his spiteful wife, Yu Lan plans to escape with her baby son, despite knowing that they will pursue her to the ends of the earth Four generations later, her great-grandson, Nick, will return to Malaysia, looking for the truth behind the facade of a house cursed by the unhappy past Nothing can prepare him for what he will find This exquisitely rich novel brings to life a vanished world – a world of abandoned ghost houses, inquisitive monkeys, smoky temples and a panoply of gods and demons A world where a poor girl can be sold to fulfil a rich man's dream But though he can buy her body, he can never capture her soul, nor quench her spirit Publication: June 2018 Primary agent: Judith Murdoch Translation rights: DLA The Boy with the Blue Trousers by Carol Jones NEW Head of Zeus 1856 Exiled from London after a scandalous liaison, English governess, Violet Hartley, lands on the wild shores of Robetown, South Australia, where her reputation does not precede her As tutor to a grazier’s children, she longs to return to civilized society, and a wealthy husband might be just the ticket But after being thrown into exile, Violet conceives a plan to seek her fortune on the goldfields of Australia… Meanwhile, in southern China, the rebellious Little Cat is on the run from a dangerous clan seeking vengeance for the murder of their leader Under a new identity as a boy, Strong Arm, she flees to Australia in search of safety But her past soon catches up with her From the author of The Concubine’s Child, The Boy with the Blue Trousers is a tale of love, revenge, and tragedy that will keep you guessing at every turn Publication: TBC Primary agent: Judith Murdoch Translation rights: DLA Gracie’s Secret by Jill Childs NEW Bookouture (a division of Hachette), World English Language Contemporary women’s fiction/domestic noir Gracie’s Secret My dearest daughter, I will never forget the day I nearly lost you The day you learned the secrets that would tear our lives apart… Time stops for Jen when her beloved daughter, Gracie, is involved in a terrible car crash Pronounced dead at the scene, it’s a miracle when paramedics manage to then resuscitate the little girl The relief Jen feels at Gracie’s recovery is matched only by her fury at the driver of the car – her ex-husband’s new girlfriend Ella Jen has never trusted Ella, and now her worst fears have been confirmed But then Gracie begins to tell strange stories about what she heard in the car that day, and what she saw in those moments near death It’s clear that there’s something shocking hidden in Ella’s past… but exposing it could tear all their lives apart An emotional page-turner that will take your breath away Perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult, Lisa Wingate and Kerry Fisher Publication: July 2018 in ebook Primary agent: Judith Murdoch Translation rights: DLA NON-FICTION MEMOIRS Saving Lucy by Ishbel Holmes NEW Bradt Travel Guides UK and Velo Press, USA Recovery Memoir/Petmoir Ishbel Rose Holmes was adrift and alone when she set out to bicycle across the world She was pedalling across Turkey when a street dog, Lucy, crossed her path and changed her life forever Ishbel did not want anything or anyone to slow her down, but when she witnessed Lucy attacked by other dogs, Ishbel rescued her forming a deep bond between the pair Ishbel recognized her own vulnerability in her new canine friend and launched a heartfelt mission to find Lucy a home and give her a happy life Their adventures took them to the Syrian border and into the hearts of everyone who met them People around the world who followed the story on Ishbel's blog, World Bike Girl, watched as Lucy's unconditional love broke down the wall around Ishbel's heart When Lucy died unexpectedly in her arms, Ishbel realized that Lucy had found a home after all with her, and that Ishbel had been Lucy's happy ever after Published October 2018 Translation rights: DLA Spilt Milk by Simon Dawson NEW Mirror Books (WEL) Recovery memoir / “Petmoir” Simon Dawson is the author of three books including the very successful “Pigs in Clover” (Orion, 2015) in which he described the joy of leaving city life behind and becoming a farmer But what that book did not reveal was that Simon had been terribly neglected as a child When a newborn lamb on his farm is rejected by its mother, Simon must take drastic action to save it from starving to death and, in the process, he is forced to confront his own childhood which in many ways mirrored what was happening before his eyes as the lamb struggled to stay alive Loneliness, neglect, fear and near starvation – the memories come flooding back for Simon but through his care for the lamb, he also finds peace This is a remarkable book with a hugely uplifting ending that reveals the remarkable power of us all to heal and find our way back home again Publication: Spring 2019 Primary agent: Graham Maw Christie Translation rights: DLA Sample chapters available now Manuscript delivered September 2018 A Million Minutes by Wolf Kuper NEW Bonniers (WEL) Travel and inspirational memoir "Oh Daddy, I wish we had a million minutes Let's go far, far away whilst we have time." And so begins a journey for Wolf Kuper and his daughter, Nina The successful scientist, who is finally about to hit the big time in his job, suddenly realizes that a million minutes might be worth much more than a perfect CV Thus begins a twoyear (or one million minutes) trip from Germany to Thailand, New Zealand, Australia and back again On board with Wolf and Nina (who is seriously unwell and in every respect different to what child psychologists, teachers, doctors and politicians imagine a child should be like) is Nina’s baby brother and her mum, Vera A Million Minutes is a heart-warming and funny declaration of love for everything that doesn't work out as planned A story encouraging you to plunge into life – containing no guarantees, but with a bag packed with optimism and superglue A true story: infectious, amusing, intelligent Rights sold in Germany (Knaus), France (Actes Sud), Netherlands (Meulenhoff), Korea (Business Books) All other rights: DLA on behalf of Hanna Leitgeb Death Row: The Final Minutes – My Life as an Execution Witness in America’s Most Infamous Prison by Michelle Lyons NEW Blink Publishing WEL (Kelly Ellis) True crime / memoir "You want to know how long it takes someone to die by lethal injection in Texas? Start singing Silent Night and when you get to 'Mother and Child' well, that's how long it takes I know this because I saw it happen once." Larry Fitzgerald IN 12 YEARS, MICHELLE LYONS WITNESSED NEARLY 300 EXECUTIONS First as a reporter and then as a spokesperson for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Michelle was a frequent visitor to Huntsville’s Walls Unit, where she recorded and relayed the final moments of death row inmates’ lives before they were put to death by the state Michelle was in the death chamber as inmates spoke their last words on earth, while a cocktail of lethal drugs surged through their veins Michelle supported the death penalty, before misgivings began to set in as the executions mounted During her time in the prison system, and together with her dear friend and colleague Larry Fitzgerald, Michelle came to know and like some of the condemned men and women she saw die, query the arbitrary nature of the death penalty and increasingly ask the question: executions make victims of all of us? An incredibly powerful and unique look at the complex story of capital punishment in the United States, as told by those whose lives have been shaped by it, Death Row: The Final Minutes is an important take on crime and punishment at a fascinating point in America’s political history M/s delivery: 31 March 2018 Primary agent: Nick Walters at DLA Publication: May 2018 Translation rights: DLA Sold: Poland (Agora), Russia (AST) Stopping Places by Damian Le Bas Chatto & Windus (Parisa Ebrahimi) UK & Commonwealth Literary Travel memoir Selected as BBC Radio 4’s Book of the Week ! Our world is very different to the one described to Damien by his great grandmother, a Romany A nomadic life is unthinkable Even she lives (very happily) in a bungalow now As a child, Damian Le Bas would sit on his great-grandmother’s knee, begging for more tales of the old Traveller ways, told to him in the ancient Romany language Now, Damian will discover the secret routes passed through the generations He embarks on a year-long quest across the British Isles and visits the “stopping places”, the old sites of encampment known only to Travellers But can Damian have the freedom that the nomad in all of us craves, or is the old Traveller way irrevocably lost? His life is very different from that of his forebears – Oxford educated and a poet and journalist, a chance to discover his past is also a chance to write the book he has longed dreamed of Manuscript delivery: September 2017, 90,000 words Publication: April 2018 Primary Agent: Eve White Translation rights: DLA The Way of the Tortoise by Matt Little NEW Little, Brown UK (Anna Steadman) UK & Commonwealth Self-help / Lifestyle Matt Little is best known for his role as part of the elite coaching team that helped propel Sir Andy Murray to the top of his profession However, it’s Matt’s journey to achieving his own career success that is the subject of this book Starting from the premise that the pressures to achieve instant success – the “Hare Approach” - often sees us crash and burn, Matt Little sets out to show us how, by following his unique programme, which he calls The Way of the Tortoise, it is possible to achieve a more meaningful and enduring success Matt identifies several core “tortoise values” that can be used in any field in order to achieve a better life Matt also provides tips and exercises to help develop the critical “soft skills” that are the bedrock of his philosophy Manuscript delivery: December 2018 Publication: Spring 2019 Primary agent: Nick Walters for DLA Translation rights: DLA The Hidden Horticulturalists by Fiona Davison NEW Atlantic Books (James Nightingale) Gardening and History Murder, mystery and intrigue in the world of gardening! Fiona Davison is the Head Librarian for the UK’s prestigious Royal Horticultural Society Last year she discovered a book that had lain untouched for decades In it was letters of application to the RHS from hundreds of young men looking for their chance to make a name for themselves as plant collectors They would travel across the world in search of rare species, many of which are now commonplace on the tables of Europe and beyond This is the story of modern gardening told through the lives of the men who gave us the sweetest strawberries and the finest orchids… Fully international in its scope this is a beautifully told story of the history of 19th century horticulture Publication: Spring 2019 Extent: tbc Primary agent: Rebecca Winfield for DLA Translation rights: DLA US rights: Atlantic Oak and Ash and Thorn by Peter Fiennes Oneworld (WEL) September 2017 Nature Writing and Environment Amazon bestseller The magic and mystery of the woods and trees are embedded in our culture, from ancient folklore to modern literature They offer us refuge, a place to play and a place to think They are the generous providers of fuel, timber, energy and life They let us dream of other ways of living Yet we now face a future where taking a walk in the woods is consigned to the tales we tell our children Threatened by development, neglect, climate chaos and ignorance, they are emptier - of flora and fauna, but also of people - than they have ever been Immersing himself in the beauty of Britain's woodlands and the art and writing they have inspired, Peter Fiennes explores our long relationship with the woods and the sad and violent story of how so many have been lost Just as we need them, our woods need us too But who, if anyone, is looking out for them? Extent: 304pp Primary agent: Rebecca Winfield for DLA Translation rights: DLA 10 Among the Summer Snow: A Highlands Walk by Christopher Nicholson September Publishing WAL Literary Travel memoir Christopher Nicholson’s first book of nature writing is a beautiful account of an unusual obsession In 2016 the author of The Elephant Keeper and Winter spent August searching for the remaining snows of the Scottish Highlands His account of his solitary walk is by turns funny, fascinating and inspiring A meditation on walking, on mountains, on snow and our changing climate, Nicholson also turns his curious eye on nature-lovers themselves What are we looking for when we walk and what is it we want from nature? What is it we see and what is it we miss? What remains when we are gone and what have we lost from the landscape forever? A quizzical, ultimately uplifting, journey from a new nature writing voice Nicholson’s previous book, The Elephant Keeper (4th Estate, 2010) was shortlisted for the Costa Novel Award and sold over 13,000 copies in the UK His most recent, Winter, is also published by 4th Estate Publication: June 2017 Extent: 256pp Translation rights: DLA Sold: Gatopardo (Spain) The Enchanted Life: Unlocking the Magic of the Everyday by Sharon Blackie September Publishing WEL (Hannah MacDonald) Memoir, Personal Development, Natural History Sharon Blackie is an academic writer whose work centers on the natural world investigates how our lives are inextricably linked to nature In this important new book, she argues with passion and conviction that the modern world is at risk of self-destruction unless we reconnect with nature For Blackie, seeing the enchantment of the everyday is to pick up the pieces of our bruised and battered psyches, and to offer them the nourishment they long for It is to be challenged, to be awakened, to be gripped and shaken to the core by the extraordinary which lies at the heart of the ordinary Above all, to live an enchanted life is to fall in love with the world all over again September Publishing – Spring 2018 US and Canadian rights Anansi Books Translation rights: DLA Europe’s Best Bakeries by Sarah Guy September Publishing Spring 2019 Illustrated with 200 photographs in colour An inspirational, illustrated guide to Europe’s 120 best bakeries and pâtisseries, from new-wave sourdough bakeries to centuries-old grand café- pâtisseries The book takes in a range of bread and cake traditions – Irish soda bread, Dutch stroopwafels, Estonian black bread, Italian focaccia, French canelés, Welsh bara 11 brith, to name just a few – as well as celebrating the revival of back-to-basics breadmaking Baked goods are embedded in European culture; many of the shops and cafés included in the book have been around for over a century, and serve longperfected cakes in historic premises Others are new discoveries in unexpected locations, staffed by young bakers passionate about creating wonderful produce which is also organic and eco-friendly The selection will include Dominique Ansel’s only European outlet (London); master baker Richard Bertinet’s mini-empire (Bath); historic konditorei, Demel (Vienna); the reborn La Duquesita pastelerías (Madrid); and the bakery shaking up French bread and viennoiserie, Ten Belles Bread (Paris) The geographical spread includes the UK, Scandinavian, Eastern Europe, Spain and Greece, as well as France, Italy and Germany Beautiful photographs will illustrate the bakeries and pâtisseries to mouthwatering effect and there will be recipes included Sarah Guy has written about London – and further afield – for many years, covering everything from restaurants and shops to architecture and walks While working at Time Out she commissioned and edited hundreds of books, from travel guides to photography collections; for a decade she was the Editor of the Time Out Guide to Eating & Drinking in London She is the author of London for Dogs (2017), and London on Sea (2018) September Publish: Spring 2019 All rights: DLA 220 x 170mm/226pp What My Girlfriends Told Me by Sonja Bajic September Publishing Spring 2018 Gift book Writer and illustrator Sonja Bajic lives and works in Paris though she was born in old Yugoslavia This is a beautifully produced little book that is the perfect gift for women to give to their friends by way of encouragement or consolation when the going gets tough Each page contains a little watercolour portrait of women like us and wise advice such as “They’re not all jerks” to “There are no bad dates only good stories” Sample spreads and blad available by London Book Fair week Artwork available All rights DLA SPORT – NO LONGER A SPECIALIST AREA ! Full Gas: The History of Cycling Tactics by Peter Cossins Yellow Jersey WEL Cycling tactics The intricacies and complexities of cycling are what makes it so appealing An eye for opportunity and a quick mind are just as essential to success as a 'big engine' or good form The focus on tactics and strategy begins in the early 20th Century, when the sport's leading performers employed pacemakers aboard tandems, before 12 motorised transport was adopted to increase speed further behind motorbikes and cars Over the years the races have developed and fresh approaches to tactics required How to deal with summit finishes? How a directeur sportif benefits his riders? How did a sprint train come about and how to use it as a most effective weapon? Want to really understand cycling? You need Full Gas Publication: June 2018 Primary Agent: David Luxton All rights: DLA Sold: France (Marabout) Edge: Leadership Secrets of Football’s Top Thinkers Ben Lyttleton HarperCollins UK & Commonwealth Football Tactics Finding the next superstar is a challenge for all businesses There may be certain measurable skills that you can glean from CVs but the intangible qualities that make up the next generation of leaders are harder to spot There needs to be a revolution in the way we measure talent In this book, we look at football, arguably the world’s biggest talent hothouse, to learn about these immeasurable qualities These are personality traits from the head up that differentiate the good from the great; qualities like resilience, ambition, leadership, decision-making, adaptability, composure under pressure You can’t polish those on a CV Published: September 2017 Primary Agent: David Luxton All rights: DLA Sevens Heaven: The Beautiful Chaos of Fiji’s Olympic Dream by Ben Ryan & Tom Fordyce NEW Orion UK & Commonwealth Rugby Sevens This is the story of how one man changed a nation, how that nation changed the man and how together they made sporting history It is late summer 2013 Ben Ryan, a red-haired, 40-something, spectacle-wearing Englishman, is given 20 minutes to decide whether he wants to coach Fiji’s Sevens team, with the aim of taking them to the nation’s first ever Olympic medal He has never been to Fiji There has not even been a discussion of contracts or salary Ryan says yes With that simple word, he sets in motion an extraordinary journey that will encompass witchdoctors and interfering prime ministers, sun-smeared dawns and devastating cyclones, intense friendships and bitter rows, phone taps and wild nation-wide parties It will end in Rio with a performance that not only wins Olympic gold but touches fresh heights for rugby union, with Ben made a tribal chief and hundreds of Fijian babies given his name, with his 12 players global stars and heroes forever back home 13 It is Cool Runnings transposed from ice to tropical grass, Moneyball for a world without spreadsheets, Leicester City 2016 meets Brazil 1970 Publication: May 2018 Primary Agent: David Luxton All rights: DLA Sold: Japan (Tatsumi) Michael Carrick: My Autobiography by Michael Carrick NEW Blink Publishing (Bonniers) UK & Commonwealth Football This is the incredible account of Michael Carrick’s life and career, from growing up in a small town in the north of England, to winning almost every club honour a footballer can For the first time, Carrick will address his relationships with his family, wife and children, and those who have played a key role in his career, including Sir Alex Ferguson, David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Harry Redknapp, Paul Scholes, Wayne Rooney, Ibrahimovic, Rio Ferdinand, Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs, Frank Lampard, John Terry, Fabio Capello, Roy Hodgson, Steven Gerrard and many more renowned footballing names Written with award-winning journalist Henry Winter (The Times), book will include Michael’s time with the West Ham youth team, his debut for the senior side and subsequent relegation, his time at Tottenham, and then Manchester United It will also look at Michael’s personal life away from the cameras, giving the reader an insight to what life is like as a footballer away from match day, and all the highs and lows he experienced as a man as well as a footballer This is an incredibly intimate portrait of a footballer who has won it all Manuscript delivery: June 2018 Publication: Autumn 2018 Primary agent: David Luxton All rights: DLA A Journey Through the Cycling Year by The Cycling Podcast NEW Yellow Jersey UK & Commonwealth The Cycling Podcast was launched in 2013 by journalists and authors Richard Moore, Lionel Birnie and Daniel Friebe It is regularly among the top sports podcasts on iTunes, hitting the no spot at the start of the 2016 Tour de France In 2015 the podcast was downloaded 3.8m times; in 2016, this figure jumped to more than 8m… This book captures in writing and photography the very essence of the podcast that makes it so popular Unlike any other cycling book out there, ‘A Year in Cycling’ will aim to be both informative and humorous on the past year in cycling Featuring a host of familiar names, the book will take the reader through the cycling season through the eyes (and ears) of the podcast team Publication: March 2018 Primary Agent: David Luxton All rights: DLA Darkness and Light: My Story by Joe Thompson 14 NEW Pitch Publishing WEL Darkness and Light: My Story, is the heart-wrenching and soul-stirring autobiography of footballer and two-time cancer survivor, Joe Thompson His mother’s battle with mental illness and father’s descent into a life of drugs and crime saw him battle adversity from birth Football opened up a new world of opportunity when Manchester United signed him aged nine Joe spent six years living every boy’s dream but was left devastated when the club released him at 16 He bounced back to forge a career in the Football League, before his life was thrown into turmoil At 23, he was diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer Six months of chemotherapy followed, which eventually rid his body of the disease He had been given a second chance at life, but three years later he was given the shock news that his cancer had returned An 18-day stay in an isolation unit reduced him to skin and bone, but he vowed he wouldn’t be beaten For a second time, Joe gave cancer the boot and he has since made an incredible return to professional football, including an appearance at Wembley in the FA Cup Darkness and Light is an incredible tale of survival against the odds Publication: October 2018 Primary Agent: Nick Walters Translation rights: DLA Simply the Best: The Biography of Ronnie O’Sullivan by Clive Everton NEW Pitch Publishing UK & Commonwealth Simply the Best traces Ronnie O’Sullivan’s course from carefree junior snooker prodigy, to a deeply troubled adult star forced to deal with the fame that was a by-product of his own genius In the process, Ronnie emerges as instinctively warm-hearted, the most loyal of sons and a true sportsman in his acceptance of the rare defeat This is a rounded portrait of one of sport’s most fascinating, complicated and successful characters, written by a man who knows him, and those around him, extremely well Publication: Autumn 2018 Primary Agent: David Luxton All rights: DLA Bring the Noise: The Jurgen Klopp Story by Raphael Honigstein Vintage (Yellow Jersey), UK & Commonwealth (Fran Jessop) Jurgen Klopp's coaching career began in the German second tier at the unfashionable club of FSV Mainz 05, whom he steered to the Bundesliga for the first time in forty-one years In 2008, he joined Borussia Dortmund, where he achieved back-to-back league titles and took the club to the UEFA Champions League final He left Germany for one of the England's most challenging jobs: to manage Liverpool, a once-mighty club that had not managed sustained success since the 1980s 15 It was not a task for the fainthearted Anfield, Liverpool's home, is a temple to flamboyant attacking soccer powered by passion In Klopp, Liverpool finally found a manager who embodied the essence of the club Klopp is dynamic, expressive, restless, driven-he feels every move and play, every tactical shift, every contact on the field His eyes betray a wild ecstasy and agony as his team thrives or falls His game plan demands relentless commitment-the famous gegenpress-and he is one of the great personal motivators in all sport Raphael Honigstein, author of Das Reboot and Budesliga correspondent for the Guardian, has interviewed Klopp and followed his career since his early years, and better than anyone knows how to "bring the noise" to his subject Publication date: November 2017 Primary agent: David Luxton All rights: DLA Sold: Nation Books (USA), Ullstein (Germany), ArtPeople (Denmark), Euromedia (Czech Republic), Znak (Poland) The Barcelona Inheritance: The Evolution of Winning Soccer Tactics from Cruyff to Guardiola by Jonathan Wilson Blink UK & Commonwealth When Johan Cruyff left the Barcelona manager’s job in 1996, it was amid some acrimony There had been two years without a league title and there were realistic fears that Barcelona, as they had done so often in the pre-Cruyff era, would lapse into crisis Instead, in the four years that followed, Barcelona became a crucible in which modern football was formed – not just in terms of its dominant tactical philosophy but in terms of the personalities and narratives that continue to shape today’s game This is a book in part about tactics, about how the theories that underpin the modern game were forged by Cruyff and his successors, but also about the people and personalities who gathered at the Camp Nou for what was effectively the greatest coaching seminar in history, about their friendships and rivalries and, in one case, an apocalyptic falling out that continues to shape the game M/s delivery: Spring 2018 Primary Agent: David Luxton Rights sold: US (Nation Books), Netherlands (Ambo Anthos), Poland (SQN) All other rights: DLA Ventoux: Sacrifice & Suffering on the Giant of Provence by Jeremy Whittle Simon & Schuster WAL 'A terrific book' – Matt Dickinson 'An intense hit A must read' – Ned Boulting ‘A fascinating and expert insight into the mountain and into the current state of pro racing' - Peter Cossins The French call Ventoux ‘the killer mountain’ and in 1967 it claimed its most famous victim, as former world champion Tom Simpson died near the summit during that year’s Tour de France The terrible ascent of Ventoux’s south side 16 encapsulates both the brutality and beauty of this cruel sport, but also highlights cycling’s ongoing battle to distance itself from its demons Through a series of revealing conversations with Lance Armstrong, Dave Brailsford, Alastair Campbell, Nicole Cooke, Tyler Hamilton, Eddy Merckx, Simpson’s daughter, Joanne, and many others, Whittle details the poignancy of bitter memories, flawed obsessions and ruthless ambition that have made the Ventoux so feared and so infamous Publication: June 2017 Primary Agent: David Luxton All rights: Simon & Schuster Black Blood: How One Tiny Nation Conquered the World by Peter Bills Macmillan UK & Commonwealth “New Zealand rugby? They are the most insular and secretive rugby nation in the world They are, also, unbelievably good; maybe the most successful sporting team ever!” Bob Dwyer, Australian coach Peter Bills is an award-winning British rugby writer, long respected in the game worldwide, the author of 17 sports books, mostly on rugby, and a prolific contributor to the ‘New Zealand Herald’ Over the last eleven months, he has worked tirelessly to forge an understanding and relationship with those at the heart of New Zealand rugby He has now reached an agreement with the New Zealand Rugby Union and All Blacks management He will be given exclusive access to the senior All Blacks coaches and management, NZRU officials and the All Black players for interviews, which will be at the heart of this book Publication: October 2018 Primary Agent: David Luxton All rights: DLA Sold: Marabout, France ’89 - The Goal that Changed Everything by Amy Lawrence Century UK & Commonwealth It was, in the immortal words of commentator Brian Moore as memorised by countless Arsenal supporters of a certain age, ‘Up for grabs now…” The it in question was the closest title decider in football, a moment enriched by the kind of dramatic twist that makes sport such absorbing natural theatre On May 26th 1989 Arsenal travelled to Liverpool in a complex, unique and emotionally profound set of circumstances It was first against second, David against Goliath, upstarts against the establishment The thoroughbreds from Liverpool were expected to defend the title they won routinely throughout the 1970s and 1980s Arsenal needed to win the match by two clear goals to usurp them as Champions That would leave both teams with a near identical record - same wins, same draws, same defeats and same goal difference The decisive factor would be as slight as goals scored The Goal That Changed Everything is a story about an emotive era in football, and a sporting moment so unusual it felt instantly historic It is instructive to compare one newspaper’s choice of headline before and after the match From “You Don’t Have A Prayer, Arsenal” to “The Greatest Story Ever Told” 17 Primary agent: David Luxton UK Publication: Summer 2019 Translation rights: David Luxton Associates Thomas Dekker: The Descent by Thomas Dekker Ebury UK & Commonwealth 'I have success, money, women I've been lionised by the public and the media The world is at my feet I've spread my wings and here I am, soaring above everything and everyone But in reality, the descent has already begun.' Thomas Dekker was set to become one of pro cycling’s next big stars But before long, he found himself sucked in by the lure of hedonistic highs and troubled by the intense pressure to perform In The Descent, Dekker tells his story of hotel room blood bags, shady rendezvous with dealers and partying with prostitutes at the Tour de France This is Dekker’s journey from youthful idealism to a sordid path of excess and doping that lays bare cycling’s darkest secrets like never before Publication: July 2017 Primary Agent: David Luxton All rights: DLA Sold: Velo Press, (USA) Covadonga, Germany), Libros de Ruta (Spain) Doctor Socrates by Andrew Downie Simon and Schuster, UK & Commonwealth Socrates was always special A hugely talented athlete who graduated in medicine yet drank and smoked to excess The attacking midfielder stood out - and not just because of his 6'4" frame Fans were enthralled by his inchperfect passes, his coolness in front of goal and his back heel, the trademark move that singled him out as the most unique footballer of his generation Off the pitch, he was just as original, with a dedication to politics and social causes that no player has ever emulated His biggest impact came as leader of Corinthians Democracy - a movement that gave everyone from the kitman to the president an equal say in the running of the club At a time when Brazil was ruled by a military dictatorship, it was truly revolutionary Passionate and principled, entertaining and erudite, Socrates was as contradictory as he was complex He was a socialist who voted for a return of Brazil's monarchy, a fiercely independent individual who was the ultimate team player, and a romantic who married four times and fathered six children Armed with Socrates' unpublished memoir and hours of newly discovered interviews, Andrew Downie has put together the most comprehensive and compelling account of this iconic figure Based on conversations with family members, close friends and former team-mates, this is a brilliant biography of a man who always stood up for what he believed in, whatever the cost Publication: March 2017 Primary Agent: David Luxton Rights sold: France (Solar), Turkey (Ithaki), Italy (Milieu Edizione), Poland All other rights: DLA The Coffeehouse Revolution by Jonathan Wilson 18 Blink UK & Commonwealth Modern football was invented in the coffeehouses of Vienna and Budapest in the 1920s and 1930s by a group of people who by the 1940s would, for reasons of their race, be dead, interned or have fled into exile Budapest in the decade before the Second World War was home to an unprecedented generation of coaches, most of them Jewish, who revolutionised how football was thought about and how it was played Those who survived the Holocaust and remained in or returned to Hungary after the war helped create the Aranycsapat, the golden squad, the great side of Ferenc Puskás, József Bozsik and Nandor Hidegkuti that won the Olympic title in 1952 and twice hammered England before a four-year unbeaten run came to an end at the worst possible time, in the World Cup final of 1954 But there were others who moved abroad, whether for straightforward professional reasons or because of anti-Semitism at home, who transformed the game in Italy, Argentina and Brazil And there were others who didn’t make it, killed in the death camps or executed for their part in the antiFascist resistance This is a story that remains largely untold Many of the key figures died tragically young and many of those who survived the war were reluctant to reveal how they had done so But there’s more More to be uncovered about them and their contemporaries, about the vibrant coffeehouse culture that for a glorious decade redefined football M/s delivery: December 2018 Primary Agent: David Luxton Rights sold: US (Nation Books) For more information on our extensive foreign rights catalogue, please contact: Rebecca Winfield: Chinese language rights (simplified & complex), France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, South America inc Brazil, USA & Canada Nick Walters: Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovenia, Sweden, and Turkey BRAZIL & PORTUGAL Seibel Publishing Services http://seibelpublishingservices.com/ CHINA (simplified / complex) Artemis Agency Taipei City, Taiwan https://www.facebook.com/artemisagency JAPAN Japan Uni Agency Tokyo, Japan http://www.japanuni.co.jp/index.html KOREA Eric Yang Agency Seoul, Korea http://www.ericyangagency.co.kr/ POLAND Book/Lab Literary Agency Warsaw, Poland http://www.literatura.com.pl/ RUSSIA The van Lear Agency Moscow, Russia https://www.facebook.com/TheVanLe arAgency/ TURKEY Nurcihan Kesim Literary Agency Istanbul, Turkey http://www.nkliteraryagency.com/ 19