New historical fiction from debut author Michael Arnold

Kate Parkin at John Murray has acquired Traitor’s Blood by Michael Arnold, a debut full-blooded historical adventure novel of the English Civil Wars. It follows the adventures of the one-eyed and battle-scarred Captain Stryker, a superb, tough but emotionally-damaged soldier fighting for the Royalist cause. The deal, which includes a further two books in the ‘Stryker Chronicles’ series, is for UK and Commonwealth rights excluding Canada.

Bowie’s Golden Years to Bodley Head

Will Sulkin at the Bodley Head has acquired Speed of Life, the first book to trace David Bowie’s Golden Years – the period between 1969 and 1980 during which he created and released masterpiece after masterpiece, from ‘Space Oddity’ and ‘Ziggy Stardust’, to ‘Heroes’ and ‘Ashes to Ashes’. The book will be a major exploration of the 1970’s from political, psychological and social perspectives, using Bowie’s musical and lyrical explorations as a lightning rod. It will cover every song he recorded during this time, in a detailed study of one of popular music’s most important, best-loved yet least-understood figures. The deal is for UK and Commonwealth rights excluding Canada.

Requiem completes Brethren trilogy’s record-breaking run

Requiem, the final book in the Brethren trilogy, has now been published in mass-market paperback in the UK. It entered the top ten again in its first week, as have all Robyn’s publications in hardcover and paperback. The Brethren trilogy has been the biggest success story in debut British fiction of the past three years, selling over 500,000 copies in the UK alone, and published in a further 18 countries.

 

 

Debut Fiction Deal for Martel Maxwell

Kate Burke at Michael Joseph has bought Scandalous by journalist and TV presenter Martel Maxwell. This hilarious and romantic debut novel tells the story of two glamorous sisters - one a showbiz journalist who is determined to land the best scoop by any means necessary; the other a shy writer at a fashion magazine whose love life is about to hit the front pages of the tabloids - on opposite sides of the fame game. Michael Joseph has UK and Commonwealth rights (excluding Canada) and will publish Spring 2010. Agent: Diana Beaumont

New Queen biography from Rock Writer Mark Blake

Graham Coster at Aurum Press in the UK has commissioned Mojo and Q magazines’ contributing editor Mark Blake to follow his bestselling biography of Pink Floyd, Pigs Might Fly, with a new biography of rock band Queen. "Queen have never had the great book written about them that their extraordinary and colourful history deserves", said Coster, "and Mark will certainly write the definitive account". Publication is scheduled for Autumn 2010. Aurum acquired World English language rights.