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New Gollancz deal for fantasy novelist Stephen Deas

John Jarrold has concluded a four-book World Rights deal with Gollancz for fantasy novels by Stephen Deas. Deas’ debut novel, a dragon fantasy titled The Adamantine Palace, was published by Gollancz in March 2009 and followed by King of the Crags this April. The third volume in this series, Order of the Scales, will follow early in 2011).

The first book in the deal is The Black Mausoleum which will be followed by three further adult titles that entwine Deas’ young-adult fantasy series that opened with The Thief-Taker’s Apprentice. The Black Mausoleum will be published in the summer of 2011, with the other books following at yearly intervals.

“Simon and I did our first three-book deal for Steve at the end of 2007. With the immediate success of The Adamantine Palace in early 2009, we were able to follow that up with another three-book deal that May. And now Steve’s third multi-book deal in two-and-a-half years – which is remarkable testimony to his writing and story-telling, and to the fact that Simon and Gollancz know a good thing when they see one!” said John Jarrold.

Stephen Deas has worked as a systems designer and project manager for a number of technology-based aerospace companies and has reviewed books for the British SF Association’s magazine VECTOR. He currently lives in Essex with his wife and two sons.

Posted: July 23rd, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: John Jarrold

Australian fantasy author Rowena Cory Daniells signs three-book deal

Jonathan Oliver, commissioning editor of Solaris Books, has concluded a three-book deal with Australian fantasy writer Rowena Cory Daniells. The agent is John Jarrold, and the deal is for World English Language. The books are due for publication in 2012.

Solaris have just published the first volume of Daniells’ King Rolen’s Kin trilogy, The King’s Bastard successfully in July 2010, with the second and third volumes following in August and September this year.

The new series is called The First T’En and follows the fate of a tribe of dispossessed mystics, the T’Enatuath.

Rowena Cory Daniells first became involved in speculative fiction in 1976. Since then she has run a bookshop, then a graphic art studio where she illustrated children’s books, had 6 children in 10 years, sold nearly 30 children’s books and an earlier fantasy trilogy internationally, established R&D Studios and served on the management committees of state and national arts organisations. She lives by the bay in Brisbane with her husband and children, and has a Masters in Arts (Research).

Posted: July 15th, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: John Jarrold, Latest News

Three-book US rights deal for Hannu Rajaniemi

Susan Howe, Rights Director at Orion, has sold US rights in three novels by Finnish science fiction novelist, resident in Scotland, Hannu Rajaniemi to Patrick Nielsen Hayden of Tor pre-emptively, in a significant deal.

World rights in Hannu’s debut novel, The Quantum Thief, plus two further books were acquired pre-emptively by Simon Spanton of Gollancz (who publish in September 2010) from agent John Jarrold for a high five-figure sum in pounds sterling, on the basis of one chapter, in 2008. Tor will publish in hardback in May 2011.

‘I’ve known Patrick for twenty-five years and his team at Tor will do a marvellous job – Hannu and I couldn’t be happier,’ said John Jarrold.

Posted: June 29th, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: John Jarrold

Solaris Books acquire new science fiction and urban fantasy novels

Jonathan Oliver, commissioning editor of Solaris Books, has acquired a new science-fiction novel from Eric Brown, entitled Kings of Eternity. The book is due for publication in the spring of 2011.

“Eric has been one of the world’s most consistent – and consistently enjoyable – SF novelists for over two decades,” said John Jarrold. “He has a very happy home with Solaris and this marks his eighth book with them.”

Jonathan Oliver said: “It’s a great pleasure to be continuing to work with Eric, who is one of the shining stars of science-fiction. I’m very excited about Kings of Eternity, as it is just one of the best SF novels I’ve read in the past ten years. A truly extraordinary book.”

Oliver has also acquired the opening volume of an urban fantasy series from author Ben Macallan.

Jay finds people – runaways. He looks like a teenager, but he’s not. He treads the line between mundane reality and the world of the supernatural, including the awesome Powers That Be. Desdaemona, who also knows the non-human world far too well, comes to him, searching for her lost sister Fay who did a Very Bad Thing involving an immortal before disappearing. This may be a mistake – for both of them. Not least because of those whose attention is drawn to them…

“Ben’s urban fantasy novel is wise, witty and terrific fun,” Jonathan Oliver said. “It’s great to find a work that does something different with the genre while still managing to be a ripping good yarn.”

The book is due for publication in the summer of 2011.

The above deals were for UK/US rights and on both occassions the agent was John Jarrold.

Posted: April 29th, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: John Jarrold

Black Library announces the return of William King

William King has signed a major new deal with the Black Library, for a trilogy based on the high elf characters Tyrion and Teclis.

Twin brothers Tyrion and Teclis are the greatest heroes of an age, and their like will never be seen again. Prince Tyrion’s skill with a blade unmatched by any living swordsmen, whilst Teclis is the most powerful mage of his generation. Set over two hundred years before the current Warhammer timeline, the new trilogy tells an origin story of these two phenomenal champions.

Head of Black Library, George Mann, said of the deal: “I’m overjoyed to be welcoming Bill King back to the Black Library, particularly with such an exciting and auspicious series. Bill has a real flair for a good story and his writing really brings the Warhammer world to life. I know people are going to adore these books.”

William King was born in Stranraer, Scotland, and is one of Black Library’s best-selling authors, with sales in excess of half a million books. He started writing for Games Workshop in 1988, and later he worked in the design studio. His swords and sorcery series Gotrek & Felix and his Space Wolf novels have become a staple in the Black Library range. His short fiction has appeared in Interzone, Zenith, and a Year’s Best SF collection. He currently lives in Prague.

The deal was conducted with agent John Jarrold, and the first novel in the trilogy will be published in 2011.

Posted: February 16th, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: John Jarrold

Charlotte Naylor joins John Jarrold Literary Agency

John Jarrold’s latest client is British fantasy writer Charlotte Naylor, who is planning a fantasy series that will appeal to readers of Trudi Canavan, Kristin Cashore and Maria V Snyder, opening with The Lady of Eslaya.

‘When I read the opening chapters, I was entranced by the immediacy and fluency of Charlotte’s prose and her young protagonist, Lily,’ said John Jarrold. ‘It reminded me of my reaction to Maggie Furey’s debut Aurian, which I acquired for Random House in the 1990s. I wanted to cheer her and shout at her at one and the same time (and occasionally give her a clip round the ear). She’s bolshy, intelligent and hugely loyal to her friends. And her story is wonderful! It’s great to see another young writer in this genre.’

Jarrold will be working editorially with the author before submitting her work to major publishers on both sides of the Atlantic.

Charlotte Naylor is twenty four years old. She has always been a keen reader of fantasy and started writing her own novels when she was thirteen. Over the years both the world and the stories have grown and developed. When she was eighteen, and back to writing the umpteenth new incarnation of The Lady of Eslaya, it suddenly started to fall into place.

Throughout her pre-university writing career Charlotte was part of an online writing group, working on what started out as a role playing game but turned into a giant, ongoing story. Members of the group took it in turns to write sections, exploring different ideas, writing styles and influences.

She did a BA hons degree in English at the University of Lincoln, where her creative writing dissertation won the Nigel Winn memorial award for ‘Best Piece of Creative Writing by a Student Studying English’. She went on to do a Masters degree in Creative Writing at Nottingham Trent University tutored by novelists Graham Joyce (who suggested she contact John Jarrold as a literary agent) and David Belbin, for which she was awarded a distinction.

After graduating from Trent she and others from the course formed a writers group which still meets up regularly to critique their work. She lives in Nottingham with her partner and two pet ferrets.

In another announcement, JJLA horror novelist Adam Nevill has a brand, spanking new website that can be seen be visiting http://www.adamlgnevill.com/newsite/. Nevill’s novel Apartment 16, published by Pan, is due out in the UK in May 2010.

Posted: February 5th, 2010
Author: Lee
Categories: John Jarrold, Trudi Canavan

Orbit UK acquire two new Philip Palmer novels

Bella Pagan, Commissioning Editor of Orbit UK, has acquired two new novels by British SF author Philip Palmer. The agent was John Jarrold, and the deal was for World rights.

These novels – the first is entitled HELLSHIP – are both due for delivery in 2010, and will see a concerted push by Orbit on both sides of the Atlantic in 2011.

Philip’s first novel, DEBATABLE SPACE, was published in 2008, with RED CLAW following earlier this year. His work has drawn praise from the Guardian, SFX magazine and many other sources, both in print and on-line. The latter novel features in the Top Twenty SF novels published in 2009 in leading genre website SF Crowsnest’s reader poll. His third SF novel, VERSION 43, comes from both Orbit UK and Orbit US in 2010.

Fantasy Book Review interviewed John Jarrold in September 2009:

John Jarrold interview (September 2009)
John Jarrold is a name that is respected throughout the publishing world. Working predominantly with new and established science fiction and fantasy authors, John uses his extensive knowledge and skills to help guide writers on the road to publication. Amongst those full of praise for his work are [...]

Posted: December 21st, 2009
Author: Lee
Categories: John Jarrold

Two-book deal with Gollancz for Jaine Fenn

Jo Fletcher, Associate Publisher of Gollancz, has acquired two new novels by British SF author Jaine Fenn. The agent was John Jarrold, and the deal was for World rights.

An interview with John Jarrold on Fantasy Book Review

These novels, titled BRINGER OF LIGHT and QUEEN OF NOWHERE, are due for delivery in 2010 and 2011 respectively and will be published under the name J N Fenn, as will all the author’s future novels.

Fenn’s first novel, PRINCIPLES OF ANGELS, was published to critical success by Gollancz in 2008, with CONSORTS OF HEAVEN following this year and GUARDIANS OF PARADISE forthcoming in 2010.

Jaine Fenn studied Linguistics and Astronomy at university. Fenn has had several short stories published in various magazines and anthologies. Her debut novel, Principles of Angels was published in June 2008 and is the first in a series of linked novels. Her second novel, Consorts of Heaven, was published in June 2009.

Posted: November 26th, 2009
Author: Lee
Categories: John Jarrold

US rights to Jasper Kent’s vampire novels purchased by Pyr

Helen Edwards, Rights Director at Transworld UK, has sold US rights for the first two historical vampire novels by UK novelist Jasper Kent.

World rights in the novels, which open with Jasper’s debut Twelve (the second-highest-selling trade paperback debut novel right across UK publishing in 2009), were acquired by Simon Taylor from John Jarrold in 2008. The sequel, Thirteen Years Later, will appear in the UK in March 2010.

"I’m thrilled to be welcoming Jasper Kent into the Pyr fold," said editorial director Lou Anders. ‘Twelve is a magnificent blend of a historical novel and a dark fantasy novel that could appeal equally to readers both in and out of genre. Jasper is a skilled storyteller, whose compelling prose had me hooked from his opening chapter. The book is "un-put-downable. I love that he has brought back a real sense of threat and danger to the classic monsters, something that has been lacking with too many vampires lately. I cannot wait to spring this on US readers."

"Jasper and I are delighted with this deal, and looking forward to working with Lou and his colleagues. Pyr is a terrific company, who publish many of my favourite authors, and Lou’s enthusiasm has to be seen to be believed!" John Jarrold.

Fantasy Book Review said of Twelve:
"Jasper Kent shows admirable restraint when it comes to the gruesome; there are moments in the book that genuinely make you squirm uncomfortably but it is the scarcity that makes them so effective. If an author dishes out the gore from page one then the reader becomes desensitised and the horrific becomes mundane. The author has an obvious passion for the subjects within his story and he has created an effortless and enjoyable read. The average reader will not possess a wide knowledge of Russian history and Twelve will lead to them carrying out further research on this most fascinating of countries. I personally would have liked for there to have been more tension and for the book to have ended rather differently but there can no denying that Twelve is a great read and a breath of fresh air to more than one genre. Twelve is an educational, entertaining and dark historical fantasy novel."
Read the full review

Jasper Kent has spent almost twenty years working as a software consultant both in the UK and Europe, whilst working on both fiction and music. He has co written several musicals, including The Promised Land, written and performed to mark the 3000th anniversary of the foundation of Jerusalem and Remember! Remember!, the story of Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot.

Posted: October 30th, 2009
Author: Lee
Categories: Jasper Kent, John Jarrold

Goldmann Verlag purchase German rights to The Demi-Monde

Nicole Geismann of Goldmann Verlag, part of the Random House Group, has acquired German rights in the first two books of The Demi-Monde, a science fiction quartet by debut author Rod Rees. Nick Johnston of Quercus acquired World rights in the books from agent John Jarrold in September.

‘The Demi-Monde is based on a very intriguing idea. Rod Rees has created a world which fascinated me from the beginning. Although this is fiction it seemed in many respects more than real. The story, the wonderful characters and the hilarious dark humour won me over instantly. I haven’t read a more imaginative novel in a long time!’ said Nicole Geismann

‘This is a great first rights sale so soon after the initial deal,’ said the author’s agent, John Jarrold. ‘Nicole and Goldmann are terrific publishers and Rod and I both look forward to seeing their editions. Congratulations to Daniel Bouquet, Quercus’ Head of Rights, for sorting this out so rapidly.’

The first book in the series, titled The Demi-Monde: Winter,will be published by Quercus in January 2011.

Fantasy Book Review interviewed John Jarrold in September 2009.

Posted: October 17th, 2009
Author: Lee
Categories: John Jarrold