Secrets and Lies by Janet Woods

SECRETS AND LIES by Janet Woods will be published on 25th May 2012 by Severn House.

A destructive secret is guarded by a network of lies . . . until they begin to unravel.

1933. Esmé Carr travels to Australia with her best friend in search of adventure. Left behind is Esmé’s adolescent niece. Meggie Elliot has an imaginative and independent frame of mind, but there is mystery surrounding her birth – one she intends to unravel, despite her mother’s warnings to leave the past alone. When the truth surfaces it’s not what Meggie wants to hear, and Esmé must reconcile the rift between mother and daughter.

Fenella Miller to PFPN

The Kate Nash Literary Agency is delighted to announce a book deal for Fenella Miller to People’s Friend Pocket Novels, for Miss Shaw and the Doctor. Congratulations, Fenella.

Jane Lovering to Choc Lit

The Kate Nash Literary Agency is delighted to announce a book deal for Jane Lovering to Choc Lit, for Don’t Stop the Music. Congratulations, Jane.

http://www.thebookseller.com/news/116478-choc-lit-buys-romantic-comedy.html

Straw in the Wind published

Straw in the Wind by Janet Woods is published this month in hardcover, a standalone sequel to Salting the Wound, “another winner from the exceptional pen of Janet Woods.” (Single Titles)

1835, England. A married woman, pregnant with her sea-captain lover’s child, dies giving birth. The child, Serafina Finn, is abandoned to an orphanage and grows up longing to feel that she belongs somewhere. Eighteen years later, her father, hearing rumours that his lost daughter survived, dispatches a detective, Adam Chapman, to discover the truth. Adam finds, and falls in love with, Serafina – but, even if he can prove her identity will her real family accept her?

Slightly Foxed by Jane Lovering

Slightly Foxed, Jane Lovering‘s second novel, is published in trade paperback.

Slightly Foxed

They say you’ll know when you’re in love. What if you don’t?

Alys, a single parent and certified romantic disaster area, is always falling for unattainable men—the latest one being the dead author of a “borrowed” book of poetry. When she reluctantly returns the book to its rightful owner, she meets Leo. He’s very much alive, very much attracted to her and, well, it’s love at first sight.

Isn’t it?

After all, she’s a single mum with a boring job in a bookshop and, as her daughter puts it, gravity’s not going to hold off forever. Leo’s got the financial stability she’s been craving and he looks like an aftershave advert. So it must be love.

Mustn’t it?

Then there’s Piers, whose spontaneity draws her like a magnet. But is it love she feels, or just his infectious love of life? Before she can choose, an unexpected source threatens to lay bare the lie she has been living for the last sixteen years.

With happiness close to slipping out of her grasp, Alys is forced to ask herself whether she’s ever really been in love at all.

‘Throughly enjoyed’ Dear Author

Kate Nash Agency welcomes Janet Woods

The Kate Nash Literary Agency is delighted to be joined by award-winning author Janet Woods.

A British born Australian author, Janet writes popular fiction. Her style encompasses contemporary romance, mainstream fiction and historical romance. She belongs to several writer organisations and has been awarded life membership of The Society of Women Writers.

Janet’s forthcoming novel is Salting the Wound, a captivating romance set in 19th century Dorset, to be published on October 1st 2009 by Severn House.

Dead Like Her / Murder in Bloom

Dead Like Her by Linda Regan is published by Creme de la Crime today to coincide with Marilyn Monroe’s birthday. Dead Like Her – because the victims are dead ringers for Hollywood legend Marilyn Monroe. Congratulations, Linda, on your third novel!

Meanwhile, on the 18th May, Lesley Cookman’s fifth novel, Murder in Bloom, was published by Accent Press. This is the fifth outing for middle-aged amateur sleuth Libby Serjeant. Congratulations, Lesley!

It’s Friday

Having completed the judging for the SWWJ, I was able to get back to The Pile of full manuscripts this week but I am still behind! I will catch up soon but once one becomes an agent and has clients to look after, reading material for clients becomes a priority above reading submissions. As I only have one pair of eyes I’m looking for a reader or two (email with CV and rates if interested please).

Last week I made it to the RNA Summer Party in London where the Joan Hessayson New Writers prize was awarded to Allie Spencer. Watching the line up of debut authors waiting to hear the results announced reminded me when I was in that line-up back in 2005, and also how successful some of my fellow nominees have become with their literary careers since then.

Back in the office, Lelsey Cookman’s Murder in Bloom was published on 18th May and I’ve been watching it doing well on amazon. I was asked to do some one-to-one appointments at the RNA Annual Conference in July, so sent off my bio etc for the programme. Feedback from publishers has started to come through from my early post-Book Fair submissions, some of which is encouraging, and a large print sale of my own latest short novel to Linford Romance/Ulverscroft.

I’m looking forward to spending a couple of days away from it all over the bank holiday weekend. The weather forecast is looking good.

Fenella Miller new website

Agency author Fenella Miller has a new website. Fenella writes historical romance, often with elements of mystery, and sagas.

Available via Lulu is Miss Bennet and Mr Bingley, which returns to Jane Austen’s classic novel to give an insight into Pride and Prejudice’s second couple’s courtship and private thoughts. World Rights to Miss Bennet and Mr Bingley are available.

Her forthcoming Regency romance, Two Gentlemen From London, as Fenella-Jane Miller, will be published by Robert Hale in October.

Catching up and Criminal Tendencies

I had a marathon session of going through queries last night and have caught up to some degree (I am now only about a week behind), and from 20 or so queries I have requested to see 2 full manuscripts, both of which look exciting.

Thanks for all the good wishes that came in yesterday. Now I can start talking about client’s projects hopefully this blog will get a bit more interesting!

Out next month in perfect time for Easter, and much less fattening than a chocolate egg, is short story collection Criminal Tendencies with contributions from agency client Lesley Cookman among the 24 top selling crime writers who have contributed short stories, including Val McDermid, Reginald Hill and Peter James.

For every copy sold, £1 will go to the National Hereditary Breast Cancer Helpline, founded to offer support and information to women concerned about their risk of breast cancer because of family history.

Criminal Tendencies is published on 4 April priced £7.99 and is available to pre-order from Amazon and Waterstones.