R.P. O’Donnell is nominated for an Edgar Allan Poe Award

R.P. O’Donnell has been nominated for the Simon & Schuster Mary Higgins Clark Award for his novel No Comfort for the Dead. The Simon & Schuster Mary Higgins Clark is part of the 2026 Edgar Allan Poe Awards, run by the Mystery Writers of America.

The Edgar Awards, or ‘Edgars,’ as they are commonly known, are named after the Mystery Writers of America’s patron saint Edgar Allan Poe and are presented to authors of distinguished work across various categories. The 2026 Awards mark the 217th anniversary of the birth of the esteemed writer and honour the best mystery fiction, nonfiction and television published or produced in 2025.

No Comfort for the Dead is O'Donnell’s debut novel, and is set in a small Irish town in the 1980s, shrouded in mystery. After witnessing a murder, a small-town librarian is forced to act when the local police arrest the wrong man.

1988, West Cork, Ireland. Emma Daly has returned to her home in Castlefreke, a small and peaceful village where everybody knows everybody. She has taken over the local library and is trying not to think about the scandal she left behind in the city. But when the richest man in the village is murdered and the main suspect is the mysterious son of a local family, her charming small-town life is turned upside down.

Emma knows for a fact that there is more to the story, and when the family asks her to investigate, she decides to take matters into her own hands. Teaming up with a stubborn widow, an elderly hypochondriac, and her high school sweetheart, it is up to Emma to solve the mystery before either the police or the murderer can stop her.

Published by Crooked Lane in February 2025, the novel is the first in the Castlefreke Mysteries series. It will be published in Ireland by New Island Books in April this year (entitled All the Old Clocks).

The 80th Annual Edgar Awards will be celebrated on April 29th at the Marriott Marquis Times Square Hotel.

Mystery Writers of America is the premier organisation for mystery writers, professionals allied to the crime-writing field, aspiring crime writers, and those who are devoted to the genre. The organisation encompasses some 3,000 members including authors of fiction and non-fiction books, screen and television writers, as well as publishers, editors, and literary agents.

RJ Dark's quirky crime duology acquired by Datura

Datura Books has signed a duology by RJ Dark, the crime fiction writing persona of bestselling fantasy author RJ Barker. Editor Simon Spanton bought world English language rights in physical, ebook, and audio from Ed Wilson at Johnson & Alcock. The first title, A Numbers Game, is out on 11 August 2026, followed by Incy Wincy on 12 January 2027.

The Yorkshire-set quirky crime novels follow Mal Jones, who just wants a quiet life as the foremost (fake) psychic medium on the Blades Edge estate. Until he gets a new client: Janine. Her husband won the lottery, and then died. Now, the winning ticket is missing. Mal gets drawn into a mystery he never asked for in an attempt to help Janine find the ticket and escape the estate once and for all. The only problem is that Mal isn’t the only one hoping to get his hands on the ticket. The crime lord of the estate amongst other criminals are all on the hunt. And then there’s the fact that some corrupt cops are after Mal’s best and only friend, Jackie. Aided by Jackie and Beryl, his nosy secretary, Mal sets out to find the ticket and a solution that pleases everyone.

Barker said: ‘Simon was one of the first people in publishing to notice my work, so it is a delight that the stars have aligned for us to be bringing out the Mal and Jackie novels together. These are books, and characters, I am hugely enthusiastic about. I can’t wait for readers to get the opportunity to meet my well meaning, funny, working class duo as they stumble through a mystery that puts both their lives in danger. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll probably wince a bit but I don’t think anyone will regret spending time with them.’

‘I've long loved the warmth and affinity RJ Barker brings to his characters as they live lives on the edge in richly imagined worlds,’ said Spanton. ‘To have the chance to publish him as RJ Dark, writing crime novels with a twist that do the same for characters but in a more familiar but equally vivid setting, is a dream come true.’

RJ Dark is the pseudonym of fantasy author RJ Barker, whose books have won multiple awards. He lives in Leeds with his wife, son and a collection of questionable taxidermy, odd art, scary music and more books than they have room for.

Michael Alcock to retire after five decades at the forefront of publishing

Michael Alcock is stepping down from Johnson & Alcock after a long, illustrious career in the industry.

He says: “After 55 years in book publishing, starting at OUP in 1970, and then as non-fiction editor at Macmillan, Aurum, Boxtree, then back to Macmillan, in 1997 I ventured into the more speculative world of literary agency. With a staff of just two Michael Alcock Management grew; then in partnership with Andrew Hewson of the long-established agency John Johnson (admired for its list of some of Britain’s greatest and most enduring fiction and non-fiction writers) the two agencies merged as Johnson & Alcock in 2003.

The J&A team has been for me just the happiest to work alongside. Our MD Anna Power started as my assistant back in 2002, and since then other wonderful colleagues have joined, all full of empathy and publishing acumen. And with them I have so enjoyed serving our wonderful, engaging clients, and working in tune with their publishers.

Now, is the time for me (being of an age) to step down from the agency – and I know I will continue to admire both our team and our authors, from the side.”

Anna Power writes: “Michael has been at the heart of Johnson & Alcock for 23 years, leading and inspiring all those who have been lucky to work with him. His calm and reassuring manner, along with his wit, erudition and elegance have helped make the agency a very happy home for his authors, and his colleagues. He has been an outstanding agent, from early successes looking after household names like Lynne Robinson and Joanna Hall to working with eminent academics like Sue Black, Arik Kershenbaum and Adrian Woolfson as well as national treasures like David Suchet. Working alongside Michael has been a real privilege, and so much fun, too. He has been a wonderful mentor, colleague and friend to many.”

Rose Keating's Oddbody shortlisted for the An Post Irish Book Awards 2025

Rose Keating’s playful and provocative short story collection, Oddbody, has been included in the nominations for the An Post Irish Book Awards. The 2025 shortlist was announced featuring a diverse and exciting mix of exceptional writing from both new and established writers across 19 categories.

Celebrating its 20th year, the An Post Irish Book Awards continue to champion and promote Irish writing to the widest range of readers possible. Each year, the Awards bring together a vast community passionate about books – readers, authors, booksellers, publishers and librarians – to recognise the very best of new and established Irish writing talent.

Oddbody is up for the ‘Newcomer of the Year’ Award, sponsored by the Sunday Independent. Rose was ‘Beyond delighted to be on the shortlist for Newcomer of the Year in the An Post Irish Book Awards 2025, especially among such fantastic company!’

‘The shortlist for this year’s Awards once again highlights the extraordinary breadth and depth of talent among Irish writers,’ said Larry Mac Hale, Chairperson of the An Post Irish Book Awards. It’s inspiring to see such creativity and passion reflected across every category, with deserving recognition for authors, publishers, illustrators, and booksellers alike. . . It is incredibly important that we support new authors and nurture emerging voices. . . The An Post Irish Book Awards remains the cornerstone of Ireland’s literary.’

Debbie Byrne, Managing Director of Retail at An Post, said, ‘We’re proud to announce the shortlist for the An Post Irish Book Awards 2025. From exciting new talent to beloved favourites, this year’s shortlist is a celebration of imagination, bold ideas, unforgettable journeys and the richness of Irish literature that speaks to every kind of reader and every aspect of Irish life. Our support for the Irish Book Awards goes far beyond sponsorship, it’s a heartfelt belief in the transformative power of storytelling to light up minds, inspire and connect us and bring great enjoyment. Congratulations to all the shortlisted authors and happy reading everyone!’

Oddbody has received rave reviews since it was published in July of this year and was highlighted by The Irish Times as a debut to watch, and named one of the 'Best Books of 2025' by Vulture.

The winners of the An Irish Book Awards will be announced at a ceremony in Dublin on November 27th.

Judges announced for the inaugural Great Northern Read Award

Johnson & Alcock is pleased to announce the judging panel for the Great Northern Read Award, in association with New Writing North.

RJ Barker, the critically acclaimed author of award-winning fantasy fiction including the Tide Child trilogy, The Wounded Kingdom trilogy and The Forsaken trilogy, will judge the inaugural Great Northern Read Award.

He will be joined on the judging panel by Rosanna Forte, Publishing Director at Fontana Books (HarperCollins), and Anna Power, Managing Director of Johnson & Alcock.

The Great Northern Read Award is a new addition to the Northern Writers’ Awards, and was devised by Johnson & Alcock to offer an exciting opportunity for emerging writers of gripping and immersive fiction across all genres who are looking to take the next step towards publication.

The award offers £2,500 and bespoke mentoring with representatives from Johnson & Alcock to one debut writer of a standout, page-turning novel. It is open to unagented and unpublished writers who are currently living in the North of England.

‘Here at Johnson & Alcock, we’re passionate about working with new writers, so we’re delighted to be teaming up with New Writing North and our stellar judges to help discover and nurture a new generation of great Northern novelists. We’re very excited to see the breadth of storytelling talent out there,’ said Anna Power on behalf of Johnson & Alcock.

‘We can't wait to read the many mind-blowing submissions I'm sure we'll receive for this exciting new award. Selecting a winner from such an extraordinary pool of Northern talent is an exacting task but in RJ, Anna and Rosanna we have judges with exactly the experience, enthusiasm and dedication we need,’ added Will Mackie, New Writing North

The Great Northern Read Award will open for entries from 25 November 2025 to 5 February 2026. For more information on how to submit, visit the website here.

The Secrets of Our DNA by Professor Turi King pre-empted by Doubleday

Turi King © Carl Vivian

Doubleday has pre-empted geneticist Professor Turi King’s "myth-busting" book on the secrets of DNA. Susanna Wadeson pre-empted UK and Commonwealth rights, including Canada, to The Secrets of Our DNA: How Genetics Changed the World for Doubleday from Michael Alcock at Johnson & Alcock and will publish in May 2026.

King is currently the lead scientist on Channel 4’s documentary series Hitler’s DNA: Blueprint of a Dictator, and is known for her work identifying the bones of Richard III after they were discovered in a Leicester car park in 2012 and as a television presenter. Her new myth-busting book reveals the extraordinary true stories and mysteries solved using the power of DNA.

The Secrets of Our DNA takes readers on a fascinating journey – from mistaken dinosaur DNA to the OJ Simpson trial, from Dolly the Sheep to Angelina Jolie’s BRCA1 gene and to what we can learn from Hitler’s DNA – to reveal the myriad ways in which DNA shaped our world today. Turi shows how we are all interconnected and, perhaps most importantly, she makes clear why we should all be a part of the discussion about how new genetic discoveries are utilised for the benefit of all life on earth.

King is the director of the Milner Centre for Evolution at the University of Bath and was previously professor of genetics and public engagement at the University of Leicester.

King said: "When I chose to change career from archaeologist to geneticist I faced a steep learning curve but what hooked me was the stories. DNA gives us a key to understanding why someone has a propensity for a disease and it can shed light on a historical mystery.  It can exonerate one person from a crime and convict another, reveal a fraud crossing continents or help someone trace a parent and so find part of their identity. As genetic technologies develop at an astonishing pace, what we’re discovering has the ability to dramatically change the lives of so many. I hope those who read the stories in my book will be as inspired to keep learning as I am."

Wadeson said: "Turi is the expert in her field: brilliant, compassionate and a wonderful storyteller. This is an incredibly fast-moving, important and wide-ranging area of science. For all of us trying to understand ourselves, how our world works and the choices ahead of us, The Secrets of Our DNA is a must-read: challenging, enlightening and thought-provoking."

Remembering Alan Strachan, 1944 – 2025

J&A is sad to report that our author Alan Strachan, celebrated theatre director, has passed away at the age of 80.

Born in Dundee in 1944, Alan went on to study literature at St Andrews University and Merton College, Oxford, specialising in the works of George Bernard Shaw and Henrik Ibsen.

Alan directed plays in New York, Copenhagen and Amsterdam, but the majority of his work was in London. An important figure in the West End and the regional theatre scene, Alan was known for championing lesser-known playwrights. He was Artistic Director of the Greenwich Theatre in London for over a decade, and worked with, amongst others, Sir Michael Redgrave, Penelope Keith, Maureen Lipman, Sir Michael Gambon and Sir Alec Guinness. He came to early prominence as the director of Alan Ayckbourn, and was involved with Ayckbourn’s theatre at Scarborough for many years.

In his later years Alan wrote biographies of classic stars of the stage, including Secret Dreams: A Biography of Michael Redgrave (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2004) and Dark Star: The Untold Story of Vivien Leigh (Bloomsbury, 2018), which won the Theatre Book Prize. He also co-wrote Putting It On: The West End Theatre of Michael Codron (Duckworth, 2010), the definitive memoir of one of the most important postwar commercial theatre producers.

Theatre critic Michael Coveney has written a generous piece remembering Alan for The Guardian, which can be read in full here.

Caimh McDonnell's Dublin Series set for adaptation by Avalon

Production company Avalon (Breeders, Starstruck, Catastrophe) is set to adapt Caimh McDonnell’s beloved comedic Dublin crime series for television, as reported by The Bookseller. Titled Tall Tales & Murder for the screen, the show has been commissioned by BBC Northern Ireland and RTÉ as two six-part series, in association with Screen Ireland.

Credit: Carla Speight

The darkly comedic crime drama has been written by Stuart Carolan, the writer and creator of RTÉ’s smash-hit crime drama Love/Hate, one of the most critically acclaimed and successful Irish dramas ever produced. The show is co-created with double Emmy and Directors Guild of America Award winner Chris Addison (Veep, Breeders, The Thick of It). Tall Tales & Murder is produced by Avalon, in association with Ireland-based Metropolitan Pictures (Kin).

Filming began in Ireland this week with stars Ella Lily Hyland (Black Doves, Towards Zero, Silent Roar), Aidan Gillen (Love/Hate, Game of Thrones, Kin), Philippa Dunne (Amandaland, Derry Girls, The Woman in the Wall) and Packy Lee (Peaky Blinders).

Inspired by McDonnell’s eight-book Dublin Series, including A Man With One of Those Faces, The Day That Never Comes and Angels in the Moonlight, the first series is set to premiere in 2026 and will be distributed internationally by Avalon.

Stuart Carolan, Writer and Executive Producer, said, ‘I’ve been a fan of the brilliant Chris Addison since The Thick of It – it’s been incredible fun working with him to bring this insane story to life.’

‘I’m frankly giddy with delight to get to team up with the twisted and highly original mind of Stuart Carolan to create this show,’ added Director and Executive Producer Chris Addison. ‘We’ve taken Caimh’s wonderful novel as a jumping off point and ended up with what I like to think of as a dark and delicious screwball drama.’

The Dublin Series books were Amazon bestsellers, with almost 300,000 copies sold to date. The first novel, A Man With One of Those Faces, was shortlisted for the CAP Awards ‘Best Novel’ and was named one of The Spectator’s ‘Books of the Year’ on its release. The series has been translated into eight languages internationally.

Robert Thorogood's The Marlow Murder Club returns for a thrilling third series

Filming is underway for the third season of The Marlow Murder Club, UKTV’s adaptation of Robert Thorogood’s best-selling novels.

Following the enormous success of series one, with the launch of series two also bringing in an audience of over two million, the brand-new stories will reunite the beloved cast of Samantha Bond, Jo Martin, Cara Horgan and Natalie Dew, amongst other series regulars such as Holli Dempsey, Phill Langhorne and Tijan Sarr, for another captivating instalment of intrigue, wit and mystery-solving.

Credit: UKTV/Robbie Gray

The new batch of episodes will once again see the gang tackling a flurry of new cases, with three new mysteries set unfold every two episodes. The series is co-commissioned with co-producer and US broadcaster Masterpiece, and produced by Monumental Television in association with ITV Studios.

Series three will continue the show’s signature blend of humour, mystery and heart, from an exceptional team of writers, including our very own Robert Thorogood.

‘Now an established part of newly promoted DI Tanika Malik’s (Natalie Dew) crime solving team, retired archaeologist Judith Potts (Samantha Bond), dog walker Suzie Harris (Jo Martin) and vicar’s wife Becks Starling (Cara Horgan) are back and bringing their unconventional methods to a string of high-profile murders. From the sudden death of the nicest man in Marlow, the town’s beloved Mayor, to a celebrity chef found dead at the launch of his cookbook with half the town in attendance, the team will be working under the watchful eye of the Marlow community. They’ll also be called to action at a university reunion in an eerie manor house where in a surprising twist, Becks finds herself amongst the suspects. Could this case threaten our amateur sleuths’ roles as civilian advisors?’

‘Following the huge success of the first two series, we’re thrilled to return with another instalment where Judith, Suzie, Becks, and our police team are faced with three puzzling new mysteries to solve,’ said UKTV commissioning executive Claire Hookway. ‘We’re excited to treat the audience to more joyous fun in the beautiful town of Marlow, with many surprises and clever twists in store.’

Emma Tibbetts, director of programming for drama, added, ‘We cannot wait to bring viewers a third series of The Marlow Murder Club. Audiences have truly embraced this charming crime drama, and it’s a joy to continue the journey with our much-loved characters. It promises even more surprises, wit, and the irrepressible sleuthing trio that fans have come to adore.’

The Marlow Murder Club book series is now firmly established in both the Sunday Times and international bestseller charts, with translation rights sold in 24 territories and total sales in excess of one million copies, across all formats and territories. The fourth book, Murder on the Marlow Belle, was published in January 2025 to rave reviews. Season three will be available on U and U&DRAMA in 2026. Monumental Television is part of ITV Studios, who will handle international distribution.

Johnson & Alcock to deliver new award as part of New Writing North’s Northern Writers’ Awards

Johnson & Alcock will support a new award – the Great Northern Read Award – for debut writers based in the North of England, in partnership with New Writing North. One successful writer will receive the award each year from 2026 to 2028. The Great Northern Read Award was devised by Johnson & Alcock to offer a fresh and exciting opportunity for emerging writers based in the North of England.

The award will cover the spectrum of commercial, genre and book club fiction, with the emphasis on gripping, immersive storytelling. The award will be open to genres including, but not limited to, crime, mystery, historical, romance, fantasy, sci-fi and book club fiction.

Successful writers will be awarded: £2,500 prize money; bespoke mentoring support with the Johnson & Alcock team; and access to New Writing North support including membership to the Society of Authors, networking events and one-to-one support from their experienced talent development team.

The Great Northern Read Award will become part of the Northern Writers’ Awards. Established in 1999 by New Writing North to support new and emerging writers the Northern Writers’ Awards has supported over 400 writers to date.

Anna Power, J&A Managing Director, said ‘We’ve long admired the important work New Writing North does in supporting writers and are proud to represent a number of previous winners of their awards. With the Great Northern Read Award, we want to do something a little different by shining a light on fiction powered by immersive storytelling, so we’ll be on the lookout for unputdownable, page-turning fiction – no matter what the genre. We already work with many exceptional novelists from the North like Claire Askew, RJ Barker, Rozie Kelly, Caimh McDonnell, and literary greats like Dame Beryl Bainbridge. We hope that this award will help discover and nurture a new generation of exciting talent.’

Will Mackie, Senior Programme Manager (Talent Development), New Writing North, said “We are so pleased to be working in partnership with Johnson & Alcock on this new and unique award. When Anna Power approached me about an award for new writers of commercial fiction, I understood how serious she was about making this wonderful idea a reality. The Great Northern Read Award is an incredibly valuable opportunity to enliven the publishing landscape, with benefits for publishers, writers, and readers. New Writing North have run the Northern Writers’ Awards for 26 years and we know how an award can transform a writer’s career. Trusted industry partnerships are key to deepening the work we do with our writing communities and we’re looking forward to working closely with Johnson & Alcock, a leading agency with a remarkable list. We’re enormously grateful for their support.’

Applications for the first Great Northern Read Award will be open in November 2025 and selected in June 2026.

A 2025 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards nomination for Tina Makereti

Tina Makereti’s The Mires has been longlisted for the 2025 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards. This is the second time her work has been chosen, as The Imaginary Lives of James Pōneke was previously longlisted following its publication in 2018.

A literary page turner exploring the intertwined lives of three neighbouring families in a small coastal New Zealand town, The Mires was published in Australia and New Zealand by Ultimo Press in July 2024. It has been acquired by HarperVia for the US market and Footnote in the UK; both editions will be published in September of this year.

2024 in books: J&A authors feature

It’s been a fantastic year for our authors, and we’re so pleased to see their work featured in roundups of the best books of 2024.

Zoologist Arik Kershenbaum’s second work, Why Animals Talk, was published by Viking in January and was selected by The Guardian as one of their ‘best ideas books’ of the year;’ ‘The current online fascination with videos of ravens and crows speaking in eerily realistic ways may give rise to a more general curiosity about animal communication.’

Literary journal Lunate highlighted Spoilt Creatures by Amy Twigg as one of their picks. Writer and contributor Adam Farrer described the novel as ‘the itchy, scuzzy and captivating story of life and tensions on a remote women’s commune. I raced through this one, almost out of fear that if I wasn’t quick enough about it, it’d get up and crawl away of its own volition.’

Spycraft by Nadine Akkerman and Pete Langman was on two year-end lists – The Economist included it among their favourite non-fiction books of 2024, while History Today praised it as ‘a deeply enjoyable book. . . grounded in meticulous archival research. . . There are fascinating nuggets on every page and, for those wishing to enter the great game, a map of London safehouses, an index of codenames and a potentially handy recipe for poison. . .’

New Zealand publication The Listener chose Tina Makereti’s The Mires as one of their 100 best books of 2024, characterising the story as ‘a textured novel of messages, and the indefatigability of nature.’

Only Big Bumbum Matters Tomorrow by Damilare Kuku was among Brittle Paper’s ‘100 Notable African Books of 2024,’ and described it as ‘a humorous tale of family, beauty, and secrets.’

US publication Smithsonian Magazine included Sophie Shorland’s The Lost Queen in their list of the ‘Ten Best History Books’ of the year: ‘An enthralling and vivid portrait of Queen Catherine of Braganza, wife of Charles II, that reveals her forgotten place in history.’

The Daily Express featured a collection of the UK’s favourite author’s and their picks for the best books of the year, and Stuart MacBride singled out The Wilds by Sarah Pearse as a highlight. He wrote, ‘A dark and twisty mystery with an excellent sense of place: a talented writer getting better with every book.’

Nigella Lawson shone the spotlight on Sylvia Plath’s Tomato Soup Cake on her website list of stocking fillers. A compendium of classic authors’ favourite recipes published by Faber and featuring J&A’s own Beryl Bainbridge, Nigella described it as ‘the perfect book, compiled with elegant wit, designed with charm and brio. . . the huge pleasure it yields is disproportionate to its modest dimensions. . . It’s a book to be given with glee and read with relish. Total bliss.’

A tribute to William Radice, 1951 – 2024

William Radice, celebrated translator and poet, has died at the age of 73. One of the foremost translators of Bengali to English, William was best known for his work on bringing the writings of Rabindranath Tagore, a key figure of the Bengal Renaissance, to an international audience.

William was the senior lecturer in Bengali in the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London for many years and also translated several works by Michael Madhusudan Dutt. A keen poet, he published multiple volumes of poetry, along with adapting texts for opera librettos during his career.

He is remembered by all of us at J&A, along with his wife, Elizabeth, and their two daughters.

The Guardian features Beryl Bainbridge's classic recipe

A new compendium of classic authors’ favourite recipes, including Beryl Bainbridge, has been featured by The Guardian – with a reminder that ‘a writer’s place is not in the kitchen. . .’

Published by Faber & Faber earlier this month, Sylvia Plath’s Tomato Soup Cake is a new anthology collecting recipes ranging from the homespun to the outlandish, introduced by food writer Bee Wilson.

With unexpected recipes such as Agatha Christie's hot bean salad, Noel Streatfeild's filets de boeuf aux bananas and Spike Milligan's spaghetti dolce, The Guardian noted Beryl’s instant mince as a revolting highlight. Reviewer Rachel Cooke referred to it as ‘quite obviously a crime not only against mince, but also against potatoes, tinned tomatoes, vinegar, and any human beings who might end up having to eat it.’

Remembering Phil Rickman

With great sadness we announce that author and broadcaster Phil Rickman died on Tuesday 29th October at the age of 74.

Lancashire-born Rickman spent most of his adult life in Herefordshire and the Welsh borders. He was the author of 27 novels, including two under the name Will Kingdom and two as Thom Madley, as well as short stories and non-fiction. His debut novel, Candlenight, was published by Duckworth in 1991 and sold over half a million copies worldwide. It was later reissued by his current publisher, Atlantic Books’ imprint Corvus.

He is best known for the popular Merrily Watkins novels, a unique crime fiction series with supernatural elements set in the Welsh borders, whose titular character is both a vicar and an exorcist. Beginning with The Wine of Angels, first published in 1998, the Merrily Watkins series currently spans fifteen novels, with a sixteenth, The Echo of Crows, slated for release by Corvus in 2025. The series was adapted into a three-part ITV drama featuring Anna Maxwell Martin as Merrily Watkins in 2015.

Phil Rickman’s work has been widely reviewed and praised over the years, with his writing acclaimed by an array of authors, including Steven King, Bernard Cornwell, Peter James, Barbara Erskine, John Connolly and Elly Griffiths.

Having started his working life as a journalist and broadcaster, for many years Rickman also presented the BBC Radio Wales programme Phil the Shelf, which featured book news, author interviews and advice for unpublished writers. He was a long-serving mainstay of the Hay Festival, and lived just up the road from Hay-on-Wye, in a beautiful farmhouse surrounded by rescue donkeys, dogs, and the occasional peacock,

Phil is survived by his wife Carol – his first reader and sternest editor.

Phil’s current editor, Sarah Hodgson, said: ‘I first encountered Phil down the line from a studio at broadcasting house in London when I participated in an episode of Phil the Shelf many years ago, and had no inkling that I would one day have the privilege of publishing his work. He was known for his kindness and gentleness of spirit, and he had a unique creative vision. His loss will be felt deeply by all who had the pleasure of knowing and working with him, and by his many readers around the world. It is some consolation that he had already delivered his next, and now final, novel, a new case for his wonderful heroine Merrily Watkins, which we are proud to be publishing on the Corvus list next year.’

His agents Ed Wilson and Andrew Hewson at Johnson & Alcock added: ‘Crimewriting has lost a true one-off in Phil Rickman – a writer whose kindness and generosity, both with fans and other writers, was as well-known as his brilliant books. His career spanned decades and genres – from the early horror novels, to crime and supernatural thrillers, YA novels (before the term ‘YA’ existed) and even historical, with his two brilliant Dr Dee novels. He was a unique and wonderful man, and managed to be both commercially successful (the Merrily series sold over 300k copies) and also a cult author. His Facebook group PRAS (the Phil Rickman Appreciation Society) was one of the earliest on the platform, and there has been an outpouring of emotion online from the rich and varied community of fans. It is fitting tribute to his indefatigability that his final act was to complete another Merrily novel, which will be published in 2025 for his fans to enjoy.’

Nic Cheetham, MD of Head of Zeus, who was previously Phil Rickman’s longterm publisher said: ‘Phil's Merrily Watkins novels are a masterclass in how to write a series and Phil is entirely responsible for my love of big books, big casts and multiple instalments – not to mention writers doing something just a little to the left of the genre mainstream’

Sarah Pearse surpasses 1.5 million copies sold

Credit: Rosie Parsons Photography

Celebrations are in order, as thriller writer Sarah Pearse has reached the 1.5 million copy milestone. A trilogy following detective Elin Warner, The Sanatorium (Transworld, 2021), The Retreat (Transworld, 2022) and The Wilds (Little, Brown, 2024) were each published to great success. All three novels achieved best-seller status in both the UK and US, and Sarah has been published in over 30 territories worldwide.

‘It’s thrilling to reach such a significant sales milestone and to see new readers discovering my earlier books,’ Sarah said. ‘After The Wilds came out, life became a bit of a whirlwind of travelling around the country to meet readers, supporters and talk to the media.’

The Sanatorium was chosen by Reese Witherspoon for her popular bookclub on its release in February 2021, and TV rights to the novel were quickly snapped up. Sarah is currently hard at work on her first standalone novel, and we can’t wait to see what she does next!

Translation rights assistant vacancy

We are looking for a rights assistant to join the agency’s flourishing foreign rights department.

The ideal candidate will be enthusiastic and proactive, well-organised with excellent attention to detail, and a desire to build a career in translation rights. They will have at least one year’s experience working within the industry, preferably in international rights. A knowledge of a foreign language would be a plus.

Key responsibilities will include:

  • Preparing bookfair catalogues and schedules

  • Running the department’s newsletter for foreign publishers and scouts

  • Liaising with authors and foreign publishers for production of foreign editions

  • Collecting and producing publicity material

  • Drafting and processing contracts

  • Invoicing, monitoring and chasing payments

  • Sourcing and tracking tax forms for our authors

  • Database management (knowledge of Bradbury Phillips appreciated but not crucial)

There will be good opportunities for career development within this role, with close training and mentoring by the head of rights, and the possibility to attend some fairs and progress to managing some territories.

This is a full-time position. Johnson & Alcock supports flexible working, with a minimum of three days per week at our offices in Somerset House in London. We encourage candidates from underrepresented backgrounds to apply.

Salary: £26k

To apply, please email your CV and a covering letter to Hélène Butler at applications@johnsonandalcock.co.uk by 31 October 2024.

Nick Bradley named a Rising Star of UK writing

The National Centre for Writing has revealed the shortlist for their International Literature Exchange (ILX) 10 Rising Stars of UK Writing, and J&A author Nick Bradley has been chosen as one of their top picks.

Featuring a variety of prose, poetry, and creative non-fiction writers, the list represents authors who the Centre believes have ‘the powerful potential to speak to and engage with global literary audiences.’

The National Centre for Writing is a literature development agency and national centre for writing based in Norwich. Offering writers the opportunity to connect, learn and seek inspiration from one another, they run a series of in-person and online events and festivals throughout the year.

Nick’s debut novel The Cat & The City was published by Atlantic in 2020 and received praise from BBC Radio 2, The Guardian, The Independent and The Times. His second novel, Four Seasons in Japan (Doubleday), was published in 2023 to rave reviews.

Emily Haworth-Booth wins the Mslexia Novel Competition winner

J&A author Emily Haworth-Booth has been announced as the winner of the Mslexia Novel Competition for her work Mare.

Awarded every two years to the best novel, short story, poetry and flash fiction on offer, Mslexia cultivates a portfolio of competitions that have ‘propelled many women’s writing careers to the next level.’

Judge Sophie Hannah, author and writing coach, ‘loved' Mare. 'I was gripped by her first description. The concept and her approach to it are really bold – she just goes for it!’

‘I loved her playful approach and admired how she switched between prose and prose poems,' commented literary agent Sophie Lambert. ‘It sits outside the mainstream in a good way.’

Rounding out the trio of judges, literary critic Natasha Onwuemezi found Emily’s writing to be ‘incredible, wonderfully weird and thought-provoking. I loved its take on gender and physicality, and our proximity to the natural world.’

A keen animal lover, Emily was inspired to write Mare when issued a prompt to write a poem about desire during a writing course. ‘I wrote a love letter in second person to this horse I was looking after. It started off based on my own experience, but got longer and more fictional as I worked on it, going from second to third person, then to first person narrated by a fictional ‘I’ that wasn’t me any more.’