The Bookseller has featured the Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency’s major deal news ahead of the Frankfurt Book Fair for Michelle Adams’ psychological thriller If You Knew My Sister and a further book.
Headline acquired Michelle Adams’ ‘compulsive’ debut thriller in a six-figure deal.
‘Commissioning editor Emily Griffin pre-empted British Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada, to If You Knew My Sister by Michelle Adams, plus one further novel, from Madeleine Milburn at the Madeleine Milburn Literary, TV & Film Agency.
If You Knew My Sister tells the story of Irini, who was given away by her parents at the age of three, whilst her volatile, destructive sister was kept within the family. Twenty years later Irini receives a phone call from her estranged sister to say that their mother has died, compelling her to return for the first time to the family home, and to uncover the shocking truth that has defined both their lives.
Griffin said: “I was completely gripped by Michelle’s novel, which I read in a feverish frenzy over a weekend. If You Knew My Sister is commercial suspense fiction at its very best, with a meaty, unforgettable premise, page-turning, twisty plotting and a transfixing narrative voice. We couldn’t be more thrilled to be launching Michelle’s thriller-writing career here at Headline, and we look forward to putting our ambitious publishing plans into action.”’
The MM Agency has already sold German rights to the major German publisher Goldmann in a six figure auction and has sold Spanish rights to Maeva, Dutch rights to De Fontein and has received multiple offers for rights including Danish and Portuguese.
Late last night, the agency also tied up an impressive deal for North American rights with the US publisher St Martin’s Press. Milburn said: “It’s wonderful to see Michelle’s fresh and chilling new voice resonate with so many publishers around the world, all intent on making her a leading brand name in our thriving psychological thriller market.”
Headline will publish in both hardback and paperback in 2017.
