John Jarrold has sold World English language limited-edition rights in award-winning Serbian author Zoran Zivkovic's new full-length novel, ESCHER'S LOOPS, to Peter Crowther of PS Publishing, for publication in 2009.

"The novel is subtle and fascinating," said Jarrold. "It's a true classic."

The latest client of the John Jarrold Literary Agency is Scottish-based Finnish writer Hannu Rajaniemi. His short fiction has featured in Finnish magazines, the anthology NOVA SCOTIA and two Best of the Year SF anthologies, and he has written articles for scientific journals. He is now writing a novel. Hannu has a Ph D in string theory and is the co-founder of ThinkTank Mathematics Limited, a technology consultancy.

"I think it's very important to work with the best young writers, and Hannu certainly fits the bill," said John Jarrold. "His stories are dark and wonderful, and his writing and imagination are outstanding."

The latest client of the John Jarrold Literary Agency is Natasha Rhodes. Rhodes is the British-born author of two supernatural thrillers for Solaris Books, Dante's Girl and The Last Angel, as well as a number of film novelizations, including the smash-hit movie blockbuster Blade: Trinity, Final Destination: The Movie 1 and 2, plus several original movie-based tie-in novels such as A Nightmare On Elm Street: Perchance To Dream and Final Destination: Dead Reckoning. She lives in Los Angeles and works at a rock club on Sunset Strip, photographing metal bands and trying to write in between dodging flying bottles, topless stagedivers and excitable club managers.

"There are a great many authors writing supernatural thrillers today," said John Jarrold. "But Natasha's characters really do jump off the page and her vampires and werewolves feel as real as the humans -- you expect to meet one. I'm really looking forward to seeing where she goes next."

John Jarrold is taking part at the Lincoln Book Festival in May. He will be interviewing Iain Banks on Monday 12th May at 8pm and holding meetings with new SF and Fantasy writers to discuss their work during the rest of the week. Find out more at the Lincoln Book Festival website.

John Jarrold has concluded a second, three-book World rights deal for UK fantasy author Stephen Hunt with Sarah Hodgson of HarperCollins Voyager, for a good five-figure sum.

Hunt's first book with Voyager, THE COURT OF THE AIR, was published in April 2007 to universal praise, and the following paperback was Waterstones' Fantasy Book of the Month last September, as well as being stocked in supermarkets, unusually for a new fantasy author.

It was also one of only ten novels (written in a wide variety of languages) selected for presentation by the world's main publishers on February 2008 at the Berlin International Film Festival - the world's largest film festival, and the only Fantasy or SF novel on the list. His next novel, THE KINGDOM BEYOND THE WAVES, is coming from Voyager in May, and a two-book deal for US rights with Tor was recently announced. The book has also sold in territories across Europe and the Far East.

"I'm delighted that we have been able to confirm another three-book deal, and both Stephen and I know how hard and enthusiastically Sarah Hodgson has worked to this end," said John Jarrold.

Sarah Hodgson said: "Stephen Hunt is a hugely talented and inventive writer and we're thrilled to have signed him up to Voyager list for three more novels."

All three of the new books will be set in the same world as THE COURT OF THE AIR and THE KINGDOM BEYOND THE WAVES.

For further information contact John Jarrold by e-mail at j.jarrold@btinternet.com or by phone at 01522 510544.

At HarperCollins contact Alice Moss by email at alice.moss@harpercollins.co.uk, or by phone at 020 8307 4662

The latest client of the John Jarrold Literary Agency is journalist Saxon Bullock.

Saxon Bullock has been working as a freelance writer since 2000, and has written for a variety of magazines and websites including SFX, DVD Review, Channel4.Com and Hotdog magazine.

He has just completed his first novel – an epic science fiction tour-de-force entitled THE HYPERNOVA GAMBIT.

"Once in a while I see a novel that grabs me from the first page," said John Jarrold. "That was the case here, as it was when I read Ken MacLeod's debut, THE STAR FRACTION, when I worked with Random House in he mid-90s.

"I knew within the first six pages that I wanted to publish Ken, and I was equally certain within six pages of starting Saxon's novel that I wanted to represent him. I got that pricking of my thumbs that every editor and agent loves, and sees all too seldom!

"THE HYPERNOVA GAMBIT is a novel for which the phrase 'wide-screen SF' might have been invented. Its characters, colour, pace and plotlines are truly wonderful, and Saxon's prose sparkles with invention and wit. This is really special, and stands with any of the SF authors who have risen to the top of the genre in the last ten years."

Contact John Jarrold for further information by e-mail at j.jarrold@btinternet.com or by phone at 01522 510544.

Susan Howe, Rights Director at Orion, has sold US rights in a debut fantasy trilogy by US author Robert V S Redick to Random House's Del Rey imprint in New York for a substantial six-figure sum in US dollars after a hard-fought auction negotiated by Editor-in-Chief Betsy Mitchell.

World rights in the trilogy, which opens with THE RED WOLF CONSPIRACY (published in the UK on 1 February 2008), were acquired pre-emptively by Simon Spanton at Gollancz from John Jarrold in 2007.

"Robert and I are both delighted about this wonderful deal," said John Jarrold. "Many congratulations to Susan and Del Rey – and most of all to Robert, of course, for writing such a terrific book, which will now receive high-profile publication is his own country!"

The US deal follows translation deals for THE RED WOLF CONSPIRACY in France, Germany, Poland, Russia and Spain.

Contact Susan Howe or John Jarrold for further information:

Susan Howe: e-mail: susan.howe@orionbooks.co.uk phone: 020 7240 3444

John Jarrold: e-mail: j.jarrold@btinternet.com phone: 01522 510544

John Jarrold has concluded a two-book World rights deal for new UK fantasy author Mark Charan Newton with Peter Lavery of Macmillan/Tor UK, for a good five-figure sum.

The first book is titled NIGHTS OF VILLJAMUR, and will be published early in 2009. An impending Ice Age looms over all other events in the book, which include the death of an Emperor and his daughter's return to claim the throne, a crime noir plot that involves the city's Councillors in high-profile murders and a cocky womaniser who is acting as dance tutor to the new Empress's sister... it will appeal to the readers of both George R R Martin and Scott Lynch.

"I'm delighted for Mark," said John Jarrold. "He was one of my first clients when I started up the agency back in 2004, and this is really the fulfilment of a great deal of thought and hard work on his part. And this is the first deal I've done with Peter Lavery, who I have known for twenty years – and who is one of the UK's best and most respected editors in any form of publishing."

Mark Charan Newton is 26 years old, and lives in Nottingham. He previously worked as an SF buyer in an Ottakar's bookstore.

Contact John Jarrold for further information by e-mail at j.jarrold@btinternet.com or by phone at 01522 510544.

Ten novels (written in a wide variety of languages) have been selected for presentation by the world's main publishers on February 12th 2008 at the Berlin International Film Festival - the world's largest film festival with 200,000 movie and TV professionals attending. One fantasy and science fiction book made the cut, Stephen Hunt's epic fantasy tale, The Court of the Air.

Organised by the Berlin International Film Festival in cooperation with the Frankfurt Book Fair for the third time, the Breakfast & Books section of the film fair enables representatives from publishing houses, literary agents and producers to meet for a pitching session, followed by breakfast together. Producers interested in the film rights can discuss matters on location with right holders.

Renowned publishers from around the globe, such as HarperCollins, Random House, Diogenes, Grasset & Fasquelle, and Suhrkamp, will present ten titles, which have been picked on the strength of their potential for the screen.

The selection for 2008 covers a range of themes and genres from terrorism thriller to fantasy, from coming-of-age parable to period drama – to help ensure there will be something for every producer and every budget.

The only genre fantasy and science fiction novel to be short-listed is Stephen Hunt's The Court of the Air, an epic fantasy adventure set in a society with parallels to 18th/19th century England.

The Guardian said of this fantasy book, "The characters are convincing and colourful, but the real achievement is the setting, a hellish take on Victorian London where grim, steam-driven machines work beside citizens with magical powers. The Court of the Air is aimed at young adults, but the depth and complexity of Hunt's vision makes it compulsive reading for all ages."

The Times called Hunt's novel, "An inventive, ambitious work, full of wonders and marvels." while SFX magazine said of it, "Hunt can take his place alongside such eminent Magratheans as JRR Tolkien, Mervyn Peake and China Miéville. Creating a fully-realised other-world which feels new and different, yet cohesive and believable is half the battle in a fantasy novel, and it is a battle Hunt wins with honours... Hunt's world is so rich and colourful it keeps you engrossed ... It's a confident audacious novel."

Since autumn 2005, the Berlinale (aka the Berlin International Film Festival) and the Frankfurt Book Fair, two of Germany's largest cultural and economic affairs, have collaborated on creating a forum for film producers and publishers at both these huge events, and in doing so to promote contacts and long-term synergies between the worlds of literature and film.

The novels short-listed from the many thousands of submitted works are:

1. The Court of the Air by Stephen Hunt, HarperCollins Publishers, Great Britain
2. The Girl with the Nine Fingers by Laia Fàbregas, Netherlands
3. Baptism by Max Kinnings, Great Britain
4. The Weekend (Das Wochenende) by Bernhard Schlink, Switzerland
5. My Traitor by Sorj Chalandon, France
6. The Lady from Buenos Aires by John Lantigua, Germany
7. Catalina by Markus Orths, Germany
8. Zephyr by Albert Ostermeier, Germany
9. Through Thick and Thin by Shirley Corlett, Germany
10. The Messenger by Markus Zusak, Germany

More on Stephen Hunt's works can be found at the author's official site, www.StephenHunt.net.

Contact John Jarrold for further information by e-mail at j.jarrold@btinternet.com or by phone at 01522 510544.

New UK genre novelist Tim Wood, recently taken on by the John Jarrold Literary Agency, has completed an innovative trilogy. The first novel, TEPESCH DRAKUL, is set in the present day and, in the author's words: "reveals the true history and ecology of the vampire. Where they originated, their grand design, how they work and who they really are."

The stories are centred around a legendary demon slayer, Finn Angmon, and draws on the legends of Fionn mac Cumaill. The novels pay tribute to the dark eroticism of Bram Stoker's Count Dracula, whilst entering the world of science fiction, taking the narrative to Vasudha, the home planet of the vampire kind. In the fourth novel of the Finn Angmon series, Vasudha becomes a battle ground when it is invaded by the Zilon, and humans must join forces with their enemy to save the planet.

John Jarrold said: "I have looked at Tim's work over some time and with this series I feel he has really hit his stride. Vampires abound at the moment, but Tim has looked deep into their being, while telling a terrific, fast-moving story with thrills and characters who involve the reader. He has a great future."

Currently, Tim leads a busy life as he is also information solutions director for Atkins management consultants.

Contact John Jarrold for further information by e-mail at j.jarrold@btinternet.com or by phone at 01522 510544.

Two JJLA debut novelists now have their own brand-new websites:

Philip Palmer, author of SF novel DEBATABLE SPACE, published by Orbit UK/US in January 2008, at www.phlippalmer.net.

Robert V S Redick, author of Fantasy novel THE RED WOLF CONSPIRACY, published by Gollancz UK, in February 2008 at www.redwolfconspiracy.com.

Check 'em out!

Contact John Jarrold for further information by e-mail at j.jarrold@btinternet.com or by phone at 01522 510544.

One of the first horror authors being published by Virgin/Random House is the doyen of British supernatural fiction, Ramsey Campbell.

Winner of many World Fantasy Awards, British Fantasy Awards and Lifetime Achievement Awards – amongst others – Campbell was designated as "Britain's most respected living horror writer" by the Oxford Companion to English Literature.

His new novel, THE GRIN OF THE DARK, involves a search for a silent film comedian, Tubby Thackeray, whose career seemed to disappear overnight, and its effects on the investigator, film journalist Simon Lester. Both chilling and funny, it's Campbell at the top of his form.

John Jarrold concluded the deal with Adam Nevill at Virgin Books and Random House. The novel will be published in May 2008.

Contact John Jarrold for further information by e-mail at j.jarrold@btinternet.com or by phone on 01522 510544.

John Jarrold will be interviewing bestselling author Iain Banks at the annual Lincoln Book Festival at 8 p.m. on Monday May 12 in the Lincoln Drill Hall. The interview will be followed by a Q&A session.

"I was lucky enough to be Iain's SF editor in the late eighties and early nineties," said Jarrold. "And we've been friends since 1986, so I have plenty of background when putting together questions! We also worked together on RAW SPIRIT, his book on malt whisky, which he has said is the nearest thing to an autobiography he is ever likely to write, and it offers rich pickings regarding his life."

For further information, contact Sara Bullimore, Lincoln Council's Arts & Cultural Sector Officer, by e-mail on: Sara.Bullimore@lincoln.gov.uk

I've just seen two WONDERFUL reviews of Philip Palmer's debut SF novel, DEBATABLE SPACE, at SFRevu and Fantasy Book Critic.

As you'll see, this is not your average SF novel! I'm biased, since Philip is a client, but I really do think it's terrific! Orbit publish in the US and the UK this month.

Contact John Jarrold for further details.

John Jarrold - e-mail: j.jarrold@btinternet.com phone:01522 510544

The latest client of the John Jarrold Literary Agency is UK novelist Rod Rees.

His novel Dark Charismatic is set in the London of 1878, this is a reworking of the Jekyll & Hyde story, told through the eyes of Henry Jekyll's cold, aloof and religious wife, Margaret. Rees has also created a new order of humanity, taking his lead from Stevenson's novel but expanding its ideas greatly in the social, sexual and other areas. Although the main thrust of the book explores of the propensity for evil that exists in everyone, it does so in a way that is authentic to the era and captures the black humour which sustained the working-class during those difficult times. However it remains a book about evil: as Hyde says, there is no good in Man, just a deficiency of courage to embrace wickedness.

Rod Rees has spent his time travelling throughout Africa, the Middle East, Bangladesh and Russia, finding himself living, en route, in Qatar, Tehran and Moscow. He has built pharmaceutical factories in Dhaka, set-up a satellite communication network in Moscow, conceived and designed a jazz-themed hotel in the UK and created one of the most successful counter-trade operations ever seen in Africa. Living and working throughout the world has convinced him of one thing: that all Men are created equal in their duplicity and their ability to say one thing and do another.

Rod Rees has written one other novel and numerous short stories under a nom-de-plume (which he will keep to himself until his children are older!) but Dark Charismatic is his first book under his own name.

He lives in Norfolk where he acts a roadie to his lovely wife Nelli (a jazz singer and jewellery designer) and his two children Kit (saxophone and talking) and Ellie (bass and sarcasm). He spends his days writing, waiting for the return of democracy to Great Britain and the classification of 'The OC' as Class-A addictive substance for the under 16's.

"Rod's novel is a true tour de force," said John Jarrold. "In terms of the way he conjures nineteenth-century London, builds his characters and tells his story – as well as his invention – it's gripping from beginning to end."

Contact John Jarrold for further details.

John Jarrold - e-mail: j.jarrold@btinternet.com phone:01522 510544

Airlie Lawson and Tara Hiatt, Rights Directors at HarperCollins in London, have confirmed a deal with Claire Eddy of Tor Books in New York, to publish The Court of the Air by Stephen Hunt, and his follow-up fantasy novel, THE KINGDOM BEYONE THE WAVES.

HarperCollins Voyager acquired World rights in three novels from John Jarrold, and have already sold German, French, Japanese, Spanish and Portuguese rights, and are presently pursuing interest in a number of other markets.

"I'm delighted," said John Jarrold. "I've known the guys at Tor for over twenty years, and they have a wonderful reputation. I don't think Stephen could be in better hands in the US. Congratulations to him, HarperCollins and Claire!"

Contact John Jarrold for further details.

John Jarrold - e-mail: j.jarrold@btinternet.com phone:01522 510544

John Jarrold has sold World Rights in three supernatural thrillers by Suzanne McLeod, a debut novelist, to Jo Fletcher at Gollancz for a decent five-figure sum in UK pounds.

McLeod's novel sequence features Genevieve Taylor, a Sidhe. The Sidhe are a reclusive race, uncomfortable in the modern world, preferring to live in The Fair Lands and follow the old traditions. So Genny is unusual, even in present-day London where celebrity vampires, eccentric goblins and scheming lesser fae mix freely with the human population. Genny is a rising star at Spellcrackers.com – seeking out supernatural crime. Genny also works as a volunteer at a clinic which treats victims of vampire attacks. Then there's her extra-curricular activity, extracting vulnerable fae lured by the local fang gangs. Genny neither wants nor needs any closer involvement with vampires.

But in the first novel (title to be confirmed), when one of the hot calendar pin-up vamps, Mr October, is accused of murdering his girlfriend, a longstanding obligation means Genny can't refuse to help prove his innocence. Initially, she agrees with the police that he is guilty. But as events unfold, Genny begins to have doubts.

'I'm delighted about this deal,' said John Jarrold. 'It was obvious from the first page that Suzanne has a great voice and a talent for story-telling. Her writing is endlessly inventive, witty and very sexy.'

McLeod (a pseudonym) lives on the South Coast of England, with her husband and dogs.

Contact John Jarrold for further details.

John Jarrold - e-mail: j.jarrold@btinternet.com phone:01522 510544

John Jarrold has just received early copies of Philip Palmer's SF debut, DEBATABLE SPACE, which Orbit publish in the UK and US in January. 'Looks wonderful!'

John Berlyne has previewed it, at the SFRevu website: "...a much anticipated release from Orbit and proves to be one of those rare titles that actually lives up to the hype. An ambitious and wildly plotted space opera that promises great things from its author."

Contact John Jarrold for further details.

John Jarrold - e-mail: j.jarrold@btinternet.com phone:01522 510544

THE RED WOLF CONSPIRACY by Robert V S Redick, the debut novel by a client of the John Jarrold Literary Agency, has been confirmed as Waterstone's Fantasy and SF Book of the Month for February 2008, when it is being published by Gollancz. It will also be that month's Main Selection for the Fantasy and SF Book Club.

'Congratulations to both the author and publisher,' said John Jarrold. 'Well deserved!'

Contact John Jarrold for further details.

John Jarrold - e-mail: j.jarrold@btinternet.com phone:01522 510544

Sascha Mamczak of Heyne Verlag has pre-emptively acquired German rights for the new dragon fantasy trilogy by debut author Stephen Deas for a high-five-figure sum in Euros. Simon Spanton of Gollancz only acquired World rights in the books last week on the basis of a proposal and early chapters.

'We are extremely excited about this! It's a great fantasy adventure. A highly talented new author!' said Sascha Mamczak.

'Both Stephen and I are delighted – and he is more than a little flabbergasted!' said the author's agent, John Jarrold. 'The fact that his wife, Michaela, is German only adds to the delight they both feel at this wonderful deal. Congratulations to Krystyna Kujawinska, Gollancz's Foreign Rights Director, for sorting this out so rapidly.'

The first book in the series, titled THE ADAMANTINE PALACE, is due for delivery in 2008 and publication by Gollancz in the summer of 2009.

Contact John Jarrold or Simon Spanton for further details.

John Jarrold - e-mail: j.jarrold@btinternet.com or by phone at 01522 510544

Simon Spanton – e-mail: sxs@orionbooks.co.uk

John Jarrold has concluded a three-book World Rights deal with Simon Spanton of Gollancz, for a dragon-fantasy series by debut novelist Stephen Deas, for a good, five-figure sum in pounds sterling.

'Simon came to me with the idea of an intelligent fantasy series involving dragons,' said Jarrold. 'I thought that Steve Deas might be the man for this, after previous conversations we'd had, and so it proved. He has come up with a great idea and brilliant opening chapters.'

Simon Spanton said: 'While it's self evident that there have always been dragons in fantasy and that there are series out there at the moment featuring them I did feel (especially after a French publisher asked where the dragons were on the Gollancz list...) that there was room for a series that centred around dragons and which brought in the grittiness and moral ambivalence that has come to define modern epic-fantasy.

'Steve's proposal for a trilogy featuring an Empire reaping a firestorm when the political chicanery behind the throne upsets the balance that has kept the Empire's dragons under control was just excellent: exactly what I had in mind. Uncanny almost. He's made the dragons and the idea for the series 100% his own. I can't wait to publish.'

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.

The first book in the series, titled THE ADAMANTINE PALACE, is due for publication in the summer of 2009.

Contact John Jarrold or Simon Spanton for further details.

John Jarrold - e-mail: j.jarrold@btinternet.com or by phone at 01522 510544

Simon Spanton – e-mail: sxs@orionbooks.co.uk

John Jarrold will be appearing at the sixtieth anniversary of the internationally-famous Swanwick Writers' Summer School, which takes place in Swanwick, Derbyshire, in August 2008.

He is presenting a talk and Q&A session entitled 'Publishing Unplugged', where the knowledge he has gleaned over two decades in the business will be passed on (suitably cleaned up) to his audience.

The conference website is at: www.wss.org.uk - click on 'speakers' to learn more.

Contact John Jarrold for further information by e-mail at j.jarrold@btinternet.com or by phone at 01522 510544.

Debbie Gallagher's debut novel, The Spider's Bride, is coming from Prime US at the end of this month. You'll be able to buy it at the World Fantasycon, or via Amazon on both sides of the Atlantic, as well as in bookstores...

It begins with a severed finger. It begins with a gift in Winter...

Not realising that she is being courted by a faery suitor, our heroine (called 'The Bride,') enters the cold and sparkling world of the Prince of Spiders. She takes the severed finger, unaware that such gifts carry consequences, and finds herself trapped in the Hedge. The folk of the Hedge have many faces. Some are ancient elves, some are animals, some are dolls, some are scraps of rubbish, discarded objects from the mortal world, sparkling by candlelight, sharp toothed in darkness.

The Prince of Spiders rules this land of dreams, lost in glittering snow. As a Winter King, he should end his reign by dying at the coming of Spring. Until now he has delayed this by offering the blood of artists and poets to the ancient spirits of the land, eking out his season long beyond its time. But he has a more daring plan in his heart... a plan that is thwarted by the disappearance of his human bride.

The Hunter, cousin to the Prince, is rebel and hero, wolf and wolf spider. It is he who kidnaps the Bride and the story follows their frantic journey as the realms of real and unreal begin to fold in around them. It is the way of faery to play tricks with time and space, and there are magics here beyond their powers to guess...

Debbie Gallagher has previously written for 2000AD's Slaine and DC Comics' Batman Book of Shadows, as well as working in TV production and Role-Playing Games. The Spider's Bride is her debut novel.

Contact John Jarrold for further information by e-mail at j.jarrold@btinternet.com or by phone at 01522 510544.

The Serbian novelist Zoran Zivkovic has been made a professor in the Faculty of Philology at Belgrade University, where he will teach Creative Writing.

Zivkovic is the author of many critically-acclaimed fictions, including TIME GIFTS, IMPOSSIBLE ENCOUNTERS, SEVEN TOUCHES OF MUSIC, THE LIBRARY and STEPS THROUGH THE MIST. His most recent novel, THE LAST BOOK, sold out its 20,000-copy first printrun within days of release in his native Serbia. His novel THE BRIDGE was the winner of the 2006 Isidora Sekulic Award, named after one of the greatest Serbian female writers and essayists of the 20th century, a major mainstream literary prize. THE BRIDGE was previously short-listed for the NIN Award – Serbia's major literary award.

Zoran Zivkovic said: "I am delighted I'll have an opportunity to transfer my writer's experience to talented students. I am certain we could all benefit from working together."

Contact John Jarrold for further information by e-mail at j.jarrold@btinternet.com or by phone at 01522 510544.

John Jarrold has concluded a good five-figure deal with Christian Dunn of Solaris for UK and US rights in three novels by British SF writer Eric Brown, following the company's successful publication of the author's latest novel, HELIX, earlier this year.

These three books, provisionally titled PSICHOPATH, XENOPATH and NECROPATH, feature Jeff Vaughan, a telepath employed by the spaceport on Bengal Station, a vast twenty-level city-port situated in the Bay of Bengal mid-point between India and Burma. As part of a security team working against terrorists and other undesirables, he reads the minds of visitors to Earth. The first novel follows Vaughan on the trail of a mysterious religious sect, a serial killer, and a soul-sucking alien life-form secreted on the Station, and will be published in the spring of 2009.

Contact John Jarrold or Christian Dunn for further details.

John Jarrold - e-mail: j.jarrold@btinternet.com phone:01522 510544

Christian Dunn – e-mail: ChristianD@games-workshop.co.uk phone: 0115 9004100

The latest client of the John Jarrold Literary Agency is fantasy writer, Paul Kearney.

Kearney was born in Ballymena, Northern Ireland. He went to a local grammar school, and then to Lincoln College, Oxford, where he read Anglo-Saxon, Old Norse, and Middle English and was a keen member of the Mountaineering Society and the Officer Training Corps. He was also an enthusiastic and very bad rower.

Shortly after leaving Oxford, he went on a solitary climbing trip to the Isle of Skye, and it was after tumbling off a mountain there that the character of Michael Riven first came to him. The first half of his debut novel, The Way to Babylon, was composed shortly after, and acquired by Gollancz, who then published Kearney's next seven books, including the Monarchies of God series.

In the eight years subsequent to the publication of The Way to Babylon, Kearney lived in Copenhagen, New Jersey, and Cambridgeshire, but at present he makes his home a stone's throw from the sea in County Down, with his wife, two dogs, a beat-up old boat, and far too many books. At present he is working on The Ten Thousand, a new novel for Solaris Books.

"I first met Paul over fifteen years ago," said John Jarrold. "He's a terrific writer, and a good man! I couldn't ask for a client I'd be happier to represent."

Contact John Jarrold for further information by e-mail at j.jarrold@btinternet.com or by phone at 01522 510544.

John Jarrold has concluded a contract for author Steven Savile to write an audiobook for the DOCTOR WHO spin-off TORCHWOOD. The title is HIDDEN. The deal was done with Michael Stevens of BBC audiobooks.

"The storyline is under wraps," said Jarrold. "However, I've read the synopsis, and it's terrific! As one of those who remembers watching the first episode of DOCTOR WHO in November 1963 and still watches both the original and TORCHWOOD, I can't wait to hear it!"

The story will be delivered in August, for an autumn recording date.

Contact John Jarrold for further information, by e-mail at j.jarrold@btinternet.com or by phone on 01522 510544

John Jarrold has confirmed his sixth deal for a debut novelist with a major UK publisher in the last eighteen months.

World rights in Jasper Kent's TWELVE – an epic novel set in the period of the battle of Borodino and its aftermath in 1812 and featuring strong supernatural elements – have been sold by Jarrold to Simon Taylor at Transworld UK (Bantam Corgi), together with an unwritten sequel, for a good five-figure sum. In this novel, four Russian soldiers are tasked with hindering the French army on its march towards Moscow, and one of them calls on the aid of a group of Wallachian mercenaries he knows – but these mercenaries are not what they seem…

"Jasper was one of the first writers I took on as a client," said Jarrold, "and I was never in any doubt regarding his talent. His story-telling, characterisation and prose are all outstanding, and the sense of place, in a crumbling Russia being invaded by Napoleon's Grande Armée, is palpable.

"TWELVE was first submitted in 2004, when the market for the supernatural was much less positive than it is today. Having seen that recent change in the market, I still felt it was a book that should be published, and three London editors were willing to take a second look – as was a publisher in the US. I couldn't be happier for Jasper, or for Simon, who is a wonderful publisher, working with one of the best publishing houses in London."

Jasper Kent lives on the Sussex coast, and works part-time as a software consultant. He has also co-written several musicals, one of which was produced as part of the celebrations for the 3,000th anniversary of the foundation of Jerusalem.

Transworld are planning to publish in the UK in the autumn of 2008.

Contact John Jarrold for further information, by e-mail at j.jarrold@btinternet.com or by phone on 01522 510544

John Jarrold has concluded two deals for author and one-man dynamo Steven Savile in the past month:

With Sandra Wake at Plexus for a non-fiction book, TELEVISIONARIES, A History of Cult TV From THE TWILIGHT ZONE to TORCHWOOD.

With Lindsey Priestley at Games Workshop / Black Library, for a new Warhammer novel, CURSE OF THE NECRARCH.

"Steve is going to be a busy boy!" said Jarrold. "He has fascinating new ideas for novels, anthologies and other projects leaping fully-formed from his brain every day of the week."

Contact John Jarrold for further information, by e-mail at j.jarrold@btinternet.com or by phone on 01522 510544

John Jarrold has sold a novella by Sarah Pinborough, THE LANGUAGE OF DYING, to Peter Crowther at PS Publishing, who plans to publish in late 2008 or very early 2009.

Pinborough has had four novels published by Leisure Books in the US. She is now writing new fiction in the crime and horror fields. THE LANGUAGE OF DYING tells the story of five adult siblings dealing with the death of their father, from the point of view of one of his daughters. A fantastical element is present, very much in the background.

"I was knocked out by this," said John Jarrold. "The writing is extremely powerful and involving – it's Sarah's best work so far."

Contact John Jarrold for further information, by e-mail at j.jarrold@btinternet.com or by phone on 01522 510544

I've been interviewed over at the online SF & Fantasy magazine TheThunderChild.com.

Contact John Jarrold for further information by e-mail at j.jarrold@btinternet.com or by phone at 01522 510544.

Debut novelist Jaine Fenn has just signed a world rights deal with Jo Fletcher at Gollancz for three science fiction novels, following in the footsteps of Gollancz bestsellers like Alastair Reynolds and Richard Morgan. Jaine Fenn has had short fiction published in a variety of magazines and anthologies over the years. She is represented by the John Jarrold Literary Agency.

The first novel, THE PRINCIPLES OF ANGELS, is set on a world where nothing is forbidden; a world which is nonetheless a democracy of sorts: a democracy by assassination. Taro is one of the privileged few, but when his Angel aunt, one of the City's assassins, is herself murdered, he loses everything. As the young street-hustler struggles to survive in the brutal world of the Downside slums, he finds himself caught up in something that may mean the end of everything...

Combining the relentless all-action thrills of Richard Morgan with the world-building of Alastair Reynolds, Jaine is a new star in the sf firmament. THE PRINCIPLES OF ANGELS will be published in summer 2008.

John Jarrold said, "Jaine's writing has really come of age in this novel. Its characters, plotlines and background all meld into a remarkable whole, and another name can now be added to the major British SF writers who have appeared over the last decade."

Jo Fletcher said, "We've been exceptionally lucky at Gollancz recently, with a slew of new discoveries in the fantasy field, including Tom Lloyd, Joe Abercrombie and Scott Lynch, and Joe Hill in the horror field, but it's been a little quiet on the sf front, so we're doubly thrilled to be able to add Jaine Fenn to the Gollancz stable of future superstars."

Contact John Jarrold for further information by e-mail at j.jarrold@btinternet.com or by phone at 01522 510544.

There's a new interview with yours truly online at Pantechnicon Magazine.

Contact John Jarrold for further information by e-mail at j.jarrold@btinternet.com or by phone at 01522 510544.

The winner of the 2006 "Isidora Sekulic" Award is Zoran Zivkovic's novel THE BRIDGE. The award will be presented at a ceremony in the Belgrade City Hall on June the 12th.

The award, named after one of the greatest Serbian female writers and essayists of the 20th century, is a major mainstream literary prize that also includes 2,500 euros (US$3,300).

THE BRIDGE was previously short-listed for the NIN Award – Serbia's major literary award.

The UK limited edition of THE BRIDGE will be published before the end of the year by PS Publishing.

Contact John Jarrold for further information by e-mail at j.jarrold@btinternet.com or by phone at 01522 510544.

John Jarrold has sold limited-edition rights in THE REEF, a debut novel by Mark Charan Newton, to Chris Teague at Welsh publisher Pendragon Press. Mark has worked in bookselling, and is now an editor with a major publishing company.

The novel, a fantastical story set mostly among the islands of an imagined world, has echoes of both Joseph Conrad and China Miéville, but is very much Mark's own invention. Mark's writing has already received this accolade from critically-acclaimed author Jeff VanderMeer: "Mark Newton is a promising new writer whose prose is dynamic and whose imagination is often startling."

"Mark was one of the first authors I took on after setting up the agency in 2004," said John Jarrold. "I'm really delighted to have done this deal, and I have no doubt his reputation will grow very quickly, within and without the genre."

Contact John Jarrold for further information by e-mail at j.jarrold@btinternet.com or by phone at 01522 510544.

UK horror and thriller author Mark Morris has joined the John Jarrold Literary Agency. Since the publication of his first novel, TOADY, in 1989, Morris has had eleven further novels published, as well as a story collection, CLOSE TO THE BONE, a non-fiction book, CINEMA MACABRE, and two Doctor Who novels. His work has been highly praised on both sides of the Atlantic, and published in translation.

"I've read Mark's novels and stories with great pleasure since TOADY," said John Jarrold. "He is one of the most exciting authors working in the horror / thriller field today, and I look forward to talking to publishers in London and New York about his forthcoming fiction – particularly since there is now a renaissance in the supernatural genre, as was confirmed to me this week by publishers from various countries at the London Book Fair."

Find out more about Mark's work to-date and forthcoming projects at www.markmorriswriter.com.

Another piece of news from Solaris, re. Eric Brown's HELIX, which they publish in the UK and US in June:

"Just wanted to let you know that HELIX has been selected by Barnes & Noble for promotion. This will mean that the book will be displayed prominently on the New Mass-Market Paperbacks racks, at the front of the store, in every Barnes & Noble bookstore in the US, around 540 shops.

"BTW, this was selected by B&N themselves, based on a reading of the digiproof."

The UK publisher of Stephen Hunt's fantasy novel The Court of the Air have commissioned a Flash-based promo movie for the book. You can check it out at either SciFind.co.uk or YouTube, or by clicking on the 'play' button, in the following window:

Caitlin Blasdell of Liza Dawson Associates in New York, representing the John Jarrold Literary Agency, has concluded a three-book deal with Fleetwood Robbins of Del Rey Books.

The author is an award-winning British novelist, writing under the pseudonym Daniel Fox, and Robbins acquired World Rights in a new fantasy trilogy, Moshui: the Books of Stone and Water, about a deposed boy-emperor who flees with his court and generals to a remote island that turns out to be the secret source of magic for the empire. The first book, DRAGON IN CHAINS, will be published in early 2009.

"It's a great deal," said John Jarrold. "Congratulations to Caitlin and Fleetwood – and the author!"

John Jarrold has confirmed a World Rights deal with Simon Spanton of Gollancz for three fantasy novels by new US writer Robert V. S. Redick. Spanton pre-empted for a good six-figure sum in pounds sterling.

The first book in the series, The Red Wolf Conspiracy, will be published early in 2008. It is set largely aboard a huge, 600-year-old ship and takes in sorcery, murder and politicking, with a cast of believable characters ranging from a teenage ship's boy and the ship's captain, who is famed for his sadism, to a girl being offered up as a bride to a foreign prince by her emperor and her father, the new ambassador to that power – but not all is as it seems. Empires may fall, mighty spells may be unleashed, and a dead king may live again.

"When I read this novel, I realised that it was one of the best intelligent fantasies I had seen in over ten years," said Jarrold. "Robert is an amazing storyteller – even his synopses are page-turners! – and his command of setting, plot and characterisation is wonderful, as is his imagination. I'm very pleased to have done this deal with Simon and Gollancz. Their track record with new writers in recent years is phenomenal, and I look forward to their plans for Robert!"

Simon Spanton said: "I fell in love with The Red Wolf Conspiracy very quickly. I'm really impressed with what Robert has done: this is an intelligent and immensely original fantasy. He takes chances, he is confident enough to hold things back from you, he knows exactly how and exactly when to throw the reader a surprise, whether it be a plot twist or a new facet to the world. This is a wonderfully entertaining and mature fantasy novel set in a superbly drawn and involving world. I'm delighted to be able to welcome Robert to Gollancz and very much look forward to launching his career with us."

Redick works as the editor for the Spanish and French websites of Oxfam America and as an instructor in the International Development and Social Change program at Clark University. Born and raised in Charlottesville, Virginia, he lives in rural western Massachusetts. His unpublished novel Conquistadors was a finalist for the 2002 AWP/Thomas Dunne Novel Award (under the title Wilderness). An excerpt was published in the 40th anniversary (2005) edition of Puerto del Sol.

Dutch fantasy writer W J Maryson has joined the John Jarrold Literary Agency.

Maryson is the well-established author of eleven novels (including the Unmagician series) and a number of short stories, which have been published in nine different languages, as well as writing, doing master classes and workshops on writing.

He is presently working on the second novel in the Great Legend series, three short stories, and Maryson (the band in which he features as a songwriter and keyboardist) are about to create their third album.

He won the Elf Fantasy Award for the best fantasy novel of 2004, elected by the readers of Elf Fantasy Magazine. It is for The Lord of the Depths, the third Unmagician novel, beat ing out Robin Hobb and Raymond Feist.

"It's great to see another European author added to the agency's client list," said John Jarrold. "W J Maryson is a major name throughout Europe, and I expect to see him published in the UK and US in the near future. Right now, his place in European fantasy writing grows and grows."

US rights in THE SPIDER'S BRIDE, the debut novel of UK writer Debbie Gallagher, have been sold to Sean Wallace of Prime Books in the USA by John Jarrold. The book will also be distributed in the UK and Commonwealth.

Debbie Gallagher has previously written for 2000AD's Slaine and DC Comics' Batman Book of Shadows, as well as working in TV production and Role-Playing Games.

The novel will be published in late 2007 or early 2008. It is a sophisticated work set in a world of faerie inhabited by strange and frightening beings – and a human woman, who has been chosen by the Spider Prince as his bride. Reminiscent of the darker work of Arthur Rackham, it also features the insane Victorian artist, Richard Dadd, as a character.

"Debbie is a natural-born storyteller, with one helluva imagination," said John Jarrold. "This is really like nothing else I've read, but it's totally gripping and entrancing."

UK author Martyn Taylor has joined the John Jarrold Literary Agency. Martyn has had a number of short stories published in SF/Fantasy magazines and in computer games magazines. He has written for television and radio (and been paid for it) without ever quite getting anything produced. And he's written numerous book and film reviews in the specialist SF magazines.

As a novelist, he is particularly interested in the possibilities of what might be happening just beyond the edges of perceptions, but is also interested in exploring the possibilities of conventional fantasy.

His new novel, HAPPYLAND, is a fantastical work, set mostly in our world but taking in the realms of imagination and a family whose sins echo over three generations. It mixes real-life horrors with dark fairy tales that would make the Brothers Grimm shudder.

"I've been talking to Martyn about his writing for a number of years," said John Jarrold. "HAPPYLAND is a remarkable book, in its plotlines and characterisations. Think of Neil Gaiman crossed with Jonathan Carroll, and then sprinkle originality over the mix. Terrific!"

US rights in Chris Beckett's second novel, MARCHER, have been sold to Sean Wallace of Prime Books in the USA by John Jarrold. The book will also be distributed in the UK and Commonwealth.

Prime also published Beckett's first novel, THE HOLY MACHINE, which has received wonderful reviews on both sides of the Atlantic.

The novel will be published early in 2008. "This is a very good deal," said Jarrold. "Sean has published a number of authors who have later moved to mainstream publication extremely successfully, including Jeff VanderMeer and K J Bishop. Chris Beckett is one of the UK's most thoughtful and intelligent SF writers, and I can see great things for him."

British SF author Ian Hocking has joined the John Jarrold Literary Agency. His first novel, a science fiction technothriller entitled Déjà Vu, was published in 2005 by the UKA Press. The Guardian described it as "showing quiet skill" and SFX called it "a solid technothriller". Author Ian Watson praised it as "gripping, fascinating, and powerful". Other reviewers have written "crisp and professional", "a smart read full of fresh, clever dialogue", "mind-blowing", and "thought-provoking". The book is thriller that encompasses time travel, virtual reality, and digital minds.

Ian mentions Jon Courtenay Grimwood and Ken MacLeod in his acknowledgements, and having had the pleasure of publishing a number of books by them both, I can say that the many readers who love their work will thoroughly enjoy Ian's writing. Ideas jump off the page, and his characters remain in one's mind over a long period of time.

Ian is presently writing another novel in the Déjà Vu universe.

The John Jarrold Literary Agency has taken on a client from the USA – Robert von Stein Redick. His first novel, Conquistadors, was a finalist for the 2002 AWP/Thomas Dunne Novel Award (under the title Wilderness). An excerpt was published in the 40th anniversary (2005) edition of Puerto del Sol.

Now Redick has written the first in a three-book fantasy series, The Red Wolf Conspiracy. It is set largely aboard a huge, 600-year-old ship and takes in sorcery, murder and politicking, with a cast of believable characters ranging from a teenage ships' boy and the ship's captain, who is famed for his sadism, to a girl being offered up as a bride to a foreign prince by her emperor and her father, the new ambassador – but not all is as it seems. Empires may fall, mighty spells may be unleashed, and a dead leader may live again.

Redick works as the editor for the Spanish and French websites of Oxfam America (www.oxfamamerica.org/es and www.oxfamamerica.org/fr) and as an instructor in the International Development and Social Change program at Clark University. Born and raised in Charlottesville, Virginia, he lives in rural western Massachusetts.

I've seen a great deal of fantasy over the past twenty years and more, but very little that has entranced and involved me this much. Robert is a writer of intelligence and imagination – and a truly magnificent story-teller.

We've had this from Kate Bradley, the Head of Fiction at the UK's main book club, BCA, regarding Stephen Hunt's The Court of the Air, which HarperCollins Voyager publish in April:

"A crossover title in the vein of Philip Pullman … more straightforward and much easier to read than Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell … a genuinely engaging read, which has believable characters in a fantastic setting. The Dickensian references are a big selling point... It's an intriguing and original idea which the author has managed to pull off rather well."

I couldn't agree more! And it's good to have this from a mainstream trade buyer, rather than an SFF specialist.

The feature film Two, based on the stories 'The Train' (which was broadcast as a reading by BBC Radio 4 in 2005) and 'The Confessional', from Zoran Zivkovic's collection Impossible Encounters, will have its official opening in late February at the Belgrade International Film Festival — Fest.

The director is Purisa Djordjevic, and the leading roles are taken by Serbian actors Predrag Ejdus, Ana Sofrenovic and Dragan Micanovic.

03/09/2006 - SIMON HAYNES JOINS JJLA

Australian SF/Humour writer Simon Haynes is the latest client of the John Jarrold Literary Agency. Simon's first two HAL SPACEJOCK novels have been published by Fremantle Arts Centre Press. Featuring an inept interstellar cargo pilot, HAL SPACEJOCK hit the bestseller list at Dymocks (one of the big two bookselling chains across Australia and New Zealand) on release, and is outselling major SF and Fantasy authors in specialist bookshops. A second printing is expected soon, and together with its sequel, HAL SPACEJOCK SECOND COURSE, it has gained these reviews, amongst many others:

"Fast, funny, quirky, enthralling comedy adventure; not just a genre parody but a well-made story in its own right, told with a light, deft touch. Better than RED DWARF!" Tom Holt

"A dizzying ride, lurching from planet to planet and crisis to crisis as Hal bumbles his way through meetings with inept assassins, murderous rich guys, gullible officials and a bailiff with a very nasty robot. Blithely oblivious to the havoc he causes, quite astonishingly incompetent, and someone I wouldn't trust to use my toaster without a fire-extinguisher and a team of firemen standing by, Hal Spacejock is one of the most memorable figures in sci-fi. It'll never be high literature, and it's unlikely to make the classics list, but who cares when it's this much fun? A book to be enjoyed over and over again." Joules Taylor – SF Crowsnest reviewer

"The quirkiest genre satire to hit bookshelves since Terry Pratchett's Discworld" The West Australian

"Riddled with slapstick humour and glib one-liners" Courier Mail, Brisbane

'Having published a number of humorous writers,' said John Jarrold, 'I was taken by Simon's storytelling and the fact that he really likes his characters. Together with a great sense of wit, that makes him a winner in my view.'

You can visit the Hal Spacejock website at www.spacejock.com.au.

28/08/2006 - JON GEORGE JOINS JJLA

The latest client of the John Jarrold Literary Agency is Jon George, highly-praised author of two SF novels that mix the genre with utterly realistic depictions of war. His first novel, FACES OF MIST AND FLAME, published by Tor UK, received blanket approval, including these reviews:

"Jon George mixes quantum physics and time travel with a frighteningly realistic depiction of World War 11." SFX magazine

"Jon George has made a crashing entrance with his debut novel ... securing what I believe will be a devoted fan base and his place among great Science Fiction authors ... the whole book is an outstanding accomplishment in writing ..." SF Crowsnest

"War and heroics and politics and the doing of science - Jon George's debut novel is far better at all of this than might be guessed from its title." Roz Kaveney - Time Out

"The main thrust ... is a gritty and realistic story about the American re-capture of Guam during WW11 ... fascinating to watch unfold." Cheryl Morgan - The Emerald City

"It mixes ... Sci-Fi, a nicely humorous account of the mythical labours and the out-and-out horror of combat to enthralling effect." Starburst

It was followed up earlier this year by ZOOTSUIT BLACK, which also mixed genres with great success. Jon is now writing his third novel, SIMIANT.

'Jon is a great addition, both to the world of SF and to the agency,' said John Jarrold.

20/08/2006 - RICHARD WEBB JOINS JJLA

The latest author to join the John Jarrold Literary Agency is new novelist Richard Webb. His first novel, THE SEEDS OF DISCONTENT, is characterised by Jarrold as 'A wonderfully written fantasy novel, peopled with three-dimensional characters, that has the immediacy of David Gemmell and the overarching plotlines of Steven Erikson and George R R Martin. Richard's ideas for this series are amongst the most fascinating and best thought-out I've ever seen in the fantasy genre.'

Webb has run event management, property development, and lighting design and installation companies during a varied life. He now intends to write full-time. He says: 'An avid reader of myth and folklore since childhood, I have, whenever time has permitted, written about and sketched imaginary worlds, but work schedules left me with few hours to dedicate to perfecting my projects. Now I have created I'Tearath, a mythical world where magic, not science, predominates, over a planned series of fifteen books. The adventure starts with The Seeds of Discontent, the first in an intended trilogy. It is an epic escapade with timeless themes set in a vibrant magical land where mirror birds flit past winged cats, yet where hero and villain alike show their all-too-human qualities.'

John Jarrold has concluded a three-book deal for World rights with Tim Holman, Publishing Director of Orbit, the SF and Fantasy imprint of the Little, Brown Book Group. The author is new UK science fiction novelist Philip Palmer. His first novel, DEBATABLE SPACE, mixes epic space opera with character-led storylines and witty, outstanding writing.

'Philip is a special writer,' said Jarrold. 'His background over many years is in film, theatrical, TV and radio writing, and this is deeply impressive in any terms, let alone for a debut novel. I'm delighted to do my first deal with Orbit, having long-term connections with the imprint, Tim and Darren Nash. Philip could not have found a better home.'

Tim Holman, who pre-empted for a high five-figure sum, said, 'DEBATABLE SPACE is without any doubt the most exciting SF debut I've read this year. It is a joy to read, from beginning to end, an intensely powerful story that glides effortlessly across its vast canvas. We're delighted to be publishing such an exhilarating debut by a new British novelist.'

02/07/2006 - SUZANNE MCLEOD JOINS JOHN JARROLD LITERARY AGENCY

New British author Suzanne McLeod has become the latest client of the John Jarrold Literary Agency.

McLeod's novel sequence, which begins with Spellcrackers.com, features Genevieve Taylor, one of the noble fae, a Sidhe. The Sidhe are a reclusive race, uncomfortable in the modern world, preferring to live in The Fair Lands and follow the old traditions. So Genny is unusual, even in present-day London where celebrity vampires, eccentric goblins and scheming lesser fae mix freely with the human population. Genny is a rising star at Spellcrackers.com where she finds the 'M' in magic. Mischief. Malice. Murder. Spellcrackers is affiliated to the Witch Council, whose ancient tenets prohibit any contact with vampires. Genny also works as a volunteer at a clinic which treats victims of vampire attacks. Then there's her extra-curricular activity, extracting vulnerable fae lured by the local fang gangs. Genny neither wants nor needs any closer involvement with the vampires.

But when one of the hot calendar pin-up vamps, Mr October, is accused of murdering his girlfriend, a longstanding obligation means Genny can't refuse to help prove his innocence. Initially, she agrees with the police that he is guilty. But as events unfold, Genny begins to have doubts.

McLeod (a pseudonym) lives on the South Coast about a mile away from the sea along with her husband and their two dogs.

'Having read the first three pages, I was instantly drawn into the characters and the story,' said John Jarrold. 'Very occasionally, one sees a new author and knows immediately that they have got it. Suzanne has got it. The book is romantic (not to say sexy), fast-moving and very witty.'

27/06/2006 - SARAH PINBOROUGH JOINS JARROLD LITERARY AGENCY

British author of supernatural and crime fiction, Sarah Pinborough, has become the latest client of the John Jarrold Literary Agency.

Sarah has had two supernatural novels – THE HIDDEN and THE RECKONING – published by Leisure Books, with a third coming in 2006. Her stories have appeared in anthologies, and she is presently completing a crime novel, SCREAM BLUE MURDER, the first in a series, as well as working on two other novels and various short fiction. She is Head of English at a Secondary school in Bedfordshire, UK.

'Sarah's characterisation and story-telling are terrific,' said John Jarrold. 'She has a great future, there's no doubt of that at all.'

12/05/2006 - STEVEN SAVILE JOINS JARROLD LITERARY AGENCY

British author Steven Savile has joined the John Jarrold Literary Agency. Savile is currently finishing a trilogy of vampire fantasy novels (Inheritance, Dominion, Retribution) tied in to Games Workshop's popular Warhammer Fantasy games. Inheritance was released in February 2006 in the UK and March in the US.

Steven is also adapting Pat Mills' Celtic barbarian Slaine for Black Flame. The first novel, Exile, is due for Christmas 2006.

In the US he has his first hardcover, Elemental (co-edited with Alethea Kontis), coming from Tor in May 2006.

Elemental, like Redbrick Eden before it, is an anthology Steven has put together to raise money for those in need. Where Redbrick Eden raised nearly 10,000 dollars from the homeless charity, Shelter, Elemental is raising money for Save the Children's Tsunami Relief efforts and includes a veritable who's who of the global SF&F community including: Brian Aldiss, Kevin J. Anderson, Brian Herbert, Sherrilyn Kenyon (writing as Kinley McGreggor), Stel Pavlou, Martha Wells, David Drake, Joe Haldeman, Larry Niven and a whole host more.

Steven was a runner up in the British Fantasy Awards in 2000, and in 2002 won the Writers of the Future award.

He's also co-edited, with John Pelan, two collections of Fritz Leiber's classic horror stories, and published a number of short stories and novellas.

'Steve is a major addition to the agency,' said John Jarrold. 'He has ideas for many new projects!'

Steven Savile added: 'I am absolutely delighted to have joined forces with John. John is someone I have been aware of within the genre for a very long time, from his role as editor with Legend and then Earthlight, and then more recently as an agent of several writers I very much admire.'

09/05/2006 - CHRISTOPHER EVANS JOINS JJLA

British SF writer Christopher Evans has joined the John Jarrold Literary Agency. Evans was born in South Wales and now lives in South London, where he teaches science part-time at a secondary school.

His first novel, Capella's Golden Eyes, was published in 1980, and since then six more have appeared under his own name, the most recent being Aztec Century, which won the BSFA Award for Best Novel and was runner-up for the Welsh Book of the Year Award, and Mortal Remains. With Robert Holdstock he co-edited the Other Edens series of original SF and fantasy anthologies. He has recently completed a new novel, Omega.

'I've known Chris as a wonderful author and a friend for over twenty years,' said John Jarrold. 'He is more than welcome to the agency!'.

The John Jarrold Literary Agency has sold world rights in two fantasy novels by Canadian author Ian Cameron Esslemont to Simon Taylor at Bantam UK, for a good five-figure sum.

Esslemont created the world of Malazan together with Steven Erikson – whose novels in this world are already bestsellers for Bantam UK and published successfully across the world. Esslemont's first short Malazan novel, NIGHT OF KNIVES, was published by UK small press PS Publishing in 2004. Now it and his next, major novel, THE RETURN OF THE CRIMSON GUARD, will see mainstream publication from Bantam.

In his introduction to NIGHT OF KNIVES, Steven Erikson said: 'Readers of my own work will recognise the world, its atmosphere, its darkness; they will see the characters in NIGHT OF KNIVES as simply more players woven into the same tangled tapestry'. Following this theme, Esslemont's next novel picks up the story of the Malazan Empire not long after the events of Erikson's latest book, THE BONEHUNTERS. Erikson's first Malazan novel, GARDENS OF THE MOON, began life as a jointly-written film script, since when both authors have worked on the background, history and characters of the world.

Bantam are planning to publish NIGHT OF KNIVES in the UK as a hardback in spring 2007.

24/03/2006

British author Adam Nevill has joined the John Jarrold Literary Agency.

Adam is the author of the highly-praised novel BANQUET FOR THE DAMNED, published by PS in 2004, which as been favourably compared with the ghost writings of M R James and has received stunning reviews in the UK and the US. His short story WHERE ANGELS COME IN has recently been selected for both The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror, edited by Ellen Datlow, and The Mammoth Book of Best New Horror 17, edited by Stephen Jones.

Having received a BA Hons in English Literature at University College Worcester, Adam worked in broadcast TV for eight years before returning to St Andrews University (the later setting of his novel) where he received at MLitt in Creative Writing. He presently works as a commissioning editor for a London publisher, overseeing more than seventy novels a year.

'With strong commercial sensibilities, it is my intention to keep producing considered fiction to both thrill and terrify a reader. Fiction that is a seamless combination of both popular and literary styles. And stories that are contemporary, but constructed with the skill of the past masters who I have studied for so long - to reach a sublime of terror. One that frightens but never repulses,' says Adam about his writing.

John Jarrold said, 'Adam Nevill is the best, most interesting new writer in the tradition of M R James I've seen in many years. As a fan of James, Algernon Blackwood and other masters of supernatural fiction for over forty years, I'm delighted to be representing the latest in a long line of brilliant practitioners of the form. And he tells a damn good story.'

13/03/2006 - IAN CAMERON ESSLEMONT

Canadian author Ian Cameron Esslemont has joined the John Jarrold Literary Agency. Cam Esslemont is the joint creator of the world of Malaz, well known to readers from Steven Erikson's bestselling novels. The world was created by the two authors, and Esslemont's first short novel set there, NIGHT OF KNIVES, was published recently by PS Publishing and has already sold out in limited-edition hardback, having received a number of wonderful reviews, including from the official Malazan Empire website: 'if you rather enjoyed GARDENS OF THE MOON, you'll probably find the style and approach of NIGHT OF KNIVES to your liking as well ... a well-realized short novel ... it fits well into the Malazan world', and the SF Crowsnest website: 'a delight ... We get good helpings of most the things that make the Erikson books so enjoyable. Grim and cynical soldiers, much demon mayhem, strange dreamy scenes and nasty deeds in the shadows, all told with either wry humour or great intensity'.

As Steven Erikson says in his introduction to the book, his readers will now understand why he has not written about the empire of the old emperor, Kellanved. He continues: 'Readers of my own work will recognize the world, its atmosphere, its darkness; they will see the characters in NIGHT OF KNIVES as simply more players woven into the same tangled tapestry, they will see the story as one more blood-stained piece of imagined history. And there's so much more to come.' In future volumes, Esslemont weaves his own tales of Malaz – he is at present writing RETURN OF THE CRIMSON GUARD, which picks up events shortly after Erikson's new novel THE BONEHUNTERS.

'Cam is a terrific writer,' said John Jarrold. 'I was enthralled by NIGHT OF KNIVES, as I have been by Steve Erikson's novels, and the chance to fill in gaps and learn more of the world and its history is terrific.'

03/03/2006 - PHILIP PALMER

British author Philip Palmer has joined the John Jarrold Literary Agency.

Philip Palmer is a screen and TV writer whose credits include the BBC 1 film THE MANY LIVES OF ALBERT WALKER, starring John Gordon Sinclair, Rebus and The Bill. He has also written radio plays including THE KING'S COINER, about Isaac Newton, private detective, which starred Ian McDiarmid, and adapted Spenser's 'Faerie Queen' for BBC Radio, as well as teaching writing, acting as a script executive, executive producer and in many other roles.

His first sweeping SF novel, DEBATABLE SPACE, features Lena, a relation of the despotic Human emperor – the Cheo – who is kidnapped by Flanagan, a space pirate. But both of these characters are far more than they initially appear to be and as the book unfolds a subtle history of the future of humanity appears, in a focused, witty and inventively-thrilling novel that is both epic and character led.

'Great to welcome another major new SF talent to the agency,' said John Jarrold. 'Philip's imagination and characterization are outstanding and his background speaks for itself.'

03/03/2006 - GAIE SEBOLD

The latest client of the John Jarrold Literary Agency is Gaie Sebold.

Gaie Sebold was born in Massachusetts to an American father in the USAF and English mother. She was brought up just outside Oxford, took English, (with Drama and Ancient History in the first year) at Swansea, and plunged into a series of clerical jobs in order to keep the wolves at bay while trying to write. She currently works for the Royal Society of Arts, and finally got around to becoming a British citizen a couple of years ago, having lived in the UK as a Yank since she was five. A member for the T Party Writers' Group, she has sold short fiction and poetry (and received an Honourable Mention in the 2004 Year's Best Fantasy and Horror anthology for her story Wet Work), and had pieces performed on stage.

Her new novel, A TOUCH OF MAGIC, features a heroine – Clearspring (née Denise) Watkins – who works in a New Age shop in Devon selling fake Elven remedies and is somewhat taken aback by the appearance of six-foot-eight elves with tattoos asking about the provenance of these 'remedies'. The novel also deals with the possible end of life as we know it, love, adventure and the many uses of St John's Wort.

'Like Jasper Fforde, Gaie's witty, intelligent and thoughtful work will appeal to a massive audience of non-genre readers,' said John Jarrold. 'It's not easy to make an old cynic like me laugh out loud and smile, but she achieved both, more than once.'

23/02/2006 - DEBBIE GALLAGHER

The latest author to join the John Jarrold Literary Agency is British fantasy writer Debbie Gallagher.

Debbie has previously written for 2000AD's 'Slaine' and DC Comics' Batman Book of Shadows, as well as working in TV production and Role-Playing Games.

Her first novel is The Spider's Bride, a YA crossover novel set in a world of faerie inhabited by strange and frightening beings – and a human woman, who has been chosen by the Spider Prince as his bride. Reminiscent of the darker work of Arthur Rackham, it also features the insane Victorian artist, Richard Dadd, as a character.

'I was immediately entranced,' said Jarrold. 'Debbie has created a fascinating world, the equal of anything in classic myth and fairy tale, but very much her own. There's sophistication and invention in equal measure here.'

26/01/2006 DIRK STRASSER

The latest client of the John Jarrold Literary Agency is Australian author Dirk Strasser.

Dirk has had over 20 books published by major publishers in Australia.  He won the Ditmar for Best Professional Achievement in 2002 and has been short-listed for the Aurealis and Ditmar Awards a number of times.  His Ascension series of fantasy novels – Zenith, Equinox and Eclipse – was published by Pan Macmillan in Australia and by Heyne Verlag in Germany.  He has also had SF/fantasy/horror short stories published in magazines and anthologies in Australia, the UK, the USA and Germany, including Robert Silverberg's Universe Two, Borderlands 4, Metaworlds and Alien Shores.  His story "The Doppelgänger Effect" appeared in the World Fantasy Award-winning anthology Dreaming Down-Under.  Several stories have appeared in "Best of" anthologies and lists in Australia and the USA, including regular appearances in the Gardner Dozois' Year's Best Science Fiction Honorable Mentions.  His articles have appeared in most of the major newspapers in Australia, and he co-edited Aurealis magazine from 1990 to 2001.

His new series of epic fantasy novels is entitled THE MYRIAD, and the opening volume is The Shadowed Road.  The series is set in a version of the pre-Islamic Persian empire.

Dirk was born in Germany in 1959 but has lived most of his life in Australia.  He was a secondary school teacher of Mathematics and German for 12 years, is currently employed as a Senior Publisher for Harcourt Education Australia, and is living in Melbourne with his wife and two children.

'I'm knocked out by Dirk's writing,' said John Jarrold. 'The Shadowed Road has the mixture of sophistication and action that marks out authors such as George R R Martin and Guy Gavriel Kay.  His characters are wonderful, fascinating and infuriating by turn, and the setting rings entirely true.'

24/01/2006 RUARIDH PRINGLE

The latest client signed up to the John Jarrold Literary Agency is Ruaridh Pringle, a Scottish author who has previously written and contributed to various non-fiction books about walking and climbing, and contributed articles about both subjects as well as ecology and travel to newspapers and magazines over the last ten years and more.  He has also worked as a freelance photographer, musician and in many other fields.

Ruaridh's short fiction has appeared in INTERZONE.  His first novel, SANCTUARY, is a science fiction epic, spread over five hundred years and many planets.  It has the depth and massive concepts of both Iain M Banks and Peter Hamilton, as well as a dark wit. 

Ruaridh lives in Scotland.

'I read SANCTUARY's seven hundred and seventy pages with great relish,' said John Jarrold.  'Ruaridh is a wonderful writer, whose characters, storylines and scope drew me in immediately – as I'm sure they will publishers and readers.  He may well be one of the most important new SF writers of the twenty-first century.'

22/01/2006 IAN SALES

British SF writer Ian Sales has joined the John Jarrold Literary Agency. Ian has co-edited a small press science fiction magazine, The Lyre, with Nicholas Mahoney, containing original fiction by Gwyneth Jones, Peter F Hamilton, Keith Brooke and others. He has reviewed books for the British Science Fiction Association's critical journal, Vector, and is now writing a massive science fiction trilogy, AN AGE OF DISCORD .

In the tradition of DUNE and Kevin J Anderson's SAGA OF THE SEVEN SUNS, Sales' novels are galaxy-spanning, with political intrigue, space battles and personal feuds between families and power groupings.  The first novel in the series is A PROSPECT OF WAR, a 190,000-word epic.

'Ian is working on final revisions to A PROSPECT OF WAR now,' said Jarrold,' and I'll be sending it out to publishers within the month.  He writes with great dash and brio, tells a wonderful, epic story and has taken years to work out the background to his universe.  He's even setting up an online encyclopedia to complement the trilogy!!'

20/01/2006 - IAN STEWART AND JACK COHEN'S SF NOVELS TO BE SOLD BY JARROLD

Scientists, bestselling authors of THE SCIENCE OF DISCWORLD and novelists Ian Stewart and Jack Cohen have joined the John Jarrold Literary Agency, for representation of their jointly-written novels.

Professor Stewart is Professor of Mathematics at Warwick University, and is the author of over 60 books on popular science.  Professor Cohen is a highly-respected reproductive biologist, who also teaches at Warwick and appears regularly on British television science programmes.

Their previous novels, WHEELERS and HEAVEN, have been praised by bestselling SF novelists including Stephen Baxter, David Brin, Larry Niven and Gregory Benford.

'I'm very pleased to welcome Ian and Jack to the agency,' said Jarrold.  'Science fiction is booming in the UK, with a number of very different writers having come to the fore in the last five or six years.  Their backgrounds and flair make them perfect writers for this exciting time in the genre.  And the concepts behind their forthcoming novels are universe-wide!'

All projects other than their novels are dealt with separately, outside the Jarrold Agency.

John Jarrold has concluded a deal with Peter Crowther of PS Publishing for two novellas by Welsh fantasist Rhys Hughes – characterised by Michael Moorcock as: '…worthy to succeed John Cowper Powys'.

A CRYSTAL COSMOS will be published in book form in 2007, while FLECKS FROM THE ISLE OF CHROME will see publication over three issues of the magazine POSTSCRIPTS.

'I'm delighted to do this deal for Rhys,' said Jarrold. 'He's a wonderful and original writer, who deserves wider publication.  More will follow!'

09/11/2005 - CHAZ BRENCHLEY JOINS JJLA

Chaz Brenchley is the latest writer to join the John Jarrold Literary Agency. Author of twelve novels, including the Books of Outremer and a number of dark fantasy/crime novels, three books for children and short fiction – as well as various pseudonymous material – Chaz is a founder member of The Write Fantastic writers' group, who promote fantasy fiction, was Northern Writer of the Year in 2000, and won the British Fantasy Award for Best Novel in 1998 for KNIGHT ERRANT.

'I was the original commissioning editor of Chaz' OUTREMER fantasy series,' said Jarrold, 'and I love his writing. We also had a great time at the Fantasy Writing Forum in South Korea two years ago. He's a major addition to the agency, and I'm very happy that he is now on board.'

Chaz' website is at: www.chazbrenchley.co.uk

21/9/2005 - RHYS HUGHES JOINS JARROLD LITERARY AGENCY

Welsh fantastical writer Rhys Hughes has joined the burgeoning John Jarrold Literary Agency.

Rhys Hughes was born in 1966 in Cardiff, Wales, and has written fiction for as long as he can recall, though he didn't really begin to compose short stories in earnest until 1980. Lacking all knowledge of the market, he wrote several hundred before his first acceptance in 1992. Since then he has persisted in attempting to become the most prolific author in Wales, with short fiction and novels published in the UK and US.

Here are some reviews and quotes:
 
"Just beginning to read: saliva already forming on chin."
Brian Aldiss

"Here's a Welshman worthy to succeed John Cowper Powys. The stories in The Smell of Telescopes are quirky, dark, funny and weirdly Celtic."
Michael Moorcock

"Gloriously demented."
Washington Post

"Quirky and fantastic and sometimes quite twisted, this is a treat for those in the mood for something utterly different."
Ellen Datlow

"Rhys Hughes is an accomplished player with words, plots, effect, relationships, sensibilities; you name it, Hughes tries to stand it on its head. More often than seems attributable to mere chance, he succeeds."
Ed Bryant, Locus

"His writing is incredibly precise and at the same time his imagination is so unfettered."
Jeffrey Ford

"Dazzling prose. Put your feet up and dip in. Life will never seem quite the same again." 
The Third Alternative

In an interview, Hughes once listed the following favourite writers:

"In approximate chronological order, from the age of 10 or so - the early novels of H.G. Wells; Robert Louis Stevenson; Edgar Allan Poe (fundamental to my own work); Franz Kafka; Voltaire; Frank Herbert; Ray Bradbury; Clark Ashton Smith; Vladimir Nabokov; Thomas Pynchon; the 'New Wave' writers, Michael Moorcock, J.G. Ballard, Brian Aldiss and John Sladek; John Barth; Donald Barthelme; Boris Vian; Felipe Alfau; Milorad Pavic; Gabriel Garcia Marquez; Nathanael West; Georges Bataille; Flann O'Brien; Jack Vance; Stanislaw Lem; the OuLiPo writers Raymond Queneau and Georges Perec; Alvaro Mutis; and especially, Jorge Luis Borges and Italo Calvino."

"I don't need to add anything to the above," said John Jarrold.  "How could I not want to represent Rhys?"

5/9/2005 - ERIC BROWN JOINS JJLA

British SF writer Eric Brown has joined the John Jarrold Literary Agency.  Brown is the author of many highly-acclaimed novels, including THE VIREX TRILOGY, THE FALL OF TARTARUS and ENGINEMAN.  He has also written some of the best short SF of the last twenty years, and six books for children.

'I've read Eric's work with great pleasure for many years,' said John Jarrold. 'It's a pleasure to welcome such a major talent to the agency.  I'm already talking to a number of publishers on both sides of the Atlantic about his new projects.'

18/8/2005 - CORY DANIELLS

Australian fantasy author Cory Daniells is the latest client of the John Jarrold Literary Agency.  Daniells (real name Rowena Lindquist) has had three fantasy novels published by Bantam US and Random House in Australia, as well as YA and short fiction over a number of years.  She is presently writing the first of a new epic trilogy, KING ROLEN'S KIN.

'I'm delighted to welcome Rowena to the agency,' said John Jarrold.  'Her first trilogy had a sense of depth and romance, and the new series looks to be a great leap forward again.  It'll be a pleasure to work with her!'

27/7/2005 - NEIL WILLIAMSON

The latest client of the John Jarrold Literary Agency is Scottish author Neil Williamson. Williamson has had a number of stories published in magazines, including INTERZONE and THE THIRD ALTERNATIVE, and anthologies. He also has a story collection, THE EPHEMERA, appearing from Elastic Press in spring 2006. He is presently writing a novel entitled THE MOON KING.

'I've known Neil for some years and read his short fiction with pleasure,' said Jarrold. 'We first discussed his novel before last Christmas. I've now read the opening chapters and I love it – there are echoes of M John Harrison's classic VIRICONIUM and Iain Banks' THE BRIDGE. Great characters, and a wonderful setting somewhere between fantasy and SF. Here is Neil's own description: "Glassholm, the city that stole the moon, unchanging for centuries, is suddenly starting to decline into chaos, but can anyone save it - even the man who founded it, the revered and mysterious Moon King?".'

27/7/2005 - ANNE BROOKE

UK thriller writer Anne Brooke has joined the John Jarrold Literary Agency. Anne has been writing fiction for several years, and has won and been shortlisted for a number of story and novel prizes. Her new novel, MALONEY'S LAW, is set in London and described by the author in these words: '… a dark crime thriller about Paul Maloney, a small-time private investigator who against his better judgement takes on a case brought to him by his ex-lover, Dominic Allen. Soon he finds himself battling with the forces of big business and international crime, and his own life comes under threat. Can he solve the puzzle and protect those he loves before it's too late?'

'Anne's writing held me spellbound,' said Jarrold. 'It's dark and involving. Her characterisation and descriptive writing are both top drawer, and her storytelling powers are superb. I foresee a major career here.'

Anne Brooke's website is at: http://www.annebrooke.com/

Following on from Thomas Schlueck's agreement to represent the John Jarrold Literary Agency in Germany, Jarrold has now taken on another European sub-agent. Patricia Pasqualini of Agence de l'Est in Paris will now sell the agency's rights in the following territories: France, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia, Albania, Macedonia, Serbia & Montenegro.

The John Jarrold Literary Agency is now represented in German-language markets by Thomas Schlueck GmbH. The Schlueck Agency already represents a number of major literary agents from the UK and the US.

'I'm delighted to be represented by Tom,' said John Jarrold. 'We will be doing business regularly, since Germany is a major market for the areas of fiction in which I'm working.'

6/7/2005 - CHRIS BECKETT

British SF author Chris Beckett has joined the John Jarrold Literary Agency. Beckett has had short fiction published over a number of years in INTERZONE and ASIMOVS, and his first novel, THE HOLY MACHINE was published by Wildside Press in the US in 2004. It has been highly praised on both sides of the Atlantic ('This book is incredible' – INTERZONE; 'One of the most accomplished novel debuts to attract my attention in some time' – ASIMOVS; 'If Beckett can keep it up, he will soon be as well known for his novels as he already is for his short fiction' – ANALOG).
Beckett is presently completing his next novel, MARCHER.

'Chris has a cool yet sympathetic eye,' said John Jarrold. 'THE HOLY MACHINE deserves mainstream publication, as will his future fiction. Delighted to have a new British SF writer on board.'

22/6/2005 - LEIGH KENNEDY

Leigh Kennedy has joined the John Jarrold Literary Agency. She is the author of the highly-regarded novels THE JOURNAL OF NICHOLAS THE AMERICAN, which was nominated for the Nebula, and SAINT HIROSHIMA, as well as many short stories, some of which have been nominated for World Fantasy, Nebula and BSFA awards.  Her writing has been translated into German, Finnish, Spanish and Japanese, and in 1998 she received an Arts Council Grant.

'I think more people recommended Nicholas the American to me than any other book,' said John Jarrold. 'Leigh is a major talent, and I couldn't be happier. She and Chris Priest live in Hastings, as do I, so we can get together regularly. We're already discussing new projects.'

22/6/2005 - DAVID BARNETT

David Barnett is the latest author to join the John Jarrold Literary Agency. He is an award-winning journalist and has worked as a specialist correspondent, a news editor, a columnist and a features editor on newspapers in the north of England.

He has reported from Bosnia and Kosovo; once made a pilgrimage to Jack Kerouac's grave in Massachusetts; counts taking part in the "running of the bulls" at Pamplona's St Fermin fiesta as his most frightening experience ever; and spent most of the Nineties lying in a field at the Glastonbury Festival wondering if it was time to go home yet.

David's first novel, HINTERLAND, was published in the UK earlier this year by Immanion Press. He is presently finishing his new novel, ANGELGLASS.

He is also the lead singer with charismatic pop combo Choppersquad, who remain available for all festivals and functions.

David lives in West Yorkshire with his wife Claire, their young children Charlie and Alice, and two cats, Kali and Shiva.

'ANGEL GLASS is really special,' said John Jarrold. 'Set in Prague in both the present day and 1584, it mixes aspects of the thriller, literary detective novel and SF. Remarkable. Welcome to the agency, David!'

5/5/2005 - JUSTINE HOPKINS

The latest author to join the John Jarrold Literary Agency is historical novelist Justine Hopkins. After graduating from Bristol University with First Class Honours in English and Drama, she went on to take an MA at the Courtauld Institute of Art History, where she specialized in the Romantic period, and wrote her dissertation on the early career of her step-grandfather, the painter, sculptor, critic and novelist, Michael Ayrton. After a year as an archaeological illustrator in Belize and Guatemala, she started research for a PhD at Birkbeck College, London, on the links between science, religion and landscape painting in the turbulent England of the Napoleonic Wars and up to Darwin's Origin of Species. In 1990 she completed her Doctorate, and began a career as a freelance writer and lecturer. Since then she has worked for various Universities, including Bristol, Cambridge, Oxford and London; at both Tates, the V&A, National and National Portrait Galleries, Covent Garden, Christies, and numerous independent art groups. She has also been writing poetry at intervals since her teens and short stories since University.

Daughter of Z CARS creator John Hopkins and grand-daughter of novelist Nigel Balchin, Hopkins has now written the first of a three-book historical sequence, HEARTWOOD. This novel is set in seventh-century Ireland, and deals with events surrounding the struggle for High-Kingship and the creation of the mystical Unicorn Harp of Tara. Future volumes are set in the Viking Age, around the first millennium, and Norman England. The on-going fate of the Harp binds them all together.

'Justine is a remarkable writer,' said John Jarrold. 'I've read historical fiction since I was eight or nine, but I've seldom seen characters that are so true to their age whilst speaking to a modern audience. The fact that she is a poet is no surprise, because her descriptive writing is lyrical, despite being grounded absolutely in reality. This novel is dark and powerful – it's extremely special.'

2/5/2005 - STEPHEN P DEAS

New UK fantasy author Stephen Deas has joined the John Jarrold Literary Agency. Deas' first novel, BLOODLINE, was to be published by the Writers' Collective in the US, but will now be offered by Jarrold to major publishers on both sides of the Atlantic. Deas works for BAE Systems, having studied Theoretical Physics at Cambridge. He has previously written reviews for the BSFA's magazine, VECTOR.

Deas' novel runs on two time-lines. In the present Sharda, a royal prince, is called on to find his niece the Princess Royal, whose sorcery holds the key to future salvation and who has disappeared. The Arian Empire has existed for centuries, but now an ancient enemy stirs and dark forces come together to plot the empire's destruction. Sharda's quest takes him down previously-trodden paths which recall bitter memories and lead the reader into the past and the demons of Sharda's youth, and earlier encounters with those forces. These two story-lines intertwine and come together in an extremely powerful denouement. He is presently writing a sequel, DOMINION. BLOODLINE has already received the following quotes:

"Powerful, ambitious, achieves a passionate intensity; a unique new voice in modern fantasy" – TOM HOLT

"Stephen Deas' Bloodline is an intriguing and challenging look at the eventual cost of youthful impetuosity and the redeeming nature of unselfish love." – L E MODESITT

'Stephen's characterisation reminds me of George R R Martin,' said Jarrold. 'There are few black and white characters here – apart from one set of dyed-in-the-wool villains. We can see the flaws in the protagonist and the reasoning behind the actions of characters we don't particularly like. The world and its history is carefully thought out, as are the back stories of all the characters. Sharda's hatred of certain others comes through with full force, as do their feelings – pro and con – for him.

'Stephen is a serious addition to the roll-call of major fantasy writers. I'm dead chuffed to welcome him to the agency!'

1/5/2005 - RAMSEY CAMPBELL

Ramsey Campbell, winner of four World Fantasy Awards, eleven British Fantasy Awards, the Horror Writers of America Lifetime Achievement Award, the World Horror Convention's Grand Master Award and many other honours in the horror and fantasy fields, has joined the John Jarrold Literary Agency – Jarrold will represent his UK and Commonwealth rights.

'I first read Ramsey's fiction in horror anthologies in the sixties, and I've known him for many, many years,' said Jarrold, 'and was lucky enough to be running Orbit Books at Macdonald Futura (now Time Warner UK) when Peter Lavery was publishing him on the mainstream list. He is, simply, one of the world's great writers of horror and dark fantasy. I'll be discussing his work with a number of publishers very soon.'

11/3/2005 - PETER CROWTHER

Author, editor, anthologist and publisher Peter Crowther is the latest client of the John Jarrold Literary Agency.

Jarrold acquired Crowther's first original anthology, NARROW HOUSES, and its two sequels for Macdonald Futura (now Time Warner UK) in 1990, since when Crowther has been a prolific author and editor (eighteen anthologies, four story collections – including British Fantasy Award-winner LONESOME ROADS -- and, in his longer work, the FOREVER TWILIGHT series and ESCARDY GAP, written in collaboration with James Lovegrove). He set up the highly praised and multiple award-winning PS Publishing specialist press in 1998. His stories have been adapted for British TV and optioned for the big screen.

'Pete is a friend and a smashing writer,' said Jarrold. 'And a great editor and publisher. Multi-tasking might have been invented for him. I daresay he also sleeps, maybe one night in three! He is presently writing a short SF novel and a decidedly dark mainstream novel, of which I've read early sections…I can't wait for the complete book, and I welcome him to the agency.'

4/1/2005 - GORDON RENNIE

The latest client of the John Jarrold Literary Agency is Scottish writer Gordon Rennie. Author of five novels, scripts for 2000AD including JUDGE DREDD, ROGUE TROOPER, CABALLISTICS INC, and several others now collected into graphic novels, including NECRONAUTS, RAIN DOGS and GLIMMER RATS, Rennie has also been commissioned to work on computer games and film scripts, which are presently underway.

'Gordon's imagination and range are outstanding,' said John Jarrold. 'I'm delighted he has joined the agency, and I look forward to discussing a number of his projects with book publishers and the film and media industries.'

12/2004 – HARVEY RAINES

Raines' first novel is MOONDOG, a long and multi-layered novel wherein the coming end of the world sees angels plummeting to Earth, although that is only one aspect of this 190,000-word book. The novel takes in a skewed version of the music industry, a strange 'grease' which allows people to sample their own lives, and a varied bunch of characters (not all entirely human) drawn into a struggle for the future of the universe.

'I really can't compare this to anything else,' said John Jarrold. 'The writing and concepts are remarkable. It's difficult to keep a reader fascinated throughout such a long book, but Raines has managed it superbly. His next two ideas sound equally original and imaginative. I'm delighted to welcome him to the agency.'

Contact John Jarrold via e-mail at: j.jarrold@btinternet.com

John Whitbourn is the latest author to join the John Jarrold Literary Agency. Whitbourn has had nine novels published since winning the Victor Gollancz/BBC Radio First Fantasy Novel prize in the 1990s. Most recently, he was published by his new agent during Jarrold's time with Simon & Schuster UK. He has also written short fiction, reviews and non-fiction pieces.

'I've enjoyed all of John's novels,' said Jarrold. 'In fact, I acquired and published four of them. When he told me he was looking to move agents, I immediately wanted to add him to the burgeoning stable of authors I'm representing! Publishing is all about timing, and I think his use of history - both quirky and magisterial - and outstanding story-telling are perfect at a time when authors as varied as Jasper Fforde and Susanna Clarke are being taken very seriously inside and outside the genre. His new ideas may well possibly work better on a non-genre imprint, but that's a discussion for the future.'

For more information contact John Jarrold by e-mail on: j.jarrold@btinternet.com

The fifth author to join the John Jarrold Literary Agency is William King. King has been published since 1988, first in short fiction for INTERZONE and in original anthologies (one of these stories, Visiting the Dead, was reprinted in THE YEAR'S BEST SCIENCE FICTION, edited by Gardner Dozois), latterly with novels for Games Workshop's WARHAMMER and WARHAMMER 40,000 series, which have been translated into Spanish, German, Polish, Finnish, Czech, Hungarian, Russian and Italian - more languages than any other Games Workshop novels. He is now writing a series of fantasy novels featuring a group of human warriors in a world which has been conquered by the Terrarchs, long-lived human-like aliens who look down upon the indigenous humans, but still use them.

Thus, King's characters fight in the army of the Terrarchs against both mortal and demonic foes. The title of the first volume is DEATH'S ANGELS. Born in Scotland, William King presently lives in Prague in the Czech Republic.

'I published the ZENITH original anthology at Orbit in the late eighties,' said John Jarrold, 'and saw Bill's talent then. His Games Workshop novels have always been outstanding in terms of story, character and imagination. He has ideas for nine novels in this series bubbling inside his head – as well as a detailed back-story – and I look forward greatly to discussing him with publishers on both sides of the Atlantic. You could call these books a cross between David Gemmell and Sharpe.'

21/8/2004 – ZORAN ZIVKOVIC

The latest client of the John Jarrold Literary Agency is World Fantasy Award-winning Serbian author, Zoran Zivkovic. Jarrold will be selling the author's English Language rights.

Zivkovic has won major awards in his native country, as well as being twice nominated for the distinguished International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award and winning the World Fantasy Award for his mosaic-novel THE LIBRARY (2003). All of his work has received outstanding reviews, characterising his writing as:

THE FOURTH CIRCLE: 'The finest allegory of understanding to hit the shelves in some time'

TIME-GIFTS: 'Provocative and compelling…and deserving of a larger and thoughtful audience'

THE WRITER: 'A glorious satire on the pompous myopia of establishment novelists and their naturalistic art'

THE LIBRARY: 'Polished and frighteningly intelligent'

His most recent novel is COMPARTMENTS, published in 2004.

John Jarrold said: 'Zoran is the fourth author I've taken on as a literary agent, and it's stunning to work with a writer of such power and intelligence this early in the agency's life. To label his work as post-modernist, magic realism or anything else that specific is to underrate his range. He's just a fabulous writer, and I hope he won't mind if I invoke Kafka and Milan Kundera when I look at the scope of his prose.'

For further information, please contact John Jarrold by e-mail on: j.jarrold@btinternet.com

2/7/2004

The third author to be taken on by the John Jarrold Literary Agency is Jasper Kent. Jasper's first novel, TWELVE, is a psychological thriller with fantastical overtones, set during Napoleon's invasion of Russia in 1812.

'I was hooked from the first page, as one wants to be with a good thriller,' said Jarrold. 'Jasper's debut is remarkable – I've seen prominent writers deliver tenth novels which were less assured. The Russian setting and atmosphere ring completely true, and the characters are fascinating. When the deaths begin, a cold fear seeps through Frenchman and Russian alike. It's a cracker!'

Jasper Kent lives in Brighton, works part-time as a software consultant and has co-written two musicals - one of which was produced for Jerusalem's 3,000th birthday celebrations. He has plans for a number of further novels, including a sequel to TWELVE.

'The original idea for the book came to me when I glanced at a copy of the painting of Bonaparte on the Pont d'Arcole by Jean Antoine, baron Gros, in which he has a somewhat wan and deathly appearance,' said the author. 'The Russian connection came, in part, from a (possibly intentional) similarity between that painting and a sketch of Dostoevsky's Raskolnikov by Ilya Glazunov. I wanted to write about beings who were evil by their very nature – not as a result of happenstance.'

For further information, please contact John Jarrold by e-mail on: j.jarrold@btinternet.com

John Jarrold has taken on his second author as a literary agent. Mark Newton is 23 years old and works in the Coventry branch of Ottakar's Bookstores as SF and Fantasy buyer.

'I was put in touch with Mark by George Mann, who worked with Mark at Ottakar's in Coventry before his recent move to BL Publishing,' said Jarrold. 'George is an old chum and a published author with both fiction and non-fiction to his credit. He rates Mark highly, and when I read the opening twenty thousand words of Mark's novel, The Book of Transformations, I was blown away. It has some of the best descriptive writing I've seen in the genre over the past ten years or more, and fascinating characters. Mark has a truly original imagination, and I have no doubt he's going to be one of the stars of SF and fantasy in the new millennium.'

Newton acknowledges influences from Salman Rushdie and Italo Calvino to M John Harrison and China Miéville. He characterises his first novel as 'A strange fantasy hybrid concerning the themes of identity and the lengths we go to in order to hide from or change ourselves, set on the desert world of Has-jahn .

'It is nothing short of a privilege to be able to work with John. To merely be somewhere under his umbrella – in the shadows of figures such as Michael Moorcock and Iain Banks – is very exciting and a little daunting too.'

For further information, please contact John Jarrold by e-mail on: j.jarrold@btinternet.com

17/6/2004 – JOHN JARROLD LITERARY AGENCY ANNOUNCES FIRST AUTHOR

John Jarrold, ex-publisher of SF and fantasy imprints at Time Warner, Random House and Simon & Schuster, has taken on his first author client as a literary agent: Stephen Hunt.

Stephen Hunt's first fantasy novel, FOR THE CROWN AND THE DRAGON, was published by W H Smith's, having won their New Talent initiative in the 90s. It received excellent reviews from many sources in both the UK and the US, including the Guardian, the leading SF magazine Interzone and Locus, and sold well over 10,000 paperbacks through WHS alone. He has several other novels in the pipeline, set up the website SF Crowsnest and works as an Associate Director for an international investment banking house.

'I read and enjoyed Stephen's first novel when it appeared,' said Jarrold. 'I feel he has everything it takes to become a major genre author; above all he's a great, imaginative storyteller, and now is the time to break him into mainstream publishing – and not just in the UK. It is one of the most exciting times in SF and fantasy in the last thirty years, and Stephen is set fair to be a major player. You could honestly say that I am dead chuffed to be his literary agent!'

Hunt added. 'In his long career, John has been responsible for publishing just about all of my favourite science fiction and fantasy authors, from Iain M Banks and Michael Moorcock, through to Tad Williams and Terry Brooks. With that kind of track record for developing and spotting talent – unsurpassed in the genre - I feel honoured to have him representing my literary interests too.'

Jarrold will be representing authors in the SF, fantasy, thriller, crime and historical fiction fields. He also represents SCi Games, a leading UK computer games company. 'I'll be continuing my script doctor activities,' he said. 'And working as a freelance editor for various publishers.' He can be contacted by e-mail on: j.jarrold@btinternet.com