Boldwood is delighted to announce the acquisition of fourteen more authors – bringing the total numbers of writers on its list to 115. This comes after an exceptional third year of trading when the company grew its revenue by 70% to £4.6m and achieved a net profit of 35%.
The fourteen new authors range from bestselling romantic fiction writers Mandy Baggot, Sandy Barker, Sarah Hope, Hannah Lynn and Kim Nash to thriller sensation M. A. Hunter and Viking aficionado J. C. Duncan, via the wonderful historical storytellers Lynette Rees and Elaine Roberts. Also joining the list are women’s fiction writers Julia Jarman and Sheila Norton alongside Anita Davison and Kate Wells, who are bringing new cosy mystery series, plus the US bestseller of hilarious romantic comedies Camilla Isley. These latest additions further emphasise the breadth of the Boldwood list, showcasing the very best in commercial fiction, and have all been contracted on multi-book deals and will be published in every format simultaneously in all English-language territories.
Joining the fifteen-strong Boldwood team in April is a new Editorial Director Rachel Faulkner-Willcocks, who is currently at Aria, and has published many bestselling authors there and at Avon. She says: ‘I am hugely excited to join the brilliant Boldwood team – commercial editors are driven by a desire to connect great books with as many readers as possible, and few publishers are doing this as successfully as they are. Their readiness to innovate and reputation for excellent author care is incredibly inspiring, and I can’t wait to bring new voices to an already amazing list.’
Amanda Ridout Founder and CEO comments: ‘After a standout year in financial and bestseller terms for the company in 2022, we are delighted to be welcoming another fourteen new authors and a new team member. Last year was our second consecutive year of 70% growth and we have now sold nearly 12 million books around the world, across multiple formats and through many diverse channels. I am immensely proud of what we have achieved in just three years of trading and, as ever, am so thankful to our brilliant authors and dedicated team for making it all possible.’
Boldwood’s latest additions to their author list and to their team are below with biographical and title detail:
The Latest Boldwood Authors
Mandy Baggot is the internationally bestselling and award-winning author of romantic comedies, many of which are set in Greece, where she spends much of her time. Most recently published by Embla, her first novel with Boldwood, Under a Greek Sun, will be published in April 2023.
Sandy Barker is the bestselling author of eight destination romance novels. She lives in Australia, and her travel adventures across six continents inspire her writing. Previously published by One More Chapter, the first in her new romcom series for Boldwood will be published in September 2023.
Anita Davison is the author of the successful Flora Maguire historical mystery series . Previously published by Aria, she is writing a new cosy mystery series for Boldwood, the first title of which Murder in the Bookshop, will be published in August 2023.
J. C. Duncan is a well-reviewed historical fiction author and amateur bladesmith, with a passion for Vikings. The first book in his fictional series about Harald Hardrada, the last great Viking leader, will be published by Boldwood in October 2023.
Sarah Hope is the author of many successful romance novels, including the bestselling Cornish Bakery series. The first book in her new series with Boldwood, The Wagging Tails Dogs Home, is set in a fictional Cornish village and will be published in May 2023.
M. A. Hunter is the alter ego of Stephen Edger, the bestselling author of psychological and crime thrillers, including the Kate Matthews series. Most recently published by One More Chapter, his new thriller, Adrift, will be published by Boldwood in May 2023.
Camilla Isley is an engineer who left science behind to write bestselling contemporary rom-coms set all around the world. She lives in Italy and her first title for Boldwood, The Love Theorem, a Hollywood-meets-STEM romance, will be published in June 2023.
Julia Jarman has written over a hundred books for children, and is now turning her hand to uplifting, golden years women’s fiction. Drawing on her own experience of bereavement, female friendship and late-life dating, The Widows’ Wine Club will be published by Boldwood in June 2023.
Hannah Lynn is the author of over twenty books spanning several genres. As well as signing a new romantic fiction series, Boldwood will be republishing the first of her bestselling Sweet Shop series, inspired by her Cotswolds childhood, The Sweet Shop of Second Chances in April 2023.
Kim Nash is the author of uplifting, romantic fiction and an energetic blogger alongside her day job as Digital Publicity Director at Bookouture. Previously published by Hera, her first book with Boldwood, Hopeful Hearts at the Cornish Cove, will be released in March 2023.
Sheila Norton is the author of contemporary, feel-good fiction set in Devon. In 2022 she won the RNA’s Best Christmas Novel for her twenty-third book Winter at Cliff’s End Cottage. Previously published by Piatkus, her first novel with Boldwood will be released in early 2024.
Lynette Rees is the bestselling author of several historical fiction titles and lives in Wales. Previously published by Quercus, her first novel for Boldwood, The Winter Waif, set in Victorian Wales, will be published in December 2023.
Elaine Roberts is the bestselling author of historical sagas set in London during the First World War. Previously published by Aria, she is bringing her successful Foyles Girls titles to Boldwood who will publish the fourth in this series in September 2023.
Kate Wells is the author of a number of well-reviewed books for children, and is now writing a new cosy crime series set in the Malvern hills, inspired by the farm where she grew up. Boldwood will publish the first title, Murder at Malvern Farm, in August 2023.
The Latest Boldwood Team Member
Rachel Faulkner-Willcocks has been Editorial Director of Aria at Head of Zeus since January 2022, driving their acquisition and backlist strategies. Before that she was a senior commissioner at Avon for over six years. She has published numerous bestsellers in the women’s fiction genre including Lorna Cook and Philippa Ashley, and in the crime and thriller genre, including Scott Mariani and Mel Sherratt.
