Hodder acquires two novels from Katie Marsh

Hodder & Stoughton has acquired two new novels from women’s fiction writer Katie Marsh.

Senior editor Emily Kitchin bought world rights to This Beautiful Life and a second untitled novel from Hannah Ferguson at Hardman & Swainson Literary Agency.

This Beautiful Life is described as both a "brilliantly funny" and "life-affirming" novel. It asks the question: after you’ve survived the worst, what happens now? Its protagonist, Abi Cooper is in remission and hoping to live her happy ending – but during her illness, her family has fallen apart. Set to the music on Abi’s "survival" playlist, This Beautiful Life is the story of what happens next as she tries to put her family back together again.

According to Hodder, Marsh's e-book and paperback sales combined total over 118,000 copies. Her books have been translated into eight languages.

Kitchin said: “Katie is an absolute star of our women’s fiction list, and I am over the moon to be publishing more of her fiction. Her gorgeously warm, wise and funny novels always pack a huge emotional punch, and This Beautiful Life is the most powerful yet. It has been a delight to watch Katie’s audience grow so rapidly in less than two years and to see so many readers falling in love with her books in the way that we have. We have enormously ambitious plans for Katie, and are very excited for what the future holds.”

Marsh said: “I am delighted to be continuing my writing career with the brilliant team at Hodder & Stoughton, and am so excited about This Beautiful Life. I hope that setting the book to music adds extra momentum and heart to the story, which was inspired by the bravery of close friends who have recently survived cancer. I can’t wait to see it published and hope that readers enjoy reading it as much as I have enjoyed writing it.”

This Beautiful Life will publish in e-book in June 2017 and in paperback in August 2017.