Waterstones bookseller signs debut thriller with Titan

Titan Books has signed a debut psychological thriller which explores the bonds of sisterhood by Waterstones bookseller Fran Dorricott.

Titan Books' managing editor Miranda Jewess acquired world English language rights to two titles from Diana Beaumont at the Marjacq Scripts. Dorricott joins Titan Books "rapidly expanding" commercial crime list, which includes authors Lisa Lutz, Kate Moretti, Chris Ould and Andrew Cartmel.

This first title, set to publish February 2019, entitled After the Eclipse is a "sharply and cleanly" told psychological thriller that explores community and family ties in a story of two solar eclipses and two missing girls.

Jewess said she was “excited to have signed up a new rising star in Fran Dorricott,” and praised the book as “a stay-up-all-night read that is both commercial and thought-provoking."

Dorricott said: “As a bookseller for Waterstones I hear many stories and am fortunate to be surrounded by the best books every day. It has long been my dream to see my own novel on those shelves and I’m over the moon it has found the perfect home with Miranda and the Titan team.”

The novel will publish simultaneously in the UK and North American markets from Titan Books, with Australia and New Zealand to follow shortly after.