Boldwood signs five more authors as Emma Beswetherick is appointed editorial director

Boldwood has signed five more authors and hired Emma Beswetherick as editorial director as it ends its fifth year.

This brings the total number of writers on the independent publisher’s list to 184. The new authors represent two growing strands within the Boldwood portfolio, comprising "spicy contemporary billionaire romance", with new series from Zara Cox and V H Nicolson, and historical mysteries, with books from Michael Jecks and Keith Moray. 

Editorial director Megan Haslam acquired world all-language rights to Cox’s Sky High Addiction—the first book in the series—from the author directly, and the book will be published in March 2025. Haslam also bought world all-language rights directly from Nicolson to The Billionaire Boys series, which will be republished in spring 2025, as well as a new series, which will follow in the summer.

Publishing director Emily Ruston also acquired world all-language rights to Alice G May’s new Second World War saga series, The Resistance Girls, based on the true story of the Women’s Secret Army. Ruston acquired rights to the series from the author directly, and the first book will be published in summer 2025.

Meanwhile, editorial director Victoria Britton acquired world English language rights to Michael Jecks’ Vintener Trilogy series from the Hardman & Swainson Literary Agency. The first book in the series, which is set during The Hundred Years’ War, will be published in April 2024. Britton also bought world English language rights to a new series by Keith Moray, set against in the 1360s, from Creative Authors. The first book will be published in October 2025. 

All authors have been contracted on multi-book deals and will be published in every format simultaneously in all English-language territories.

Beswetherick will be starting in her new role in January 2025, acquiring across all commercial fiction genres. She was previously associate publisher at Piatkus where she published authors including Rosamund Lupton and Lisa Ballantyne. 

"I’ve admired Boldwood since they were founded, and it’s going to be an honour to help grow their already exceptional author list, working alongside such talented people," Beswetherick said.

Amanda Ridout, founder and chief executive officer of Boldwood, added: "As we end our fifth birthday year we are delighted to welcome five wonderful new authors who represent the broadening of our offering into the spicy romance and historical mystery areas. Our quest to offer bestselling commercial fiction in all its rich and varied glory to consumers everywhere continues apace. We are also excited to be announcing that the talented Emma Bestwetherick will be joining us to help with that endeavour. Five years in and 35 million books later, we are excited to see what 2025 will bring."