HarperCollins scoops three more Pinborough novels

HarperCollins has bought three more novels by Behind Her Eyes author Sarah Pinborough in a “substantial six-figure” deal.

Natasha Bardon, publishing director at HarperFiction, acquired UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada, for the titles from Veronique Baxter at David Higham Associates, ahead of publication of already-contracted Cross Her Heart, to be published by HarperCollins in May 2018.

Meanwhile in the US, David Highfill, v.p and executive editor at HC imprint William Morrow, pre-empted North American rights for Cross Her Heart and two more novels, in a “significant seven-figure deal” with Grainne Fox at Fletcher and Co.

Bardon said: “I’m absolutely thrilled to secure three more brilliant novels from Sarah Pinborough for Harper Fiction. I promised that Behind Her Eyes would knock your socks off, well wait for Cross Her Heart - it has more twists than you can shake a stick at. It has been fantastic working with Sarah and I’m so happy that our relationship with her now stretches across the pond, too.” Of Cross Her Heart, the blurb reads: “Promises only last if you trust each other, but what if one of you is hiding something, a secret no one could ever guess? Someone is living a lie.”

Highfill said he found the books “all very real… American readers are going to love this one.”

He said: ‘I’m tremendously impressed with the storytelling skills on display here, the subtle teases and twists that make it clear what a careful and confident writer Sarah Pinborough is.”

Pinborough described feeling “overawed” by the deal. She said: “Aside from the fact that book deals like these are an author’s dream and I’m a little in shock, I am mainly truly excited to be able to continue working with the amazing team at HarperFiction UK and also now to have a legend such as David Highfill as my US editor at William Morrow."

Pinborough’s highly successful first adult thriller, Behind Her Eyes, the author's 21st novel, was pre-empted by Bardon for HarperFiction in 2015 and published in January 2017. It has been optioned for television by Left Bank Pictures.

The author has sold a total 124,800 books making £660,258, with 65,671 copies sold of the paperback of Behind Her Eyes, which has gone to both the Original Fiction and Mass Market Fiction number ones at some point this year, according to Nielsen BookScan.