Transworld postpones launch of Ruth Jones' second novel until September

The publication of Ruth Jones' second novel Us Three (Transworld) has been postponed from 14th May to 3rd September to avoid jeopardising promotional plans for the book following the coronavirus outbreak.

Transworld was clear that Jones' book tour, originally scheduled for 10th–19th May in collaboration with FANE, has not been cancelled.

Given the current circumstances, with events being cancelled across the country, a spokesperson for Transworld said it was "mindful" of the fact that a huge proportion of Jones' promotional platform is through events. To avoid jeopardising this, the decision to postpone publication of the book has been taken pre-emptively by Transworld.

Retailers were notified of the change in publication date on Friday (13th March). The book's release in September will be accompanied by a major UK book tour, all being well, plus media appearances from Jones.

Jones' agent, Jonny Geller, c.e.o. of Original Talent and chairman of Curtis Brown, commented: "We took the decision to move Ruth‘s publication date because so much of the success of her debut novel, Never Greener, was as a result of her meeting readers, supporting bookshops on tour and having the space to talk about her book at public events. Ruth wants to do the same again for her new novel, Us Three, and support the trade as much as she can and looks forward to launching this joyful novel in September."

Us Three is billed as a moving story about the abiding power of female friendship, told over four decades. It was acquired as the second in a two-book deal by publishing director Frankie Gray from Jonny Geller at Curtis Brown.