Kurien hired to drive rapid expansion of Orion Dash list

Orion has hired Aria’s Rhea Kurien as editorial director to lead a dynamic growth strategy for its digital imprint Orion Dash.

Kurien leaves her current role as commissioning editor at Head of Zeus to join Orion on 7th December. She will report to editorial director Charlotte Mursell.

At Aria, Kurien has published digital bestsellers Kate Forster, Jane Casey and Olivia Lara as well as overseeing the Aria Audio programme. Heading the recently launched digital-first imprint, Orion Dash, Kurien will be responsible for acquiring and publishing "the very best in commercial publishing", including crime and thriller, women’s fiction, historical fiction and more general fiction, "for the broadest possible audience". 

Under Kurien’s leadership, the aim is for the digital list to publish 20 titles in 2021, doubling the size of the list by the following year. 

Submissions are open to represented and independent writers, who can send a synopsis, one-line pitch and complete manuscript to dashdigital@orionbooks.co.uk.

Mursell said: "We are so thrilled to welcome Rhea to our brilliant team at Orion, her ambitious vision and strategy for the digital list exhibits the creativity, passion and energy that is at the heart of our commercial fiction publishing. We are so excited for Rhea to bring fresh talent and bestsellers to our impressive list of authors and to drive our digital success to even greater heights."

Kurien said: "While I will deeply miss my authors and friends at Aria, the opportunity to join the incredible team at Orion was impossible to turn down. I can't wait to build Orion Dash's identity as a digital-first commercial fiction imprint that is truly dynamic, daring and diverse. As a boutique list with the might of Orion behind it, I look forward to welcoming authors and agents to Orion Dash, and championing the bestsellers of tomorrow."