Second Josie Silver novel acquired by Viking

Viking has acquired a second novel by Josie Silver, whose debut One Day in December is currently a number one Kindle bestseller.

Billed as "another timeless love story" in the vein of "Sliding Doors" meets PS I Love You, editorial director Katy Loftus acquired world rights to second novel The Two Lives of Lydia Bird through Jemima Forrester at David Higham Associates.

In the new novel, a bereaved young woman who is just starting to come to terms with her loss gets the miraculous chance to live two lives: one where her husband is alive again; and one where she’s starting to fall for someone else.

It follows Silver's debut One Day in December, which has just sold into its 25th territory. US rights were sold by the Penguin Rights team to Crown in a six-figure pre-empt, and to Heyne in Germany in a six-figure deal, which other deals were done in France (Editions Leduc), Italy (Garzanti), Russia (Azbooka-Atticus), Brazil (Bertrand Brasil) and Sweden (Nordstedts).

Published last month as an e-book "for a core readership who start buying seasonal novels as early as September", according to Penguin One Day in December has already sold over 30,000 copies. The paperback will follow on 18th October.

Loftus commented: "I couldn’t be happier to see Josie Silver’s magic spreading across the world. Her novels speak to the innocent, hopeful part of us all, yet she writes without cliché or sentimentality. Her characters connect with readers in a unique and wonderful way that really does feel like some kind of magic. I am absolutely delighted to be working with her on her heart-breaking and wonderful second novel."