Sharon Bolton moves to Trapeze

Crime fiction author Sharon Bolton has signed a three-book deal with Trapeze after 10 years publishing with Transworld.

Sam Eades, editorial director at Trapeze, acquired three novels from Bolton in a deal struck by Anne-Marie Doulton at the Ampersand Agency for world English rights including audio.

Bolton has published 10 books selling over one million copies worldwide, according to Orion, and is the winner of the Mary Higgins Clark Award, for her second novel Awakening, and the CWA's Dagger in the Library Award for a body of work.

The first novel in the deal is The Craftsman, which will be a "superlead" title for Trapeze in Spring 2018. Beginning a trilogy of "ambitious, brooding" thrillers, The Craftsman draws upon the author's own background of growing up in the north of England - in the shadow of the Pendle Witch Trials, the Moors Murderers and the Yorkshire Ripper.

Switching between 1969 and 1999, The Craftsman is the story of a community shattered by a merciless predator, and of a young police constable, out of her depth in a climate of misogyny and superstition, battling to solve a case that could make her career - or change her forever. 

Eades, editorial director at Orion, said Bolton would be "a jewel in the Trapeze list". David Shelley, c.e.o. of Orion, said she was one of his favourite crime writers and Katie Espiner, m.d. of Orion, promised the group had "ambitious plans" in place to win her new fans.

Eades said: "Sharon Bolton is a writer like no other; a writer who instinctively knows our greatest fears and explores the darkest corners of the reader’s mind. She is also one of the hardest working authors in the industry. I have been a huge admirer of hers for years, and know the team here has the vision, passion and experience to take her career to even greater heights. With The Craftsman Sharon has produced her best work yet, the thriller everyone will be talking about in 2018. She will be a jewel in the Trapeze list, and we are very lucky to be publishing her."

Espiner, m.d. of Orion, added: "Sharon Bolton is simply one of the finest crime writers working today and I could not be more thrilled that she's joining Orion. Sam and the team have ambitious plans in place for Sharon, and her new book is absolutely stunning - clever, claustrophobic and nerve-jangling. She's an incredible talent and it's a privilege to be working with her."

Bolton said fo the move: "From our very first meeting, I was hugely impressed by the energy, enthusiasm and professionalism of the Trapeze team. I’m honoured by their confidence in me, and very much looking forward to working with them on The Craftsman."

Doulton, Bolton's agent, said: "Sam Eades' boundless enthusiasm for and belief in Sharon's writing together with Orion’s forensic approach to marketing, promotion and sales proved a winning combination. Sharon has spent 10 happy years with Transworld, and the decision to move on was far from easy, but in the end we were both persuaded that the invigorating environment of new imprint Trapeze offers exactly those opportunities and challenges Sharon is keen to embrace. From what I've seen so far of The Craftsman, readers have something exceptional in store for them."

Transworld commented of Bolton's departure, after 10 years of publishing with Transworld, it wished both Bolton and Trapeze "every possible success".

Sarah Adams, fiction publisher at Transworld, said: ‘"I could not be more proud of the Transworld team for all they have done to grow Sharon’s readership over the past decade. They have published her with passion, energy and relentless determination, as her brilliant books deserve. Our time has now come to part ways and we all wish Sharon and Orion every possible success in the future."

The Craftsman publishes in April 2018 in audio, e-book and hardback.