Transworld strikes new two-book deal with Ruth Jones

Transworld has signed two new novels by Welsh actress and "Gavin and Stacey" co-creator Ruth Jones.

Publishing director Frankie Gray bought UK and Commonwealth rights including audio from Jonny Geller at Curtis Brown.

Jones’ debut, Never Greener, was published by Transworld in 2018 and has sold 177,341 copies, through Nielsen's Total Consumer Market. Her second novel, Us Three – a moving story about the abiding power of female friendship, told over four decades – is out in May 2020. Transworld, which won Never Greener and Us Three in a 10-way auction in 2016, will be staging a major UK tour, PR and marketing campaign for the Us Three launch and throughout 2020.

Details of the new books have not been revealed and a publication date is yet to be set but Geller, who went to university with Jones, said: "I knew Ruth at university as a talented actress and we all know her now as one of the greatest comedy writers and performers of her generation, so to see her turn her talents to fiction is a wonderful thing. Her warm stories of relationships and human frailties will delight her fans and many more."

Jones said: "I have been on the best journey. I never thought I’d write a novel and now I’ve written two! And the journey has so far been fantastic. I am so lucky to have shared the trip with the wonderful team at Transworld led by Larry Finlay, my brilliant editor Frankie Gray and her colleagues Alison Barrow, and Vicky Palmer. And of course my brilliant agent and Warwick friend Jonny Geller. I look forward immensely to the next two-book stage of the adventure and am incredibly grateful to them for having such faith in me. Here we go!"

Gray added: "I couldn’t be happier at the prospect of two more books from Ruth, both as a reader but also as her lucky editor. We are honoured to be her publisher and to have the opportunity to take her brand as a novelist to ever-greater heights in the years ahead."