Arrow signs Ashworth's Lancashire mill worker series

Penguin Random House imprint Arrow has signed a series of books by Libby Ashworth about the lives of Lancashire mill workers.

Arrow editor Cassandra Di Bello acquired world English language rights to three titles in The Mill Town Lasses saga from Felicity Trew at Caroline Sheldon Literary Agency. The first book in the series will be published in paperback, ebook and audio in March 2020.

The publisher said: “Set in Lancashire against the backdrop of the Industrial Revolution, the books will bring to life the experiences of mill workers in the north-west of England – focusing on one family and their struggles to overcome the poverty and tough conditions of the time.”

Ashworth, from Blackburn, discovered stories of working people she wanted to tell when she was researching her family tree.  She has previously written historical novels and local history books.

Di Bello said: “I was instantly blown away by Libby’s writing, which delves into so many of the themes that we know saga readers love. Libby has a natural and engaging way of bringing her characters and their world to life, and her passion for the area and its history shines through. I can’t wait for readers to fall in love with these novels as much as I have.”

Ashworth added: “I'm so looking forward to sharing the stories of people who lived and worked in Blackburn during the troubled times of the nineteenth century. They are all family to me.”