Allan in thriller deal with Avon

Avon has signed a deal to publish two books by Claire Allan.

Phoebe Morgan, commissioning editor at Avon, acquired world all language rights to two psychological thrillers from Ger Nichol at The Book Bureau.

Allan’s first book with Avon, about a woman who sees a young mother die and begins to insert herself into the space left behind, will be her first thriller and is slated for publication summer 2018.

Morgan said: “I’m so excited to start working with such a talented author. The moment Claire’s manuscript came in I was hooked – it explores some very dark themes and will make each and every one of us question what it really means to have a perfect life.”

Allan added: “I'm beyond thrilled to be working with such a talented and dedicated team for my next two books. Getting this deal with Avon really is a dream come true – and there is no one I would rather launch the next chapter of my career with. Avon's reputation really does speak for itself. The shift to writing psychological thrillers has been a challenge but one I am loving – and I look forward to unleashing more of my dark side over the next few years.”

Allan hails from Northern Ireland and has written eight books, five of which have sold enough in print to chart on Nielsen BookScan’s TCM. The quintet has sold 9,272 copies for just under £70,000 since first being published in 2008, with her bestseller 2008’s Feels Like Maybe which has sold 2,448 copies amassing £19,877. According to her agent, total life sales amount to 120,000.

Allan also spent 18 years working as a journalist with the Derry Journal.