Avon takes two from Howells

Avon has scooped two books from writer Debbie Howells, who was previously published by Pan Macmillan.

Phoebe Morgan acquired UK and Commonwealth rights to The Vow—slated for October this year—and a second book from Juliet Mushens at Caskie Mushens.

Morgan said: "I have long been a fan of Debbie’s intoxicating writing and am so pleased to be bringing her to HarperCollins. The Vow asks a terrifying question—what would you do if your fiancé disappeared two weeks before your wedding —and Debbie handles it superbly."

Howells is a florist and lives with her family and assorted animals in Sussex. She is the author of The Bones of You (Macmillan), a Richard & Judy Book Club pick that sold 85,246 copies in paperback and 2,154 in hardback through BookScan's Total Consumer Market.

She said: "I am completely thrilled to be joining the team at Avon and to be working with Phoebe on bringing The Vow to readers."

Mushens added: "Debbie burst onto the psychological thriller scene with her bestselling début The Bones of You, and I’m so excited for people to be just as gripped by The Vow. A disappearing fiancé, a sinister herb garden, and two women with a secret… I’m excited for Phoebe and her innovative team to spin their magic around its release."