Bookouture bags cookery writer Sheppard's fiction debut in two-thriller deal

Bookouture is teaming up with Amy Sheppard as the cookery writer makes her fiction debut, beginning with The Beach Party.  

Associate publisher Lydia Vassar-Smith acquired world English language rights from Clare Hulton at Clare Hulton Literary Agency. The Beach Party will be published in August 2022.  

On her move from non-fiction to fiction, Sheppard commented: “I’ve been writing recipes and cookbooks for six years and have been so lucky to be part of such a supportive foodie community—building up a following of over 60,000. I really enjoy the technical process of non-fiction. I get to share the food I love and in turn some of myself. Writing fiction is so different. You have total freedom. I became fully immersed in the characters—their loves, their lives… their homes. Storytelling has been an absolute joy.”  

“I knew within five minutes of speaking to Lydia that I really wanted her to edit my books,” Sheppard stated. “Lydia just ’got it’ straightaway—who the characters really were and the stories I wanted to tell. I love the way Bookouture work.” 

Vassar-Smith added: “As soon as I started reading The Beach Party, I knew it was something special. Amy’s writing swept me down to Cornwall and took me on a dark journey, desperate to discover what had happened to the 17-year-old girl who never came home from the party. Fans of C L Taylor, Lucy Foley and T M Logan will be hooked on Amy’s writing.”