Cathy Bramley moves to Orion

Romantic fiction writer Cathy Bramley has signed a six-figure three-book deal with Orion, moving from Transworld who published her first 10 novels. 

Harriet Bourton, publisher for Orion Fiction, acquired UK and Commonwealth rights in a deal struck with Hannah Ferguson at Hardman & Swainson.

Bramley has sold over a million copies in five years across all formats, according to Orion; the publisher said each of her books had been a bestseller in digital. Through Nielsen BookScan she has sold 294,372 copies for £1.2m, with her bestseller 2017’s The Lemon Tree Café, at 58,399 copies sold. 

Orion will begin begin publishing Bramley in summer 2019, with A Patchwork Family, to be published in four consecutive e-book parts between July and October, with the complete novel coming out in paperback in Spring 2020. It tells the story of childminder Gina and the challenge she faces to save The Evergreens, home to three charming and fun-loving octogenarians, when it goes up for sale.

Bourton, who formerly commissioned women's commercial fiction for Transworld between 2013 and 2016, worked with Bramley at the beginning of her career on her debut Ivy Lane. The project began "a truly creative, collaborative and fun relationship", Bourton said, adding both she and Orion were now keen to continue establishing Bramley as "a major commercial fiction brand".

Bramley said: "Parting company with Transworld, after nearly five wonderful years and 10 books, wasn’t an easy decision and I am hugely grateful to the friends I leave behind. However, when the opportunity arose to work with the super-talented Harriet Bourton again, it felt like the perfect time for a fresh direction for my publishing and I’m thrilled to be joining the team at Orion. Harriet and I are already working on the first of what I hope will be three fabulous novels and I can't wait to share our exciting plans with booksellers and readers."