Embla Books lands Ford's historical sagas

Embla Books, the digital-first imprint of Bonnier Books UK, has landed three historical saga titles from author Fiona Ford.  

Hannah Smith, editorial director, acquired world English-language rights from Kate Burke at Blake Friedmann following an auction. The first book in the deal, The Good Time Girls, is slated for release in e-book and audio in spring 2022. The second book under contract will be published in autumn 2022. 

The Good Time Girls tells the story of "four incredible women who come together at the legendary Hammersmith Palais de Danse in the shadow of the Second World War,” Embla said. 

Ford is the author of two other saga series and was most recently published by Penguin Random House imprint Arrow.  

Smith said: “I’ve long been a fan of Fiona’s historical fiction. She conjures the past brilliantly and her research is second to none. When The Good Time Girls hit my inbox, I was already bursting with excitement—and I wasn’t disappointed [by the book]. Immediately I was drawn into the strong themes of female friendship and empowerment against the beautiful backdrop of the Hammersmith Palais.” 

Ford added: “The moment I met the Embla team, I knew I wanted to join them. Their passion for books was compelling, as was their knowledge, professionalism and sheer dynamism. The whole package was like nothing I had ever found in publishing before and I knew Embla was the perfect home for my new saga series. The absolute cherry on the cake is that I am now working with Hannah Smith again, who is one of the most talented and enthusiastic editors I have ever had the pleasure to know. I can't wait to be a part of the Embla story and am so proud to be a part of their quest for success.”