Headline strikes fresh two-book deal with Nikola Scott

Headline has acquired two new books by author Nikola Scott, a former editorial director at Little, Brown.

Headline Publishing Group’s executive publisher Marion Donaldson acquired world rights in two new novels by Scott from literary agent Caroline Hardman of Hardman & Swainson. The deal follows Scott's 2016 debut My Mother's Shadow and forthcoming second book Summer of Secrets, slated for autumn 2018, in which Headline has sold translation rights in 11 territories.

Scott's publisher said she would continue to focus on "issue-focused fiction for the Rachel Hore/Lucinda Riley market about women’s lives, weaving together historical and contemporary stories", with the first novel under her new contract set in both the present day and during the Second World War. It publishes in 2020. No further details have been disclosed.

Prior to life as an author, Scott worked in book publishing as an editor in the US and then in the UK for 10 years, most recently as editorial director at Little, Brown. She now lives in Germany.  

Scott said: "Seeing my books in print has been a dream come true. I’m thrilled to continue working with Marion and the brilliant team at Headline, as well as the amazing line-up of international publishers."

Donaldson said: "I couldn’t be more delighted to agree a new deal with Nikola and Caroline. Nikola has a distinctive and unforgettable voice, and her riveting, dramatic stories draw us into the heart of her characters’ worlds, making their dilemmas ours. It’s thrilling too to have so many passionate editors around the world committed to Nikola’s career."