HarperCollins lands two more from C J Cooke

HarperCollins has landed two more books from the creator of the Stay-at-Home! Festival, C J Cooke.

Executive publisher Kimberley Young and desk editor Katie Lumsden acquired UK and Commonwealth rights, including Canada, for two gothic thrillers from Alice Lutyens at Curtis Brown.

The first novel of the new deal, to be published in autumn 2022, follows 20-year-old Mabel Reynolds. The synopsis says: "It’s 1965 when, alone, pregnant and terrified, Mabel is sent to the remote Whisper Hall, an imposing home for unwed mothers high upon the cliffs of Scotland. When her baby is born, Mabel discovers that her daughter has a unique gift—but how can she protect her baby when she doesn’t understand her? Darkly brooding, thrillingly atmospheric and searingly relevant, this is a powerful gothic fairytale about motherhood, shame and the ghosts that won’t fade with time."

Cooke said: "I couldn’t be more delighted to share this fantastic news. Katie and Kimberley bring an enormous amount to the process, and their commitment to my writing and brilliant insights have played a huge part in shaping me as a writer. It’s a dream come true to work with all the team at HarperCollins, and I’m thrilled to be adding my next two books to their roster."

Young added: "Katie and I are thrilled that HarperCollins will be continuing to publish C J Cooke. She brings a new twist of her own to the gothic thriller: beautiful writing, twisting plots, settings that are characters unto themselves. The skill with which she handles her themes make her books not only fantastic reads but a real joy to work on."

Cooke’s latest novel, The Lighthouse Witches, publishes on 30th September 2021.