HarperNorth scoops debut novel from Ellis in four-way auction

HarperNorth has scooped the debut novel and one other book from P J Ellis in a four-way auction.  

Commissioning editor Daisy Watt acquired UK and Commonwealth rights to Love & Other Scams from Florence Rees at A M Heath. It will publish in spring 2023. US and Canadian rights were sold to Kate Dresser at Putnam in a three-way auction by Maria Whelan at Inkwell Management. German rights have been sold to Droemer Knaur, Finnish rights to Tammi and Hebrew rights to Rimonim. 

The synopsis says: “Love & Other Scams follows Cat, who is broke, single, 30 and about to be kicked out of her London flat. In other words, Cat is struggling, but the thing you wouldn’t guess about her is that she’s a bit of a scammer. As in, she steals sometimes. Only from obnoxious people! She doesn’t do it often but occasionally the urge comes upon her and before she knows it, she’s lifted the wallet from the rich creep who felt her up at the bar. She’s not proud of it, it’s just a habit she can’t resist. 

“The day Cat is unceremoniously let go from her most recent freelance job, she gets an unexpected wedding invitation from Louisa, a supremely toxic frenemy from her past who is now wearing the biggest diamond Cat has ever seen on her finger. When Cat meets Jake, a bartender who shares her penchant for con artistry, she realises this wedding is her chance to reclaim a debt Louisa has been running up for years.” 

Ellis is a Birmingham-based writer and journalist covering pop culture, relationships and LGBTQ+ issues. His work has appeared in publications including GQ, Teen Vogue, Man Repeller, Men’s Health and MTV.  

He said: “I’m thrilled to be working with the fantastic team at HarperNorth, and couldn’t be happier that my first novel has found a home at a publisher whose values are so aligned with my own. Writing a caper full of romance and hijinks was a welcome distraction for me during lockdown, and I hope that Love & Other Scams offers readers that same joy and escapism in 2023.” 

Watt added: “Love & Other Scams is the perfect read for anyone who gets a thrill out of breaking rules. It’s sexy and will make you snort with laughter, and is the priceless gem I’d been craving for some time. There’s a little bit of Cat in everyone, and we at HarperNorth are proud to be welcoming the extraordinarily talented P J Ellis aboard at what is a very exciting time for the division.”