Head of Zeus scoops three more from Harffy

Head of Zeus has signed a deal for three new historical adventures from Matthew Harffy for its Aries list. 

Nicolas Cheetham, c.e.o. and publisher, acquired world rights directly from the author.

The new deal includes the second novel in Harffy’s A Time for Swords series, which will be launched by Aries in March 2021 and will chart the journey of a young man from novice monk to viking-slaying warrior in the eighth century AD. The second book will follow in March 2022.

The two other books in the new deal will continue the Bernicia Chronicles series (Aries), which follows the battles and triumphs of Northumbrian warrior Beobrand in the seventh century AD. The eighth instalment, For Lord and Land, will be published in hardback, e-book and audio on the 1st July 2021 and the ninth title will follow in December 2022.

Simultaneously, rights to the first three books of the Bernicia Chronicles have been sold by Head of Zeus rights director, Claire Kennedy, to Barbara Heinzius at German publisher Goldmann Verlag, an imprint of Verlagsgruppe Penguin Random House. 

Cheetham said: "Last year's launch of our adventure imprint Aries was a huge success and Matthew’s blend of intricate historical research and red-blooded adventure lead the charge. The outline for his new series, A Time for Swords, is one of the most exciting and original historical adventure pitches I’ve read."

Harffy said: "Since my first novel, The Serpent Sword, it has been a pleasure to work with the amazing team at Head of Zeus. I am delighted to have signed up for three new books with the Aries imprint. At Aries, my books have found the perfect home and, with such talented professionals behind them, I cannot wait to see my series go from strength to strength in 2021 and beyond. I am also overjoyed that the first three Bernicia Chronicles have been sold to Goldmann Verlag. I am ecstatic to see my stories reach a wider audience in the hugely important German market."

Harffy's debut, The Serpent Sword, was published by Head of Zeus imprint Aria in 2017.