Ken Follett moves to Hachette in global English language deal
Ken Follett has signed a global English language deal with Hachette UK and Hachette Book Group for an as yet untitled book, it was announced today (Monday, 13th May).
Ben Sevier, president and publisher of Grand Central Publishing at Hachette Book Group, and Jon Butler, managing director at Hachette UK’s Quercus, acquired US and Canada rights and UK and Commonwealth rights respectively, directly from the Follett Office.
Follett, who Pan Macmillan has published for 35 years and Penguin for 45 years, will move to Hachette UK and Hachette Book Group to publish his next book, which will be released worldwide in 2025. To date, rights have been sold in Danish, English, French, German, Italian and Spanish.
Ken Follett said: "This is the beginning of an exciting new phase for me: new publisher, new editors, new sales force. I’m already published in paperback in French by Le Livre de Poche, an Hachette company that has impressed me with its dynamism and creativity. I’m looking forward eagerly to working with Hachette teams in New York and London."
David Shelley, c.e.o. of the Hachette Book Group and Hachette UK, said: "As a longtime fan, I’m excited on both a personal and professional level that Ken Follett has decided to publish with Hachette in the US and UK. He’s one of the great storytellers and his new book will thrill his many millions of fans. We have ambitious and coordinated plans to launch and make it one of the publishing events of 2025."
Ben Sevier, president and publisher of Grand Central Publishing, said: "Ken Follett has long been one of my favourite novelists and his next book has all the scope and ambition to make it one of the most enduring works of fiction of our time. I could not be happier to welcome him to Grand Central Publishing and Hachette."
Jon Butler, managing director, Quercus said: "Having loved Ken Follett’s work for years as a reader, from Eye of the Needle to Pillars of the Earth and the awesomely ambitious Century trilogy, I’m thrilled that Quercus and Grand Central are joining forces to publish his new book with real fanfare across the English-speaking world. No spoilers in this initial announcement, but if I could have dreamed up the perfect setting, story and title for a new Ken Follett, this would be it..."
