Picador swoops for two tales from Dear Mrs Bird author Pearce in six-figure deal

Picador has swooped for two Emmy Lake Chronicles books from Dear Mrs Bird author A J Pearce in a six-figure deal.

Commissioning editor Gillian Fitzgerald-Kelly acquired UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada, for two in the Emmy Lake Chronicles series from Jo Unwin at JULA. The third novel in the series Mrs Porter Calling and a fourth, as yet untitled book, will be the sequels to top 10 bestsellers Dear Mrs Bird, published by Picador in 2018, and Yours Cheerfully, released in 2021.

Fitzgerald-Kelly said: “I couldn’t be happier to continue working with A J and to be publishing her brilliant novels on the Picador list. A J is the dream author: a deeply gifted and talented storyteller, collaborative, commercially savvy and always fun. This wonderful series began with the smash-hit publication of Dear Mrs Bird in 2018 and since then Emmy Lake has soared ever higher. It’s a thrill to announce this acquisition just as we are about to publish the paperback of the acclaimed sequel, Yours Cheerfully. More books from A J and this magnificent series means more Emmy, more Bunty, more Charles and even more larks. We can’t wait!’

Set in London in the spring of 1943, the third novel in the Emmy Lake Chronicles series reunites readers with Emmy, Bunty and Mr Collins as Emmy tackles her role as a fully-fledged agony aunt at Woman’s Friend. The synopsis goes on: “While Emmy and the team do all they can to help the readers through a fourth year at war, when a new publisher arrives, the entire future of the magazine is put under threat. As events at home take an unexpected turn, Emmy Lake is forced to decide where her loyalties lie as she faces her most important challenge yet.”

Unwin commented: “It’s exciting to see how Picador have built the iconic Dear Mrs Bird so quickly and effectively into a recognisable brand. A J had both her UK and US teams sobbing into their zooms as she told us how the stories develop, and readers have a moving and highly satisfying treat in store.”

Pearce added: “I’m so pleased I’ll get to write more stories about Emmy and Bunty. I’m hugely grateful for the support I’ve had, both from Picador and all the booksellers and readers, who have been incredibly kind. I hope everyone will enjoy what’s coming up next, especially the new baddie, who really is horrible!”