Quercus nets Kay’s Wild Things as US rights go in six-way auction

Quercus has snapped up two more novels from Tell Me Everything author Laura Kay, with the first, Wild Things, dubbed “a perfect showcase” for her talent.

Emma Capron of Quercus Fiction and Emma Finn at C&W negotiated UK and Commonwealth rights, with Wild Things to publish in May 2023 followed by another currently untitled book in the summer of 2024. 

In a separate six-way auction, US and Canada rights for Wild Things were won by Anna Kaufman, editor at Vintage and Anchor Books, from co-agent Hillary Jacobson at ICM.

Wild Things follows a group of friends who leave London to buy a crumbling house together in the countryside. Meanwhile El struggles to come to terms with her long-simmering feelings for best friend – and now housemate – Ray. 

Capron said: “I am thrilled to announce a new deal with Laura Kay. She is a fast-rising star in commercial fiction, and this is without a doubt her best novel to date. Wild Things will have you packing your bags, grabbing your closest friends and hunting down the perfect fixer-upper.”

Quercus published Laura Kay’s second novel Tell Me Everything on 26th May. It was acquired in 2020 in a six-way auction alongside her debut The Split.

Kay, who will soon be embarking on a bookshop tour for Tell Me Everything around the UK, including events in Brighton, London, Birmingham, Yorkshire and Manchester, said: “I am over the moon that I’ll be working with Emma Capron and the rest of the wonderful Quercus team on two more books. I’m so excited about our upcoming projects and can’t wait to share them with the world.”

Finn added: “I’m so happy that the passionate team at Quercus will be the motor behind this next stage of her publishing. Wild Things is exceptional and a perfect showcase for Laura’s talent, and seeing the love for this new novel both here and in the US has been very special.”