Sphere bags Jones’ ‘dazzling’ historical debut in 24-hour pre-empt

Sphere has pre-empted The Woman in the Wallpaper by Lora Jones, a “dazzling” historical debut billed as The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton (Picador) meets The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman.

As her first acquisition in her new role as editorial director at Sphere, Rosanna Forte acquired UK and Commonwealth rights to The Woman in the Wallpaper and one other from Rachel Neely at Mushens Entertainment in a “major” pre-empt. Sphere will publish in hardback in early 2025 as a superlead launch for the imprint.

North American rights were similarly snapped up 48 hours later in a "significant" six-figure pre-empt by Emily Meehan and Claire Wachtel at Union Square via Jenny Bent at The Bent Agency.

The Woman in the Wallpaper follows three women whose lives converge in a wallpaper factory outside of Paris on the eve of the French Revolution. Sofi, Lara and Hortense couldn’t be more different, but all become perturbed by a peculiar feature of the Oberst factory designs: the same woman at the heart of each motif.

They soon discover that she is the late wife of the owner, who died in mysterious circumstances, and whose short life has been memorialised by her husband and son. But as the scenes in the wallpaper appear to mirror the present, and the fire of Revolution burns violently across France, can these three women avoid a fate that seems, literally, written on the wall?

Forte said: “Reading the first few pages of Lora’s novel was an experience I have had very rarely as a commissioner. I instantly knew that this was a special story, masterfully told by a major new talent. I could see at once how to bring the beauty and the mystery of Lora’s world to life through the publication process, and I am confident that The Woman in the Wallpaper will enrapture and enthral readers just as much as it has everybody at Little, Brown.”

Jones said: “In Sphere and Union Square, The Woman in the Wallpaper has truly found the perfect home on both sides of the Atlantic and I couldn’t be more delighted. To be working with Rosanna is a dream come true, her instant enthusiasm for and insight into my work blew me away.

"Huge thanks to my superstar agent Rachel Neely for her encouragement and shrewd editorial advice, and for making it all happen! The last few weeks have been a beautiful whirlwind and I can’t wait to share this story with readers in 2025.”

Neely added: “Lora is a rare talent, receiving six offers of representation from agents within just a week of submitting her novel. It’s a huge privilege to represent her, and I am delighted to have found a home for Lora at Sphere, whose publishing I have long admired.”