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Sphere scoops quartet of ghost stories from Elaine Thomson
Sphere has scooped a quartet of ghost stories set in Scotland from Edinburgh-based author Elaine Thomson. Editorial director Rosanna Forte acquired world English rights to Hawthorn, plus a further three novels, from Jenny Brown at Jenny Brown Associates. Sphere will publish Hawthorn in hardback in September 2025, with the other three novels publishing in 2026 and 2027.
Hawthorn is the first in a planned quartet of novels, each set in a different part of Scotland at the four "turning points" of the year: Samhain (or Halloween), the spring equinox, midsummer and midwinter. The synopsis for Hawthorn reads: "Hawthorn is set in 19th-century Caithness and follows cartographer Robert Sutherland as he attempts to chart Scotland’s most north-easterly county, and instead finds himself recuperating from a near-fatal accident in an old mansion, cared for by a wealthy widow and her beautiful daughter. But as events take ever stranger and more terrifying turns, Robert begins to wonder whether his presence at the house is really a coincidence, or whether someone – or something – has summoned him there."
Thomson previously published several historical crime novels with Constable under the name ES Thomson.
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Forte said: "I couldn’t be more excited to be publishing this wonderful quartet at Sphere. From the very first page, I was completely in thrall to Hawthorn. Elaine’s entrancing descriptions of Scotland, the tension and terror that poured from the pages, the deft sleights of hand that meant the novel never took me quite where I expected it to. It felt like reading the work of the old masters like MR James and I feel very privileged to be working with Elaine and Jenny on bringing these beautiful novels to readers."
Thomson said: "I am beyond thrilled to be working with Rosanna at Sphere. I had wanted to write ghost stories for a while, and to have the support and enthusiasm of Sphere behind Hawthorn, and the whole four-book project, means I am in the best hands to make these books as good as they can be. I am truly delighted by the opportunity."
Brown said: "This exquisite quartet of ghost stories, set at uncanny points of the year, signals an exciting new direction for Elaine’s writing, and Rosanna is the most perfect editor to bring these haunting tales to readers everywhere."
