Sphere signs Aly Martinez’ ‘masterful’ TikTok romance From the Embers  

Sphere has snapped up From the Embers, Aly Martinez’s previously independently published romantic thriller that went viral on TikTok.

Tilda Key, who will take up the role of publishing director for crime and thriller in January, acquired UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada, from Kimberly Brower at Brower Literary & Management. From the Embers publishes in e-book on 20th December 2022 and will be released in paperback in February 2023.

From the Embers tells the story of Eason, who must make the unthinkable choice to save his wife and leave their two friends behind when a fire starts during a dinner party. Eason only realises as he escapes the burning building that the woman in his arms is not his wife, and he has saved the wrong woman. The publisher says “tragedy, secrets and romance then collide in this thrilling romance”.

Martinez’s videos about the book have racked up over 10 million views on TikTok, and thousands of five-star Amazon ratings.

Key said: “I’m delighted to welcome Aly to the Sphere list – from the moment I started From the Embers I knew Sphere would be the perfect partner to take this book to a whole new audience. Readers are going to be blown away by Aly’s masterful combination of big, emotional themes, characters to die for and a brilliant twist in the tale.”

Martinez said she was “beyond thrilled to be joining the Sphere family” and “couldn’t imagine a better partnership to share From the Embers with readers throughout the UK and British Commonwealth,” while Brower added: “I couldn’t be more thrilled to help Aly find a home at Sphere for this special story. Tilda and the Sphere team saw that special spark From the Embers had from the very beginning and I can’t wait to see where they can take this story.”