KHLA is a small independent literary agency with a growing list of clients. We offer authors a nurturing environment and a high level of attention in all book markets. We offer publishers new and established talent across a range of adult fiction and non-fiction, and children’s fiction. Please click here for more information about agents Kate Hordern and Anne Williams.
News
Jane Corry's ninth novel, I DIED ON A TUESDAY, will be published by Penguin on 20 June 2024. There's the story that everyone believes .... and then there's the truth.
"Compelling and deliciously dark stories of murders and secrets." Claire Douglas
"Few writers can match Jane Corry." Cara Hunter
"Jane Corry writes consistently enthralling stories about the dark side of family life." Peter James
Lynne McEwan's third DI Shona Oliver novel THE GIRLS IN THE GLEN was published by Canelo Crime on August 4th in eBook and paperback. Her first, IN DARK WATER, was published by Canelo in 2021 and was a Scottish Crime Kindle #1 bestseller. Her new Shona Oliver novel, THE GATHERING STORM, will be published by Canelo in February 2024.
"A thrilling new voice in Scottish crime fiction" Marion Todd
Naomi Kelsey's first novel THE BURNINGS, set in 17th-century Scotland and Denmark, was published in hardback and eBook in June by HarperNorth to considerable acclaim. The paperback will be available in 2024.
"I was mesmerised by THE BURNINGS and its heroines. I highly recommend this brilliant and compelling novel to all lovers of historical fiction" Laura Shepperson, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Heroines
CALLING SERGEANT CROCKFORD: The Story of a 1960s Policewoman by Ruth D'Alessandro was published by Welbeck on 1 March 2024. It's the dawn of the Swinging Sixties. The Cold War is at its height and support for the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament is building. The Berkshire Constabulary's Detective Gwen Crockford is promoted to Woman Police Sergeant in Newbury – the town at the heart of Britain's atomic weapons programme. This is the third title in the Crockford memoir trilogy.
"For fans of Heartbeat and Call The Midwife, this is a charming policing memoir." Judge Rinder
Congratulations to Rachel Barnett whose second novel, STARLIGHT AT SNOW PINE LODGE, published by Embla in September in eBook, paperback and audio, has been a Kindle top 50 bestseller. Her first novel, A SUMMER ON THE RIVIERA, was published in May in eBook, paperback and audio by Embla.
“Full of love, the power and support of female friendship and Christmas spirit, this is a heartwarming novel guaranteed to get you in the festive mood” Amazon 5* review of STARLIGHT AT SNOW PINE LODGE
Laura Starkey's third novel, the ultimate forced proximity romantic comedy, THE SPARE ROOM, was published by Bonnier Embla on 6 February 2024 and has reached #7 in the Kindle Top 100, #1 simultaneously in the three sub-categories Romantic Comedy (Kindle Store), Contemporary and New Adult Romance (Books), has spent two weeks in the Kindle Top 20 and five weeks in the Kindle Top 100. Congratulations Laura.
Praise for THE SPARE ROOM:
"An absolutely gorgeous story - I now have a massive book hangover. I loved it." Jules Wake, author of The Spark
"I mean it when I say: Laura Starkey has written the most perfect romcom. The Spare Room was not a happily ever after, it was a happily all the way through." Suzy Krause, author of Sorry I Missed You
Sandy Taylor's ninth novel, RETURN TO THE IRISH BOARDING HOUSE, will be published by Bookouture on 13 May 2024.
Gill Thompson's fourth novel, THE ORPHANS ON THE TRAIN, set in wartime Scotland and Hungary, was published by Headline in eBook and audio in November. They will publish the paperback in September. Translation rights have already been sold in a number of territories.
"A great read . . . beautiful and evocative . . . an intelligent, thrilling novel, and one which will stay with me for a long time" Louise Morrish, author of Operation Moonlight
Ellie Wood's first novel, THE WILDWATER WOMEN, was published in eBook, paperback and audio by HarperNorth in April 2023. Her new novel, THE RESTAURANT AT THE HEART OF THE LAKES, will be published by them in March 2024.
"An instant hit...a perfect summer read" Lancashire Life
"Thoroughly enjoyable, this is a fine lakeside read for the summer" Cumbria Life
Apollo/Head of Zeus published ALIEN WORLDS: How Insects Conquered the Earth and why their fate will determine our future by Steve Nicholls on 30 March 2023. This is a comprehensive and beautifully illustrated natural history of insects.
"'The simple fact," Nicholls writes, 'is that we need insects far more than they need us.' Pollinators, predators, ecosystem engineers: insects of all kinds help shape and sustain the living world on which we all depend, whether we realise it or not ... and this alien world is under terrible strain... (This) book is an entrancing, moving exploration of the innumerable little lives flickering about us, of how they came to be here and how they may soon be lost forever." Richard Smyth, New Scientist
Julie Houston's new novel THE GIRLS OF HEATHERLY HALL, set in her beloved West Yorkshire fictional village of Westenbury, was published in July in eBook, audio and paperback by Aria. A WEDDING AT HEATHERLY HALL will be published by Aria in February 2024.
"Julie’s books should be available on prescription ..the perfect pick-me-up" Amazon 5* review
On 9 May Zephyr/Head of Zeus publish Ewa Jozefkowicz's BENJI'S EMERALD KING, the debut novel in The Woodland Explorers Club series for readers aged 5-7. Inspired by Forest School, this is a magical new series in which a group of friends solve mysteries and protect the animals of Willow Wish Woods. BENJI'S EMERALD KINGS is full of friendship, adventure and learning through nature with fun illustrations by Gillian Flint on every page.
GOODBYE, MERSEY VIEW, Sunday Times number one bestseller Lyn Andrews's latest novel and her fortieth saga was published in paperback in July by Headline. It is also available in eBook, audio and hardback. Very many congratulations, Lyn.
"She has a realism that is almost palpable" Liverpool Echo
Congratulations to Judy Summers whose third Shaw family Victorian Liverpool saga, A DAUGHTER'S PROMISE, was published by Welbeck on 12 October 2023.
"Judy is a natural storyteller." Lyn Andrews
Congratulations to Alice Hunter, whose first novel THE SERIAL KILLER'S WIFE is now a 4-part television series, streamed by Paramount+ on 15 December, featuring Annabel Scholey, Jack Farthing and Luke Treadaway. Published by Avon in eBook and paperback, THE SERIAL KILLER'S WIFE was, according to The Bookseller’s BookStat chart, 2021’s 16th-highest-selling ebook, spending 10 weeks in the chart. It was a top ten bestseller in both formats in the UK as well as reaching the Kindle top 10 in the US. It re-entered the Kindle top 50 chart this December, and is #1 movie tie-in.
Alice's new novel, THE SERIAL KILLER'S SISTER, was released in May and has received over 500 4- and 5-star reviews.
"Alice Hunter is a genius! Wow, what a book!" Amazon Reader Review
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