New UK fantasy author Mark Charan Newton sold two books to Peter Lavery of Macmillan/Tor UK for “a good five-figure sum.” Agent John Jarrold made the deal for world rights.
The first book, Nights of Villjamur, and will be published early in 2009. In it, “an impending Ice Age looms over all other events in the book, which include the death of an Emperor and his daughter’s return to claim the throne, a crime noir plot that involves the city’s Councillors in high-profile murders and a cocky womaniser who is acting as dance tutor to the new Empress’s sister.” Jarrold says the book will appeal to the readers of both George R R Martin and Scott Lynch.
“I’m delighted for Mark,” Jarrold said. “He was one of my first clients when I started up the agency back in 2004, and this is really the fulfilment of a great deal of thought and hard work on his part. And this is the first deal I’ve done with Peter Lavery, who I have known for twenty years—and who is one of the UK’s best and most respected editors in any form of publishing.”
26-year-old Newton lives in Nottingham, and previously worked as an SF buyer in an Ottakar’s bookstore.