Dear Colleagues,

We are delighted to enclose a quick snapshot of our fiction highlights for 2010, from two stunning debut novels, to literary crime, contemporary fiction and our established bestsellers.

Despite the difficulties in the hardback market, we have had a buoyant 2009. An Equal Stillness, Francesca Kay’s acclaimed debut, was chosen for Waterstone’s New Voices promotion and won The Orange Award for New Writers. Paul Torday’s The Girl on the Landing cemented his reputation as an innovative writer who continues to produce top-quality popular fiction.  Dark Places, the second novel by award-winning crime-writer Gillian Flynn has been shortlisted for the Ian Fleming Steel Dagger. And of course in June came one of the highlights of the year – the publication of the long-awaited new book from Carlos Ruíz Zafón, author of The Shadow of the Wind. The Angel’s Game was an immediate bestseller in hardback, a publishing phenomenon that has been replicated around the world. Katharine McMahon’s new novel The Crimson Rooms followed hot on the heels of The Rose of Sebastopol, which has now sold over 230,000 copies. And finally 2009 saw the introduction of three debut novelists for whom we have high hopes – Adaobi Tricia Nwaubani, James Levine and Shandi Mitchell.

2009 was our 60th anniversary year, and to mark it we produced a set of limited edition Classics that were designed for us by the award-winning agency Fallon. In 2010 we will be producing special limited editions of HG Wells’ classic ‘social’ novels. More on this to come!

Our list remains tight and focused so that each author receives the care and attention that are vital in a competitive market. We continue to look for the best fiction from both home and abroad and to nurture our authors as they develop their careers.

We have some exciting books coming up in 2010 so we hope you enjoy this quick overview!

With best wishes from the team.

Kirsty Dunseath
Arzu Tahsin
Sophie Buchan