HQ wins two books from debut novelist Stacey Thomas at auction

HQ has won two books from debut author Stacey Thomas at auction. 

Katie Seaman, senior commissioning editor, acquired UK and Commonwealth rights from Liza DeBlock at Mushens Entertainment. The first novel, The Revels, will publish in summer 2023.  

It is described as “a bewitching historical novel set in 17th-century England”. The synopsis says: “After his half-brother dies, aspiring playwright Nicholas Pearce is apprenticed to Judge William Percival, an infamous former witch-hunter who is under pressure to resume his old profession.  

“The country is torn apart by civil war, with escalating tensions between Catholics and Protestants, Royalists and Roundheads, and suspicions of witchcraft are rife. But Nicholas is harbouring a dark secret: he was born with a knot around his neck and can hear the songs of the dead. He hears their secrets, but will he find the courage to speak up to save innocent lives, even if it means putting himself in great danger?” 

Thomas said: “The Revels was inspired by the victims of the English witch-hunts and the real-life witchfinders who hunted them. I’m so excited to share The Revels with the world and want to thank my agent Liza, my editor Katie and the HQ family for being such fierce champions of my story.” 

Seaman added: “Atmospheric and gripping, The Revels is Hamnet meets The Witchfinder’s Sister, [a story] which readers of Stacey Halls and Bridget Collins will devour. Stacey has a flair for spellbinding historical fiction and effortlessly transported me to 17th-century England. The whole HQ team were captivated, and we can’t wait to cast a spell on readers next year.”