HarperCollins Signs Elizabeth George for Two New Novels

Posted on September 25, 2002

HarperCollins Publishers has acquired publishing rights to two new books by New York Times bestselling mystery novelist, Elizabeth George. Cathy Hemming, President and Publisher of the HarperCollins General Books Group, negotiated the deal with Robert Gottlieb, George's agent at Trident Media Group, LLC. HarperCollins will publish the first of the two books in 2004, according to Carolyn Marino, George's editor.

The author of several collections of short stories and eleven novels, including, most recently, A Traitor to Memory, George has been awarded the Agatha Award, the Anthony Award, and France's Le Grand Prix de Literature Policiere. Her novels have been roundly praised by critics, from The Wall Street Journal, which said "Ms. George can do it all, with style to spare," to The New York Times, which called her "a master of the British mystery."

A native Californian, who taught high school English before turning to writing, Ms. George has, notably, set all of her novels in the UK. She is the first American author to have her novels optioned for television by BBC's "Mystery" series. The first production, based on A Great Deliverance, her first novel, recently aired on PBS in the United States and was hailed as "superior entertainment" by The New York Times. George currently divides her time between California and Great Britain.

"We are so thrilled to welcome a writer of Elizabeth George's caliber," said Hemming. "The intricacy and intelligence of her writing, combined with her unmatched gift for suspense, make her one of the most exciting authors being published today."

"I am delighted to see Elizabeth join the HarperCollins team," said Robert Gottlieb. "I am very impressed with HarperCollins' overall publishing program and I know Elizabeth George will benefit from the new relationship."