HARPERCOLLINS AUSTRALIA BUYS WORLD RIGHTS TO THREE EROTIC NOVELS FOR A SIX-FIGURE SUM

HarperCollins Publishers Australia is proud to announce that it has secured world rights to three new Australian erotic fiction novels for a six-figure sum. The author, Indigo Bloome, lives in regional Australia, is married with two young children and has a background in finance. She had been writing her first novel, Destined to Play, for nearly a year but only sent the first few chapters to an agent a few days ago.  In a whirlwind of activity it was immediately bought by Shona Martyn, Publishing Director, HarperCollins Australia after its first in-house reading, along with Indigo’s next two novels.

    Destined to Play will be published across all English language markets on July 1 with the print book to be published in the UK and Australia on September 1.

Publishing Director, Shona Martyn said today:

     ‘The recent success of E.L. James’s Fifty Shades of Grey proves there is a real hunger, right now, for erotic fiction. Perhaps the rise of the e-reader has assisted offering more discretion for those reading in a public place than a conventional book; conversely maybe in tough times, we like a little more escapism than usual.‘

 ‘I read the first chapters of Indigo Bloome’s Destined to Play at agent Selwa Anthony’s place last week, the very day after I had been telling the publishing team that we needed a strong sexy series – and we needed it quickly! Little did I know that it was already written. To me Destined to Play is an exciting addition to this genre with an experienced, very Australian heroine and a fast-placed plot which leaves nothing to the imagination.’

‘The digital world allows publishers to respond more quickly than we could in the past so we can give readers what they want to read now … not in 12 months time. To that end, Destined to Play will publish in e-book on July 1 and then we will follow up with a print book on September 1 so traditional readers will not miss out.’

‘We are publishing under the HarperCollins imprint because we see it as mainstream commercial fiction not as part of a marginal erotica list. However if the public appetite for these books continues then we will certainly consider whether it is appropriate to separate these books out, as we have with our fantasy list, HarperVoyager.’

     Commissioning Editor, Anna Valdinger commented:

‘Erotic fiction is incredibly difficult to write well; you can veer far too easily into the realm of awkwardness or cliché. So when I read Destined to Play, I was immensely excited by Indigo’s writing. She’s got all the ingredients that make a great sex scene – anticipation, sensuality and a wild imagination – and still leaves you breathless for more. I can’t wait to read Book Two.’

 Destined to Play

By Indigo Bloome

ISBN 9780732296162

RRP NZ $19.99 (bpb) 1^st September