– FOUR-BOOK GLOBAL PUBLISHING AGREEMENT WILL INTRODUCE AN EPIC FAMILY SERIES AND A SINGULAR WORK OF NON-FICTION –

NEW YORK, April 24, 2017—Philippa Gregory has signed a new four-book global publishing agreement with her longstanding U.S. publisher Touchstone and Simon & Schuster U.K. Three of the books will be novels, introducing a richly imagined, epic series, spanning generations of the Fairmile family, from the mid-1600s to the early 20^th century, and the lands they inhabited, from West Sussex, England to Chicago, Illinois. The first yet-to-be-titled novel in the new series is scheduled for simultaneous publication by Touchstone, Simon & Schuster U.K., Simon & Schuster Canada, Simon & Schuster Australia, and Simon & Schuster India in September 2019. The fourth book will be a work of non-fiction, exploring the contributions of extraordinary, yet little-known women throughout the centuries, historically demonstrating women as agents of their own destinies. Audio editions of all four works will be simultaneously published by Simon & Schuster Audio.

The new series marks a departure from Philippa Gregory’s perennially bestselling Tudor and Plantagenet court novels, which include such mega-bestsellers as The Other Boleyn Girl (2001) and The White Princess (2013)— both of which have been adapted for the screen.

Gregory said, “I am truly delighted to be continuing with my publishers Touchstone and Simon & Schuster worldwide.  In my new series of novels, the journey that the Fairmile family will take through history from the 1600s is very close to my heart. The time feels right, too, to embark on my proposed work of non-fiction.   I am very excited to be working with this incredible team to further our global success.”

“We are once again thrilled for the opportunity to publish Philippa Gregory at all our Simon & Schuster companies around the world,” said Carolyn Reidy, President and Chief Executive Officer of Simon & Schuster, Inc.  “She is one of a handful of authors with a truly global audience. We know, based on our long and fruitful publishing relationship with Philippa, that readers in every corner of the world eagerly devour her captivating historical tales, and with this new series and work of nonfiction we look forward to joining her on yet another, albeit different kind of historical journey, that is sure to grow her legion of enthusiastic readers.”

“Touchstone Publisher Susan Moldow and I are so pleased to renew our relationship with Philippa Gregory and to work with her as she takes this exciting new direction in her writing,” said Trish Todd, Vice President and Executive Editor of Touchstone. “As Philippa fans first and foremost, we can’t wait for the story of the Fairmile family to begin.”

The author of more than thirty books, with more than 10 million copies of her books in circulation in North America alone, Philippa Gregory’s international bestsellers include novels such as The Other Boleyn Girl, which was adapted into a film starring Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson, The White Queen, and The White Princess – both inspirations for recent Starz series. Her first novel, Wideacre, was published in the U.S. by Simon & Schuster in 1987, making 2017 the 30^th anniversary of the author’s relationship with the publishing house. Her final Tudor court novel, The Last Tudor, will be published by Touchstone in August 2017.

Ian Chapman, Chief Executive and Publisher, Simon & Schuster U.K., acquired world publishing and audio rights from Anthony Mason, Philippa Gregory’s literary agent and husband who represented Gregory in the negotiation. Philippa Gregory’s longtime editors Trish Todd of Touchstone and Suzanne Baboneau, Managing Director of the Adult Publishing Division for Simon & Schuster U.K., will jointly edit her future works.

Touchstone is an imprint of Simon & Schuster, Inc., a part of CBS Corporation. Simon & Schuster is a global leader in the field of general interest publishing, dedicated to providing the best in fiction and nonfiction for consumers of all ages, across all printed, electronic, and audio formats.  Its divisions include Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing, Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, Simon & Schuster Audio, Simon & Schuster Digital, and international companies in Australia, Canada, India, and the United Kingdom.  For more information visit our website at www.simonandschuster.com.

 

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(04/24/17)

Contact: Brian Belfiglio

V.P., Director of Publicity

Touchstone

(212) 632-4945

brian.belfiglio@simonandschuster.com