Kate Parkin and Margaret Stead of Firefinch are delighted to announce the acquisition of world all language rights from Marianne Gunn O’Connor Literary Agency of Marian of Sherwood, a new novel by Anya Bergman – author of the international bestselling novels The Witches of Vardø and The Tarot Reader of Versailles.

Marian of Sherwood is a powerful evocation of the Maid Marian story, steeped in the history, mythology and folklore of the era. Marian of Sherwood reimagines Arthurian legend, interweaved with the stories of forgotten women from the past. Set against the backdrop of the civil war triggered by the Magna Carta in 1215, the story blends fabulism with history to celebrate female solidarity and empowerment, challenging the notion of the chivalrous medieval knights. Part folk horror, part feminist love story, part heroine’s quest, Anya brings Marian’s original mythology to life in rich, sumptuous detail.

Margaret Stead said: ‘Kate and I are over the moon to be working with Anya again on her new novel, Marian of Sherwood. Blending ancient folklore and mythology with her own brilliant imagination, Anya has created a propulsive and vivid retelling of Marian of Sherwood, putting the women at the heart of this epic story.’ 

Anya Bergman said: ‘It’s a dream come true to be published by Firefinch and join their thrilling new venture in publishing.  Having worked with Kate and Margaret before, I feel so lucky and very honoured to be one of their inaugural authors. I am beyond excited that my debut with Firefinch will be a historical fantasy novel, reimagining Marian of Sherwood Forest, filled with the folklore and mysticism that I love exploring in my writing.’

Marianne Gunn O’Connor said: ‘I am so happy for Anya to be reunited with Kate & Margaret at  Firefinch: they have been such stellar and passionate champions of her writing from the beginning. I’m looking forward to another adventure with them and the Firefinch team, as we publish Anya’s extraordinary and original take on Marian of Sherwood.’

Marian of Sherwood by Anya Bergman will be published by Firefinch Publishing in December 2026

We’re thrilled to share that The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Firefinch author Christy Lefteri has been named one of Amazon’s best books of the past 25 years. First published in 2019, it has been picked as one of the 25 best books that take you around the world: view the list here

The Beekeeper of Aleppo was a Sunday Times bestseller on publication and has since been adapted into a play. Christy Lefteri is the author of four novels to date, with her fifth novel due to be published by Firefinch Books in 2026.

We’re pleased to announce not one, but two, new Firefinch communities today! If you’re a blogger, bookstagrammer or booktoker, we’re creating a special community – The Firefinch Charm – where you can be first in line to join blog tours, receive proofs, attend events, meet authors and get involved in the Firefinch community!

Our second new community – The Early Bird – is specially for booksellers. Be first in line for early proofs and digital ARCs, point of sale material and events opportunities, as well as hearing all about our upcoming publications and campaign plans.

We can’t wait to share more with you soon and, with our first proofs to the press this month, it’s the perfect time to join.

Join the Firefinch Charm community

Join the Early Bird bookseller community

Firefinch is delighted to announce the acquisition of I Am You, by US poet and novelist Victoria Redel. I Am You is a meditation on gender, an ode to artistic creation, and an unforgettable love story that reimagines the life of renowned still life painter Maria van Oosterwijck during the Dutch Golden Age, and her relationship with Gerta, her maid who became her apprentice.

Victoria Redel has written four books of poetry, most recently Paradise; her last novel, Before Everything, was published in 2017. Her short stories, poetry and essays have appeared in Granta, the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, Bomb, One Story, Salmagundi, O, and NOON among many others. She has received fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, The National Endowment for the Arts and the Fine Arts Work

Center. She is a professor in the graduate and undergraduate creative writing programs at Sarah Lawrence College and lives in New York City.

Margaret Stead, Executive Director of Firefinch, who acquired UK & Commonwealth rights from Anna Webber at AM Heath on behalf of Bill Clegg at The Clegg Agency said: ‘I Am You explores in exquisite detail the Dutch Golden Age and the life and love of painter Maria van Oosterwijck. It offers a timeless view of womanhood, gender, love and the mysterious brilliance of the creative mind. I Am You is one of the most vivid and exciting novels I’ve read in a very long time: a perfect gem to launch our Firefinch list.’

Victoria Redel said ‘I am honored to have I Am You find a home with Firefinch. It is thrilling to be part of an exciting new publishing venture as it bursts into the world.’

Translation Rights are held by The Clegg Agency.

I Am You will be published by Zando Projects, on Sarah Jessica Parker’s SJP Lit imprint, on 30 September 2025. Firefinch will publish in e-book on 30 September 2025 and in Hardback in February 2026 as their launch title.

Advance praise for I Am You

‘A stunning accomplishment.’ Michael Cunningham, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Day and The Hours

‘This lush, sexy, absorbing novel…brings to life two artists who are inextricably linked in passion and competition’ Melissa Febos, bestselling author of Girlhood

‘A beautiful tale of extraordinary women making their own way in ordinary times.’ Book Riot

LIVE. READ. RESIST.

“This novel is as brilliant as it is important. It reminds us all that books can save the world.” ELLE

Kate Parkin, MD of Firefinch, has acquired UK and Commonwealth English language rights in The Bookshop of Forbidden Books by Marc Levy. The deal was brokered by Susanna Lea, of Susanna Lea Associates. Firefinch is planning to publish in November 2026 and promises a trade-wide marketing and PR campaign to highlight the power of words and the importance of freedom of speech.

Already a bestseller in France, with over 280,000 copies sold, The Bookshop of Forbidden Books is a brilliant and thought-provoking comedy, a love story, and a tribute to the transformative power of literature. Set in Paris in a dystopian near future, it tells the story of Mitch, a passionate bookseller, imprisoned for five years for selling banned books. Mitch just wants to go back to his bookshop, but on the day of his release, he not only crosses paths with the man who put him behind bars, but meets Anna, who could well be the love of his life…Brimming with charm, tenderness and humanity, but underpinned by a determination to celebrate and defend literature wherever it is under threat, The Bookshop of Forbidden Books will capture the hearts of book lovers everywhere.

Marc Levy is the author of 26 books, which have been translated into over 50 languages and sold over 50 million copies worldwide. During the 2020 lockdown, Amazon reported that the two most-read French authors in the U.S. were Albert Camus and Marc Levy.

Marc Levy says: ‘When I was young books played a pivotal role in my education. They opened my mind, taught me to appreciate our differences rather than fear them, helped me understand other cultures and develop compassion. Reading has been the cornerstone of my life. I now live in a country where tens of thousands of books have been banned, where the shelves of public and school libraries grow increasingly bare. The Bookshops of Forbidden Books was born out of a lifelong love of bookshops and a deep admiration for generations of booksellers—those who have shaped our tastes and defied restrictive laws to offer readers access to great writers. Publishers, too, can be bold. I’m thrilled to be part of the Firefinch launch list. To join a new publisher at the very start of its journey is a true joy.’

Kate Parkin said: ‘I defy any book lover not to fall in love with this novel. Marc Levy’s passion for books and the power of words leaps off the page. At a time when many authors and booksellers live under the threat of censorship, The Bookshop of Forbidden Books is a reminder of what we all stand to lose in a world in which others seek to control what we read. We are very proud to publish this charming and powerful book on our launch list in 2026 and look forward to joining with friends and colleagues across the trade in a campaign to highlight the issue of banned books.’

French rights: Robert Laffont
Translation rights: Susanna Lea Associates
US rights: HarperCollins

Firefinch is delighted to announce the acquisition of Jonathan Black’s much anticipated new book, The Secret History of the Universe. Black, author of the international bestseller The Secret History of the World, has written a character-driven history of mysticism and its influence on modern science, from nuclear physics to the latest AI. It shows how scientists have walked a line between genius, madness and ancient mystical ideas to create a picture of the universe which is deeply mysterious and unexpectedly spiritual.

Black has been acclaimed by Rick Rubin, legendary record producer and bestselling author of The Creative Act, who says: ‘mythology and ancient esoteric beliefs are finally found in cutting edge science’, and by Professor Jordan Giddings who calls this book ‘The Dancing Wu-Li Masters of the 21st Century’.

Kate Parkin, MD of Firefinch, who acquired UK and Commonwealth rights from Jonny Geller at Curtis Brown, said: ‘This is pure intellectual entertainment, full of dark drama, humorous anecdote and wild ideas. In it, we embark on an exhilarating journey in the company of some of the greatest minds of our age towards a deeper understanding of our place in the cosmos. We are hugely proud to be bringing The Secret History of the Universe to the audience it deserves and thank Jonathan Black and Jonny Geller for their trust in our new publishing venture.’

Jonathan Black said: ‘This book is the result of many years of research, and deep conversations with prominent academics in the field. I’m thrilled it will be published by Firefinch. Kate is as energetic, focused and commercially astute as anyone I have met in publishing.’

Jonny Geller said: ‘It is always exciting to see new publishers come on the scene, and I was delighted to receive a call from Kate, an editor and publisher whom I’ve worked with and admired for many years. Jonathan Black’s remarkable new book is in great hands.’

The Secret History of the Universe will be published in June 2026.

US and translation rights are held by Curtis Brown.

Firefinch is born: a small, focused publishing house with an approach and ethos that will appeal to authors, agents and publishers alike. 

Kate Parkin and Margaret Stead have teamed up to create Firefinch, putting their decades of experience to work to build a creative, collaborative home for authors.  

Parkin has previously held senior positions in many of the big corporate houses, including Penguin Random House where she was managing director of what is now the Cornerstone division. Most recently she was managing director of the adult publishing division at Bonnier Books UK. Authors she has published over her career include John Grisham, Robert Harris, Sebastian Faulks, Michael Caine, Wilbur Smith, Lynda La Plante, T.M. Logan, Christy Lefteri and Heather Morris. 

Stead worked as barrister and solicitor before leaping to her first love of books, working at Harvill Press, Atlantic Books and Penguin Press, before joining Bonnier Books UK. She has also worked as a freelance editor and writer throughout her career. Authors she has worked closely with include Richard Ford, Damon Galgut, the late Alistair Darling, Sir Vince Cable, AN Wilson, Christy Lefteri, Stacey Halls, Christina Figueres and Heather Morris. 

Parkin and Stead are delighted to announce their first hire in Blake Brooks, who has been appointed Audience Development Director. An award-winning communications specialist who has worked at Head of Zeus, Saraband Books and at The Bookseller, Brooks was most recently at Bonnier Books UK where she managed the brand author programmes for Lynda La Plante, T.M. Logan, Wilbur Smith and Heather Morris. 

Kate Parkin, managing director, said “Publishing is all about networks and relationships and to be given the chance to start a new publishing house with a trusted group of friends and colleagues is truly exciting. I am very proud of the authors we are welcoming to Firefinch and can’t wait to see them take flight.” 

Margaret Stead, executive director, said: “I am absolutely delighted to be working with Kate and Blake again: two of the most inspirational and talented women in the industry. To have the opportunity to create a publishing house from the ground up, well supported by a brilliant wider team, is the dream.” 

Blake Brooks said: “I am so excited to be joining Firefinch: a place where we can provide a different kind of home for authors and a positive publishing partnership that benefits all. This is an incredible opportunity to build something new.” 

This is a publishing team with a reputation and track record for discovering and creating bestsellers. They will now carefully curate their own publishing list built on taste, market awareness and decades of experience. Further news will follow on individual books, but the Firefinch 2026 launch list of authors comprises: 
 

• Anya Bergman – author of The Witches of Vardø and The Tarot Reader of Versailles 

• Jonathan Black – author of The Secret History of the World 

• Christy Lefteri – author of The Beekeeper of Aleppo, Songbirds and The Book of Fire 

• Marc Levy – author of If Only It Were True, P.S. from Paris and The Last of the Stanfields 

• Kate London – author of The Tower quartet 

• Heather Morris – author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, Cilka’s Journey, Three Sisters, Stories of Hope, Sisters Under the Rising Sun and The Wish 

Far from the schools of red tape and bureaucracy, this is about passion projects and agility, the creation of a nimble and collaborative space in which author and publisher work together. The Firefinch mantra?  ‘Books and Authors. Nothing else matters.’ 

AUTHORS AND AGENTS WELCOME THE LAUNCH OF FIREFINCH  

AUTHORS 

‘Joining Firefinch means the world to me and feels like being part of a creative family. I can sincerely say there is nowhere else I’d rather be. I am so excited about the journey ahead and I know that I will be surrounded by a fantastic, caring and supportive team.’ Christy Lefteri 

‘To be reunited with outstanding, passionate professionals, notably Kate and Margaret, is truly thrilling. Congratulations to everyone who makes up the Firefinch family.’ Heather Morris 

‘It’s a dream come true to be published by Firefinch and join their thrilling new venture.  Having worked with Kate and Margaret before, I feel so lucky and very honoured to be one of their inaugural authors.’ Anya Bergman 

‘I am very excited that my new series has found a home with Firefinch’s new publishing adventure. Margaret was my first editor, and I know that together we can tell powerful stories.’  
Kate London 

‘I’m thrilled to be published by Firefinch. Kate is as energetic and focused as anyone I have met in publishing and commercially astute, but what’s rarer still is that all this is the underpinned by a lightly worn but donnish erudition!’ Jonathan Black 

AGENTS 

‘It is always exciting to see new publishers come on the scene, and I was delighted to receive a call from Kate, an editor and publisher whom I’ve worked with and admired for many years. Jonathan Black’s new book is in great hands.’  
Jonny Geller, Curtis Brown 

‘One of the many things I love about Kate and Margaret is that while having acute business acumen they also have a deep understanding of writers. I ‘m absolutely thrilled to be reunited with them for Christy’s next two books. It feels like we’ve come home.’ Marianne Gunn O’Connor, MGOC Talent 

‘I am delighted to see another independent publisher join the fray, particularly one with two such experienced and thoughtful publishers at the helm.  Kate and Margaret are both alike and exceptional in bringing commercially focused energy but also author-friendly calm to their publishing.  I very much look forward to working with them in this new venture.’  
Victoria Hobbs, A M Heath 

‘I am so excited that Kate London should be a key part of the launch of this exciting new publishing venture.  Margaret and Kate are two of the best women in this industry and I know they will go from success to success.’ Alice Lutyens, Curtis Brown 

‘Kate is one of the most knowledgeable publishers I have ever worked with – her understanding of business strategy, her great eye for fiction, and her author care, mean that I am confident this new venture will be a roaring success.’  
Juliet Mushens, Mushens Entertainment