Lume Books Snaps Up Stunning Debut Thriller from Madeleine Milburn Literary, TV, and Film Agency mentee Sophia Spiers
Lume Books has acquired the debut psychological thriller ‘The Call of Cassandra Rose’ by Sophia Spiers.
‘The Call of Casandra Rose’ tells the story of Annabelle, a young wife and mother who seems to have it all. Yet she is traumatised by a forgotten event from her childhood and is lured by the promise of help from a persuasive and mysterious hypnotherapist, with her own secret agenda.
As the treatment unfolds Annabelle is pulled into a web of deception and abuse where she is no longer sure whether she is the patient or the victim – and she faces a desperate fight to retake control of her life.
“This is one of the best thrillers I have read in years,” said James Faktor, publishing director of Lume Books. “It is Daphne du Maurier meets Paula Hawkins, and I know readers are going to be gripped from the first page.”
UK & Commonwealth rights for e-book and print have been acquired from Madeleine Milburn at the Madeleine Milburn Literary, TV, and Film Agency.
Sophia Spiers is a qualified hypnotherapist who has worked in film and TV production, and in 2019 graduated from the Faber Academy novel writing course. She is one of six mentees chosen from over 1,500 entrants to be a part of the inaugural Madeleine Milburn Mentorship Scheme.
“I am beyond thrilled to be a part of the Lume family and to work alongside James, who has shown a real passion for The Call of Cassandra Rose. I know my novel is in safe hands. I am also eternally grateful to Maddy and the MM team for having faith in my story and giving me an incredible opportunity with the mentorship scheme. It’s been a dream come true.” said Sophia Spiers.
“I chose Sophia as my mentee for the 2020 Mentorship program as I could see a strong commercial brand in the making. The Call of Cassandra Rose is a taut, pacey, atmospheric thriller, and it has found the perfect home with Lume books. I am so looking forward to watching readers fall under Cassandra’s spell.” said Madeleine Milburn.
‘The Call of Cassandra Rose’ will be published in e-book and paperback in the autumn of 2022.
About the author
A Londoner of proud Italian and Greek heritage, Sophia grew up on the Lisson Green Council Estate, which informed the depiction of her protagonist’s childhood. She studied Film at university, and in her twenties and early thirties worked in TV and post-production before turning her attention to her true passion: writing.
In 2019, she completed Faber’s Writing A Novel Course and, off the back of the Anthology Launch, she had six agents expressing their interest, asking for the full manuscript. She went on to complete the Curtis Brown editing course in 2020 and has been honing her craft ever since.
