U.S. Publications

Details of books available in the States are shown on the Publications or the individual titles pages.

I know US readers are frustrated by the Falco series lagging behind publication in the UK.

First, let me explain how this happened. Five of the Falco books were published by Crown/Ballantine. When they began to lose momentum, I was delighted that Mysterious Press took up the series. Mysterious were enthusiastic, bought all new titles promptly, and also published The Course of Honour in direct response to reader demand. By the time they took me on, the US Falco series was years behind the UK and they never caught up. My long term editor at Mysterious Press was Sara Ann Freed, who  tragically died of leukemia. Her successors decided not to continue with the series.

Ironically, it was at a party given by Mysterious Press for their authors that I met an editor from St Martin’s Press, who is now (2005) to take up the series. Even better, they will republish the early titles. Because I am taking a break between the 17th and 18th titles, it is likely that by 2007 we shall have close to simultaneous publication in the UK and US. I am delighted with this result. You will find details of planned new editions on the Publications page of this site, and news of new titles will be announced as usual as it happens.

The ‘territorial’ rules

Perhaps this is the moment to explain that in publishing, areas of the English-speaking world are divided up and authors sell rights specifically in those ‘territories’ (which are listed in contracts). The areas are mainly the UK and the US, though sometimes Canadian or Australian rights are separated off. A publisher with UK rights is not supposed to sell books in the US territories and vice versa. Booksellers are supposed to honour the rules too – though increasingly they don’t, particularly if they sell via the Internet.

I think it is time the territorial system was overhauled. But so long as it exists, it is a matter of serious professional etiquette with me to respect and support my publishers in their individual territories: so I will not tell anyone in America how to obtain UK books. Please don’t ask. Only if a particular title is unavailable, and unlikely to become available, will I make suggestions.

Note this is not the same issue as whether English-language editions are imported into countries where English isn’t the official language, such as Europe. Publishers are allowed to do that. Similarly, translations can be sold across the borders, for instance my Spanish editions are regularly sold in the US to Spanish speakers.