Cynthia Harrod Eagles - The end of a Dynasty?

   

To my utter astonishment and dismay I understand that the Morland Dynasty books of Cynthia Harrod-Eagles will soon be coming to an end.  Not because the author has got fed up with writing them, au contraire, but because her publisher don't want them any more.  Apparently they have decided they are not going to continue with the series because they are not selling enough copies.  Although it is extremely popular, too many people either borrow them from the library or buy a second hand copy and the publisher gets no money from that (neither does the author of course!)    Apparently Cynthia Harrod-Eagles' contract goes up to Book 34, so there are two more to come but after than - zilch.

I find this decision incredibly short sighted.  Historical fiction always sells well - why is Jean Plaidy being reprinted?  Why are Alison Weir and Philippa Gregory plastered all over Waterstones?  No need to answer that one - because their publishers pay for this space that is why.  There is very little publicity for the latest Morland novel as each is published and I think the publishers have lost sight of what a marvellous series they have in their keeping.   My gut feeling is that Cynthia Harrod-Eagles has been with them a long time, she is reliable, she gives them a Morland book a year (plus the Bill Slider mysteries) so they take her for granted and perhaps don't think she is 'sexy' enough.

Why don't they do a push on these titles?  Why don't they re-brand and re-market these marvellous books?  Make sure they are all available and in print in paperback, promote them, publicise them all over again and I guarantee that sales will go up.  I have followed the Morland Dynasty since book one and, apart from sharing in the joys and sorrows of the Morland family, the historical research is staggering and they are extremely well written too.

I am going to write to Sphere, who publish these books.   Sphere is part of the Little, Brown Book group and their CEO and publisher is Ursula Mackenzie.   The Publishing DIrector - Commercial of Sphere is Antonia Hodgson and both these ladies can be located at:

Little, Brown Book Group
100 Victoria Embankment
LONDON
EC4Y 0DY

Those of you who have read and enjoyed these books please leave a comment and join me in doing our very best to keep the Morland Dynasty going.  If you have a blog I would appreciate it if you could spread  the word.  Failing that, well we will just have to see if another publisher with a bit more nous will take them on.

Go on - you know it makes sense..........