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Hazel Prior

Hazel Prior was born in Oxford but has lived in many places including the Welsh borders, Scotland, south-west England and Italy. Her jobs have included harp-playing, teaching English as a foreign language and acting. She has won nine prizes in national writing competitions and has had a number of short stories published in literary magazines.

Hazel is the Richard and Judy Book Club PIck and No.1 eBook bestseller of Away with the Penguins and it's follow up, Call of the Penguins. Her fourth novel, Life and Otter Miracles will be published in the UK in September 2023.  

Hazel lives on Exmoor with her husband and a huge ginger cat.

twitter: @hazelpriorbooks

insta: @hazelpriorbooks

website: https://www.hazelprior.co.uk/
 

Life and Otter Miracles

Nineteen-year-old Phoebe and her widower father Al have recently moved to Devon, to a small cottage with a river at the end of the garden.

Struggling with her own closely guarded issues, Phoebe doesn't go out much. Instead, she spends her time at home, watching detective dramas and playing detective herself - trying to deduce from Al's deliveries as a courier what kind of lives her neighbours lead.

But when they find an abandoned baby otter on the riverbank, it's just the push Phoebe needs to finally step into her new community. Taking the little one to the local otter sanctuary and witnessing the uncomplicated joy of its fellow creatures, she feels a burgeoning sense of happiness that she has not experienced in a very long time.

However, Phoebe soon starts to suspect that something is amiss at the sanctuary - and she will need to put all her sleuthing skills to good use if she wants to save the otters . . .

Territory Publisher/Agent
World Darley Anderson Agency
UK & Commonwealth Transworld
Czech Republic BETA

Call of the Penguins

Veronica McCreedy can't resist the promise of adventure . . .

Nine-year-old Daisy and nearly ninety-year-old Veronica make an unlikely pair of friends.

Fiercely independent and impeccably dressed, Veronica has lived an incredible 87 years. Most of them alone, in her huge house by the sea. But with the arrival of brave and resilient Daisy into her life, Veronica finds she has a renewed thirst for adventure - and that they both share a passion for penguins!

So when Veronica and Daisy are invited to travel to the other side of the world together and visit the penguins of the southern hemisphere, they both jump at the chance.

Veronica had thought her days of new friendships, family and love were over, but perhaps it's never too late for one more adventure?

Territory Publisher/Agent
World Darley Anderson Agency
UK & Commonwealth (inc. Canada) Transworld
Czech Republic BETA
Germany Calmann
Russia AST
Ukraine Machaon

Away with the Penguins

Veronica McCreedy is about to have the journey of a lifetime...

Veronica McCreedy lives in a mansion by the sea. She loves a nice cup of Darjeeling tea whilst watching a good wildlife documentary. And she’s never seen without her ruby-red lipstick.

Although these days Veronica is rarely seen by anyone because, at 85, her days are spent mostly at home, alone.

She can be found either collecting litter from the beach (‘people who litter the countryside should be shot’), trying to locate her glasses (‘someone must have moved them’) or shouting instructions to her assistant, Eileen (‘Eileen, door!’).

Veronica doesn’t have family or friends nearby. Not that she knows about, anyway... And she has no idea where she’s going to leave her considerable wealth when she dies.

But today... today Veronica is going to make a decision that will change all of this.

Territory Publisher/Agent
UK & Commonwealth Transworld
North America Berkley
Brazil (Portuguese) Gutenberg
China (simp. Chinese characters) Beijing White Horse Time
Croatia Znanje
Czech Republic BETA
Denmark Jentas
France L'Archipel
Germany Goldmann
Hungarian Könyvmolyképző
Italy Newton Compton
Korea Miraetimes
Poland Foksal
Russia AST
Thailand Sandwich Publishing
Ukraine Machaon
Serbia Laguna

Ellie and the Harp-Maker

Dan lives a happy life, content in his own company, surrounded by the beautiful scenery of the moors. He spends his days carving exquisite harps and wants for nothing more. In his barn Dan can be Dan. He can lead his life in his own particular way, away from social situations that he doesn’t always get right.

Then one day, lonely housewife Ellie Jacobs stumbles across his barn.

Until then, Ellie’s life centred around her insensitive husband Clive, her housework, her daily walks and her poetry, something she tries to keep hidden. Clive doesn’t understand that side of her.

But Ellie is immediately enraptured by the harps and vows to learn to play after Dan spontaneously - and generously - gifts her one. She is determined to do something for herself for once and - unbeknown to Clive - starts visiting Dan and her harp most days.

Their friendship slowly blossoming, Ellie accidentally discovers a secret relating to Dan and she must decide whether to upend his world entirely and change the course of her life forever.

With a cast of eccentric characters, including a pheasant named Phineas, this heart-warming, funny and quirky love story will stay with you long after you finish the last page.
 

Territory Publisher/Agent
World Darley Anderson Agency
UK & Commonwealth (inc. Canada) Transworld
North America Berkley
Croatia LEO Commerce
Czech Domino
Germany HarperCollins Germany
France L'Archipel
Israel Kinneret
Serbia Laguna
Slovenia Ucila
Sweden HarperCollins Nordic

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