Hera acquires three spicy, sapphic romances by RNA Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Lou Morgan
February 27, 2025
Commissioning editor, Jennie Ayres, has secured WEL rights (excluding audio, TV and Film and translation rights) to Strap In and two further lesbian romances by debut author Lou Morgan. Rights were acquired from Becky Thomas at Lewinsohn Literary. Strap In will be published in simultaneous ebook and Paperback Original in August 2025, with book two to follow in March 2026 and book three in September 2026.
Strap In is the unforgettable story of Jean, a career-focussed woman in her fifties who is thrown totally off balance when she meets Ava, a gorgeous young biracial woman. The chemistry between them is white-hot. But Jean is not gay… is she? There is also the age gap and the fact that Jean needs to avoid any gossip to get the top job at her law firm. So they make a deal: it’s purely physical. The more time they spend together though, the more Jean begins to discover her true self. Might this just be the real thing?
Jennie Ayres says: ‘Strap In just blew me away – it has all the delicious spice and beloved tropes the modern romance reader is looking for, alongside brilliantly drawn characters and a smart and bold storyline. From the very start I have admired Lou’s passion and commitment to increasing representation for lesbians of colour in commercial fiction and to writing romances that are proudly sex-positive and that feel authentic and exciting. I think the UK romance readership – both LGBTQ+ and otherwise – has been waiting for a voice like Lou’s, and I am so proud and excited for Hera to launch her first book, Strap In, to readers in August 2025.’
Lou Morgan commented: ‘Lesbian stories are my main passion in life, and I’m over the moon to be releasing the books of my heart with Hera. Strap In is my love letter to all the women who came out in mid to later life – lesbian community is a vast and beautiful thing which deserves to be fully reflected in romance and beyond.’
Becky Thomas added: ‘I’m extremely proud to have found this home with Hera for Lou, who is bringing underrepresented – but such fully formed – characters and stories to romance books.’
Strap In will be published in the UK and Commonwealth in August 2025, in simultaneous ebook and Paperback Original. For more information, please contact [email protected]