Hera acquires two sweeping, timeless romances from Celeste Daniels

Hera are delighted to announce that they have signed debut US author, Celeste Daniels, for a two-book deal. World rights, including audio and translation rights, were acquired by Publishing Director, Keshini Naidoo,  from Lary Rosenblatt at 22 Media. 

Celeste’s first book will be published in Paperback Original and ebook in autumn 2025, with the second book following in summer 2026. 

The first book in the deal follows twenty-something  protagonist and cellist Dani Richardson, a student at Howard University, HBCU,  whose life is turned upside down when she meets studio guitarist Stephen Jones. Not only does she instantly fall for him, but she also finds out a world-shifting truth: the dreams’ that she has been plagued by for many years are actually memories of her and Jones, and they are lovers who have been reincarnated for over a century , with each lifetime ending in tragedy. When they meet again in the current day, Dani and Jones’ love is undeniable, but will their current love affair in this timeline also end in tragedy, or the love story they always deserved to live?

Editor Dan O’Brien says: ‘I fell in love with the concept of Only You in an instant. The soulmate, love-in-every-lifetime trope is beloved by romance readers, and something that Celeste has managed to capture so beautifully in her writing in a way I’ve never read before. While this is primarily a love story that will sweep you away, Celeste has also explored the complex issues of of Blackness  through the identity of the characters, not only in the present time, but over different periods in history It has been enlightening to see these topics explored by an underrepresented, Owned voice, married to a timeless romance novel that I know readers will be reading for years to come,e, and I cannot wait for others to be as captivated as I have..’

Celeste Daniels said: ‘Just like Dani and Jones’ love story, creating this novel was a work of pure love and growth. I could have never imagined it being what it is now when I started and, with every change and tweak, I fall more in love with it. I am so excited to be working with Dan and the Hera team to bring this story to readers. I hope they can laugh, cry, and fall in love over and over again – just like me and Dan did!’

Lary Rosenblatt commented: ‘Celeste Daniels’ writing had me hooked from the beginning. Celeste is not only a captivating storyteller, but she can also find levity in a story’s toughest moments. Hera Books is a perfect home for such a vivid and romantic storyteller and I can’t wait for the readers to become as enamored with Dani and Jones as I have.’

For more information, please contact [email protected]