Hera sign award-shortlisted rainbow romance author, Liam Livings, for commercial, crossover fiction

Hera are thrilled to announce that they have acquired two novels from Liam Livings, writing under the name Charlie Lyndhurst. The first book, a funny, relatable, read about Jason, who breaks away from his conventional job to set up his own gay wedding planning firm, will be released in Spring 2022, with the next book coming out in Autumn 2022. Liam Livings is an award-shortlisted author and a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association Rainbow Chapter.

World rights were acquired directly from the author.

Keshini Naidoo, Publishing Director at Hera, said of the deal:

‘I’ve long been an admirer of Liam and his work and I’m absolutely delighted to be bringing him to Hera. We share the same ethos that love is love, and that romantic fiction should represent everyone, and with his first Hera book under the Charlie Lyndhurst name, Liam has created an utterly engaging read with huge crossover appeal. The story of Jason, who turns discrimination by his strait-laced former employers into triumph, setting up his own LGBTQ-focused wedding planning firm, helped by middle-aged mum of four, Mel, who is searching for a purpose outside domesticity, will appeal to a wide range of commercial fiction readers. I’m so proud that Hera will be publishing this vital, accessible, totally readable novel – it’s the must-have accessory for this wedding season!’

Liam Livings commented:

‘When I met the Hera team at the Love Writing Manchester event in 2020, I knew I wanted to work with them to bring my books to a crossover audience of romantic fiction and gay romance. This story was splendid fun to write as the characters came to me and seemed to do all the hard work,* while I simply wrote the report of what had happened! I’m excited to join Hera Books and work with Keshini to share these Charlie Lyndhurst stories with everyone who loves humour, love, family & feel-good fiction.

*most of the hard work, but not the edit. The characters left that for Charlie Lyndhurst to do.’