Acquisition Announcement: Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett

Orbit has acquired Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter from Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author Heather Fawcett, a cosy fantasy about a meticulously organised widow whose cat shelter inadvertently becomes a front for a thoroughly disreputable Dark Lord magician’s shop.

Orbit published Fawcett’s international bestselling Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries and the third book in series titled Emily Wilde’s Compendium of Lost Tales will be publishing in February 2025.

Rachel Clements at Abner Stein sold UK and Commonwealth rights in three cosy fantasy books to Commissioning editor Nadia Saward at Orbit UK in a six-figure deal, on behalf of Briane Johnson at HG Literary. North American rights were acquired by Tricia Narwani at Del Rey US in a three-book deal. International rights have also sold in Germany, Spain and Hungary. Publication is planned for early 2026.

Acquiring editor Nadia Saward said: ‘I am beyond thrilled that we’ll be continuing to publish Heather’s books in the UK. Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries launched cosy academia as a fan-favourite genre and cemented Heather as must-read cosy fantasy author. We know readers are going to be obsessed when they meet Agnes and all her delightful furry companions.’

About the author: Heather Fawcett is the New York Times, USA Today and Sunday Times bestselling Canadian author of Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries, and books for children and teens. Her books have been translated into more than a dozen languages. She has a Master’s degree in English Literature and a Bachelor’s in Archaeology. She lives on Vancouver Island.