Canelo
Louise Cullen, Executive Publisher, Canelo
I’m seeking novels that can sit in the crime, thriller or horror parts of a bookshop, which includes works that may suit a general fiction readership but contain elements of these genres.
I have been with Canelo around nine years, and previously worked within UK independent publishers on both fiction and non-fiction. At Canelo, I launched the flagship Canelo Crime imprint and published a number of authors who have become million-copy plus bestsellers.
For me, submissions need to have the potential to connect with international audiences. In the crime space, I’m particularly interested in character-driven narratives, similar to Liz Moore or Chris Whitaker, and horror works that contain themes of female rage, body horror or psychological horror.
A book I’m proud of…
I’m proud to have published Unsolved by Heather Critchlow, which is a crime fiction novel that puts victims at the core of the story as told via the perspective of true-crime podcaster Cal Lovett, who is no stranger to the nature of traumatic loss, grief and unanswered questions.
A book I wish I’d published…
A book I wish I had published is The Dry by Jane Harper. At the forefront of the Outback Noir trend, The Dry is a shining example of how the best crime fiction uses a mystery to draw readers in, but truly shines when an author is as skilled as Jane Harper is at reflecting great empathy and humanity in her detective, and recognising that our relationship with the truth is rarely as straightforward as we all may wish to believe.