Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, has a deal for a follow-up book to her recent romance novel, The Bookseller reports.
The deal was confirmed by Ferguson’s British publisher, Mills and Boon, which provided scant details about the novel, but said it would take place in the same world as her first novel.
“My second novel for HarperCollins and Mills [and] Boon is next, and I’m so excited to be diving into this new story, once again with Marguerite Kaye as my co-author,” Ferguson said in a statement. “I really feel this book marks a new phase of my life and a whole new chapter for me. I’m ready to embrace the opportunities and challenges of writing adult fiction, and to build on what I have learned when writing Her Heart for a Compass. I can’t reveal too much about the new book at this point, but it will be another period drama, and will build on the world which I have created for this first book."
Ferguson’s Her Heart for a Compass, which was published last week by Mills and Boon in the U.K. and HarperCollins imprint William Morrow in the U.S., is the duchess’ debut romance novel. It follows a young noblewoman who flees the U.K. for Ireland to escape an arranged engagement.
The novel received a starred review from Kirkus, with a reviewer writing, “Fans of Downton Abbey will revel in everything they love about a big, fat 19th-century yarn.”
Ferguson is reportedly in talks with at least one streaming service to adapt Her Heart for a Compass as a television series.
Michael Schaub is a Texas-based journalist and regular contributor to NPR.
