Publishers and agents
The 4 books live in one folder on my laptop, each with its own harbour, and on most mornings the newest one gets the bow and the first coffee. Book 1 and Book 2 have been through their developmental edit, and Book 3 is outlined with Book 4 close behind it.
I am a debut author. My working life sits in science and corporate governance, where a deadline is a promise to other people, and telling stories is the newest work I do. I would love to hear from publishers and agents who see something in these books, and I am very open to working together.
The series at a glance
| The series | The series is 4 action romance novels under sail across one Mediterranean summer, and they come out one a month from May to August 2027. |
| The heroine | Sapphire Pascoe is a delivery skipper who takes a new job on a new boat in every book. |
| Heat and ending | The love scenes are steamy with the door open. Every book ends happy for now, and Book 4 ends happy for good. |
| Length | Each book runs to about 90,000 words in English. |
| Readers | The books are for women who love action on the water and a love story with the door open, in Europe, the UK, Australia, New Zealand and the USA. |
| For readers of | Readers who loved Heart Marks the Spot by Libby Hubscher, Swept Away by Beth O’Leary, Love Overboard by Kandi Steiner or Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy will find the same pull of sea and love here. |
| Publishing | I publish independently, and BLYSS GmbH handles the rights. |
Where each book stands
| Book 1 | The developmental edit is done. The line edit runs through October and November 2026, and the copy edit follows at the end of November. |
| Book 2 | Its developmental edit is done too, with the line edit in January 2027 and the copy edit at the end of that month. |
| Book 3 | Book 3 is outlined and will be drafted by the end of November 2026, with its developmental edit in December and its line and copy edit in February 2027. |
| Book 4 | Book 4 will be drafted by mid January 2027 and get its developmental edit that same month, with its line and copy edit in February. |
| All four | All 4 books are sealed at the end of February 2027 and proofed in spring, and Book 1 comes out in May 2027. |
What is open
Translation rights are open, German first, and readers of my monthly letter are already telling me which of 7 languages they would love to read. Audio rights are open, and so are film and television. The ebooks launch in Kindle Unlimited, so ebook distribution stays with me for this series. Print is in planning, with IngramSpark under consideration.
A second series follows from 2027, a trilogy set in the French Alps, and all of its rights will be open, ebooks included.
What you can read
A synopsis and sample chapters are ready on request now, and a full reading copy follows from January 2027.
Write to me
Send a note to hello@romymercer.com with Rights in the subject line, and tell me who you are and what you have in mind for which market or format. You will hear back within a week. Which harbour would your readers want to wake up in first?
Write to Romy