Canelo has acquired a new 15th century adventure series from debut novelist Ethan Bale.

Commissioning Editor Craig Lye has acquired World All Language rights to a new historical fiction series by debut author Ethan Bale in a three-book deal. 

Set in the dying days of the Wars of the Roses, the first novel, Hawker and the King’s Jewel, opens on the eve of the fateful Battle of Bosworth Field. King Richard III summons his loyal knight, Sir John Hawker, and tasks him with two missions: to return a mysterious ruby to the Doge of Venice; and to protect Richard’s illegitimate son, who is unaware of his true parentage. But his orders are overheard by a Tudor spy and so, when Richard falls in battle, Hawker and his knights flee with agents in hot pursuit, of both the jewel and the potential Plantagenet heir.

What follows is a thrilling adventure across medieval Europe to the web of plots and intrigue that defined Venice in the late fifteenth century. The series will follow the adventures of Hawker and Richard III’s illegitimate son, Giles Ellingham, as they build their strength in Europe, planning one day to return to England at the head of a Yorkist rebellion and overthrow Henry VII.

Ethan Bale was a defence journalist in both Washington and London before he turned to penning historical novels, non-fiction and short stories. Despite writing about modern military technology for much of his career, he was always passionate about times past, particularly the Renaissance and early modern Europe. Indeed, for many years he donned full medieval armour to participate in fighting tournaments in the US and UK.

Craig Lye says: ‘Ethan Bale has created a rich and gripping adventure that will captivate everyone who reads this series. His characters are compelling, nuanced and complex, and he brings the period to life with his experience of medieval combat and deftly woven historical detail. The more I read this novel, the more I found to love about it. I can’t wait for it to hit shelves!’

Ethan Bale says: ‘I’ve always been fascinated by those who were on the losing side of history and what happened to them once their luck ran out and the tide turned. The “what ifs” of the Plantagenet sunset are particularly compelling and I decided to write Hawker as a counterpoint to the Tudor-themed deluge of the past decade. I’m delighted that Canelo has picked up the novel and excited about the prospects for the series.’

Hawker and the King’s Jewel will be published in July 2022, in paperback and ebook, with book two and book 3 to follow in summer 2023 and summer 2024 respectively. For more information please contact elinor@canelo.co