Mortalis: a new line of mysteries & thrillers

I have more to say about this news over at Galleycat, but the announcement that Random House will be launching a new line of trade paperbacks specifically for crime fiction makes me happy. Though the bulk of what they will publish are reissues of RH backlist, 3 original titles will debut in Spring 2007: Boris Akunin’s SISTER PELAGIA AND THE WHITE BULLDOG, David Corbett’s BLOOD IN PARADISE (hooray, because it’s been a four year gap since DONE FOR A DIME) and Alex Carr’s AN ACCIDENTAL AMERICAN.

I’m particularly pleased that Carr’s book will be published because, in actuality, Carr’s a pseudonym for one of my favorite writers (and guest-blogger here last August) Jenny Siler. Orion had originally scheduled publication of the UK edition of AN ACCIDENTAL AMERICAN right around now, but the date was pushed back, presumably so that it could be coordinated with the US publication. From the writeup, it sounds like a really excellent book — one that, hopefully, will get a ton of attention upon its release date.

And for those keeping track, the UK edition will be published in hardcover, so the avid collectors will want to get that edition for their personal libraries.