Agent Rhian Thomas-Parry dies aged 30
Author and literary agent Rhian Parry (now Rhian Thomas-Parry) has died. Rhian was an associate literary agent at The Blair Partnership, where she also managed film, tv and audio rights and permissions, as well as an author. Rhian wrote her first novel at just 12-years-old and has penned many novels since, including a Watty Award winner and a Cheshire Novel Prize longlistee. She was working on her adult romantasy novel A Mortal Drowning at the time of her death.
She died peacefully on 25th April after an illness, with her husband and family at her side.
Rory Scarfe, Managing Director of Client Management at The Blair Partnership said: ‘We have lost a great friend and a brilliant colleague, and our industry has lost one of its most promising young people. Our agency would not be what it is without Rhian. She was woven into the fabric of all that we do and all that we have achieved and we will forever be in her debt for that.
Our thoughts are with Rhian’s family, her new husband, Hugh, and all the many people who loved her. We are dedicated to honouring Rhian’s legacy and inspired by her life, her love of books, and her boundless generosity.’
Her agent Lauren Gardner at Bell Lomax Moreton said: ‘Rhian and I signed together last summer for her romantasy novel A Mortal Drowning, after I fell in love with her lyrical and witty prose.
When Rhian shared the news of her diagnosis with me, she told me that she wanted to pursue writing for as long as she could. Unsurprisingly, and with the determination I have come to know and admire, she was true to her word.
I think the best writers always write what they know – Rhian knew love; wonderful, real, lasting love. She wove it through every word of every story she wrote, and that is going to be her legacy.
My heart is broken for Rhian’s husband Hugh, her family and friends, she is so loved and she will be so missed. ‘
Rhian’s family have asked us to thank the publishing community, Rhian’s fellow writers, and The Blair Partnership for seeing and valuing what they’ve always seen and loved in Rhian, and for enabling her to live her life’s passion to the full in her final few years.
