Former Slovenian prime minister signs deal for historical novel

Former prime minister and leader of the Slovenian Democratic Party, Janez Janša, has signed to London-based publisher IndieBooks for his new historical novel White Panther.

The title, set in c.200 BC, tells of creation of the Kingdom of Noric in response to the threat of Roman Invasion. IndieBooks holds world rights to the title.

James Humphreys, IndieBooks editorial director, said: "Janez is not just a great writer with an exciting story to tell. He brings the insight and authority of himself having been a leader in a war of independence. White Panther has a memorable cast of characters and some fine descriptive writing. It also gives a fascinating portrait of the political realities of a small nation living in the shadow of its larger neighbours, which has extra resonance in contemporary Europe."

Janša was a leading dissident under the Yugoslav communist regime, and a prominent figure in Slovenia’s secession from Yugoslavia in 1991. He held the post of minister of defence during the Slovenian war of Independence, and was prime minister from 2004 to 2008 and again from 2012 to 2013.

White Panther is the first of a series of novels charting the Kingdom of Noric and will be published in hardback in the summer of 2017.