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New Andrew Michael Hurley novel called Devil’s Day
Costa prize-winning author Andrew Michael Hurley’s new novel Devil’s Day is publishing this October with John Murray.
Hurley spoke about his new novel, Devil’s Day, for the first time last night (Wednesday 1st Feb) at the inaugural John Murray Fiction showcase, held at The Bootlegger in London.
Set in a small village on the Lancashire moors, the novel follows John Pentecost and his new wife, Katherine, as they return to the farm where he grew up. His grandfather – known to everyone as the Gaffer – has died, and they must take on some of his responsibilities; the redrawing of the boundary lines of the village, and the remembrance of folk tales, family stories and timeless communal rituals. This year, though, the determination of some members of the community to defend those boundary lines has strengthened, and John and Katherine must decide where their loyalties lie, and whether they are prepared to make the sacrifices necessary to join the tribe.
Hurley’s debut The Loney, also set in Lancashire, scooped the Costa First Novel Award before being named the British Book Industry Awards Book of the Year in 2016. Originally published by Tartarus Press in a 300 hardback print run, The Loney has since gone on to sell over 20,000 copies in hardback and trade paperback, and nearly 100,000 copies in paperback, according to John Murray, making it one of the top selling debuts of 2016. Foreign rights have been sold by John Murray in 19 territories, and a film is in development with DNA films/Film4.
The evening was also attended by Lisa McInerney to introduce her forthcoming novel The Blood Miracles, sequel to her Baileys and Demond Elliot award-winning debut The Glorious Heresies, as well as authors Paula McGrath, speaking about her second novel A History of Running Away, former BBC journalist Terry Stiastny, introducing her second novel Conflicts of Interest, crime writers Mick Herron and Louise Welsh, and debut Irish author Rory Gleeson to talk about the origins of the idea for Rockadoon Shore.
