Trapeze reveals five new signings on official launch day

Trapeze, one of Orion's newest imprints, has announced five new acquisitions to coincide with the official launch of the imprint today (6th October), among them The Brexit Survival Activity Book, and a new book by Dan The Diamond Minecart, whose debut graphic novel also launches today (6th October).

The Brexit Survival Activity Book, for which world rights were acquired by Trapeze editor Emma Smith, is one of the first parody books on Brexit, following Quercus' addition to its Enid Blyton for Grown-Up series, Five on Brexit Island. Due to publish on 3rd November, The Brexit Survival Activity Book will be full of games, puzzles and jokes, promising to support readers through "the impending doom of Brexit".

Popular YouTuber Dan The Diamond Minecart's activity book of puzzles, games, facts and experiments, Dan TDM 2017 Diary Activity Book: Lots of Things to Make and Do, will meanwhile publish on 17th November. It follows the author's debut graphic novel Trayaurus and the Enchanted Crystal which publishes today. Anna Valentine, publisher for Trapeze, bought world rights to the book from Liam Chivers at OP Talent Limited.

Another YouTuber's book, My Beautiful Struggle by Jordan Bone, was also bought by Smith, who secured world rights from Danielle Zigner at LBA Books, to publish in paperback on 13th April 2017. Its author has refused to let her disability define her, following a car accident at the age of 15 that left her paralysed from the chest down. Her "inspiring" book tells her story, about dealing with depression and how she now wants to positively influence others. Bone's video revealing the full extent of her condition gained 5.6m views on YouTube.

Trapeze will be publishing another true story, All For My Children by Sally Faulkner. It is a true account of the author's "heart-breaking" fight – which continues to this day – to be reunited with her two small children, after their father, who Faulkner is separated from, refused to bring them home after a three week holiday in Beirut. Valentine bought UK and Commonwealth rights (excluding Australia and New Zealand) from Sarah Brooks, rights and publishing manager at Hachette Australia. It will be published by Trapeze as an e-book on 1st December and in paperback original on 20th April 2017.

Sam Eades, senior commissioning editor at Trapeze, struck a two-book deal with Laura Williams at PFD, for UK and Commonwealth rights excluding Canada to Jem Lester’s latest novel The Mother of Invention. Publishing in Spring 2018, following his debut Schtum, it will explore the relationship between families with Lester’s "trademark warmth, humour and depth". Shtum was selected for the BBC Radio 2 "Simon Mayo Book Club" and the Amazon Rising Stars promotion, and will be released in paperback in January 2017. 

Trapeze has been celebrating its launch with Trapeze New Voices Week, with its authors including Madeleine Shaw, Rubyetc, David Barnett and Daniel Cole, appearing at events. New Voices Day, taking place on Saturday (8th October), features a fiction and non-fiction "bootcamp", tackling pitch, plot and pacing in workshops called "Shaping Your Novel" and "Writing Nonfiction 101", and a live "slushpile" event, where writers can pitch to the Trapeze commissioning team.