'Fascinating' freak show memoir to Sandstone

Sandstone Press is to publish a "fascinating" memoir by first-time writer Tessa Fontaine who joined America's last travelling freak show as a way of coping with her mother's illness.

The publisher acquired UK, Ireland, and Commonwealth rights excluding Canada to The Electric Woman from Claire Roberts of Trident Media. The book will be published in the US by Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

The Electric Woman tells Fontaine’s story of learning to perform death-defying acts in order to come to terms with her mother’s illness, finding hope and companionship among sword swallowers and snake charmers.

Robert Davidson, m.d. at Sandstone Press, said: "We are delighted to be publishing Tessa Fontaine’s first book. It’s a beautifully written, uplifting memoir, which does not shy away from gritty, unpleasant aspects of life. Tessa has a fascinating, moving story to tell, and we couldn’t be happier than to be publishing it."

Fontaine’s other work has appeared in other journals such as PANK and Seneca Review. Fontaine holds an MFA from the University of Alabama and is currently a PhD student in creative writing at the University of Utah.

Sandstone Press will publish the title on 17th May 2018.