MJ signs CBC graduate's debut

Michael Joseph has signed Rachel Marks’ "uplifting" and "powerful" debut novel, The Spark, about an unlikely pair brought together by anger management classes.

Editor Matilda McDonald acquired world English rights for two books from Alice Lutyens at Curtis Brown, commenting it was "the kind of debut you dream of - full of genuine warmth and heart, characters you fall in love with and a concept that offers a new twist on the unconventional love story".

Marks is a primary school teacher and photographer who took part in the Curtis Brown Creative course and, inspired by her own experiences, began to write her debut novel. The Spark will be released in August 2019.