Myriad signs 'ingenious' Keevil novel

Myriad Editions has welcomed back Tyler Keevil with an "ingenious" new novel about a woman who risks her life to save another.

Candida Lacey, publisher and m.d, bought world English language rights from Becky Thomas at Johnson & Alcock. Your Still Beating Heart will be published in September 2020.

The book follows a young woman who travels to Prague after she is widowed. The synopsis explains: “A chance meeting leads to an intriguing proposition. There’s a small job for someone like her: someone without a criminal record or personal connections; someone willling to take a minor risk. All she needs to do is pick something up, and drive back. Just once. Only ever once. Her mission takes her to a place where life is cheap and sordid deals are done. Risking her own life to save another, she must confront unspeakable evil and outrun those who would betray her.”

Keevil, who grew up in Vancouver and moved to Wales in his twenties, is the author of three novels including The Drive (Myriad) and most recent book No Good Brother (The Borough Press). He is director of the MA in Creative Writing at Cardiff University.

He said: “It’s incredibly exciting to be publishing this book with Myriad. Having worked with them on The Drive I know how tremendous their team is and how supportive they are of their authors. Writing this story was an exhilarating process, and I can’t wait to share that experience with readers.”

Lacey added: “This is a terrific novel, and striking on so many levels. From the show-stopping opening scene, Tyler’s writing is ingenious, and full of momentum and unforgettable characters. It is a new genre for Tyler and he has hit the ground running with such a taut and chilling thriller. Moving, profound and ultimately joyful, Your Still Beating Heart turns on an exceptionally clever twist and is as revealing in its psychological acuity as it is in its portrait of organised crime. We are delighted to welcome him back to Myriad.”