Orion to publish 'painfully funny' debut from Amy Lavelle

Orion Fiction has acquired two books by journalist Amy Lavelle, including her debut Definitely Fine. 

Assistant editor Olivia Barber struck a deal for world English language rights with Hannah Schofield and Amanda Preston at LBA Books. The first title will be published in paperback, e-book and audio in summer 2021.

Following 28-year-old Hannah, Definitely Fine is described as a coming-of-age novel about muddling through your late 20s and finding yourself when you lose someone who has been holding everything together. Hannah's mum dies suddenly after an accident and she finds herself having to support her father and little sister. 

Barber said: "Amy’s vivid, sharply funny and emotionally honest narrative voice had me laugh-crying from the first page. I was completely captivated by her gift for observing the comic nuances of family life and by the authenticity of her depiction of grief–how it can manifest in unexpected and some farcical ways. This is one of those rare books that can make you snort with laughter and bring a lump to your throat, sometimes in the same paragraph."

Lavelle added: "I couldn’t be more thrilled that Definitely Fine has found a home at Orion Fiction. After I lost my own mum, I wanted to write something that depicted the other sides of grief: the absurd and funny parts that you don’t expect and I’m utterly delighted that I’ll get to be working with Olivia and the team on it."

Lavelle is a journalist who has written for Grazia, Glamour, Red, the Telegraph and the Independent.