Quercus launches new 'upmarket' imprint: riverrun

Quercus is launching a new fiction and non-fiction imprint called riverrun.

Due to launch on May 2nd, riverrun will be spearheaded by publisher Jon Riley and showcase Quercus’ "high quality literary fiction, upmarket crime and top class, serious non-fiction".

The editorial team working with Riley comprises Niamh Mulvey, Richard Arcus and Rose Tomaszewska, all of whom will commission for the list. 

Riley said: "Choosing the name of the new imprint – riverrun – was more complicated than we could have imagined, but all along the solution was across the road. A river. riverrun has energy, poetry, momentum and is memorable. In time it will stand as a strong symbol for what we want to achieve.

"It is, of course, the first word of one of the most famous – and probably unread – books ever written, Joyce’s Finnegans Wake. We hope our imprint will attain the first quality and our books will avoid the second."

riverrun’s first title will be Six Four by Japanese author Hideo Yokoyama, which published on 3rd March with Quercus. Riley said: "The book has been garnering rave reviews and we are already reprinting. We decided to take the opportunity to bring the book under the riverrun umbrella earlier than expected."

Other existing Quercus authors joining the list include bestselling crime author Peter May, the multi-award-winning Louise O’Neill and Granta Best of Young British author Joanna Kavenna.

riverrun will be releasing a programme brochure and preview sampler to the trade next week showcasing the range of its publishing.

The official launch date of riverrun is 2nd May during which month The Birdwatcher, a new standalone novel from British crime writer William Shaw, will be published.