BK Fiction snaps up 'powerful' debut from Maxwell with digital storytelling elements

BK Fiction has snapped up Water Street, a "powerful and moving" début novel from JP Maxwell. 

Publisher James Lumsden-Cook acquired world all-language rights from Clare Coombes at the Liverpool Literary Agency. The novel will be published on 1st July. 

"Water Street is a wonderful insight into Liverpool’s past. [It has] a thrilling spy narrative and the potential to be a fully immersive storytelling experience," said Coombes. 

Water Street brings to the fore the city’s role in the American Civil War. The tale "will also go beyond the book", using digital storytelling, gaming and virtual reality to recreate the settings and characters at its Liverpool and stateside locations, the publisher said. 

Lumsden-Cook said: “We are delighted that our debut title will be Water Street by JP Maxwell, a US Civil War historical thriller set in 1863 Liverpool. We plan to publish this book alongside innovative digital storytelling elements that offer fresh and unique experiences for readers.” 

Maxwell said: "I’m excited by BK Fiction’s acquisition of Water Street. This is a thriller that will exist in the metaverse via a games engine that takes us back to 1863 Liverpool, where the American Civil War began and ended.”