Broken Sleep acquires Musa's poetic ode to woodcutting and Borneo

Broken Sleep Books has landed Killernova, a book that explores the woodcutting heritage and colonial history of Southeast Asia in verse, by Bornean-Australian author and poet Omar Musa.

The publisher acquired UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Australia and New Zealand, from Tara Wynne at Curtis Brown Australia. It was published last month in Australia by Penguin. 

"With equal parts swagger, humour and vulnerability, Musa charts a journey through the colonial history of Southeast Asia, environmental destruction, oceans, bushfires, race in Australia, the isolation and addiction of Covid lockdown, family, lost love and ultimately, recovery," the synopsis explains. "Relentlessly on beat, visually captivating and deceptively intimate, this is a collection of words and art that burns blindingly bright."

Musa has released three poetry books, four hip-hop records, written a one-man play called "Since Ali Died" and received a standing ovation at TEDx Sydney at the Sydney Opera House. His debut novel, Here Come the Dogs (The New Press) was published in 2014 and was longlisted for the International Dublin Literary Award and the Miles Franklin Award. He was named one of the Sydney Morning Herald’s Young Novelists of the Year in 2015. As part of Killernova's campaign, Musa will tour the book in the UK at the time of publication. It will be released on 30th July 2022.

Broken Sleep Books director and editor Aaron Kent said: "I’m a big hip-hop head, and have had Omar’s music in rotation while at work prior to picking up Killernova, so I was already a fan. The thing that stood out to me most, in this remarkable book, was how well the woodcuts and poetry worked in tandem. Omar has created a rare thing: A work of poetry in art, and a work of art in poetry."