Burr's 'wonderfully puzzling' debut won by Orion for six figures in eight-way auction

TV producer Samuel Burr’s “gloriously uplifting, nostalgic and wonderfully puzzling” debut novel has been won by Orion Fiction in a significant six-figure deal following an eight-way auction.

Charlotte Mursell, editorial director, acquired UK & Commonwealth rights to The Fellowship of Puzzlemakers from Hellie Ogden at Janklow & Nesbit UK in a two-book deal. US rights have been sold at auction in a major deal to Caitlin Landuyt at Anchor Books/Random House. Orion Fiction will publish as its lead debut in hardback, e-book and audio in April 2024.

Elsewhere, co-director of foreign rights Nathaniel Alcaraz-Stapleton and his Janklow team have closed “lightning speed” pre-empt deals in Brazil (Intrinseca), Greece (Metaixmo), Hungary (General Press), Italy (Longanesi), Portugal (Planeta), The Netherlands (The House Of Books) and Spain (Roca). German rights went to DuMont in an eight-way auction. In Finland rights were sold at auction to Otava and to Modernista in Sweden.

The book tells the story of Clayton Stumper, a young man has grown old before he has grown up. The publisher said: “At 24 years of age, he dresses like your grandad and drinks sherry like your aunt. Abandoned at birth on the steps of the Fellowship of Puzzlemakers, he was raised by a group of eccentric enigmatologists and finds himself among the last survivors of a fading institution. When the esteemed crossword compiler, Pippa Allsbrook, passes away, she bestows her final puzzle to him: a promise to reveal the mystery of his parentage and prepare him for life beyond the walls of the commune. But as Clay begins to unpick the clues, he uncovers something even the Fellowship have never been able to solve—and it’s a secret that will change everything."

Burr has worked on factual shows including the Bafta-nominated “Secret Life of 4-Year-Olds”. His writing was selected for Penguin’s WriteNow scheme and in 2021 he graduated from the Faber Academy. He previously studied at Westminster Film School.

He said: “I wanted to write a story that explores the greatest puzzle of all: figuring out adult life and finding your place in the world. The response to the book has been beyond my wildest dreams. I’m over the moon to be joining forces with the incredible team at Orion and Anchor/Random House and will forever be grateful to Hellie for believing in me, and my book, right from word go.”

Ogden added: “I took this novel on after reading less than 20,000 words, it was that good, and it just got better and better. The reaction worldwide has been extraordinary and I am so immensely proud to get to work with the talented Sam and the brilliant Orion team.”

Mursell called it “one of those incredibly rare stories that you could wait your entire career to publish”. She said: “Sam’s exceptional, charming and delightfully surprising debut swept the whole team off their feet practically overnight and I just know it is poised to capture the hearts of readers (and puzzling enthusiasts) everywhere. We are so thrilled that Sam has chosen Orion to be his publisher and beyond excited to launch Clayton and his quirky, whip-smart companions into the world.”