Cinto Press signs 'riveting' debut novel from Tom Gaisford

Cinto Press, an imprint of Bath Publishing, has signed Tom Gaisford’s "ambitious" debut novel, Sanctuary. 

Founders David Chaplin and Helen Lacey acquired English-language world rights from Tom Cull at Cull & Co Literary Agency. Publication will be supported with an "extensive" marketing and publicity campaign. 

Sanctuary follows immigration lawyer Alex Donovan and explores the treatment of asylum seekers in the UK. Donovan "dreams up a madcap plan to claim asylum in his own country". 

Chaplin commented: “When Tom’s debut novel landed in our inbox, we knew why his agent had sent it to us. The wit and insider knowledge he uses to construct such an ingenious, irresistible tale from the intricacies of immigration law immediately appealed, given our grounding in law. But Sanctuary is not just a riveting good read, it shines a light on the murky world of asylum in the UK—still a very live issue. We are delighted Tom has given us the chance to bring it to a wider public.”

Gaisford added: “Cinto Press’ growing fiction list, background in legal publishing and fearless interest in gritty stories about social justice made it the perfect fit. But it was also its appreciation of the novel’s lighter side, the humour and the love story, which permeate the narrative, that sealed the deal.”