Corvus grabs Hailey's 'unique and arresting' debut

Corvus has landed Carole Hailey’s debut novel, The Silence Project, a fictitious memoir about the daughter of a woman who started a cult that changed the world.

Sarah Hodgson, publishing director at the Atlantic imprint, acquired UK and Commonwealth rights from Marina de Pass at The Soho Agency. The Silence Project will be Corvus’ lead debut for the first half of 2023, publishing in hardback, export trade paperback and e-book on 2nd February 2023. De Pass is also handling translation, North America and film and TV rights.

"On Emilia Morris’s 13th birthday, her mother Rachel moves into a tent at the bottom of their garden," the synopsis reads. "From that day on, she never says another word. Inspired by her vow of silence, other women join her and together they build the Community. Eight years later, Rachel and thousands of her followers around the world burn themselves to death.

"In the aftermath of what comes to be known as the Event, the Community’s global influence quickly grows. As a result, the whole world has an opinion about Rachel—whether they see her as a callous monster or a heroic martyr— but Emilia has never voiced hers publicly. Until now.

"When she publishes her own account of her mother’s life in a memoir called The Silence Project, Emilia also decides to reveal just how sinister the Community has become. In the process, she steps out of Rachel’s shadow once and for all so that her own voice may finally be heard."

Hodgson said: “The unique and arresting premise of The Silence Project caught my attention as soon as I opened Marina’s submission email and the novel itself only exceeded my expectations. Carole’s writing has both a simplicity and a depth to it that is utterly compelling. I’m over the moon to welcome Carole to the Corvus list. You’ll need to clear your schedules for this one because it really is unputdownable.”

Hailey completed the six-month Guardian/UEA novel-writing course taught by Bernardine Evaristo, setting aside her career in law to undertake an MA in creative writing at Goldsmiths, followed by a PhD in creative writing at Swansea University. She was a London Library Emerging Writer 2020/21. The Silence Project was shortlisted for the Bridport Prize Peggy Chapman-Andrews First Novel Award 2020.

“I am thrilled that The Silence Project has found a home at Corvus. The love that Sarah and the team have already shown for it is beyond anything I could have imagined," she said. "I’m so excited to work with them to send Emilia, Rachel and her Community out into the world.”