Daphne Press seizes 'high-octane' fantasy series by Dennard

New publisher Daphne Press has landed The Luminaries, a "haunting" contemporary YA fantasy by Susan Dennard.

The acquisition, the first the press has made since launching in 2021, was secured by Joanna Volpe at New Leaf Literary, who obtained UK and Commonwealth rights to the trilogy. E-book publication will coincide with the US on 8th November, followed by a paperback release in early 2023, with book two publishing later that year.

"The Luminaries is a haunting and high-octane contemporary fantasy, about the magic it takes to face your fears in a nightmare-filled forest, and the mettle required to face the secrets hiding in the dark corners of your own family. Hemlock Falls isn’t like other towns," the synopsis explains. "You won’t find it on a map, your phone won’t work here, and the forest outside town might just kill you. Only the Luminaries, a society of ancient guardians, stand between humanity and the nightmares of the forest that rise each night."

Originally started as a "choose your own story" on Twitter, Dennard’s pre-lockdown project attracted thousands of participants that grew into an entire online community. Each day, Dennard would add to the story featuring its teenage protagonist, Winnie, and allow readers to vote on which action they wanted her to take.

Daphne Tonge, founder and publisher, said: “We are so thrilled that Susan and the team at New Leaf have entrusted us with this brilliant new duology. Readers will fall in love with Winnie and be captivated by the mysteries of Hemlock Falls. We have brought the nightmares to life by commissioning detailed illustrations from Kerby Rosanes (who also worked on the covers for Jay Kristoff’s Nevernight series and Empire of the Vampire) throughout the book. We have created a beautiful package for The Luminaries and are excited to reveal it."

The press launched as an arm of book subscription and special editions company Illumicrate, and has grown into publishing original works. It now intends to focus on acquiring commercial fiction from a diverse range of voices, and aims to champion debut authors and stories from typically underrepresented backgrounds. 

"Daphne Press is a wonderful opportunity to use our reach to champion books we’re passionate about and work collaboratively with authors," Tonge added. "We are in a unique position as a publisher and retailer to launch books in young adult and crossover spaces. We also plan on building our team inclusively, starting with the ability to work fully remotely within the business. Our hope is to bring about change and shine a spotlight on talent.”