Deixis Press lands 'haunting' novel from Joan

Deixis Press has landed a "chilling" psychological novel from Marc Joan titled The Cartoon Life and Loves of a Stupid Man.

Founder Angel Belsey acquired world English rights directly from the author. The book will be published in November 2023.

The Cartoon Life and Loves of a Stupid Man follows Philippe Favrier, independent comic bookstore owner and heir to a pharmaceutical fortune, who, struggling with mental illness, relies on a drug his father developed and on his wife Marilyne. The two are bound by the pain of their child’s death. Then, when Philippe sees an unfamiliar face in the mirror, and receives a strange comic strip, their world begins to crumble.

Belsey commented: "The Cartoon Life and Loves of a Stupid Man is a chilling journey through the inner workings of a troubled mind. Marc Joan’s book masterfully blurs the line between reality and fantasy. It’s an ingenious, psychologically arresting story which promises to leave readers breathless."

Joan added: "While The Cartoon Life and Loves of a Stupid Man explores tragedy, I hope it also prompts sympathy for those whose inner struggles misalign them with societal norms, and raises questions about how we define ‘normal’ in our society."