Renegade wins three-way auction for Flahive's debut novel, 'a roaring celebration of queer love'

Renegade has won a three-way bidding war for the debut novel by Thames & Hudson’s digital marketer Grace Flahive entitled Palm Meridian.

Christina Demosthenous, publisher of the Dialogue imprint, acquired UK and Commonwealth rights along with audio for the Toronto-born author’s book with publication slated for summer 2025. The “hard-fought” three-way auction was carried out over the course of Frankfurt Book Fair, negotiated by Sue Armstrong at C&W Agency.

After another auction in the US, North American rights were bought by Margo Shickmanter, executive editor at Avid Reader Press, S&S, from Gráinne Fox and Kelly Karczewski at UTA.

Set in Florida, 2062, Palm Meridian Retirement Resort is a residence for queer women living out their twilight years.

Renegade said of Palm Meridian: “While the world is slowly succumbing to climate collapse, the residents of Palm Meridian are doing anything but slowing down. It’s Hannah Cardin’s last day; after receiving a terminal diagnosis, tomorrow she will be dying by euthanasia. But she’s not going out quietly: her friends are throwing her one hell of an end-of-life party. Although Hannah has less than 24 hours to live, she hasn’t given up on love.

“Among the mammoth guest list is Hannah’s long-lost love, Sophie, who she hasn’t seen for 40 years. The disco ball is glittering, tequila is flowing, and the humid air is alive with laughter and anticipation. Could tonight be the night that changes everything?”

Flahive is originally from Toronto, Canada but has lived in the UK since 2014. She studied at McGill University in Montreal and then at University of the Arts London, writing her thesis on inventive digital marketing opportunities for authors. She works as a digital marketer, first at DK and now at Thames & Hudson. 

Demosthenous said: “This special book exceeded my expectations. With the kind of one-line pitch that editors dream of, Palm Meridian is an exceptionally original novel. The setting is totally transportive, the characters leapt straight into my heart, and Grace’s beautiful witty writing took me on a one-of-a-kind journey that pulled my emotions in every direction.  

“This is a novel about truly living – offering a hopeful vision for tomorrow, a roaring celebration of queer love, and a testament to the joy and abundance of growing older. I couldn’t think of a more perfect home for this radical story than Renegade.” 

Flahive says: “If Palm Meridian Retirement Resort imagined its own publishing imprint, it would imagine Renegade Books. I could not have dreamt of a better home for this story, and I feel privileged to work with Christina, whose warmth, energy and keen sense of humour have been a dream come true already. To be a part of the Dialogue family feels lucky beyond measure.” 

Armstrong said: “The moment Palm Meridian landed on my desk, it was love at first sight. That this dazzling debut has landed with Christina and her incredible team at Renegade is the cherry on top.”