Everything With Words signs Irish feminist fantasy debut from Cahill

Everything With Words has signed The World Between the Rain, a debut middle grade fantasy thriller from Susan Cahill. 

Mikka Haugaard, editor, acquired world English rights from Kate Shaw at The Shaw Agency. 

"Susan’s dreamlike evocation of other worlds is beautifully done in this gripping story," said Shaw. "I love that she turns the ’dark is evil; light is good’ trope on its head."

The World Between the Rain is an Irish-set feminist fantasy where the main protagonists and antagonists are female. 

The publisher wrote: "When the novel opens it’s nearly Halloween, Marina Rafferty’s 13th birthday, also the 13th birthday of her two cousins, Ada and Seri.  It should be a day of celebration but their parents won’t wake up. Not even the doctors can shake them out of sleep." 

"The girls are packed off to West Cork to stay with their estranged grandmother. She’s not at all what they were expecting. She’s on first name terms with a raven, for a start and she seems to have the ability to step between the rain.  In the dead of night a woman with hair like a storm visits, speaking of another world and a secret society sworn to protect something called the Draoi, which is in mortal danger.  The girls will be drawn into an ancient battle and find powers within them they never thought possible." 

Haugaard commented: "I was immediately captivated by this novel. It is beautifully written: a small work of art and the story is unique, weaving Celtic mythology with other legends. I also loved that the story is partly set in West Cork, a place that I’m deeply familiar with, rain and all." 

Cahill said: "I’m absolutely delighted that The World Between the Rain has found a place with Everything With Words. And what good company it’s in. The books that Mikka publishes are beautiful, innovative, and full of heart. I couldn’t think of a better home for this story."