Everything With Words snaps up 'stunning' debut from Merrett

Everything With Words has snapped up The Others, a "stunning" middle-grade debut from Sarah Merrett. 

Editor Mikka Haugaard acquired world rights directly from the author. The novel will be published in October 2024. 

The Others is set at the beginning of the 20th century and follows a female astronomer who is trying to break into the "male scientific world" by discovering life on another planet. 

Merrett commented: "I’ve always loved historical fiction and sci-fi, so when I struck upon the idea for The Others, I was excited to mix these two opposing genres. Part of my inspiration came from the Guzman Prize, established in 1900 to recognise anyone who could contact life beyond Earth and receive a response (Mars was exempt). My story explores what might have happened if someone had succeeded. I’m delighted The Others has found such a wonderful home with Everything With Words. Mikka has a brilliant eye for finding stories that are a little bit different." 

Haugaard added: "We’re one of the few publishers who accepts unsolicited manuscripts and I’m always on the lookout for new talent. [...] The characters feel real with a Dickensian quality that young readers will love, and Sarah is a natural cliff-hanger writer."