Gollancz snaps up Nix's first adult novels

Gollancz has bought Australian author Garth Nix's first adult novels.

The deal for UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Australia, was negotiated by Gillian Redfearn, publishing director of the Orion imprint with Jill Grinberg of Jill Grinberg Literary Management. The first book will be simultaneously around the world in October 2019 with the second slated for 2020.

Nix has previously been published by Bonnier in the UK for his children and young adult books, in deals announced in 2013 and 2016.

Angel Mage is the first title, a high fantasy set in an alternative 17th century Europe boasting “beastlings, angels, and magic”. It is the story of an ageless young woman with terrifying angelic powers who is obsessed being reunited with her lover no matter the cost to anyone else, the synopsis reads.

The Left-handed Booksellers of London is the second novel, following young art student Susan who comes to London in 1983 in search of the father she never knew. She then gets drawn “into the arcane business of the booksellers whose secret sideline is to ensure that mythic entities and dormant legends do not intrude, disastrously, into the modern world”.

Nix has been a full-time writer since 2001, focusing on children’s and young adult fantasy fiction, but has also worked in a number of other roles across the trade including stints as as a literary agent, marketing consultant, book editor, book publicist, book sales representative and bookseller.

“I am absolutely delighted to be working with Gillian Redfearn and her team at Gollancz,’ Nix said. “They are clearly the preeminent publishers of fantasy in the UK and my books will be in very good company indeed.”

Redfearn said: “It is an absolute delight to welcome Garth Nix to the Gollancz list. He is an exceptionally talented writer with a stupendous reputation and readership.”

She added: “It’s the perfect combination of inspired storytelling, fabulous characters, and brilliant publishing.”

His work has been translated into 42 languages. His most recent book, Frogkisser! (Piccadilly Press), is now being developed as a film by Twentieth Century Fox and Blue Sky Animation and he has also been published by Hot Key.