Granta secures paperback of Patel's 'exhilarating' debut I'm A Fan

Granta has secured the paperback licence for Sheena Patel’s "electrifying" debut I’m A Fan. 

Associate publishing director Jason Arthur acquired UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada, from Nina Hervé at Rough Trade Books. The paperback, e-book and audio editions will be published in early 2023. 

Patel was picked as one of the Observer’s best debut authors of 2022 and I’m A Fan follows the story’s unnamed narrators in "seemingly unequal romantic relationships". The publisher wrote: "With a clear and unforgiving eye, Sheena Patel makes startling connections between power struggles at the heart of human relationships to those in the wider world, offering a devastating critique of social media, access and patriarchal systems." 

Arthur commented: "This is a novel that truly stopped me in my tracks; a distinctive and blistering debut and a vivid and urgent howl of rage that is powered by an utterly unique and exhilarating voice. The gorgeous hardback edition has been brilliantly published by Nina Hervé and Will Burns at Rough Trade Books, and Kate McQuaid’s fabulous publicity campaign has been a joy to watch roll out, and so I’m thrilled that the team here at Granta has the opportunity to work with Sheena in building on that success and publishing the paperback edition next year." 

Patel added: "I wanted to write the story of the shadow of the internet; I wanted to write a story  that  was unpalatable and scary,  that would  make the reader feel sick. So  I was apprehensive about how I’m A Fan would  be received, but I’ve been bowled over by the reception. I am very thankful to Rough Trade Books for all their work in  publishing  such a beautiful edition. We’re all incredibly excited to work with Jason and the Granta team on the paperback release, and can’t wait to get the book out to even more people."