HarperCollins in Impossible pre-empt for Lotz novel

HarperCollins has snapped up Impossible by Sarah Lotz and one other title in a “major” pre-empt within days of submission, which sees the author move from speculative to book club general fiction. 

Senior commissioning editor Charlotte Brabbin acquired UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada, from Oli Munson at A M Heath. North American rights were won at auction by Miranda Hill of Penguin’s Berkley imprint and German rights were also acquired at auction by Rowholt. In the UK, it will be published in spring 2022.

The publisher said: “Achingly funny and romantic, Impossible is an unforgettable love story with a twist. It tells the story of Nick and Bee, two people who are meant to be—and yet can never meet. They develop an instant connection over a misdirected email, yet when they come to meet in person under the clock at Euston station, fate has other ideas. Because Nick and Bee are living in alternate worlds—falling deeply, impossibly in love across the divide between one life and another. It’s love at the right time, but in the completely wrong place.”

Lotz is the author of five speculative thrillers including The Three and The White Road have been published by Hodder. She said: “Impossible is a novel close to my heart and Charlotte Brabbin and her team’s passionate response to it is what every writer dreams of. It couldn’t have found a better home.”

Brabbin added: “I was completely hooked on Impossible from the very first page. The idea of an alternate version of ourselves living a different life, taking a different path, is something that fascinates us all. And Sarah encapsulates this so brilliantly through the lens of a love story that’s quite literally out of this world. Nick and Bee are up there with the most memorable of fictional couples, and I’m so excited that HarperCollins will be introducing them to readers everywhere in 2022.”

Munson commented: “I was desperate to read Impossible from the moment Sarah pitched it to me. I’m so pleased she has such an enthusiastic new publisher for this love story like no other.”