Head of Zeus snaps up two-book deal with Åkerström

Head of Zeus has snapped up a two-book deal with Lolá Ákínmádé Åkerström, following her debut In Every Mirror She’s Black. 

Madeleine O’Shea, acting publishing director, acquired UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada, from Jessica Craig at Craig Literary. Everything Is Not Enough, the first book in the package, will be published on 26th October under the Apollo Fiction imprint. The second novel will follow in spring 2025. 

"It’s been a joyful and life-changing experience seeing the nuanced characters and bold storytelling of Lolá Ákínmádé Åkerström excite readers around the world," said Craig. "We’re thrilled to keep growing with the fantastic Head of Zeus team and we can’t wait for the passionate reactions and important conversations that Lolá’s next novels will spark."

Everything is Not Enough brings together the stories of four immigrant women as they navigate life in Stockholm. The publisher continued: "Kemi is struggling to settle as the only Black woman at her marketing firm, Brittany-Rae is finding the privilege and access her marriage has given her far from perfect, Yasmiin is working hard to balance family life with her personal ambitions, and Muna—well, Muna’s fate lies in the balance." 

Åkerström said: "Right from the start, I felt completely at home with Head of Zeus as an author, and I couldn’t be more ecstatic and grateful to be continuing our collaborative journey together with these next two novels."

O’Shea added: "In Every Mirror She’s Black ended on such a cliff-hanger, I was delighted when I found out Lolá was up for revisiting these characters and extending their stories. But this book isn’t just a sequel, it’s an expansion—with new characters, dilemmas and dramas exposing more about love, friendship, ambition and the experience of being othered in a monolithically white environment. Lolá is a joy to work with and we’re really excited to make Head of Zeus the ongoing home for her writing."