You are viewing your 1 free article this month. Login to read more articles.
Hobart Books acquires two for the autumn
New independent publisher Hobart Books has acquired Judy Upton's debut novel Out of the Frying Pan and Sam Burnside's My Name Is Rebecca, both out this autumn.
Upton is a playwright for the Royal Court, National Theatre and BBC Radio 4. Her debut novel is billed as a cosy crime thriller which will centre on sculptor Vonnie Sharpe investigating a kidnapping, aided by her arty friends and a hapless bank robber.
World rights, including translation, were acquired from Jessica Hare at The Agency.
"I am thrilled to have my first novel published by Hobart Books," said Upton (right). "As a new publisher they have been able to strike the balance between traditional publishing and the agility of a modern, dynamic business. The turnaround from submission to decision has been rapid."
Burnside's novel is set in Northern Ireland at the height of The Troubles and against the background of the social and political change of the time. It will explore the relationship of Rebecca and two male friends as they reconcile the murder of Rebecca’s sister Ruth in a bombing on the streets of Belfast years earlier.
Hobart Books acquired world rights for the novel, including translation, film and TV, directly from the author (left), who commented: "I am so very pleased to be part of a new, fresh, young and adventurous publishing venture. Publishing needs a company like Hobart to get new literature out there, literature that should not be left to wither and die on an editor’s pile."
Burnside is an acclaimed poet from Derry. He is the author of The Cathedral a long poem that won the Sunday Tribune/Hennessy Literary Award for Poetry in 1989. He has also been awarded an Allingham Poetry Prize, the University of Ulster’s McCrea Literary Award for Literature and a Bass Ireland Award.
Adam Gardner, director of Hobart Books, said: "Sam brings an incredible sensitivity to his writing, and we’ve deviated from our usual genres to publish this remarkable story of relationships and reconciliation. We’re delighted to be working with him."
