Hot Key Books signs ‘sweeping romance’ from award-winning Arnold

Hot Key Books has acquired the “poignant” and “romantic” new novel from David Arnold, I Loved You in Another Life.

Emma Matthewson, executive publisher, and Georgia Murray, commissioning editor, acquired UK and Commonwealth English language rights from Alessandra Birch on on behalf of Daniel Lazar  at Writers House.

I Loved You in Another Life, which will be published in paperback in October 2023, follows the story of two teenagers Evan and Shosh: the only two people who can hear the voice of a mysterious singer, whose lyrics bring their souls together time and time again through the ages.

Arnold is the author of  Mosquitoland and Kids of Appetite (Headline) among other novels. He has won the Southern Book Prize and the Great Lakes Book Award, and his books have been translated into over a dozen languages.

Arnold said: “Every book feels personal, but this one cuts deep. There’s a character based on my young son, a love based on my love, original songs I wrote and recorded for the book, and a few of my own mental health struggles on the page. As such, I couldn’t be more thrilled to be working with Emma, Georgia, and the incredible team at Hot Key. As someone who’s lived and travelled through England, imagining I Loved You in Another Life on UK bookshelves is an absolute dream.” 

Matthewson commented: “From the very first page I fell for the sweeping romance of David Arnold’s ambitious storytelling, the original and distinctive voices of the central characters, and of course that high-concept hook. We cannot wait to publish!” 

Murray said: “This wonderful novel captures perfectly the joy, heartbreak and messiness of love, however old you are, wherever you might be in the world, whatever time you might have lived in. If you’re going to read one romantic novel this year, this has got to be the one.”