Unsworth moves to Borough for Grown Ups

The Borough Press has bought two books from Emma Jane Unsworth following "hot pursuit" of the Animals author, previously published by Canongate. 

Charlotte Cray, commissioning editor for the HarperCollins imprint, has acquired UK and Commonwealth rights including Canada to two novels by Unsworth, from Clare Conville at C+W Agency. The first will be published in summer 2019, with the second book in the deal to follow in 2020.

Cray “has been in hot pursuit of the author for some time”, according to Borough. Unsworth is best known for Animals which was published by Canongate in 2014, selling 6,765 copies across all editions, according to Nielsen BookScan, with a film adaptation starring Holliday Grainger due for release next year.

Grown Ups, which was acquired on a partial, is billed by the publisher as “a devastatingly funny take on modern love”.

“Unsworth explores the endless complexity and glorious madness of the mother-daughter relationship, writing with the heft and chutzpah of Nora Ephron,” Borough said.

Cray said: “I’ve wanted to publish Emma Jane Unsworth since I read the first page of Animals, so it’s a dream come true to work with this wildly talented writer on her next two novels; she’s a marvel.”

Unsworth said: “I am honoured to be joining this dream team of dynamic, kickass women. I have admired The Borough Press for some time – who wouldn’t? No one is publishing with their verve and passion. [Cray] saw straight through my words and out the other side, and all the mess and nonsense in between… I am so excited for these novels to come out and for a long, bright future with Borough.”