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Icon has acquired The Beacon Bike: Around England & Wales in 327 Lighthouses by Ed Peppitt.
Connor Stait, senior commissioning editor, acquired UK and Commonwealth rights from Tom Cull of Cull & Co. Ltd, Literary Agency. The book will be published in spring 2024.
The book is described as the story of a 3,500-mile cycle ride to explore the onshore and offshore lighthouses around the coastline of England and Wales, proving that a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis needn’t mean giving up on a lifelong dream.
Icon’s description goes on: “Over the course of his journey, he meets with former lighthouse keepers, current Trinity House staff, lighthouse enthusiasts, and people who were born and brought up in lighthouses. This is more than a personal journey, it’s a social one. ”
“The manuscript is accompanied by a set of original, hand-drawn illustrations of every lighthouse around the English and Welsh coasts and islands."
Stait said: “The Beacon Bike is a wonderful tribute to these much-loved landmarks, and a terrific story in its own rights. I’m proud to bring it to Icon and cannot wait to share Ed’s incredible journey with readers.”
Cull said: “I’m delighted to have found the right home for Ed’s inspirational journey with Icon Books. Lighthouses are still a crucial part of the British architectural landscape, and this book will shine a light on the human side as well.”
Peppett’s background is in educational publishing, having been publishing director at Letts Study Guides throughout the 1990s. He has done work for The Booksellers Association and more recently has worked on educational and business publishing projects with Channel 4, GL Assessment, Hodder & Stoughton, the Guardian, Commonwealth Education Trust and Bournemouth University. He is the author of seven business and computing titles, all published by Hodder & Stoughton.
Peppitt commented: "I am so grateful to Tom [Cull], my agent, for finding me the perfect home for The Beacon Bike, and I am pleased to be working with the Icon Books team. Icon Books shares my vision for this project – a journey of discovery, a celebration of our maritime heritage, and a tribute to the indomitable spirit of the people who kept watch. I’m looking forward to sharing my story, and I’m confident that, with Icon Books, my book will shine as brightly as the lighthouses themselves.”