John Murray signs Fitzsimons debut

John Murray has bagged the debut novel of Northern Irish screenwriter Olivia Fitzsimons which explores "love, obsession and escape".

Senior commissioning editor Becky Walsh has acquired world rights to The Quiet Whispers Never Stop from Brian Langan at Storyline Literary Agency.  

“Set in Northern Ireland in the 1980s and 1990s, The Quiet Whispers Never Stop is the story of love, obsession and escape,” the publisher said. “Nuala Malin wants nothing more than to leave her quiet life behind. If it wasn’t for her children she’d have left already. She finds refuge with a paper delivery boy but when her chance to leave comes she takes it without hesitating. Twelve years later, her daughter Sam also wants to get out of the small town where she’s grown up. But before she does, she’ll discover that she’s more like her mother than she knows.”  

Walsh said: “Olivia is a true talent, writing with a self-assurance and precision that is unusual for a debut author. I can’t wait to see the reception her book gets.” 

Fitzsimons added: “Three years ago, I couldn't imagine writing a book. Yet somehow I find myself with a debut novel coming out in 2022.  I'm bloody delighted The Quiet Whispers Never Stop has found such a perfect home with John Murray and Becky Walsh, who I first met at the Novel Fair. Her talent has guided me through the editing process with joy and humour, while my agent Brian Langan has been so generous with his belief and support."

Langan commented “I first met Olivia Fitzsimons through a course at the Irish Writers Centre, and subsequently at the IWC’s annual Novel Fair, and I was blown away by her writing – at once visceral and sensual, with a dark humour and authentic voice. I’m so delighted The Quiet Whispers Never Stop has found a home at John Murray.” 

Fitzsimons is from County Down, Northern Ireland, studied history at Trinity College Dublin and has an MA in film practice and theory from DIT. Her original manuscript for The Quiet Whispers Never Stop, was an Irish Writers Centre Novel Fair Winner for 2020 and she has recently been named as one of the IWC Evolution Programme 2021 awardees. She will soon teach at NUI Galway and works as a screenwriter and in film development.