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Lake Union bags debut novel from Leevers in two-book deal
Lake Union has bagged Jo Leevers’ "emotionally charged" debut novel Tell Me How This Ends in a two-book deal.
Editor Victoria Oundjian acquired world English rights from Hayley Steed at The Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency. The novel will be published in March 2023 with the second title to follow.
Tell Me How This Ends follows Henrietta who has started a new job "telling other people’s stories rather than her own — a job that lets her stick to the facts and keep emotion at arm’s length." The synopsis continues: "But when she agrees to help eccentric, terminally ill Annie write her life story, and learns of a sister who drowned in unexplained circumstances, Henrietta’s methodical mind can’t help following the story’s loose ends. Could Annie’s story help Henrietta rewrite the most devastating passages in her own life? And can she offer Annie the final twist in the tale she’s craved for all these years: peace at last?"
Leevers commented: "The idea for my book came to me when I was sitting in the coffee bar of a cancer drop-in centre – I know, not the jolliest setting, but one where you can be pretty sure that everyone around you has big issues on their minds: life, death – and whether to choose the Bakewell tart or a Tunnock’s teacake. I was struck by one couple who insisted on sitting at my table even though other tables were free. And I think it was because they couldn’t bear to be alone with their thoughts. This got me wondering, what would happen if people had the chance to tell their life stories at this crucial point in their lives? What kind of stories would be uncovered – and what kind of secrets would stay buried until the very end?"
"I am delighted to be welcoming Jo Leevers to the Lake Union list," added Oundjian. "Her debut novel Tell Me How This Ends is a beautiful, emotionally charged novel that completely captures the reader from the first to the last page. I couldn’t put this one down and cannot wait to share it with readers around the world."
