Little A unveils inaugural 'conversation-starting' list

Amazon Publishing’s newly launched non-fiction imprint Little A has unveiled its first three books including an insight into life as a Middle Eastern woman "outside the stereotypes", an exploration of gender rebellions as well as an "exposé" of Anne Boleyn.

The e-retailer’s publishing arm broke into non-fiction in the UK through the launch of imprint Little A in May. Six months on it has unveiled its inaugural publishing list: Greater Freedom by writer and broadcaster Alya Mooro, Gender Rebels by Anneka Harry and Anne Boleyn: 500 Years of Lies by Hayley Nolan.

All three books will all retail at £9.99 in paperback and £6.99 as e-book, with publication slated for autumn 2019.

Victoria Pepe, editor at Amazon Publishing, said: “Launching Little A in the UK, and having the opportunity to bring thought-provoking, conversation-starting non-fiction to UK readers is a hugely exciting next step for Amazon Publishing and I’m thrilled to be a part of it." She revealed the company's aim was to "bring real success to our authors, and so we have a stellar line-up for our first year with three very different books".

Alya Mooro and Anneka Harry

The first acquisition is the debut from Mooro, The Greater Freedom: Life as a Middle Eastern Woman Outside the Stereotypes. World English rights were acquired by Pepe from Imogen Pelham at Marjacq.

Part memoir, part social commentary, the book examines the blessings and burdens which form our cultural identities, according to Amazon. Pulling from personal experiences, research, and conversations with other Middle Eastern women, the book focuses on the difficulties and misconceptions which many women face, putting the author’s experience of growing up between London and Cairo at the heart of this book, the synopsis reads.

Director of Amazon Publishing EU, Dominic Myers, described it as “both provocative and topical – we’re delighted to be bringing [Mooro’s] compelling voice to a wider readership”.

Little A will also publish the history of ‘sheroes’, Gender Rebels: 50 Influential Wo(men) Who Had to Pretend to be Men to Get Stuff Done by Harry, a writer, comedy actor and producer, which “celebrates little-known women who had to make considerable compromises to be taken seriously alongside their male counterparts”. These stories span more than 2,500 years “and remind us that the struggle is still nightmarishly real,” according to the publisher.

Pepe, who bought world English rights from Laura Macdougall at United Agents, described the book as “a rip-roaring ride through history and Anneka Harry is a hilarious guide to the diverse, defiant and daring women who cross-dressed their way to success”.

Hayley Nolan (©Dawn Bowery)

Completing Litte A's first publishing list is “exposé" of the life of Anne Boleyn, from historian, Nolan, also described by the publisher as “ a Tudor whistleblower” with Pepe signing world English rightsfrom Anna Hogarty at the Madeleine Milburn Agency.

Anne Boleyn: 500 Years of Lies is billed by Amazon as “an explosive new analysis of Boleyn’s life and relationship with Henry VIII, blasting every myth and misconception, and replacing the Black Legend with the truth – at last”.

Pepe said: “Hayley Nolan’s meticulously researched study is going to set the cat amongst the pigeons by making us re-think everything we thought we knew about Anne Boleyn. I am so excited to help bring this book into the world.”

Myers said it helped drive Little A’s “mission is to publish intelligent, provocative stories with a strong narrative voice”.

Amazon Publishing currently publishes fiction under four imprints in the UK: Thomas & Mercer, Lake Union Publishing, Montlake Romance and 47 North. In the US, Little A publishes literary fiction and non-fiction, but in the UK it will currently just focus on non-fiction.