Mantle wins The Seven Imperfect Rules of Elvira Carr at auction

Mantle has won The Seven Imperfect Rules of Elvira Carr by Frances Maynard at auction.

Sam Humphreys, associate publisher at Mantle, struck the deal for UK and Commonwealth rights (excluding Canada) from Juliet Mushens at the United Talent Agency. German rights were pre-empted overnight by Goldmann, with Audible US pre-empting US audio rights and Shana Drehs at Source Books snapping up North American rights.

The Seven Imperfect Rules of Elvira Carr tells the story of the eponymous Elvira, described as both "naïve, and neuro-atypical", who aged 27 has always lived at home. When her mother is hospitalised after a stroke, Elvira has to learn how to look after herself in a world where people think very differently to her. She goes out into the world armed with a notebook, seven imperfect rules, and advice from her next-door neighbour. But, just as she begins to grow in confidence and make friends, she discovers something "rather shocking" about her family.

Humphreys said: "I fell for Elvira, hook, line and sinker. She feels so genuine – think Don Tillman in The Rosie Project or Christopher Boone in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time – and I was really rooting for her as she embarks on her quest to uncover the truth about her parents. The Seven Imperfect Rules of Elvira Carr is a wonderful, wonderful novel, both charming and clever, and I can’t wait to introduce Elvira to the world."

Maynard’s first novel, The Seven Imperfect Rules of Elvira Carr was runner-up in the Good Housekeeping 2014 First Novel Award, and shortlisted for both the 2016 Mslexia First Novel Project and the Lucy Cavendish prize. Mantle will publish in July 2017.