Moonflower Books scoops TV scriptwriter Henry's debut novel Pagans

Moonflower Books has scooped Pagans, the debut novel of TV scriptwriter James Henry, whose career in TV comedy has seen him writing for shows including "Green Wing" and "Smack the Pony".

Editorial director Emma Waring acquired UK and Commonwealth rights from James Spackman at The bks Agency. Pagans will be published in hardback, e-book, and audiobook in October 2024, and will be Moonflower’s lead commercial title for autumn 2024.

Described as a "refreshingly different police procedural", the book presents an alternative contemporary Britain where the Norman conquest of 1066 never happened. The synopsis said: "In this modern Britain, political allegiances are demonstrated through tattoos, the ancient Gods are a part of everyday life and kids use runes instead of text speak. 

"Amid a bid to unite a country divided into the Celtic West, Saxon East and an independent Nordic Kingdom of Scotland, two mismatched police officers – D I Drustan from the Celtic West and Captain Aedith from the Saxon East – must work together to find and stop a serial killer."

Henry has also written for animation shows including "Bob the Builder", "Shaun the Sheep" and "Hey Duggee", as well as British sitcoms "Campus" starring Sara Pascoe, and "Delivery Man" starring Aisling Bea. He said: “I couldn’t be happier to be working with Moonflower on Pagans. It feels like both our lockdown projects — them setting up an independent publisher and me writing my first novel — came together in a way no one could have predicted.

"As an ex-bookseller, the idea that my weird police procedural/alternate world story might just end up on the shelves is unfeasibly exciting, as are the discussions my editor and I are currently having about getting matching pagan-themed tattoos.”

Waring added: “From the very first page of Pagans I knew it was something special. James has managed to take all the elements of a great police procedural and turn them on their heads to create a fresh, smart and funny novel.

"There’s elements of Neil Gaiman and the late, great Terry Pratchett in both the humour and the cleverly sideways take on contemporary issues. Readers are going to adore the compelling central pairing, the clever ‘our-world-but-not’ setting, and the fast, witty dialogue.”

Spackman commented: “Moonflower recognised James’ talent, and the potential of his work, instantly and bulldozed us (in a loving way) into a publishing deal. I’m so pleased they did. Their levels of energy, commitment and ambition are off the chart and I know they’ll do amazing things with Pagans.”