Orion acquires ‘painfully relatable, hilarious’ adult debut by Daniel Aleman

Orion Fiction has acquired the “painfully relatable” and “hilarious” adult debut from Daniel Aleman that delves into a writer’s “second-book stress”. Leodora Darlington acquired Commonwealth (excluding Canada) rights to the “fresh and captivating mystery” from Claire Wilson at RCW Literary Agency on behalf of Peter Knapp at Park & Fine Literary and Media. Orion will publish the novel, I Might Be in Trouble in January 2025 in e-book and audio, and in July 2025 in paperback.

I Might Be in Trouble follows David Alvarez, who is struggling to write his second book following the success of the first, and whose formerly supportive fiancé has just left him. He turns to the dating apps, and meets a “handsome, charming and wealthy man”, who turns up dead in bed after their date, and he calls the only person he can trust in a moment of crisis: his literary agent, Stacey.

Daniel Aleman was born and raised in Mexico City and currently lives in Toronto. He is the author of Indivisible and Brighter Than the Sun. Darlington said: “Daniel’s manuscript was such a breath of fresh air when I first read it. Heartfelt, hilarious and totally gripping, Daniel takes you on a journey of laughter and tears with David. The rave reviews pouring through speak for themselves – Daniel has written something truly special. From his presentation of the publishing industry to his tender exploration of challenging family dynamics, his book is a total triumph.”

Aleman said: “This book is incredibly special to me. Inspired by my own experiences both as an author and as a gay man who has encountered more than his fair share of nightmare dating scenarios, I Might Be in Trouble is my way of laughing about it all and looking ahead at the person I want to become. I hope it’ll resonate with anyone who has ever felt lost or directionless while growing up, as well as anyone who’s looking for a fun, escapist read with an edge to it. I’m grateful to be working with Leodora and the amazing team at Orion, and I am so looking forward to connecting with readers in the UK.”

Wilson said: “I Might Be in Trouble is a completely irresistible read – darkly sharp-witted yet incredibly endearing, it’s a book to devour in one sitting. I’m absolutely delighted to see the connection with Daniel’s brilliant writing at Orion, and am hugely excited for the road ahead.”