Orion Fiction moves for the English-language works of three East Asian authors

Orion Fiction has snapped up titles by a trio of East Asian authors whose bestselling books are to be published in English for the first time. The imprint has acquired Scream by Tokuro Nukui, The Convenience Store by the Sea by Sonoko Machida, and Where the Light Leads, the début by Hee-sung Baek, in translation. 

Sam Eades pre-empted UK and Commonwealth rights to Scream in a "major" deal struck by Annabel White and Polly Peraza-Brown at Curtis Brown on behalf of Japan Creative Agency. The cult serial killer thriller has sold more than 600,000 units in Japan, and rights also have sold in Korea, complex Chinese, simplified Chinese, Italy, Spain, Germany (at auction), Brazil (at auction).

World English rights to The Convenience Store by the Sea were acquired by editorial director Rhea Kurien from Ken Mori at Tuttle-Mori Agency. The book is a ’heartfelt and quirky’ Japanese healing novel set in a 24-hour convenience store. It has sold more than 500,000 copies across Japan and South Korea, with rights also sold in China, Taiwan and Thailand. US rights have since been pre-empted by Putnam. Orion will be publishing its edition, translated by Bruno Navasky, in January 2025. 

Kurien also snapped up Where the Light Leads, pre-empting World English rights from Joy Lee at BC Agency two weeks before Frankfurt Book Fair. The book is a "heartwarming" family mystery, and follows a Parisian architect who is given the chance to buy a beautiful mansion on the Île de la Cité at a fraction of its worth, if he can help the ailing owner uncover its secrets.