Penguin Michael Joseph nabs You Yeong-Gwang's 'uplifting and transportive' The Rainfall Market

Penguin Michael Joseph acquires You Yeong-Gwang’s "uplifting and transportive novel", The Rainfall Market.

Editorial director Rebecca Hilsdon bought world English rights from Emily Randle at Randle Editorial & Literary Consultancy, on behalf of Eric Yang Agency, for publication in October 2024.

"The novel follows a girl named Serin who is sent a ticket to enter a mysterious place known locally as The Rainfall Market", the synopsis says. "As she steps through its doors a world of possibility awaits her and she’s invited to sell a misfortune for a happiness. But not everything is as it seems in this mystical place and, with the help of a cat named Issha, she must find true happiness within a week or risk being locked inside forever."

According tho the publisher, The Rainfall Market achieved "legendary status" in South Korea after securing crowdfunding to be independently published. It was then acquired by Clayhouse where it sold 30,000 copies during its first month and became a number one bestselling e-book, also reaching number three in the physical chart. It will be published into 12 languages.

Author Yeong-Gwang said: "I wanted to bring comfort and encouragement to people who are going through a difficult time in their lives, similar to how I was when I wrote the book, and I hope that the warmth of the book will reach the hearts of readers in the UK via Michael Joseph, whom I am honoured to be published by."

Hilsdon added: "I hope The Rainfall Market brings as much joy to readers as it brought to me when I first entered the market."