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Penguin has snapped up an “utterly compelling” high-concept romance by YA author Laura Steven in a major six-figure pre-empt.
Carmen McCullough, publisher, acquired UK and Commonwealth and translation rights to Our Infinite Fates and one other book from Chloe Seager at Madeleine Milburn, with Eileen Rothschild at Wednesday Books acquiring US rights.
The first standalone novel is scheduled for release in February 2025, publishing simultaneously with the US. Penguin says this is set to be a “major global launch” with the PRH Children’s rights team securing deals in 11 languages at auction or pre-empted, including a six-publisher auction in Italy and a six-figure pre-empt in Germany.
The book is being touted for fans of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue (Titan), They Both Die at the End (Simon & Schuster Children’s) and The Time Traveler’s Wife (Vintage Classics) and is described as “an unforgettable star-crossed-lovers romantasy that spans millennia, bringing together a highly original concept, a heartbreaking love story and incredible writing”. Steven has previously published six books for children and young adults.
She said: “To have found such a dream home for this book means so much more to me than I can express. Our Infinite Fates contains 30-something years of loving too deeply, of debilitating anxiety over losing the people in my life, of trying and failing to communicate just how it feels for your heart to be an open wound.
“So the few weeks when Our Infinite Fates was first considered and acquired will stay with me forever. The feeling of all these incredibly talented editors from around the world connecting with this story in such a raw way – I don’t know if I can put that into words. Maybe it’ll take another 30-something years. I am so profoundly grateful to Carmen and the Penguin team, Eileen and the Wednesday team, and all the wonderful overseas publishers for everything their excitement has given me. I really, really hope readers feel the same come 2025!”
McCullough added: “Forget Romeo and Juliet, Evelyn and Arden are the starcrossed lovers you will become obsessed with in 2025. It was fitting that I first read Our Infinite Fates on Valentine’s Day because this is a love story like no other – a love story that defies the boundaries of time and space – utterly compelling, epic, intelligent, unputdownable and heartwrenching. I’ve been a huge fan of Laura’s work for years. She is a phenomenal writing talent and we are beyond thrilled to be her new publishing home for this groundbreaking YA.”