Headline pre-empts Ross' graveyard stories

Headline has acquired a new book from Orwell Prize-nominated journalist Peter Ross about "the stories and glories of graveyards".

Senior commissioning editor Richard Roper pre-empted world rights to A Tomb with a View from Kevin Pocklington at The North Literary Agency.

Roper described Ross' account of "the weird and wonderful stories behind our most interesting graveyards" to be "an utter joy". He added: "His knack for teasing out the unusual stories and encounters with some truly fascinating people who, for one reason or another, have connections to graveyards, is quite exceptional. I am very excited for people to get their hands on this wonderful book."

Ross said: "Graveyards were my playgrounds as a child. What I sensed then, but have only realised while working on this book, is that every skull is a story, every stone a full stop on a life. I’m so pleased to be working with Headline on A Tomb With a View – a book which seeks to push open the rusting gate, push back the ivy, and uncover the glorious lives among the dead."

Ross, who is based in Glasgow, is also the author of the non-fiction collections Daunderlust (Sandstone Press) and The Passion Of Harry Bingo (Sandstone Press): the latter was shortlisted as non-fiction book of the year at the Saltire Society literary awards in 2017.

A Tomb With a View will publish in hardback, e-book and audiobook on 3rd September 2020.