Quercus acquires debut from Emma Knight at auction

Quercus has acquired the rights to the debut from Emma Knight at auction. Commissioning editor Kat Burdon acquired UK & Commonwealth rights (excluding Canada, non-exclusive Europe) to The Life Cycle of a Common Octopus at auction from Evan Brown on behalf of Samantha Haywood and Laura Cameron at Transatlantic Agency.

The synopsis states: "Set in Edinburgh, the novel follows childhood best friends Pen and Alice through their first year of university, as they test the boundaries of their newfound independence, make questionable decisions, and learn how to help each other weather the loneliness of being human. At once a love story and an irresistible mystery, the novel is a celebration of female friendship, and a study of how looking back can help us move forward. For fans of Nora Ephron, Elizabeth Jane Howard and Claire Daverley."

Knight is writer, journalist and entrepreneur based in Toronto, and is the co-creator and co-host of the culture podcast, "Fanfare".

Burdon said: "Nostalgic, hopeful and generous, there is so much to love about The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus: part love story, part family mystery, it is wholly charming – the kind of book that begs to be read again as soon as you’ve finished it. Working with Emma and the teams at Pamela Dorman Books and Penguin Canada has been a joy, and we’re so looking forward to seeing Octopus out in the world next year."

Knight said: "I feel fortunate to have worked with Quercus on my first novel, and particularly with Kat Burdon, whose wisdom and perspicacity are present in its pages. It might be named for a sea creature, but Octopus is a love note to Edinburgh, postmarked from Toronto."

Quercus will publish The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus in hardback on 8th April 2025, and publish in trade paperback, e-book and audiobook simultaneously with Pamela Dorman Books and Penguin Canada on 7th January 2025.