Quercus seizes two moving collections from TikTok poet Hanson

Quercus Fiction has signed Home and Harmony by TikTok poet Whitney Hanson, who is represented by Laura Lee Mattingly at Present Perfect Literary.

Editor Kat Burdon acquired UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada, from Sabila Khan at PRH US/Penguin Life. The previously self-published Home will be released on 9th May, with a new cover, introduction and more than a dozen original poems. Harmony is scheduled to publish on 7th November.

Home is described by the publisher as a lyrical map to navigating heartbreak, tracing the stages of healing – from the despair that comes with the end of a relationship to the eventual light and liberation that comes with time. Harmony also explores the progression of a life through the lens of music. Broken into four sections – melody, rest, crescendo and harmony – the poems in Harmony explore childhood, friendship, grief, acceptance and peace.

Hanson, who has 1.6 million TikTok followers and 474,000 followers on Instagram, said: “My hope for these collections is to meet people exactly where they are. In the depths of our heartache and in the pursuit of healing it is easy to feel as if we are alone. My intention with my books is to extend a hand to my readers and walk with you through your journey.”

Burdon commented: “So many of us reach for poetry at times of heartbreak or upheaval, and Whitney’s writing reaches back: full of warmth and empathy and forgiveness, her work is uniquely moving and resonant. Perfect for fans of Rupi Kaur and Amanda Lovelace, we’re so excited to publish Whitney’s Home and Harmony this year and have such an exciting campaign planned – we can’t wait to get started!”