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Raghav Rao's 'masterful' debut novel goes to Hera
Hera has snapped up the "mesmerising" debut novel by Raghav Rao entitled Missy.
Publisher Keshini Naidoo acquired UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding audio and translation, from Priya Doraswamy at Lotus Lane Literary. Missy will be published on 19th September 2024 simultaneously in e-book and hardback.
"Raghav Rao’s masterful debut captivates in its prose and keeps us at the edge of our seat as we experience the tumult of Missy’s life in India, the UAE and the United States", said Doraswamy.
Spanning decades, Missy follows Indian woman Savitri who is taken into the service of an ultra-wealthy family. However, events one night force her to flee and years later becomes Missy Royce, a mother and successful business owner in Chicago.
The synopsis adds: "No one in her life knows the lengths Missy had to go to create the woman that exists today, or the fears she harbours of being discovered and deported back to India. But when a young man enters the lives of the Royce family, it seems that Missy might be about to learn that no matter how far you go, you can never truly outrun your past."
Naidoo commented: "Missy’s story is utterly absorbing, complex and beautifully captured by Raghav, which makes for a moving, satisfying read. The landscapes of Madras and modern-day Chicago are both keenly delineated, springing to life on the page, and the exploration of Asian and Western cultures, immigrant success and the pull between one’s homeland and adopted country will strike a chord with so many readers across the UK and beyond."
Rao added: "I can’t wait for readers to meet Missy. I hope her story touches many, reminding us of what it means to be intensely human, tender in pain, courageous in crisis.
