Robinson acquires Stone Lands by Watkins publisher Fiona Robertson in four-way auction

Robinson has landed Watkins publisher Fiona Robertson’s Stone Lands in a four-way auction. 

Emma Smith, publishing director, acquired world English rights from Joanna Swainson at Hardman & Swainson. Stone Lands will publish in illustrated hardback, e-book and audio on 19th June 2025, just ahead of the summer solstice. German rights have been pre-empted by Aufbau. 

The synopsis says: “A few months after discovering that her beloved husband Stephen had incurable stage four gallbladder cancer, Fiona Robertson began to write this book. As a megalith enthusiast, something resonated profoundly from the ancient monuments as she faced the prospect of losing him. Ideas of death, the deep past, survival and memory lie within the stones, and they offer a way to understand our collective history alongside our individual fates.” 

The book sees her journey across 12 “stone lands”, from West Penwith and Avebury to the Lake District and Orkney. “This book uncovers the magic and rich history of Britain’s most incredible megaliths – and what they mean in the shadow of personal pain,” the publisher said.  

“It also shows how, if we let them, they can enchant our world with their folklore, magic and mystery. The result is an enthralling memoir, one that is woven delicately around great grief but is ultimately about embracing life and ancient wonder — a luminous reminder of what it means to exist on this earth.” 

Robertson is publisher of Watkins and Nourish, where books she has commissioned include The Old Stones, as well as England on Fire and Weird Walk. As a long-standing megalith enthusiast, she documents her stone-searching online as @megalithophile on Instagram. 

Smith said: “I was utterly captivated by this book – not only by the wonders of the ancient stones but also by Fiona’s searing, beautiful writing. Stone Lands is a memoir of magic, and there is something so powerful about the timeless megaliths set against human transience. It casts a spell of joy and hope in amongst life’s sorrows, and we are absolutely thrilled to be publishing.” 

Robertson added: “I just find it incredible that these stones are still here, three or four thousand years after they were put up. They are endlessly mysterious, fascinating and enchanting! I’m so grateful to my agent Joanna Swainson and to Emma Smith at Little, Brown for being megalith enthusiasts too and for giving me the opportunity to write about my stones adventures with my husband, Stephen, and our two reluctant kids.”