Salt signs bookseller Fisher's debut

Salt has acquired the debut novel from Bookseller rising star and co-founder of Burley Fisher Books, Sam Fisher.

Commissioning editor Nicholas Royle acquired world rights to The Chameleon, a love story about books "like no other".

It follows John who can become any book, any combination of words — every thought, act and expression that has ever been, or ever will be, written. Now 800 years old, John wants to tell his story.

The publisher said: "The Chameleon is a love story about books like no other, weaving texts and lives in a family tale that leads the reader into an extraordinary historical journey, a journey of words as much as of places, and a gripping romance."

Royle added: "Sometimes you know, as soon as you start reading, that this is probably one you'll want to do. That was the case with Sam's. Well, by the second page anyway. So then you read on, hoping they don't mess it up. He didn't."

Fisher is a bookseller at Burley Fisher Books, an independent bookshop in East London, as well as a director of independent publisher Peninsula Press.

Fisher said: "I'm absolutely delighted to be publishing with Salt, a leading light of British independent publishing whose books it has been my pleasure to sell over the last few years. It has been a real privilege to work on the book with Nicholas Royle, and I can't wait for everyone to read it."

​The novel will be published by Salt in paperback in April 2018.​