Scribner bags two more from Taylor

Scribner has snapped up two new novels from Matson Taylor, the author of The Miseducation of Evie Epworth and its sequel, All About Evie (also Scribner). 

Chris White, editorial director, acquired world rights from Robert Caskie at Robert Caskie Ltd.

The first book, a standalone historical novel set in 1970s Rome, will be a published as lead title in Spring 2025 with the second scheduled for 2026.

White said: "Working with Matson and publishing his Evie Epworth novels is a great privilege. Like his books, Matson brings immense joy wherever he goes and I couldn’t be happier that we now have another two novels under contract. The platform he has built, both as a Richard and Judy Book Club author and in particular with independent booksellers, is unrivalled and his next two books, I am certain, are going to be very special publications indeed."

Caskie added: "I’m delighted to be working with Matson now, guiding and supporting him as his writing career develops and grows with Chris at Scribner."

The Miseducation of Evie Epworth was published in hardback in July 2020 and was selected for the Radio 2 Book Club. In paperback it was picked for W H Smith’s Richard & Judy Book Club promotion. The hardback of sequel All About Evie was published in the summer of 2022. To promote it, Matson undertook a tour of over 40 independent bookshops, a feat he hopes to surpass with publication of the paperback.

Taylor grew up in Yorkshire. He now lives in London, where he is a design historian and academic writing tutor at the V&A, Imperial College and the Royal College of Art. He is an alumni of the Faber Academy "Writing A Novel" course, and received a special commendation at the 2022 Booksellers Association annual conference in the Author of the Year category.

"I’m delighted to have signed another deal with Scribner, the home of great writing—or the House of Hemingway as my lovely centenarian American neighbour calls it," he said. "It’s wonderful to be part of Scribner’s rich heritage and to work with such a creative, bold and talented team. With the help of Chris’s keen editorial eye and boundless enthusiasm, along with the support of Robert, my brilliant new agent, I can’t wait to see where the next two books will take me."