Scribner lands 'wry and direct' debut from Russell-Hsieh

Scribner has acquired I’m New Here, the debut novel by Taiwanese-British writer Ian Russell-Hsieh.

Editor Kaiya Shang acquired UK and Commonwealth rights with audio from Zoe Ross at United Agents. North American and translation rights are with Anna Watkins at United Agents. The book will be published by Scribner UK in trade paperback, e-book and audio in February 2024.

I’m New Here is an exploration of split racial identity, relationships across cultural lines, self-sabotage, and self-determination. It begins with Sean, a Taiwanese British photographer, who has flown to Taipei, Taiwan to escape life. "Fired from his job, dumped by his girlfriend who he has treated appallingly and spiralling into depression, he finds himself lost and alienated," the synopsis states. "He drinks in bars, embarks on an affair with a local girl and frequents a cheap donut shop – where he meets a charismatic older businessman named Charles Hu. When Charles asks Sean to take some photos for him, he finds himself drawn into a sinister revenge plan against a famous movie star and, as past and present blur, he starts to unravel."

Russell-Hsieh is a writer and journalist living in Cornwall. A contributing writer for Mr Porter, his work has also appeared in the Guardian and Dazed & Confused. 

"I’m incredibly excited that I’m New Here has found a home at Scribner UK and an editor in Kaiya," he said. "She totally and completely understood where I wanted to go with the book, and I’m grateful to have the chance to work with her and the team at Scribner to bring it to life."

Shang added: "The trope of an unlikeable, even disturbing, female protagonist is familiar, but their male counterparts tend to be less common. Sean is a character as repulsive as Irina in Boy Parts or the unnamed narrator in My Year of Rest and Relaxation, but he is also vulnerable and deeply human. Russell-Hsieh has a unique, fresh and distinctive style: prose that is dark but wry and direct, with imagery that evokes a Wong Kar-wai film. I was particularly impressed by – and related to – how Russell-Hsieh explores Sean’s internalised racism. I’m delighted to be introducing such an original new British voice to the Scribner list and the wider UK literary scene."