You are viewing your 1 free article this month. Login to read more articles.
Smith makes raft of acquisitions for Robinson including books by Brassell and Bastine
Editorial director at Robinson, Emma Smith, has acquired a raft of titles for 2023 and 2024, including books on Ukraine, trees and a serial killer.
Smith joined Robinson in March 2022 from Ebury Spotlight to launch a new list. She has now acquired rights to five new books by authors Andy Brassell, Dr Gabriel Hemery, Hope Bastine, Jillian Lauren and Tim James.
World rights to writer and broadcaster Brassell’s We Play On: Shakhtar Donetsk’s Fight for Ukraine, Football and Freedom, scheduled for publication on 31st August 2023, were acquired from Melanie Michael-Greer at Michael Greer Literary Agency. The book is described as “a momentous human and sporting story of our times – a nation at war and the fight of a football club to play on.”
Smith said it “is about football, but it transcends sport and nationalities to offer a unique portrait of a team playing together in unimaginable circumstances.” Brassell said: "There are some books you dream of writing. This one, I had to write.”
The Tree Almanac 2024: A seasonal Guide to the Woodland World by Hemery has also been snapped up, with Smith, who said it is “full of fascinating delights”, securing world rights directly from the author. It will be published on 9th November 2023.
UK and Commonwealth rights to Set Me Free: A Cult Survivor’s Fight for Truth and Justice by Hope Bastine, scheduled for publication on 8th February 2024, have also been pre-empted by Smith from Silé Edwards, agent at Andrew Nurnberg Associates. Trauma psychologist and Children of God cult survivor, Bastine “uncovers her escape, the path to justice and emotional recovery". Bastine said: “Set Me Free is nothing less than a labour of love. Though you may not have grown up in a cult, we all understand systems of control and how they might thwart our authenticity.”
Behold the Monster: Confronting America’s Most Prolific Serial Killer by Jillian Lauren, is a “compelling, enlightening and disturbing” book covering the story of Samuel Little and his victims, and is scheduled for publication on 20th July 2023 after UK and Commonwealth English language rights and world translation rights were acquired from Charlie Fusco at TGC Worldwide.
Accidental: The Biggest Science Blunders of All Time and How They Changed the World by Tim James will be published on 4th April 2024. World rights were acquired from Jen Christie at Graham Maw Christie.
