The Guyliner's high-concept novel goes to Renegade

Renegade Books will publish a dark, high-concept novel, The Glorious Dead, by Justin Myers, also known as The Guyliner, marking a departure from his previous rom-coms. 

Alexa Allen-Batifoulier, editor, acquired UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada, from Becky Thomas at Lewinsohn Literary Agency. Renegade will publish the title in hardback in September 2025.   

The Dialogue Books imprint said: “The Glorious Dead marks a departure from Myers’ whip-smart rom-coms into darker, twistier and more high-concept territory, while still retaining Myers’ signature wit, sharp humour and stunning characterisation. This is the novel that Justin has wanted to write for more than 10 years – a bold and dazzling new direction for this beloved romantic comedy writer.”  

The blurb reads: “Laurie Blount, the ‘enfant terrible’ of the West End, the voice of a generation, a shining star. Also: dead. Very, very dead. Reeling at being left behind, his husband Jo, best friend Vivi, and goddaughter Rosy must step out from the shadows and begin a new life, at their own pace.

“But scattered chapters of Laurie’s unpublished memoirs ensure that while he may be dead, he’ll never leave them. Waspish, wicked and witty, they reveal a side to Laurie nobody really knew – or would admit to knowing.” 

Myers is an author and journalist from West Yorkshire, known for writing under the pseudonym The Guyliner. He’s written four novels including The Last Romeo (Little, Brown), a BBC2 “Between the Covers” Book Club selection,  and Leading Man, due from Sphere in May 2024.  

His work has appeared in major publications including the Guardian and GQ; and he also acted as script consultant on Adam Kay’s BAFTA-winning BBC drama "This is Going to Hurt".  

Myers said: “If they’re lucky, most authors have at least one fully formed but unwritten novel lurking in the back of their mind for years. The Glorious Dead is one of mine, on the tip of my typing fingers for well over a decade. I never want to repeat myself, and I love to push myself, so it feels like exactly the right time for this exhilarating gear shift. It’s me, but different. I was impressed and excited by Alexa’s energy and enthusiasm and the whole talented team at Renegade. I’m thrilled to be embarking on this next stage of my author journey with them.” 

Allen-Batifoulier said: “The Glorious Dead is a novel that explores grief, loss, truth, and tragedy – the lies we tell ourselves about the ones we love. I was impressed by this pivot into new territory for Justin – an thoughtful and detailed writer whose passion for groundbreaking classics like Rebecca and Fingersmith really shines through in every page of this unforgettable novel – that I knew I had to work with him.” 

Thomas said: “Justin told me about this concept in our first meeting in 2017 and then made me wait six years to read it – it was worth the wait. I couldn’t be more thrilled that a publisher as exciting and dynamic as Renegade and an editor as savvy as Alexa are the ones to realise this new direction in Justin’s writing.”