Transworld nets woodworker Robinson’s literary memoir in four-way auction

Transworld has triumphed in a four-way auction for Ingrained, an “evocative” literary memoir of a life working with wood by Scottish craftsman, designer and writer Callum G Robinson.

Publisher Susanna Wadeson acquired UK and Commonwealth rights from Sophie Lambert of C&W for publication by Doubleday in 2024.

The synopsis reads: “As the eldest son of a consummate woodsman and furniture maker, Callum G Robinson grew up surrounded by wood. From the forests of his home in rural Scotland to the baulks of pale golden oak, supple ash and rough constructional redwood that filled his father’s dusty workshop, it has run through his life like the grain through timber. So when the realities of managing a successful business plunge him into turmoil, it is to the solace of the magical world of trees and timber, wood and woodcraft, that he turns, and to a new project: a wild oak table.

“In Ingrained, Callum will share his intimate, instinctive knowledge of wood and the objects crafted from it, bringing readers closer to nature and to the physical act of creation, by immersing them in the life of a woodworker on his own journey of discovery.”

Wadeson said: “The story of a table, of a passion for wood, of a carpenter who turns a crisis into an opportunity, and the story of a father’s son: this is a book for anyone who has ever whittled something out of wood or dreamt about doing it.

“Callum writes beautifully, immersing his reader in the smells, sights and sounds of the wood yard, workshop and forest as he journeys back to basics, to hand-craft, rediscovering his roots and his passion. It’s a book about how it feels to literally make your living and Callum is not only a master craftsman but a master storyteller, carving out his narrative from his shed in the woods in the Scottish Lothians.”

Robinson said: “Professional woodworking, as I have experienced it, is something that blends the woodstoves and whipsaws of Jack London and Jon Krakauer, the beguiling rural insights of James Rebanks, Robert Macfarlane and John Lewis-Stempel, and the lurid pressure-cooker drama of Kitchen Confidential [Bloomsbury]. And yet, try as I might (and despite the number of armchair woodworkers out there), I have rarely been able to find books about the subject that resonate, that really bring this world to life.

“I’ve long had a policy that when I can’t find what I’m looking for—something I learned early from my father—I try to make it myself. In my work, strong connections are the key to successful projects. Less than a minute into our first conversation I knew that Susanna Wadeson and Transworld were the right fit. Their love of powerful storytelling, enthusiasm and professionalism instinctively felt right. And things always work best when I trust my instincts."

Lambert added: “Occasionally something unusual and very beautiful lands in my inbox and immediately captures my imagination. This is exactly what happened with Callum. The passion with which he writes about his craft is infectious and there’s a palpable magic to this which I am sure will resonate widely. I couldn’t be happier that Susanna and the Transworld team fell for this with that same excitement and ambition and I know that this is a perfect team to publish Callum’s book.”