UCLan scoops 'uplifting' debut novel from Richards

UCLan has scooped Garden of Her Heart, a "contemporary story of healing and recovery", from Zoe Richards.

Commissioning editor Hazel Holmes acquired UK and Commonwealth rights from Clare Coombes at the Liverpool Literary Agency. The book will be published in spring 2025.

“UCLan Publishing is the perfect fit for this debut as they have a brilliant focus on northern debut talent," said Coombes. "Garden of Her Heart is an uplifting story of self-love, friendship, and community and ’a hopeful hug’ of a book.”

The publisher wrote: "[The novel] is based at a fictional retreat in Pinewoods on the Merseyside coast in Formby. Author Zoe Richards, who was born and still lives in Merseyside, was inspired to write Garden of Her Heart by being a suicide survivor from which she learned the healing that worked best for her."

Richards said: “I am thrilled to be working with UCLan Publishing and to have the opportunity to work with students on the MA in Publishing as we collaborate on my novel as a live project. It’s a privilege to be working with the next generation of publishing talent. Being a northern writer, it’s important to me that I have both a northern agent and a northern publisher.”

Holmes commented: “I had a deep connection to this book as soon as I started reading. We all need the Pinewoods retreat in our lives and I can’t wait to bring this to readers. This is really exciting acquisition for us!”