W F Howes signs Chelsea Bieker’s ‘electrifying’ novel

W F Howes has signed Madwoman, the “electrifying” novel from Chelsea Bieker. 

Acquisitions manager Laura Smith acquired audio rights in a “highly competitive” multi-publisher auction from Oneworld. The audiobook will be released in September 2024 simultaneously with the hardback and e-book editions by Oneworld.

Madwoman is described as a “gripping story about violence, recovery, motherhood and...the brutal things women do to keep themselves and each other alive”. The novel follows Clove, who has spent years “crafting a family that looks nothing like the one she grew up in”. But as secrets leak, Clove becomes involved in a cat-and-mouse game with people from her past.

Smith commented: “Tackling domestic violence with nuance and sensitivity, Madwoman is an utterly transfixing novel that will give listeners the full spectrum of emotions, with moments of heartbreaking trauma interlaced with brilliant dark humour. Chelsea is undoubtedly one of the most explosive new writing talents to emerge from the US and we can’t wait to work closely with her and the Oneworld team to bring this stunning title to life in audio.”