Walker picks up podcaster’s YA début

Walker has pre-empted a YA début novel billed as "‘Stranger Things’ meets ‘Sabrina The Teenage Witch’" in a six-figure deal. Executive editorial director Denise Johnstone-Burt bought world, all-language rights for journalist and podcaster Caroline O’Donoghue’s All Our Hidden Gifts, and a follow-up novel, from Bryony Woods at Diamond Kahn & Woods.

All Our Hidden Gifts centres around Irish teenager Maeve Chambers, who has been lonely since falling out with best friend Lily three years earlier. When she finds a tarot deck, Maeve discovers her gift for magic, but she does a reading for Lily—who then goes missing. Johnstone-Burt said: "Acquiring this book has been the most exciting whirlwind: Caroline has a natural, original voice and the mesmerising way she weaves the intriguing, mystical thread of tarot into the teenagers’ world is spellbinding. She will shine as an outstanding début YA voice."

O’Donoghue hails from Cork, and lives in London. Virago published her adult début, Promising Young Women, last year. She has a regular column for the Times Ireland, writes for BuzzFeed, Grazia and Vice, and also hosts commercial women’s fiction podcast "Sentimental Garbage"—a live version of which was recorded with Holly Bourne at last month’s London Book Fair.

O’Donoghue said: "This story is the most magical and the most autobiographical I have ever written. I’m an enormous and lifelong fan of YA, and Walker has such a highly curated list and an untouchable reputation—I’m so excited to work with them."