Solaris to publish stunning debut by award-winning author Tom Beckerlegge
5th May 2021
We are thrilled to announce the acquisition of The Carnival of Ash – a lyrical literary fantasy about a city of poets and librarians, to be released in hardback January 2022.
Winner of the Waterstone’s Children’s Book Prize (as Tom Becker), The Carnival of Ash is Becklerlegge’s first book for adults which set to delight fans of both historical fiction and fantasy.
World English Rights were acquired by Michael Rowley from Sam Copeland at Rogers, Coleridge & White Ltd Literary Agency.
Author Tom Beckerlegge on the release:
“The Carnival of Ash is a ten-year labour of love, frustration and outright stubbornness—I never dared hope that it would find its way into print, and I couldn’t be happier that it has found the perfect home at Rebellion. I can’t wait to share its world with readers.”
Acquiring Editor Michael Rowley on the book:
“I’m thrilled and excited to be publishing The Carnival of Ash. With it, Tom has created a truly wondrous act of worldbuilding, storytelling and imagination.”
Blurb:
Cadenza is the City of Words, a city run by poets, its skyline dominated by the steepled towers of its libraries, its heart beating to the stamp and thrum of the printing presses in the Printing Quarter.
Carlo Mazzoni, a young wordsmith arrives at the city gates intent on making his name as the bells ring out with the news of the death of the city’s poet-leader. Instead, he finds himself embroiled with the intrigues of a city in turmoil, the looming prospect of war with their rival Venice ever-present. A war that threatens not only to destroy Cadenza but remove it from history altogether…
Tom Beckerlegge grew up in the northwest of England in a house filled with books. He decided that he wanted to be a writer at the age of four, and is yet to have a better idea. Writing as Tom Becker, he won the Waterstone’s Children’s Book Prize with his debut novel; The Carnival of Ash is his first adult book. He currently lives in Enfield with his wife and young son. Follow him on Twitter @Tbeckerlegge.
For press enquiries please contact Hanna Waigh, PR & Marketing Manager: hanna.waigh@rebellion.co.uk.