Tag: Acquisition

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Solaris to publish queer sci-fi Hamlet retelling by debut author Em X. Liu

Solaris is thrilled to announce the acquisition of The Death I Gave Him by Em X. Liu, a queer, locked-room sci-fi mystery inspired by Shakespeare’s Hamlet, for publication in September 2023.

Hayden Lichfield’s breakthrough in his pursuit of immortality should be cause for celebration. Then he finds his father murdered, and everyone thinks he did it. As he flees with their research, his uncle puts Elsinore Labs on lockdown, and Hayden’s only ally is the laboratory’s AI, Horatio…

World All Languages Rights were acquired by David Moore from Penelope Burns at the Gelfman Schneider Literary Agency.

Author Em X. Liu on the acquisition:

“The Death I Gave Him is an alchemic mixture in its own right—born out of the copious liner notes in my copy of Hamlet, biochemistry equations from my senior’s thesis, a healthy dose of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, the night I watched Ex Machina three times in a row, and my enduring love of manic, overambitious blond protagonists as instilled in me by encountering Death Note at a formative age. I’m absolutely galvanized that it’s found a home at Rebellion, pointy bits and all.”

Acquiring Editor David Moore:

“I’m a sucker for: Shakespeare adaptations, really good AI characters and rich, beautiful prose. The Death I Gave Him is smart, engrossing and gorgeously written; it’s gonna knock some socks off.”

For press enquiries please contact Jess Gofton, PR and Marketing Manager – Fiction and Non Fiction: jess.gofton@rebellion.co.uk

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Solaris to publish thrilling, fun-filled sequels, Grave Danger and Grave Suspicions, by Alice James

We’re delighted to announce the acquisition of Grave Danger and Grave Suspicions by Alice James, the next instalments in the thrilling Lavington Windsor Mysteries Series following 2020’s brilliant debut Grave Secrets, which was praised as ‘A gory and amusing romp’ by the Financial Times.

Described as Agatha Raisin meets Sookie Stackhouse, but with added zombies, this fresh, fun series follows protagonist Toni Windsor as her attempts to live a quiet life in the countryside are foiled by murders, demons, jerk boyfriends… and of course the aforementioned zombies.

Grave Danger is set for publication in Summer 2023, and Grave Suspicions in Fall 2023.

World All Languages Rights were acquired by David Moore from Simon Kavanagh at the Mic Cheetam Agency.

Author Alice James on the acquisition:


“I’m over the moon to be bringing people the next instalment of Toni’s chaotic adventures. When I wrote the books I had no idea if people would welcome this snarky mashup of cosy village crime and gothic noir. It turns out they do – and that makes all the hours of typing away worth it, as well as all that time researching weird stuff about dead bodies and hoping the police never have to check my search history. I promise you more moody vampires, adorable zombies, dubious romance, bewildering murder mysteries and Toni’s trademark bad decisions… and a cute cat!”

Acquiring Editor David Moore:


“I love Toni. She’s that sort of ultra-relatable human-catastrophe who manages to be simultaneously entirely competent and cool and on the verge of losing all semblance of control over her life, and speaking as a human-catastrophe who is simultaneously entirely competent and cool and on the verge of losing all semblance of control over my life, I find that comforting. I’m delighted to have the chance to bring her to the world for her next few outings…”

Alice James was born in Staffordshire, where she grew up reading novels and spending a lot of time with sheep. She was lucky enough to have a mother who was addicted to science fiction and a father who was fond of long country walks, so she grew up with her head in the stars and her feet on the ground. After studying maths at university and training to be a Cobol programmer (!), she began writing novels to get the weird people in her head to go somewhere else. She now lives in Oxfordshire with a fine selection of cats, fulfilling her teenage gothic fantasies by moving into a
converted chapel with an ancient spiral staircase—and gravestones in the garden. Her go-to comfort dish is a big plate of dumplings, her number one cocktail is a Manhattan and her favourite polygon is a triangle, though she has a soft spot for concave rhomboids.

Find out more at: http://www.alicejames.co.uk/ and follow Alice on Twitter @ToniWindsor.

For press enquiries please contact Rosie Peat, PR & Marketing Assistant: rosie.peat@rebellion.co.uk

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Solaris to publish James Breakwell’s thrilling sci-fi debut, The Chosen Twelve

JAmes Breakwell

We are thrilled to announce the acquisition of The Chosen Twelve, a thrilling science fiction novel by James Breakwell publishing in spring 2022.

World English Rights were acquired by Kate Coe from Mark Gottlieb at Trident Media Group.

Author James Breakwell on the release:

“I couldn’t be more excited to be with Rebellion books. This story has been bouncing around in my head for years, and Rebellion has the vision, reach, and expertise to help me finally share it with the world. After sticking strictly to comedy for most of my career, I’m thrilled that Rebellion has given me the opportunity to showcase another side of my writing. Publication day can’t come soon enough.”

Editor Jim Killen on the book:

“I am incredibly excited to be working on this title. The inventive perspective and the dark humor made this a fantastically fun and interesting novel. I’m excited to see what James comes up with next”.

Here’s the blurb:

There are 22 candidates. There are 12 seats. Don’t be left behind.
The last interstellar colony ship is down to its final batch of humans after the robots in charge unhelpfully deleted the rest. But rebooting a species and training them for the arduous task of colonisation isn’t easy – especially when the planet below is filled with monsters, the humans are more interested in asking questions than learning, and the robots are all programmed to kill each other.
But the fate of humanity rests on creating a new civilization on the planet below, and there are twelve seats on the lander. Will manipulation or loyalty save the day?


James Breakwell is a professional comedy writer and amateur father of four girls, ages ten and under. He is best known for his family humor Twitter account @XplodingUnicorn, which has more than a million followers. He has published three comedy parenting books that explore hot button issues like the benefits of doing as little as possible and the best ways to protect your child from zombie attacks. His fourth book, Prance Like No One’s Watching: A Guided Journal for Exploding Unicorns, teaches kids to find humor in the world around them while also avoiding the undead. The Chosen Twelve will be James’ science fiction debut. He lives in Indiana, US.

For press enquiries please contact Hanna Waigh, PR & Marketing Manager: hanna.waigh@rebellion.co.uk.

Image credit: Van Deman Photography

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Solaris acquires Knave of Secrets, a high fantasy by Alex Livingston

Alex Livingston

Solaris are delighted to announce the acquisition of magical fantasy Knave of Secrets by Alex Livingston, which is due for release in 2022.

Editor David Thomas Moore acquired World English rights in Livingston’s new novel from Becky LeJeune at Bond Literary Agency.

Synopsis:

Valen Quinol couldn’t care less about local politics. Instead, he’s intent on fleecing as many of the local gentry as he can in order to practice his particular brand of “luck” magic. When he’s given the opportunity to play in an invitation-only game of chance in exchange for simply ensuring that one particular player loses, he can’t resist. Or refuse, as it turns out.  He’s forced to play whether he likes it or not… and losing is not an option.

Valen and his misfit crew of gamblers become targets in a game with stakes much higher than money. The very freedom of the land they call home is on the line, and the very real possibility of war is on the horizon.

Author Alex Livingston on the acquisition:

“In the world of this book, a deck of cards in the right hands can be more powerful than armies – and a lot more fun. I had a blast writing this book, and I’m so excited to work with Solaris to share it with you.”

Editor David Thomas Moore:

“Ask me how into period games I am, I beg you: I spent this afternoon playing Nine Men’s Morris, Fox and Geese and Hnefetafl with my seven-year-old kid (at her insistence) using my own handmade games compendium. It’s such a joy to find someone who’s as big a nerd as me, and Knave of Secrets is a slick, stylish fantasy novel to boot. I’m utterly delighted.”

Alex Livingston grew up in various quiet New England towns before moving to Buffalo, NY to study English at Canisius College. He writes SFF prose and interactive fiction. Alex is married and lives in an old house with his brilliant wife and a pile of aged videogame systems.

For enquiries please contact Hanna Waigh, Fiction – PR & Marketing Manager: hanna.waigh@rebellion.co.uk.