Solaris is thrilled to announce the acquisition of Monkey Around by Jadie Jang, publishing in 2021.
Editor Kate Coe acquired World English rights in Jang’s new novel from Amanda Leuck at Spencerhill Associates.
About the book:
Who is Maya McQueen?
The San Francisco Bay Area, a nexus of human and supernatural energy that draws people—and creatures—from hundreds of cultures all over the world.
At the center of this nexus is barista, activist, and were-monkey, Maya McQueen, who doesn’t know what kind of creature she is, or where she comes from. Her home is being rocked by the occupation of Oakland’s civic center by Occupy Wall Street activists in the human world, and by the serial murders of shapeshifters who have had their souls sucked out, on the supernatural side.
Maya discovers that the soul-sucking murderer may be connected somehow to a creature like her. This is her first, ever, clue to her own origins, and she jumps into the mystery with both feet. Helping her is werejaguar and IT medicine man Tez Varela, who manages the last nagual practice in San Francisco’s rapidly gentrifying Mission district, and whose reappearance in Maya’s life has landed her in the middle of a gang war. Also helping—or is it stalking?—her is Todd Wakahisa, a fellow activist and a kitsune whose penchant for pranks rivals even hers.
For the first time in Maya’s life, she’s faced with a creature she may not have the strength to defeat. She’ll have to up her game, rely on others, and betray those closest to her to come out on top. But what she doesn’t know, just might kill her.
Author Jadie Jang on the acquisition:
“Everyone knows the Brits come second in horrible, right wing, would-be-dictator heads of state, but first in fantasy novels, so I’m super flattered and excited to see my baby’s debut with Rebellion! Seriously, though, I couldn’t think of a better home for Monkey Around than the publisher of Yoon Ha Lee and Silvia Moreno Garcia. Thanks for taking us on!”
Editor Kate Coe had this to say:
“Female Monkey King of San Francisco. Do I need to say any more? I loved this action-packed story as soon as I opened the first page, and that’s even without getting into the murder mystery, supernatural chaos, and sheer fun that Jadie provides. Really looking forward to bringing this page-turner to readers!”
Author bio
Claire Light (writing as Jadie Jang) is almost as organizy as her characters. She started a magazine (Hyphen) and an arts festival (APAture) with a cast of Asian Pacific Americans even more magical, if less supernatural, than the ones she writes about. She also got an MFA, went to Clarion West, and compromised between the two by publishing a collection of “literary” sci-fi short stories (Slightly Behind and to the Left) that maybe 100 people read. After wrangling arts and social justice nonprofits for 17 years, her already autoimmune-disease-addled body threw a seven-year-long tantrum, leading our then-house-bound heroine into an urban fantasy addiction. A few years, and a dozen Euro-centric-mythology-dominated urban fantasy series later, Claire sat up and said “I can do this!” and Jadie Jang, the part of her brain that writes snarky-fun genre romps, was born. She posts about monkeys every Monday under @seelight on Twitter.
For review copies, information, or interviews please contact Hanna Waigh, Fiction – PR & Marketing Manager: hanna.waigh@rebellion.co.uk.
