Hachette imprint Orion Fiction in the UK has bought a novel set in the world of publishing by Birmingham-based creative writing lecturer Liam Brown.
Sarah O’Hara, editor, acquired UK and Commonwealth rights (excluding Canada) to Fanfiction from Salma Begum at Grehound Literary. Orion plans to launch Fanfiction “with an unmissable campaign in hardback, trade paperback, e-book and audiobook in spring 2027”.
The Bookseller reports that ‘Fanfiction is the story of author Lee Black – once the golden child of the crime community, now frustrated creative writing lecturer – who discovers one of his students has been writing fanfiction about his most famous character. When he realises it is far bolder and fresher than anything he has written lately, he senses an incredible opportunity to revive his struggling career – if only he can convince his student to come on board.’
Orion says: “Sharp, pacy and unputdownable, Fanfiction is both a brilliantly observed satire of the publishing industry and a fresh, compulsively readable thriller. Through the deliciously amoral voice of Lee Black, it asks questions about who has power over a narrative, a character and one author’s off-the-rails, out-of-control life.”
Brown said: “I’m thrilled to be working with the brilliant team at Orion on this novel. Fanfiction is the product of years spent writing, teaching, and obsessively thinking about how and why we tell stories. It’s dark, strange, funny, furious and full of questions about what stories mean to us and who they belong to. I hope it kidnaps readers’ attention in the way only a good book can.”