I promised you I had some exciting news.
Finally, here it is!
Press Release Orenda Books signs Paul Burston’s “disturbingly relevant thriller” The Closer I Get in a Frankfurt pre-empt, two-book deal. Karen Sullivan, publisher of Orenda Books, is delighted to announce the acquisition of World English Language rights for Paul Burston’s The Closer I Get and a second (untitled) book, in a two-book, Frankfurt Book Fair pre-empt, negotiated with David Headley of DHH Literary Agency. A dark and disturbing, character-driven psychological thriller, focussing on the relationship that develops between a bestselling author (Tom) and a troubled social media follower (Evie), ‘The Closer I Get’ is also a searing commentary on the world of online ‘friendships’ and the lines that are drawn, blurred and sometimes crossed.
Karen Sullivan says, ‘This is a disturbingly relevant novel that focuses on the fragility and insincerity of online relationships: their seminal importance to those without a real-world structure, but also those whose success relies upon ‘likes’, reviews and flattery; the ‘bubble’ that skews our moral compass. The premise is simple and ubiquitous: an author with writer’s block is distracted by his online relationships, but also addicted to them, and when they take a darker, dangerous turn, he feels powerless to change things … because maybe he needs Evie more than he’s saying… ‘And yet, this simple premise is deceiving. Paul Burston has written a multi-layered, shockingly believable, prescient and powerful page-turner, with two main characters vying for the readers’ trust and attention, and he succeeds not only in confounding expectations but twisting the narrative so convincingly that it becomes impossible to distinguish who is telling the truth and what is real. Paul is a tremendously talented and perceptive writer, and this powerful thriller not only showcases his distinctive voice, but asks questions, and prods the dark side of our online interactions. ‘We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Paul to ‘Team Orenda’. His passion for debate, his vibrant personality, his inspiring contribution to the LGBTQ+ community and his exquisite writing add so much to our growing list, and stretch it in all the right directions. I read The Closer I Get in one breathless sitting, and I am still thinking about it now.’ David Headley says: ‘The Closer I Get is a compulsive, thought-provoking novel. Paul’s writing is rich and flows at a hurtling page-turning pace. He is a gifted storyteller and I know that Orenda will give Paul the wide readership he deserves.’ Paul Burston says: ‘I’m thrilled to be joining Orenda, who’ve published some of my favourite crime authors and produce such beautiful books. I’m looking forward to working with Karen and the team and I’m grateful to my agent David Headley for finding me the perfect publisher.’ The Closer I Get will be published in 2019 by Orenda Books. For more information, please contact Karen@orendabooks.co.uk