Great news just in from London: Orion Publishing Group has acquired a first novel from award-winning Irish journalist Rachael English.
Susan Lamb, Managing Director of Orion Fiction, and Eleanor Dryden, Senior Editor Orion Fiction, have acquired the Irish, UK and Commonwealth Rights for two novels by Rachael English, from Robert Kirby, literary agent at United Agents.
The first book Going Back will be published in June 2013 and the second novel in the summer of 2014.
Going Back is a story of family, friendships and love. It follows Elizabeth Kelly and her friends, young economic migrants from Dublin, as they escape for a summer in Boston in 1988. Twenty years later as opportunities are scarce once again, the next generation look to Boston, awakening memories of a life-changing golden summer for their parents. Going Back will be published in June 2013.
Rachael English a much-loved Irish journalist originally from Shannon, and is a presenter on Morning Ireland on RTE Radio 1. During her time in RTÉ, Rachael has read the news on 2FM, and worked as a reporter on the News at One, on television news and on Today with Pat Kenny. For six years, she presented the evening news programme, Five Seven Live. From that time there is one day that stands out – the hours spent covering the unfolding events in New York and Washington on September the 11th 2001. She has also presented the Late Debate and continues to present Saturday View on RTÉ Radio One.
Rachael has worked in broadcasting in Ireland for twenty-three years, and has been awarded a PPI Radio Award. Going Back is her first novel. Rachael said: “Writing Going Back was a brilliant experience and I’m still pinching myself that it’s going to be published by Orion. In fact, in telling people my news, I’ve had to start by saying, ‘I swear I’m not making this up’.”
Eleanor Dryden, Senior Editor at Orion, revealed, “We are delighted to have acquired Rachael’s debut novel. We knew immediately that we had to snap it up – Rachael’s writing is so warm and appealing and the story is a perfect combination of humour, heartache and surprises. We made a pre-emptive offer within a week of Rachael signing with United Agents and we look forward to publishing this special novel as enthusiastically as we bought it.”
Congratulations to Rachael and Orion from all at writing.ie – we look forward to hearing more about the book!
