Momentum acquires NT-set YA fantasy series and rural romance

6 August 2014 Books+Publishing

Momentum has acquired two books in a YA crossover fantasy series by Justin Woolley and a yet-to-be-titled medical rural romance by Nicki Edwards.

Woolley’s books have been acquired in a two-book world English-language rights deal from Ineke Prochazka of Book Harvest Literary Agency. The series is ‘set in a far future dystopian Northern Territory where zombie-like ghouls are constantly trying to climb the giant border fence—until the fence is breached,’ Momentum publisher Joel Naoum told Books+Publishing.

‘The people of the Territory live a harsh, almost medieval existence trying to subsist on what they can farm in the arid climate. Squid’s a poor kid from the outer territory who is conscripted into the Diggers—the armed forces of the Territory. Lynn is a rich girl with an influential father who pretends to be a boy in order to join the Diggers and get away from being forced to join the Sisters of Glorious God the Redeemer. The two of them are drawn into a massive conspiracy that may spell the end of the Territory as they know it.’

Naoum said Wolley’s debut was ‘an extremely fun and accomplished novel by an author who is young, determined and extremely talented’.

The first book A Town Called Dust will be published 13 November, with the sequel to follow in 2015.

Edwards’ romance novel, set in country NSW, follows the story of Kate Kennedy, an ICU nurse who escapes to the small country of Birrangulla, ‘bringing with her a broken heart and a guilty secret’, commissioning editor Haylee Nash told Books+Publishing. ‘Nicki, who is herself a nurse in emergency, sent me her first chapter and I was immediately pulled into the drama of the scene. As I continued to read, I noticed that Nicki also has a gift for writing great, emotional romance while keeping up the pace and tension.’

Nash said Momentum was considering publishing the debut in the first quarter of 2015.

Category: Local news