Australian debut acquired by Hachette; rights sold overseas

Hachette Australia has purchased ANZ rights at auction to Australian author Sarah Schmidt’s debut novel in a two-book deal facilitated by Pippa Masson at Curtis Brown Australia.

See What I Have Done is Schmidt’s reimagining of the infamous Lizzie Borden murders told from multiple viewpoints, including Borden’s troubled sister, the family maid, an interloping man and the unreliable perspective of Borden herself.

ANZ rights were purchased by Hachette publisher Robert Watkins, who described the novel as ‘incredibly claustrophobic, creepy and downright page-turning’. ‘Everyone at Hachette ANZ is so excited to be working with Sarah on this amazing debut—readers everywhere are going to fall in love with her distinct voice,’ said Watkins.

Rights to Schmidt’s novel have also sold to Tinder Press in the UK, Grove Atlantic in the US and Piper in Germany.

Schmidt said that for 10 years she has been ‘writing this weird little novel about a dysfunctional family wondering if it would ever be published’. ‘I am thrilled to be working with Hachette, Tinder Press, Grove Atlantic and Piper and think Lizzie is really going to enjoy her new homes all over the world.’

See What I Have Done will be published in April 2017 in Australia, New Zealand and the UK.

Category: Local news Rights and acquisitions