A&U acquires new Moule fiction

Allen & Unwin (A&U) has acquired ANZ rights to The Mother of All Calamities by Lisa Moule, in a deal brokered by Samuel Bernard at the Zeitgeist Agency.

The Mother of All Calamities takes place in Greengully, the ‘perfect suburb with perfect parents, [where] nothing is quite as it seems,’ said the publisher. ‘Chrissy, the teacher who always has the answers, can’t understand why her clueless male colleague just scored the job she deserved. Jenny, the perennial class mum, is desperate to hide her son’s escalating behaviour. Estelle insists her daughter is a delight – despite evidence to the contrary. And Viv carries a secret so dark it could destroy her.

‘The Mother of All Calamities is a humorous and heartfelt take on contemporary parenting culture, exposing the cracks behind the Instagram gloss.’

She said, ‘This book began from a very personal place – noticing as both a parent and later as a teacher how many of us carry secret worries that we rarely voice. Children trying to conform to a system that doesn’t always benefit them, parents struggling silently and too afraid to admit what they are truly going through, and teachers carrying unseen burdens. Writing this book was my way of opening up these silences. I hope this novel reminds people that none of us are alone in our struggles.’

A&U publishing director Cate Paterson spoke of the title on behalf of associate publisher Genevieve Buzo, who is currently on parental leave. Paterson said, ‘Irresistibly readable, this novel peels back the polished surface of our suburban lives to reveal the messy, complicated truths of parenthood, friendship and ambition. It captures the chaos of the schoolyard and the quiet heartbreak behind closed doors. Lisa Moule reminds us that no one has it all together, no matter how perfect they seem, and that is very comforting!’

A&U plans to publish The Mother of All Calamities in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand in March 2026.

Photo credit: Alex Vaughan.

Category: Rights and acquisitions