DKW are excited to announce that Walker Books have acquired the first YA novel from author, journalist and podcaster Caroline O’Donoghue, in a pre-empt with a six figure sum for a two-book deal the day before the start of Bologna Book Fair. Executive Editorial Director Denise Johnstone-Burt acquired World, All Language Rights for All Our Hidden Gifts and a follow up novel from Bryony Woods at Diamond Kahn & Woods Literary Agency.
All Our Hidden Gifts is the darkly magical first book in a new YA series. The story follows misfit Maeve Chambers, a teenage girl who finds herself alone and struggling to fit in since she separated herself from best friend Lily three years earlier. But when she finds a pack of dusty old tarot cards in a cupboard at her school, and begins to give scarily accurate readings to the girls in her class, she realises she’s found her gift at last. Things are looking up. Until she discovers a strange card in her deck – one that shouldn’t be there – and a reading for her ex-best-friend Lily goes very wrong. Two days later, Lily is missing.
Caroline O’Donoghue’s debut novel for adults, Promising Young Women, was published by Virago in hardback to rave reviews last year. As a journalist, Caroline has a regular column in The Times Ireland, and has written for Glamour, The Irish Independent, Grazia, Buzzfeed and Vice, among others. Until recently, she was a Contributing Editor at The Pool. Caroline also hosts the podcasts School For Dumb Women and Sentimental Garbage, in which she discusses and reviews commercial women’s fiction titles with other popular authors. A live episode of Sentimental Garbage was recorded at this year’s London Book Fair, featuring Holly Bourne as the episode’s guest.
Executive Editorial Director Denise Johnstone-Burt said:
“Acquiring this book has been the most exciting whirlwind, with a pre-empt before breakfast! Caroline has a natural and original voice and the mesmerizing way she weaves the intriguing, mystical thread of tarot into the teenagers’ world is spellbinding. She will shine as an outstanding debut YA voice.”
Caroline O’Donoghue said:
“This story is the most magical and, simultaneously, the most autobiographical I have ever written, and I am so thrilled to be telling it with Walker. As an enormous and lifelong fan of YA, I am stepping into this genre with a huge sense of my responsibility to both teen readers and the art as a whole. The fact that Walker has such a highly curated list and an untouchable reputation makes me so excited to work with them, and I can’t wait to get started.”
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