From the In Box 4/18/13

18th April 2013 ~ For Immediate Release

Strange Chemistry, the YA imprint of Angry Robot Books, is delighted to announce the signing of debut author Sarah Raughley, in a one-book World English Rights deal concluded by Strange Chemistry’s editor Amanda Rutter and Natalie Fischer Lakosil, of the Bradford Literary Agency.

Sarah’s novel, a YA Dark Fantasy tale called Feather Bound, will be published in the Spring of 2014.

Sarah grew up in Southern Ontario writing stories about freakish little girls with powers because she secretly wanted to be one.

She is a huge fangirl of anything from manga to science fiction/fantasy lit to Japanese Role Playing Games… but if she has to, she will swear up and down that she was inspired by Jane Austen at book signings. She imagines it sounds better than Chrono Trigger.

On top of being a YA writer, she is currently completing a PhD in English, because she communicates via literary narratives, and also the sight of blood makes her queasy (which crossed medical school off the list).

Visit Sarah’s website at sarahraughley.wordpress.com or follow her updates on Twitter (@s_raughley).

When Deanna’s missing friend Hyde turns up at his father’s funeral to claim his corporate empire and inheritance, she is swept into his glittering world of paparazzi and wealth.

But re-kindling her friendship and the dizzying new emotions along for the ride are the least of her concerns. Because Deanna has a secret – and somebody knows. Someone who is out to get Hyde. And if she doesn’t play along, and help the enemy destroy him…she will be sold to the highest bidder in the black market for human swans.

Now Deanna is struggling to break free from the gilded cage that would trap her forever…

Feather Bound is a dark debut reminiscent of Gabriel García Márquez’s A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings, and the twisted truth behind the fairy tale of Cinderella.

Sarah Raughley said: “I literally went ‘weeee!’ when my agent called me about the deal. I’ve dreamt of being a published author since I was a little girl, and I can think of no better publisher to debut under than the dynamic and totally badass Strange Chemistry! Angry Robot Books is making such a big splash in the world of science fiction and fantasy; I’m so honoured to be a part of it!”

Strange Chemistry Editor Amanda Rutter said: “Feather Bound is an incredibly special book – one that has more and more layers the further you read into it. I loved the magical realism, and the folktale elements that Sarah brought to the novel, while the bitchy high society element of the story was utterly authentic. Sarah is a massive talent and I’m delighted that she chose to sign with Strange Chemistry.”

More information can be found at strangechemistrybooks.com.

Angry Robot is a genre publisher that brings readers the best in new SF, F and WTF?! Strange Chemistry is Angry Robot’s YA imprint. All titles are released as paperbacks and in all major eBook formats. Distribution is through Random House (North America) and GBS (UK). Angry Robot is part of the Osprey Group.

For more information, review copies, interview and feature requests, contact our Marketing Manager, Darren Turpin at darren.turpin@angryrobotbooks.com or by phone on +44 (0) 7584 355911 [UK Office Hours]