Oneworld has scooped "an immersive and rewarding" debut novel by Thai-Chinese writer Pim Wangtechawat.

Publisher Juliet Mabey acquired UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada, to The Moon Represents My Heart from Liza DeBlock at Mushens Entertainment in a two-book deal. It will be published as the super-lead title in spring 2023. Italian rights were quickly acquired by Keller Editore.

The Moon Represents My Heart follows the generations of a British-Chinese family of time travellers. When Tommy’s parents time-travel and never return, time stands still. But as everyone begins to move forward, Tommy is stuck in the past which has ramifications for his life in the present. The Moon Represents My Heart is "a story about relationships between parent and child, whether one can accept the choices of the other, and whether they would make the same decision again".

Mabey said: "Pim has written a truly heart-warming, richly poetic novel, brimming with tenderness, joy and loss, and I found myself rooting for each character in this immersive, multivocal time-travelling novel. Sitting in that wonderful sweet spot between literary and upmarket fiction, I’m incredibly excited to be able to include it in the launch list for our new commercial fiction imprint here at Oneworld.”

DeBlock said: "I absolutely loved The Moon Represents My Heart and Pim’s writing is gorgeous. I laughed, I cried, and this story made me relive every best day of my life. Juliet Mabey is the perfect person to shepherd this new literary talent.”

Wangtechawat added: "I’m beyond excited that The Moon Represents My Heart — a deeply personal debut inspired by my Chinese heritage — has found the perfect home with Oneworld. As an author from Bangkok writing in my second language, it is a lifelong dream to have my novel published! I’m so excited to be working with Juliet and her team. Her love and belief in this book, along with my agent Liza DeBlock’s, have been invaluable."