Age of Monsters to Windmill in six-figure pre-empt

Arrow publishing director Emily Griffin pre-empted UK & Commonwealth rights (excluding Canada) to Age of Monsters plus a second book by Lianne Dillsworth from Juliet Mushens at Mushens Entertainment within twenty-four hours of submission, in a significant six-figure deal. North American rights were won by Millicent Bennet at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt following a fiercely-fought significant six-figure auction, from Jenny Bent at The Bent Agency on behalf of Juliet Mushens.  

Age of Monsters is an enthralling historical reading-group novel set in Victorian London, which tells the story of a mixed-race heroine, Zillah, who finds herself playing the role of a freak on the stage. But Zillah’s headline act as ‘The Great Amazonia’ is fake, and if her real identity is discovered her precarious existence will be shattered. When a new act is introduced – a Black woman with vitiligo exhibited as a ‘Leopard Lady’ – Zillah finds herself forced to confront the dark side of her profession. And when the woman goes missing, Zillah risks everything to save her and, in doing so, herself too.

Lianne Dillsworth graduated from Royal Holloway’s MA in Creative Writing with distinction and won a place on the London Library Emerging Writers Programme. Most recently Lianne was shortlisted for the SI Leeds Literary Prize for Black and Asian women writers in the UK. She holds an MA in Victorian Studies and lives in London, where she works on growing inclusion within the Civil Service

Lianne says: ‘I’m beyond excited to think of Age of Monsters out in the world. I’ve been overwhelmed by the passion and enthusiasm that Emily and Millicent have shown for the novel and know that with them, Zillah has found the perfect home. So grateful to Juliet, too, for believing in me and my writing and to all those who have helped and supported me along the way.’

Emily Griffin says: ‘Age of Monsters is a reading experience unlike any other – immersive and hypnotic – and a moving story of self-discovery and redemption which shines a light on a vastly under-represented area of British history. Lianne’s powerful narrative voice transported me to a world so vivid I felt I could step into it. Against the captivating backdrop of Victorian London, Age of Monsters is at once a page-turning story and a timeless exploration of identity and belonging. I cannot wait for readers to fall in love with Zillah as I have, and to join her on her captivating journey. We are buzzing with excitement at the prospect of launching Lianne as a major new literary talent on the Windmill list.’

Juliet Mushens says, ‘Zillah is a brilliant heroine – funny, clever, and deeply empathetic. AGE OF MONSTERS manages at once to be a page-turning historical novel, but also hugely thought-provoking around issues of identity, race and class. Lianne is a major new talent and I’m delighted to share this novel with Emily.’

Windmill will publish Age of Monsters as a lead hardback launch in early 2022 and in Arrow paperback in September 2022.