HQ pre-empts Emily Slapper’s ‘provocative’ début Everyone I Know is Dying in two-book deal

HQ has acquired two novels by Emily Slapper including her début Everyone I Know is Dying.

Senior commissioning editor Katie Seaman pre-empted UK and Commonwealth rights from Rachel Neely at Mushens Entertainment. Everyone I Know is Dying will be published by HQ in hardback, e-book and audiobook in July 2024.

Seaman commented: “Emily’s début novel is a razor-sharp and provocative literary commercial crossover at its best, effortlessly capturing that millennial malaise that readers will relate to.”

Emily said: “I feel so lucky to be able to work on Everyone I Know is Dying with such passionate and talented people and I’m looking forward to the whole journey. As always, I’m grateful to Rachel Neely for everything she does and everyone else at Mushens Entertainment.”

Rachel was quoted by The Bookseller: “From the moment I pitched Everyone I Know is Dying to Katie, I knew she would be the perfect editor for this special novel.”

About Everyone I Know is Dying:

When she’s having sex with her boss, Iris likes thinking about how young and beautiful she is compared to his wife – it distracts her from the fact that she isn’t actually attracted to him. She also likes getting to the afternoon without having eaten anything except a handful of supplements.

And even if she has spent every day of the last year coasting, she still lands a much-coveted promotion. But instead of a sense of triumph, why does she find herself sprawled on her hallway floor, crying uncontrollably? As crippling depression threatens to overwhelm her, Iris becomes increasingly lost, rejecting stability and love which feel suffocating in favour of pursuing attractive but unattainable Patrick.