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Canongate reveals release date for J J Abrams novel

18.04.11 | Graeme Neill

Canongate will publish a book co-created by JJ Abrams, the man behind "Lost" and "Star Trek", next year after a deal was signed during London Book Fair.

The publisher bought UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada, to the untitled novel from Cathryn Summerhayes at WME. US rights were bought by Michael Pietsch, excecutive vice-president and publisher of Little, Brown. The editors will be John Schoenfelder from Mulholland Books in the US and Canongate's Francis Bickmore in the UK. The book is based on an idea of Abrams' but it will be written by the PEN/Hemingway-shortlisted author Doug Dorst.

The publisher did not give any details about the content of the book but said it will be released next year. Jamie Byng, Canongate m.d., said: "This book looks set to be one of the most ground-breaking, bold and innovative pieces of storytelling ever. The prospect of working with the creative brilliance of J J Abrams coupled with a novelist as talented as Doug Dorst makes this a hugely exciting and important acquisition for Canongate. 

"And its publication is going to be a major, international event."

Abrams said: "Jamie Byng is a bold and brilliant publisher, who understands and embraces both the potential and the specific challenges of this project. With Doug Dorst writing and Canongate publishing in the UK, this is a most exciting collaboration."

• francis bickmore
• Graeme Neill
• Jamie Byng
• jj abrams
• lost
• Rights deal
• star trek