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W&N pre-empt two from debut author

31.07.12 | Charlotte Williams

Weidenfeld & Nicolson and Orion has pre-empted two books by 27-year-old author Matt Greene.

W&N deputy publishing director Arzu Tahsin snapped up Uk and Commonwealth rights from Gordon Wise at Curtis Brown in Ostrich and one other book, with plans to publish in January 2014.

The book is the story of Alex, a coming-of-age tale, in which, following brain surgery, everyone in his life seems to be behaving a little strangely. He begins to see the world through different eyes, and the journey takes him "to the limits of his understanding, the edge of his endurance, the threshold of manhood, and eventually, on the eve of his English Composition exam, to the door of his mother's home-made dark room". He finally has to decide whether he wants to expose what is hidden, or keep his head buried in the sand.

Tahsin said: "This is one of the finest debuts I’ve read. It’s a story that will beguile you and charm you. The tender heart and enquiring mind of young Alex will stay me for a very long time. Matt Greene is a hugely exciting new talent. A smart and gifted writer, he has produced a compelling and frankly astounding, first novel."

Greene is the co-author of four plays, and his debut feature film "Oliver and Becky Would Like To Meet" is currently in development with Big Talk Productions and StudioCanal.li

• Arzu Tahsin
• Charlotte Williams
• Matt Greene
• Orion
• Rights deal
• Weidenfeld & Nicolson