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First Ink wins five-way auction for Gem Rayner's debut
First Ink has triumphed in a “hotly contested” five-way auction to win the debut duology from British author Gem Rayner.
Eishar Brar, publisher at First Ink and Macmillan Children’s Books, won UK and Commonwealth rights in two books from Suzannah Ball at WME in what the publisher described as “a significant deal”. First Ink – the YA and crossover imprint of Macmillan Children’s Books – said the acquisition followed a “hotly contested” bidding war with four other publishers.
Additionally, North American rights were sold by Angeline Rodriguez to Caroline Bleeke at Flatiron, a division of Macmillan Publishers, for global publication. Translation rights were sold by Celia Rogers at this year’s Frankfurt Book Fair to Brazil, France, Hungary, Italy, Spain and Germany.
Star-Crossed, the first book in the stunning two-book duology, will launch in summer 2027 in hardback, e-book and audio book and will be aimed at an audience of 16 and over. A superlead title on First Ink’s list, the story follows Riley and Obie, who are matched by astrologists in the zodiac-governed city of Ophiuchus.
The synopsis continues: “Riley is a proud Leo and a staunch believer in the stars, happy to live in the Leo district as instructed, but, unbeknownst to her, Obie secretly disbelieves in star signs – a crime punishable by imprisonment. As they are forced together, navigating a world of feasts, dens and magical sites, an undeniable chemistry sparks between them. But the secrets they uncover threaten their world and their burgeoning relationship.”
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Rayner said: “I am delighted that Star-Crossed has found its home at First Ink. The team’s passion for this book has been beyond my wildest expectations, and I am so excited to work with them on what I’m sure will be a sparkling campaign. Diving into astrology for this book has been so much fun, and I can’t wait to welcome readers into Riley and Obie’s magical world.”
Brar added: “This was one of those rare manuscripts that I genuinely dropped everything to read. From the first page I was utterly addicted to Riley’s voice and drawn in by the immersive world Gem has created. ”
Alison Ruane, managing director at Macmillan Children’s Books, said: “We are very proud to have signed this deal with Gem. Here at First Ink, we don’t just produce commercial super-hits, we also create long-term homes for our authors, building them into household names that will be on bookshelves for years to come. This is exactly what we intend to do with Gem Rayner.”
First Ink said that its communications team “will run an audience-first, fun and creative campaign, leaving no stone unturned and building enthusiasm and awareness from the ground up”.
The publisher added: “Activity will include virtual and in-person events across a plethora of UK conventions and festivals, exclusive influencer events, national review and interview coverage, slick cover-reveal animations, retailer partnerships and unmissable proof packages.”
