Fontana pre-empts Allen Levi's self-published 'phenomenon' Theo of Golden
Fontana, the new William Collins commercial fiction imprint, has pre-empted Allen Levi’s originally self-published "phenomenon" Theo of Golden. Editorial director Katie Bowden secured UK and Commonwealth rights, including e-book and audio rights, from Hellie Ogden at WME on behalf of Suzanne Gluck at WME.
Theo of Golden was originally self-published in 2023 and has sold more than 170,000 copies. The book follows a stranger’s arrival in a small southern city and celebrates the transformative power of small, everyday acts of connection and kindness.
Traditional publication is scheduled for later this year. North American rights sold to Katherine Nintzel and Sean deLone at Atria and Adrienne Kerr at Simon & Schuster Canada at auction. Tracy Fisher and Celia Rogers at WME have sold rights to the novel to a further 22 territories.
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Levi grew up in Columbus, Georgia, attended the University of Georgia and worked as an attorney from 1980 to 1990. He left law practice for two years in 1990, moved to Scotland and, while there, received a degree in Scottish fiction from the University of Edinburgh. He returned home, resumed law practice for three years and finally ventured into music in 1996. Since then, he has worked as a travelling musician. He has more than 20 albums to his credit. Theo of Golden is his first novel.
He said: "I strongly suspect that Theo – an old Portuguese man with a heart of kindness and an eye for beauty – will be right at home among readers in the UK. We are thrilled and honoured to have a place in the HarperCollins family."
