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Aria, the popular fiction imprint of Head of Zeus, has pre-empted the “effortlessly funny” debut novel from Comedy Women in Print shortlistee Hannah Dolby.
Rachel Faulkner-Willcocks, editorial director, secured world English rights to No Life For a Lady and one further novel from Diana Beaumont at Marjacq. No Life for a Lady will publish in hardback, e-book and audio as a lead debut in March 2023.
The publisher describes Dolby’s book as a "smart, funny and life-affirming" historical novel that follows the story of Violet Hamilton as she searches for her missing mother, the beautiful Lily Hamilton, who vanished from Hastings Pier 10 years earlier. At the same time, Violet must eschew the advances of the many suitors her father sends her way, as she attempts to make her own way in the world – no easy feat for a woman in Victorian England. When Violet enlists a seaside detective to help in her search, she sets off a chain of events that will put her reputation and perhaps much more at risk.
Faulkner-Willcocks said: "This book is pure joy, and I cannot wait to introduce readers to Violet’s story. It is a tonic – practically medicinal in today’s climate – but also an astute depiction of the precarious nature of a woman’s situation in the world. Hannah Dolby is one of the most effortlessly funny and exciting writers I’ve ever had the pleasure to read, let alone publish, and all at Head of Zeus feel very lucky to get to do so."
Dolby’s first job was in the circus and she has since trained as a journalist in Hastings before working in PR for many years, promoting museums, galleries, palaces, gardens and Dolly the sheep. She completed the Curtis Brown three-month novel writing course, and she was named runner-up in the Comedy Women in Print Awards for this novel with the prize of a place on an MA in Comedy Writing at the University of Falmouth.
She said: “I wrote this book in the middle of lockdown, when it cheered me immensely to write about a Victorian heroine who finds her own way towards freedom and living life to the full.
“It’s so wonderful that other people are finding joy in her story too, and I’m hugely grateful to Rachel and Diana for their confidence in me in bringing the book to fruition. I’m obviously massively over excited about next spring and may need to be restrained from visiting bookshops in a full length Victorian evening gown, bearing sweets.”
Beaumont added: “I first read this while I had Covid during what felt like a very long and dark winter. It cheered me immensely. It was an utter delight and Violet is such a memorable, endearing and unique heroine. Hannah is so talented and this is one of those special novels you want to press into everyone’s hands. I was delighted that Rachel and the rest of the team at HoZ fell in love with it too. I can’t wait for it to be launched into the world.”