Kate Harvey makes first buy at Akoya with Jonáš Zbořil's novel
Akoya has acquired Czech poet Jonáš Zbořil’s debut novel, Flora, about love, tech and radical parenthood. Kate Harvey, who joined the indie as publishing director last month, signed world English-language rights in her first acquisition for the new independent press.
The Czech novel has been sold by Pavlína Juračková at Paseka in 15 territories, with film rights also optioned. English-language publication is scheduled for 2027.
Poet Zbořil’s first novel will "appeal to readers of Han Kang and Sayaka Murata", Akoya said.
The synopsis reads: "When a couple stumble across a creature in the wasteland at the edge of their city, they name it Flora. They have longed for a child, but soon they find that caring for Flora isolates, changes and consumes them in ways they could never have imagined."
Harvey said: "Flora is a story of love, desire, ecology, tech and radical parenthood, in which poet-turned-novelist Jonáš Zbořil asks essential questions about the ‘non-human’ and what it can teach us of the human heart. Stylish and uncanny, it captivated the whole team at Akoya."
Zbořil is a poet and cultural journalist whose works explore identity, family and the relationship between humans and nature. His debut poetry collection, Podolí, was shortlisted for literary awards in Czechia. Zbořil has hosted several radio programmes focused on contemporary literature and music, and currently leads the culture section of Seznam Zprávy, one of the most prominent Czech news outlets.
Founded in 2024 by Camilla Hagen, Akoya is an independent based in London, dedicated to "exceptional literature that celebrates courageous, visionary and innovative writing".
