Phoenix pre-empts debut novel Any Day Now by Bethia Hale
Phoenix has pre-empted Any Day Now and a further untitled novel by debut author Bethia Hale in a two-book deal.
Publisher Francesca Main acquired UK and Commonwealth rights from Viola Hayden at Curtis Brown. North American rights were pre-empted by Whitney Frick and Jenna Bush Hager at Dial Press x Thousand Voices from Grainne Fox at UTA. German rights have been sold to Rowohlt at auction and Portuguese rights to Leya.
TV rights have been optioned by Kudos, a Banijay UK company. The book will publish in hardback, e-book and audiobook in April 2027.
The synopsis says: "Any Day Now is an unforgettable modern love story about the new girlfriend and lifelong best friend of a man who dies suddenly. Both have their world overturned in an instant, but while Harry mourns the person he knew best, Jem quickly discovers that she barely knew Jude at all."
Hale is a graduate of Curtis Brown Creative’s Writing Your Novel course, described by the publisher as their 300th student to secure a book deal.
Main said: "Bethia’s voice is so warm and distinctive that I knew I wanted to publish her from the very first page. Tender, funny, heartbreaking and uplifting, Any Day Now is an irresistible novel about love, grief and friendship, and a life-affirming exploration of how we learn to live with loss."
Hale added: "Working with Francesca Main and her team at Phoenix is a dream come true. I loved writing Any Day Now; I hope readers love it, too."
