Picador acquires Hard Rain by author and broadcaster Gary Raymond
Picador has snapped up Hard Rain by author and broadcaster Gary Raymond.
Publishing director Andrea Henry bought world all-language rights, including audio, direct from the author, for publication in hardback in 2028.
The synopsis says: "In November 2025, Wales’ beautiful Wye Valley flooded. A wet but wonderful part of the world – a protected area renowned for its beauty – it saw unprecedented rainfall that quickly raised the levels of the River Monnow and the River Wye. Cold, dark, muddy water spilled over the banks onto roads and pavements and into people’s homes. Gary Raymond and his family were flooded out of theirs, watching on helplessly as late one night the water poured in. Hard Rain is one family’s experience of flooding. But it’s also a much bigger story about the history of flooding in the area, and how rising water levels combined with careless and profit-driven development of floodplains means it will be a problem for many of us in the future. Ultimately, it’s a tale about the positive culture of community and the uplifting strength of the human spirit; about how the anguish of financial loss can be outweighed by enormous spiritual gains. Our salvation, Raymond discovers in the flood’s aftermath, will be people."
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Henry said: "Despite the anguish of those at the forefront of so-called natural disasters, Hard Rain is a positive and uplifting read, because – perhaps counterintuitively – that has been the author’s experience of the event. Gary captures the wonder of the Welsh landscape and creates a sense of jeopardy that keeps you reading. He also brilliantly threads through the staggering political and commercial decisions that contribute to disasters like this. Most of all, the idea of people pulling together in the face of disaster is the kind of uplifting message we need right now. We’re delighted to be working with Gary."
Raymond added: "I am deeply thrilled that a house as esteemed as Picador has chosen to bring this story to the public. Hard Rain represents the dramatic events of the week of the devastating flooding that hit my home town of Monmouth, but also the deeper journey of discovery about the potential future all of us face as climate change disasters become more and more widespread. I hope the experiences in the book, the revelations, and the emerging story of community can offer hope to everyone who is afraid for the future, and even offer some guidance about how we might start to get things right."
