PMJ wins three-way auction for ‘F1 with dragons’ fantasy debut
Penguin Michael Joseph (PMJ) has acquired the Dragon Rush series by Olivia Hayward, a debut sports fantasy trilogy that “brings together the full-throttle pace of Formula One with a fiery fantasy setting, in a world where dragon racing is the dominant sport”.
Senior editor Ruth Atkins bought UK and Commonwealth rights for Tailwind and two other novels from Mia Dakin at Greene & Heaton in a three-way auction. Tailwind, the first novel, will be published in September 2026.
The blurb reads: “Tailwind takes place amid the fiery heat and breakneck speeds of the Volitant dragon races. There has never been a female dragon rider in the contest, and Lena, once a promising rider, is forced to work as a dragon keeper for the washed-up racing tyrant Thorne.
“Lena cherishes the close bond she has forged with Gottyk, Thorne’s racing dragon, but has always yearned to try her hand at racing herself. But when an accident takes Thorne out of the picture, minutes from a race beginning, Lena sees a sudden, secret opportunity. Put on Thorne’s racing helmet, and take his place in Volitant. A chance for her, and women riders everywhere, to seize their victory from the skies…”
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Hayward, a neurodiverse author with a background in writing and producing video games, said: “Fantasy and motorsport both contain so much action, drama and passion that I couldn’t help but merge them together to write Tailwind. For the series to find its home at Penguin Michael Joseph is incredible. I’m so thankful to my agent Mia Dakin and editor Ruth Atkins for seeing beyond the spectacle of dragon racing to the story of a woman fighting for her dreams… with her dragon, magic axe and a healthy amount of spite!”
Atkins said: “Olivia Hayward’s full-throttle, fiery debut is a breath of fresh air in the fantasy genre. Fans of F1 will find a clear resonance in this dragon racing world of split-second strategy and high-octane suspense. Most of all though it was Hayward’s characters who captured my heart, and the powerful theme throughout the novel of women supporting women, helping each other soar.’”
Dakin added: “Coming in via The Greene Door Project, the moment I read Olivia’s initial chapters I knew this was something really special. I cannot wait for readers to root for Lena, and her fight to be taken seriously in a male-dominated arena.”
