Hachette acquires VPLA winner in ‘competitive’ auction

Hachette has acquired ANZ rights to Victorian Premier’s unpublished manuscript prize-winner Kokomo by Victoria Hannan in a two-book deal.

Hachette head of literary Robert Watkins acquired rights from Pippa Masson at Curtis Brown in a ‘competitive’ auction.

Kokomo follows Mina as she returns home to Melbourne after finding out her agoraphobic mother has left the house for the first time in 12 years. When Mina arrives home, she discovers her mother will not talk about her sudden return to the world or why she hid herself away in the first place.

Watkins says: ‘Kokomo is the kind of contemporary novel that will steal the hearts of readers all over Australia—the kind of novel that truly captures a moment in time, a sentiment, a feeling. A book that people will want to share with their best friend, discuss loudly at the local pub, whisper about in their office cubicles, declare their love for on social media, gift to loved ones and remember fondly and reread feverishly for years to come.’

Kokomo will be published in Australia and New Zealand on 28 July 2020.

Tags: Victorian Premier's Literary Award

Category: Local news Rights and acquisitions