UQP acquires Haddad debut novel ‘Losing Face’

UQP has acquired world rights to Losing Face, the debut novel by Sydney writer George Haddad.

Losing Face interweaves the stories of Joey, who has recently finished school and is drifting somewhat aimlessly, and his grandmother Elaine, a proud Lebanese immigrant. When Joey is implicated in the sexual assault of a young woman, everything starts to unravel and long-held family secrets are uncovered. UQP says Haddad’s ‘compelling and thought-provoking novel deals with issues of migrant identity, sexuality and consent’.

‘Losing Face is the best kind of contemporary novel, one that reflects Australian life back to the reader in all its complexity,’ says publisher Aviva Tuffield. ‘George is such an accomplished writer that you are immediately engrossed in his characters’ lives and problems. He is also a master of dialogue, and the interactions with Joey and his older female relatives are pitch perfect in terms of their barely concealed frustrations.’

Haddad, who is currently a doctoral candidate and sessional tutor at the Writing and Society Research Centre, Western Sydney University, previously won the 2016 Viva La Novella competition for his novella Populate and Perish and his short story ‘Kátharsis’ was awarded the 2018 Neilma Sidney prize.

On publishing his first novel Haddad says: ‘It’s so rewarding to join UQP’s family of renowned and incisive voices. My hope for Losing Face is that it starts a conversation, many conversations, and that it touches the reader in its moments of darkness and light. The characters in the novel are people we might sit beside on a train or at a cafe—strangers we are tangled with but know nothing about. It is a story born from my fascination with people living among people.’

UQP will publish Losing Face in 2022.

Category: Local news Rights and acquisitions