PANTERA PRESS ACQUIRES ANZ RIGHTS FOR TORCHED BY KIMBERLEY STARR FROM CURTIS BROWN

Pantera Press has bought ANZ rights for Torched, an Australian crime novel by Kimberley Starr from Pippa Masson at Curtis Brown.

“We’re thrilled that Kimberley Starr’s striking novel will be a major fiction title for Pantera Press in 2020,” said Pippa Mason of Curtis Brown.

“Kimberley was impressed with their vision and enthusiasm for her and her novel and can’t wait to see what they do with it.”

Set in a small town in the Yarra Valley, Torched is the story of Phoebe Wharton, a school principal, and her son Caleb, who survive a devastating bushfire only to be ripped apart by its aftermath when Caleb is accused of being the arsonist. Told from the perspective of both Phoebe and Caleb, Torched is a powerfully written, utterly compelling literary crime novel about mothers and sons and the ties that bind them.

“We knew we wanted to publish this incredible book the moment we read it,” said Lex Hirst, Publishing Director at Pantera Press.

“Torched is the kind of book that forces you to hold a mirror up to yourself: what do you believe the people you love are capable of? Kimberley perfectly captures the achingly complex relationship between a mother and her son, along with the fear, rage and reactionary prejudice of a small community under threat.”

Kimberley Starr is an Australian novelist and teacher whose novels have won and been shortlisted for multiple literary awards, including the Queensland Premier’s Literary Award and the Text Publishing YA Prize. She also lives in a Victorian town that often faces the threat of bushfire.

“I loved writing this book, particularly being able to capture the Australian setting and making it another character in the book. I hope readers enjoy reading it as much as I have enjoyed writing it.”

 

Torched will be released in May 2020.

---

For further information contact Anabel Pandiella

Tel: 0412 699 556 | E: anabel.pandiella@panterapress.com