Moonflower scoops debut novel from TV scriptwriter James Alistair Henry
We are thrilled to announce that we have acquired Pagans, the debut novel from TV and radio writer James Alistair Henry.
Pagans is a refreshingly different police procedural, set in a contemporary Britain where the Norman conquest of 1066 never happened. Political allegiances are demonstrated through tattoos, the ancient Gods are a part of everyday life and kids use runes instead of text speak. An uneasy alliance of ancient tribes – the Celtic West, Saxon East and an independent Nordic Scotland – has formed, but the fragile peace is threatened by a series of brutal murders.
Members of a mysterious ‘Fisher’ cult are being killed one by one. The gruesome case brings together two mismatched police detectives: Captain Aedith, daughter of the powerful Saxon leader, Earl Lod of Mercia, and Inspector Drustan, from the beleaguered – and mistrusting – Celts.
As the threat rises, the detectives must put aside their personal differences to follow the trail, even when they uncover forces behind the killings that go deeper than they could ever have imagined – into their own murky pasts.
Our Editorial Director, Emma Waring, acquired UK and Commonwealth rights from James Spackman at The bks Agency. Pagans will be published in hardback, e-book, and audiobook in February 2025, and will be our lead commercial title for 2025.
Screenwriter and editor James first started writing while working as a bookseller. He joined the writing team for Channel 4’s Smack the Pony and went on to write the BAFTA-award winning Green Wing, ITV comedy Delivery Man and cult hit Campus as well as episodes for smash-hit children’s television shows Bob The Builder and Hey Duggee. His Radio 4 sketch show, Wosson Cornwall, was selected as BBC Radio Comedy of the Week and his newest sitcom, Piglets, is due to be broadcast by ITV later this year. James lives in Cornwall with his wife, a writer and Medieval Historian, and their two children.
“From the very first page of Pagans I knew it was something special. James has managed to take all the elements of a great police procedural and turn them on their heads to create a fresh, smart and funny novel. There’s elements of Neil Gaiman and the late, great Terry Pratchett in both the humour and the cleverly sideways take on contemporary issues. Readers are going to adore the compelling central pairing, the clever ‘our-world-but-not’ setting, and the fast, witty dialogue.”
“I couldn’t be happier to be working with Moonflower on Pagans. It feels like both our lockdown projects - them setting up an independent publisher and me writing my first novel - came together in a way no-one could have predicted. As an ex-bookseller, the idea that my weird police procedural/alternate world story might just end up on the shelves is unfeasibly exciting, as are the discussions my editor and I are currently having about getting matching pagan-themed tattoos.”
“Moonflower recognised James’ talent, and the potential of his work, instantly and bulldozed us (in a loving way) into a publishing deal. I’m so pleased they did. Their levels of energy, commitment and ambition are off the chart and I know they’ll do amazing things with Pagans.”
We are so excited to be publishing what we know is destined to be a cult classic, and we can’t wait to introduce you to Aedith, Drustran and their world.
