Atlantic pre-empts Gelfuso’s debut amid a flurry of international interest

Atlantic Fiction has pre-empted Hayley Gelfuso’s speculative novel The Book of Lost Hours in a joint offer with Allen & Unwin Australia.

In her first acquisition for Atlantic Fiction since moving from Cornerstone, Rachel Imrie pre-empted UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canda and ANZ, from Laura Williams at Greene and Heaton on behalf of Jennifer Weltz at Jean V. Naggar Literary Agency. ANZ rights were bought by Alex Craig at Allen & Unwin Australia via Cole Hildebrand, North American rights were bought by Simon and Schuster in the US and Canada. At the time of writing, translation rights have been sold in eight territories, with ongoing auctions in several other territories.

Set between 1938 and 1965, The Book of Lost Hours is a sweeping, time-bending novel about family, love, and memory. It centres on Lisavet who finds herself trapped in the ‘timespace’, a vast archive of the memories of everyone who has ever lived, where ‘timekeepers’ decide whose memories survive and whose are destroyed. Lisavet endeavours to save as many memories as she can, but when she falls in love with a timekeeper, the whole course of history could be at stake.

Imrie said:

‘Hayley’s novel is everything I want from a book: imaginative worldbuilding, immersive storytelling and characters who you can’t help but fall for. Hayley offers erudite insights into history and collective memory, whilst always delivering on story. This novel is bold, heartfelt and truly something special – I couldn’t be happier to have brought Hayley and her gorgeous novel to Atlantic.’

Gelfuso commented:

‘I’m absolutely thrilled to be partnering with Atlantic Books and Allen & Unwin to bring The Book of Lost Hours to readers in the UK and Australia. This story holds a special place in my heart, and I’m delighted to know that it will be in the very best of hands. Both Atlantic Books and Allen & Unwin have published some of my most admired authors, and it’s an honour to join such a distinguished literary family.’

Williams said:

‘It’s been a joy to champion Hayley’s gorgeous novel here. I can’t wait to see The Book of Lost Hours fly next year with Rachel and Atlantic, and in many other territories throughout the world.’ Weltz added: ‘The love for this book is palpable and we couldn’t be happier to have the amazing teams of Atlantic books and Allen and Unwin on board!’

Atlantic will publish The Book of Lost Hours in hardback in Autumn 2025.