HarperCollins Media Bites June 2021

www.harpercollins.com.au

Media Releases

View Online Catalogues bit.ly/HCPCatalogues

bit.ly/HCPPressRoom

MEDIA BITES

HarperCollinsAustralia HarperCollinsAu HarperCollinsAustralia

HarperCollinsChildrensBooksAustralia HarperKidsOz HarperKidsAu

HarlequinAustralia HarlequinAus HarlequinAus

To make any enquiries or to request a review copy, please email publicity@harpercollins.com.au

Mimi Kwa HOUS E OF KWA

Becky Lucas ACKNOWL E DGME NT S From critically acclaimed comedian Becky Lucas comes a funny, consoling and very candid collection of stories and essays about friends, enemies and figuring things out that establishes her as one of today’s most original comedy writers. Why the best stories are often about the lowest points in our lives. Sometimes when things don’t work out, it is actually okay.

From the silk road to war-torn Hong Kong and far-flung Perth, and spanning four generations of Mimi’s Chinese family, this is a powerful true story about the past and its grip on the present, and how one woman breaks free. Mimi Kwa is a freelance writer, reporter and news anchor and has been a regular face on the ABC and Channel 9 for 20 years.

Sarah Winman S T I L L L I F E Sarah Winman is the critically acclaimed, bestselling author of Tin Man, When God Was a Rabbit and A Year of Marvellous Ways . Moving from the Tuscan Hills and piazzas of Florence, to the smog of London’s East End, Still Life is a sweeping, joyful, richly-peopled novel about beauty, love, family and fate.

Stacey Abrams WH I L E J US T I C E S L E E PS The debut thriller from Georgia democrat Stacey Abrams. ‘Glossy, gritty, breathlessly suspenseful, effortlessly authentic, and altogether wonderful ’ Lee Child

J UNE 2 021 – F ICT ION

We Were Not Men CAMPB E L L MAT T I NSON

‘A gut-punching, soul-restoring exploration of brotherhood and human bonds that bend but do not break. You’ll dive in at the deep end and you won’t want to stop swimming in Campbell Mattinson’s words.’ Trent Dalton Released: 02/06/21 TPB | 352pp We Were Not Men is a book about love. For nine-year-old twins Jon and Eden Hardacre, love is simple. Their mum, the creek that they swim in, each other – this is the love that they trust, love as clear and pure as sunlight, as honey, as water. But then there’s a terrible accident. And in its wake, they develop a desperation – a yearning – to outgrow tragedy. They grow up, compete with each other, fall in love with the same girl, and begin to realise that their lives – and who they love – demands something more. Something deeper. Richer. AU $32.99 NZ $35.00 Imprint: HarperCollins campbellmattinson.com

We Were Not Men is a powerhouse novel about all the various faces that love shows us and how sometimes, distracted by life, ambition or attraction, we take it for granted until it’s too late – or almost too late. An astonishingly good, unforgettable novel about the difference between getting older and growing up. We Were Not Men heralds the arrival of a major new voice on the Australian literary scene.

The Inside Man JAME S PH E L PS Australia’s no. 1 true crime writer lets his imagination off the leash in this unputdownable action thriller for all fans of Matthew Reilly, Lee Child and David Baldacci. Riley Jax, convicted murderer. Once a promising engineer in the army, he lost everything in a single night when he killed a man – an act he cannot remember. It’s a devastating gap in an otherwise perfect memory. Now he’s facing a new life, one behind bars, where he has to learn a whole different set of rules and only the toughest survive. And as a series of deadly bombings rocks the outside world, the only man who might be able to find the truth behind the conspiracy ... is on the inside.

The Dying Diplomats Club MAT TH EW B E NNS A brand new mystery featuring Nick and La Contessa, the beloved characters from Matthew Benns’ smash-hit nationwide newspaper serial. What should have been a glittering New Year’s Eve at Kirribilli House takes a fatal turn. Can Nick and La Contessa unmask a murderer? And what has their intrepid beagle Baxter discovered in the Prime Minister’s bedroom?

Released: 02/06/21 TPB | 272pp AU $29.99 NZ $34.99 Imprint: HarperCollins

Released: 02/06/21 TPB | 336pp AU $32.99 NZ $35.00 Imprint: HarperCollins

F ICT ION

Still Life SAR AH WI NMAN

1944, in the ruined wine cellar of a Tuscan villa, as the Allied troops advance and bombs fall around them, two strangers meet and share an extraordinary evening together. Ulysses Temper is a young British soldier, Evelyn Skinner is a sexagenarian art historian and possible spy. She has come to Italy to salvage paintings from the wreckage and relive memories of the time she encountered EM Forster and had her heart stolen by an Italian maid in a particular Florentine room with a view. These two unlikely people find kindred spirits in each other and Evelyn’s talk of truth and beauty plants a seed in Ulysses’ mind that will shape the trajectory of his life – and the lives of those who love him – for the next four decades.

Released: 02/06/21 TPB | 320pp AU $32.99 NZ $35.00 Imprint: 4th Estate

Threadneedle CAR I THOMAS ‘Magic and love. Love and magic. They destroy everything in the end …’ Anna’s aunt has always warned her of the dangers of magic. Its twists. Its knots. Its deadly consequences. Now Anna counts down the days to the ceremony that will bind her magic forever. Until she meets Effie and Attis. They open her eyes to a London she never knew existed. A shop that sells memories. A secret library where the librarian feeds off words. A club where revellers lose themselves in a haze of spells. But as she is swept deeper into this world, Anna begins to wonder if her aunt was right all along. Is her magic a gift … or a curse? carithomas.com

Should We Stay or Should We Go L I ON E L SHR I V E R

Both healthy and vital medical professionals in their early fifties, Kay and her husband, Cyril, have seen too many of their elderly NHS patients in similar states of decay. Determined to die with dignity, Cyril makes a modest proposal: they should agree to commit suicide together once they’ve both turned eighty. When their deal is sealed in 1991, the spouses are blithely looking forward to another three decades together.

But then they turn eighty. Released: 02/06/21 TPB | 288pp AU $32.99 NZ $35.00 Imprint: HarperCollins

Released: 02/06/21 TPB | 576pp AU $29.99 NZ $32.99 Imprint: Harper Voyager

F ICT ION

While Justice Sleeps S TAC E Y ABR AMS An explosive secret.

Released: 02/06/21 TPB | 400pp AU $29.99 NZ $32.99 Imprint: HarperCollins

When legendary Washington judge Justice Wynn falls into a coma and puts his law clerk, Avery, in control, Avery’s world is turned upside down. Because Justice Wynn had a secret. One that nobody wants to come out ... A life in the balance. As Wynn lies in hospital, Avery begins to unravel a sequence of clues, and realises the puzzle will lead her directly into danger. A showdown that will change everything. But how high a price can you put on the truth? And is Avery brave enough to expose the White House itself?

The Killing Kind JAN E CAS E Y

The Clockmaker’s Wife DA I SY WOOD

London, 1940. Britain is gripped by the terror of the Blitz, forcing Nell Spelman to flee the capital with her young daughter – leaving behind her husband, Arthur, the clockmaker who keeps Big Ben chiming. When Arthur disappears, Nell is desperate to find him. But her search will lead her into far darker places than she ever imagined ... New York, present day. When Ellie discovers a beautiful watch that had once belonged to a grandmother she never knew, she becomes determined to find out what happened to her. But as she pieces together the fragments of her grandmother’s life, she begins to wonder if the past is better left forgotten ...

As a barrister, Ingrid Lewis is used to dealing with tricky clients, but no one has ever come close to John Webster. After Ingrid defended Webster against a stalking charge, he then turned on her – following her, ruining her relationship, even destroying her home. Now, Ingrid believes she has finally escaped his clutches. But when one of her colleagues is run down on a busy London road, Ingrid is sure she was the intended victim. And then Webster shows up at her door ... Webster claims Ingrid is in danger – and that only he can protect her. Stalker or saviour? Murderer or protector? The clock is ticking for Ingrid to decide. Because the killer is ready to strike again.

Released: 02/06/21 TPB | 400pp AU $29.99 NZ $32.99 Imprint: Avon

Released: 08/06/21 TPB | 480pp AU $24.99 NZ $27.99 Imprint: HarperCollins

F ICT ION

Digging Up Dirt PAME L A HAR T Renovations are hell. And that’s before you find the body beneath the floorboards. An intriguing mystery from a stylish new voice in crime fiction, for readers of Kerry Greenwood and Holly Throsby. ‘Fast, fun and ferocious in turns’ - Candice Fox

The Vet From Snowy River S T E L L A QU I NN A hot vet. A rebellious teenager. And meddling but well-meaning townsfolk. Vera gets more than she bargains for when she runs off to a new life in the country ... A fresh and funny rural romance, perfect for readers of Alissa Callen and Rachael Johns. ‘The perfect feel-good blend of warmth, wit and small town charm. This debut will leave you smiling.’ Alissa Callen bestselling author of Snowy Mountains Daughter Both Of You AD E L E PARKS Happy. Married. Missing. ‘Ambitious, nail-biting, darkly voyeuristic’ Louise Candlish ‘Chilling, gripping and entirely unputdownable’ Lisa Jewell The Sunday Times Number One bestseller Adele Parks returns with her most provocative, compelling book to date... Released: 02/06/21 TPB | 448pp AU $19.99 NZ $19.99 Imprint: HQ FICTION adeleparks.com

Released: 02/06/21 TPB | 352pp AU $29.99 NZ $32.99 Imprint: HQ FICTION

pamelahart.com

The Thief A L L I SON BUT L E R She needs a home, he needs a bride ... neither wants to fall in love. 1402, the Anglo-Scottish border. Kenzie never wanted an arranged marriage, but to be forced to wed the domineering laird who catches her thieving from his lands is even worse. Feisty, strong-willed and determined to make her own way, she may have no choice but to agree to the marriage, but she will never give up her independence. Lachlan may own her body, but he will never own her heart ... A lush, sexy romance in the spirit of Diana Gabaldon and Darry Fraser.

Released: 02/06/21 TPB | 336pp AU $29.99 NZ $29.99 Imprint: Mira

Released: 02/06/21 TPB | 416pp AU $29.99 NZ $29.99 Imprint: Mira

stellaquinnauthor.com

allison-butler.com

F ICT ION

J UNE 2 021 – NON - F ICT ION House of Kwa M I M I KWA

Acknowledgments B E CK Y LUCAS

There’s no such thing as a perfect life, but there are perfectly hilarious moments. The best stories are often about the lowest points in our lives – the soul-crushing jobs, the bad boyfriends, the terrible holidays, the betrayals and heartbreaks. These are the stories I tell people to make them like me, but, more importantly, they’ve helped me learn how to like myself. So this book is a collection of thankyous and acknowledgments: Thank you to an ex-lover who marvelled at the fact he could get hard with me, even though I wasn’t up to his usual standard. Thank you to the coked-up real estate agent who, while lecturing me and my friend about the importance of travelling, fell down a flight of stairs. Thank you to the woman who approached me after a gig and told me she hoped her daughter wouldn’t end up like me. You’ve all taught me that you can’t control who comes into your life or what happens to you, but you can decide just what it is you take from them.

Mimi Kwa ignored the letter for days. When she finally opened it, the news was so shocking her hair turned grey. Why would a father sue his own daughter? The collision was over the estate of Mimi’s beloved aunt Theresa, but its seed had been sown long ago. In an attempt to understand how it had come to this, Mimi unspools her rich family history in House of Kwa. One of a wealthy silk merchant’s thirty- two children, Mimi’s father, Francis, was just a little boy when the Kwa family became caught up in the brutal and devastating Japanese occupation of Hong Kong during World War II. Years later, he was sent to study in Australia by his now independent and successful older sister Theresa. There he met and married Mimi’s mother, a nineteen-year-old with an undiagnosed, chronic mental illness. Soon after, ‘tiger’ Mimi arrived, and her struggle with the past – and the dragon – began ... Riveting, colourful and often darkly humorous, House of Kwa is an epic family drama spanning four generations, and an unforgettable story about how one woman finds the courage to stand up for her freedom and independence, squaring off against the ghosts of the past and finally putting them to rest. Throughout, her inspiration is the jet- setting, free-spirited Aunt Theresa, whose extraordinary life is a beacon of hope in the darkness.

Released: 02/06/21 NSP | 256pp AU $29.99 NZ $34.99 Imprint: HarperCollins beckylucas.com.au

Released: 16/06/21 TPB | 320pp AU $34.99 NZ $37.99 Imprint: ABC Books

mimitv.com.au

NON - F ICT ION

Rum: A Distilled History of Colonial Australia MAT T MU RPHY

Could the Rum Rebellion have been averted if Major Johnston wasn’t hungover? Would the Eureka Stockade have been different if the rebels weren’t pissed? How were prisoners to get drunk if Macquarie closed the only pub in the gaol? And why should sailors under fourteen be deprived of their sixteen shots of rum per day? These are just some of the questions raised in Matt Murphy’s account of Australia’s colonial history. Brimming with detailed research and irreverent character sketches, Rum looks at not just how much was drunk in colonial Australia (a lot!), but also the lengths people went to get their hands on it, the futile efforts of the early governors to control it, and the often disastrous and/or absurd consequences of its consumption. Those consequences aren’t just in our past. Murphy goes beyond foundation stories to look at the legacy our love affair with alcohol has created, from binge drinking to lockout laws and from prohibition to urinating on the parliamentary carpet. So here’s to Rum , for making bad decisions look like a good idea at the time.

Released: 02/06/21 TPB | 352pp AU $34.99 NZ $37.99 Imprint: HarperCollins

Man Enough J US T I N BA L DON I The effects of traditionally defined

The Collected Works of Jim Morrison J I M MORR I SON Created in collaboration with Jim Morrison’s estate and inspired by a posthumously discovered list entitled ‘Plan for Book’, The Collected Works of Jim Morrison is an almost 600-page anthology of the writings of the late poet and iconic Doors’ front man. This landmark publication is the definitive opus of Morrison’s creative output – and the book he intended to publish. Throughout, a compelling mix of 160 visual components accompanies the text: excerpts from his 28 privately held notebooks – all written in his own hand and published here for the first time – as well as an array of personal images and commentary on the work by Morrison himself.

masculinity have become one of the most prevalent social issues of our time. In this engaging and provocative new book, beloved actor, director and social activist Justin Baldoni reflects on his own struggles with masculinity. With insight and honesty, he explores a range of difficult, sometimes uncomfortable topics including strength and vulnerability, relationships and marriage, body image, sex and sexuality, racial justice, gender equality and fatherhood. Encouraging men to dig deep within themselves, Justin helps us reimagine what it means to be man enough and in the process what it means to be human. Released: 02/06/21 TPB | 368pp

Released: 02/06/21 NSH | 584pp AU $69.99 NZ $75.00 Imprint: HarperCollins

AU $34.99 NZ $39.99 Imprint: HarperCollins

NON - F ICT ION

The Queer Bible E D . JACK GU I N E S S

THE QUEER BIBLE is a collection of essays written by queer icons, about the queer trailblazers throughout history who inspired them. From Elton John on Divine to Graham Norton on Armistead Maupin; Russell Tovey on David Robilliard to Lady Phyll on Maud Goba; Tan France on the Queer Eye cast to Mae Martin on Tim Curry, today’s queer heroes write about the icons that provided a creative inspiration to them. Based on the popular website QueerBible.com, this timely collection, edited by him, continues his mission – to create a space dedicated to the celebration of queer history.

Released: 10/06/21 CHB | 336pp AU $39.99 NZ $39.99 Imprint: HQ NON-FICTION

queerbible.com

J UNE 2 021 – CHI LDREN’ S & YA The City of Zirdai MAR I A V SNYD E R

With her indomitable style, New York Times bestselling author Maria V. Snyder returns with an electric new fantasy series that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Through her courage and tenacity, Shyla Sun-Kissed has awoken the power of The Eyes of Tamburah. But this feat only marks the beginning of the challenges that the magical order, the Invisible Sword, faces to free the underground city of Zirdai. When both the draconian Water Prince and brutal Heliacal Priestess learn of Shyla’s new powers, life becomes even more complicated as they will stop at nothing to capture Shyla and take the magic of The Eyes for themselves. Hunted at every turn and unable to hide, Shyla and the Invisible Sword must use every resource at their command - and unearth new ones - in their race to save the city from destruction. But their enemies always seem to be one step ahead. And the cost to win the battle may be more than Shyla would ever be willing to pay... ‘Combines the sassiness and adventure of Tomb Raider, the twisted darkness of Blade Runner, and the secrets and mythology of Prince of Persia.’ Bronwyn Eley, Booktopia

Catch up on the first book in the series; The Eyes Of Tamburah

Released: 02/06/21 BPB | 512pp | Ages 14+ AU $19.99 NZ $19.99 Imprint: HQ Young Adult mariavsnyder.com

CH I LDR EN ’ S & YA

What If, Pig? L I NZ I E HUNT E R

100 Remarkable Feats of Xander Maze C L AY TON Z AN E COMB E R

Join Pig as he learns how to turn his “what if” worries from anxiety to optimism, all with the help of his loving friend Mouse. Mouse has never had a friend quite like Pig. Pig is so incredibly kind, endlessly thoughtful and fabulously fun, but he also has a big secret: he’s a tremendous worrier! When Pig gets the brilliant idea to throw a party for Mouse and their friends, he can’t help but think of everything that could possibly go wrong. After all, what if a lion eats all the invitations? What if nobody comes? Or worse, what if everyone comes and has an awful time? This picture book is a great conversation starter in the home or classroom and a great way to talk to your children about worries or anxieties. Perfect for boys, girls, families and anyone who has ever had a worry or a wobble!

Xander Maze loves lists, and his grandmother is #1 on his list of People I Love Most in the World. But now that Nanna has stage 4 cancer, can a new list of 100 Remarkable Feats really save her? Particularly when his list contains difficult things like #2 Make a Friend and #3 Make a Best Friend – plus #10 Kiss a Girl (preferably Ally Collins, the girl of Xander’s dreams). Funny, moving and with a protagonist you can’t help but fall in love with, 100 Remarkable Feats of Xander Maze is a book about: 1. Never accepting the unacceptable 2. The power of lists 3. One boy’s unconditional love for his nanna

Released: 02/06/2021 HB | 40pp | Ages 3+ AU $19.99 NZ $25.00 Imprint: HarperCollins

Released: 02/06/21 PB | 304pp | Ages 14+ AU $19.99 NZ $22.99 Imprint: Angus & Robertson

linziehunter.co.uk

Starfell: Willow Moss and the Vanished Kingdom DOM I N I QU E VA L E NT E ( I L L . SAR AH WARBU R TON ) The third book in the magical Starfell series, starring

Released: 02/06/2021 PB | 288pp | Ages 8+ AU $16.99 NZ $19.99 Imprint: HarperCollins

misfit witch Willow Moss. For the very first time, magical children like Willow are allowed to go to school alongside their non-magical neighbours. But Willow is suspicious. She knows the Brothers of Wol are up to no good, so why are they changing the rules all of a sudden? On her first day, Willow meets an elf girl named Twist, and soon they are embarking on Willow’s most urgent mission yet: to protect the children of Starfell, uncover the mystery of a long-lost kingdom – and prevent the very source of magic from getting into the wrong hands.

dominiquevalente.com

sarahwarburtonillustrations.co.uk

CH I LDR EN ’ S & YA

An Emotion of Great Delight TAH E R E H MA F I

From bestselling author of the Shatter Me series and the National Book Award- nominated A Very Large Expanse of Sea , Tahereh Mafi, comes a stunning novel about love and loneliness, navigating dual-identity as a Muslim teenager in America, and reclaiming your right to joy. It’s 2003. It’s been several months since the US officially declared war on Iraq, and the political world has evolved. Shadi, who wears hijab (a visible allegiance to Islam) keeps her head down. Hate crimes are spiking. Undercover FBI agents are infiltrating mosques and interrogating members of the congregation, and the local Muslim community is beginning to fracture. Shadi hears the fights after services, the arguments between families about what it means to be Muslim, about what they should be doing and saying as a community but she does not engage. She’s too busy drowning in her own troubles to find the time to deal with bigots. Shadi is named for joy, but she’s haunted by sorrow. Her brother is dead, her father is dying, her mother is falling apart, and her best friend has mysteriously dropped out of her life. And then, of course, there’s the small matter of her heart. It’s broken. Shadi has tried to navigate the remains of her quickly-shattering world by soldiering through, saying nothing, until finally, one day, everything changes. She explodes. Perfect for fans of the Shatter Me series as well as Angie Thomas’s The Hate U Give and Nicola Yoon’s The Sun is Also A Star .

Released: 02/06/21 PB | 256pp | Ages 12+ AU $19.99 NZ $22.99 Imprint: Farshore taherehmafi.com

CH I LDR EN ’ S & YA