Book - Honeycomb

Gollancz is to publish Joanne Harris’ illustrated #storytime fairy tales...

Gollancz is delighted to have acquired world rights to publish a collection of dark, captivating fairy tales from Whitbread-shortlisted author, Joanne Harris. The multi-million-copy bestselling writer habitually delights her 25, 000 followers on Twitter with serialised short stories shared with the hashtag #storytime. Honeycomb is the first beautifully illustrated volume of Joanne Harris’ captivating and brilliantly imaginative #storytime tales.  Orion Deputy Group Director, Jon Wood, bought the rights from Peter Robinson of Rogers, Coleridge & White Literary Agency.

Joanne Harris wrote “I started writing my #storytime tales four years ago, live on Twitter, as an exercise in different storytelling narratives. Since then, some of them have become songs, a stage show - even a couple of mini-operas - and now I'm delighted to be able to collaborate with Charles Vess - an artist I've admired for years - to make them into a book; an illustrated collection of new fairy stories with a dark, traditional feel - for people of all ages.”

Jon Wood, the Orion Group Director, said, “I’m incredibly excited about this beautiful new project. The combination of Joanne’s rich fantasy storytelling with Charles Vess’s haunting imagery will make this one of the highlights of 2017 in all genres.”

Joanne Harris’ first adult epic fantasy novel The Gospel of Loki was published by Gollancz in February 2014. It was exceptionally well received and sold over 25,000 copies. The bestselling author of fifteen novels has already published two successful collections of short fiction, Jigs and Reels and A Cat, A Hat And A Piece Of String, and is a great advocate for the power of the short story.

Honeycomb will be beautifully illustrated throughout, with line drawings and full-colour plate sections by Charles Vess, the award-winning artist who illustrated Stardust by Neil Gaiman and The Ladies of Grace Adieu by Suzanne Clarke.

Charles Vess added, "I've been reading Joanne's work since the publication of Chocolat and Blackberry Wine I'm more than excited by the opportunity this project gives me to transform her words into pen and ink marks and washes of colour onto the printed page."

Honeycomb will be published in hardback and e-book on the 21st September 2017.

Image - Gollancz