Acquisition Announcement: Desert Echoes, a propulsive YA novel from Stonewall Honor-winning author Abdi Nazemian.

Posted in Acquisition Announcement, News on Thu, 28 March at 12.41 pm

Little Tiger has acquired Desert Echoes, a propulsive YA novel from Stonewall Honor-winning author Abdi Nazemian.

Mattie Whitehead, Senior Commissioning Editor at Little Tiger, acquired UK & Commonwealth rights from Charlotte Bodman at Rights People,Β on behalf ofΒ John Cusick and Chiara Panzeri at Folio Literary Management, for publication on 29th September 2024

Fifteen-year-old Kam is head over heels for Ash, the boy who swept him off his feet. But his family and best friend, Bodie, are worried. They struggle to understand Ash. He also has a habit of disappearing, at times for days. When Ash asks Kam to join him on a trip to Joshua Tree, the two of them walk off into the sunset … but only Kam returns.

Two years later, Kam is still left with a hole in his heart and too many unanswered questions. So it feels like fate when a school trip takes him back to Joshua Tree. On the trip, Kam wants to find closure about what happened to Ash, but instead finds himself in danger of facing a similar fate. In the desert, Kam must reckon with the truth of his past relationship – and the possibility of opening himself up to love once again.

Desert Echoes is a moving story about human resilience and connection from the author of Only This Beautiful Moment. Perfect for fans ofΒ Last Night at the Telegraph Club, The Great Godden andΒ If You Still Recognise Me.

Mattie Whitehead, Senior Commissioning Editor said:

We were so proud to publish Only This Beautiful Moment in the UK last year, and with Desert Echoes I was similarly drawn into the story. Abdi writes so perfectly for YA readers – combining the everyday lives of teenagers with really important themes in such a natural and nuanced way. With thoughtful characters, intrigue and heart, readers will be gripped by Kam, Ash and Bodie’s story.

Abdi Nazemian said:

Desert Echoes is a deeply personal novel that explores the mystery and power of one of my favorite places, Joshua Tree. It’s an honor that Mattie and the Little Tiger team are bringing the book to one of my other favorite places, the UK. I hope readers in the UK and Commonwealth connect with this story about lost love, found love, and the healing that awaits us when we take the time to listen.Β Β 

Little Tiger will publish Desert Echoes in September 2024.

Abdi NazemianΒ is the author of Only This Beautiful Moment (a Stonewall Award Winner), Like a Love Story (a Stonewall Honor book), The Chandler Legacies andΒ The Authentics. His novelΒ The Walk-In ClosetΒ won the Lambda Literary Award for LGBT Debut Fiction. His screenwriting credits include the filmsΒ The Artist’s Wife and The Quiet, and the television seriesΒ The VillageΒ andΒ Ordinary Joe.Β He has been an executive producer and associate producer on numerous films, includingΒ Call Me by Your Name, Little Woods,Β andΒ The House of Tomorrow.Β He lives in Los Angeles with his husband, their two children, and their dog, Disco. Find him online atΒ www.abdinazemian.com

Author social media handles: Instagram: @abdaddy and Twitter/X: @abdaddy