Firefinch is delighted to announce the acquisition of I Am You, by US poet and novelist Victoria Redel. I Am You is a meditation on gender, an ode to artistic creation, and an unforgettable love story that reimagines the life of renowned still life painter Maria van Oosterwijck during the Dutch Golden Age, and her relationship with Gerta, her maid who became her apprentice.

Victoria Redel has written four books of poetry, most recently Paradise; her last novel, Before Everything, was published in 2017. Her short stories, poetry and essays have appeared in Granta, the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, Bomb, One Story, Salmagundi, O, and NOON among many others. She has received fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, The National Endowment for the Arts and the Fine Arts Work

Center. She is a professor in the graduate and undergraduate creative writing programs at Sarah Lawrence College and lives in New York City.

Margaret Stead, Executive Director of Firefinch, who acquired UK & Commonwealth rights from Anna Webber at AM Heath on behalf of Bill Clegg at The Clegg Agency said: ‘I Am You explores in exquisite detail the Dutch Golden Age and the life and love of painter Maria van Oosterwijck. It offers a timeless view of womanhood, gender, love and the mysterious brilliance of the creative mind. I Am You is one of the most vivid and exciting novels I’ve read in a very long time: a perfect gem to launch our Firefinch list.’

Victoria Redel said ‘I am honored to have I Am You find a home with Firefinch. It is thrilling to be part of an exciting new publishing venture as it bursts into the world.’

Translation Rights are held by The Clegg Agency.

I Am You will be published by Zando Projects, on Sarah Jessica Parker’s SJP Lit imprint, on 30 September 2025. Firefinch will publish in e-book on 30 September 2025 and in Hardback in February 2026 as their launch title.

Advance praise for I Am You

‘A stunning accomplishment.’ Michael Cunningham, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Day and The Hours

‘This lush, sexy, absorbing novel…brings to life two artists who are inextricably linked in passion and competition’ Melissa Febos, bestselling author of Girlhood

‘A beautiful tale of extraordinary women making their own way in ordinary times.’ Book Riot

LIVE. READ. RESIST.

“This novel is as brilliant as it is important. It reminds us all that books can save the world.” ELLE

Kate Parkin, MD of Firefinch, has acquired UK and Commonwealth English language rights in The Bookshop of Forbidden Books by Marc Levy. The deal was brokered by Susanna Lea, of Susanna Lea Associates. Firefinch is planning to publish in November 2026 and promises a trade-wide marketing and PR campaign to highlight the power of words and the importance of freedom of speech.

Already a bestseller in France, with over 280,000 copies sold, The Bookshop of Forbidden Books is a brilliant and thought-provoking comedy, a love story, and a tribute to the transformative power of literature. Set in Paris in a dystopian near future, it tells the story of Mitch, a passionate bookseller, imprisoned for five years for selling banned books. Mitch just wants to go back to his bookshop, but on the day of his release, he not only crosses paths with the man who put him behind bars, but meets Anna, who could well be the love of his life…Brimming with charm, tenderness and humanity, but underpinned by a determination to celebrate and defend literature wherever it is under threat, The Bookshop of Forbidden Books will capture the hearts of book lovers everywhere.

Marc Levy is the author of 26 books, which have been translated into over 50 languages and sold over 50 million copies worldwide. During the 2020 lockdown, Amazon reported that the two most-read French authors in the U.S. were Albert Camus and Marc Levy.

Marc Levy says: ‘When I was young books played a pivotal role in my education. They opened my mind, taught me to appreciate our differences rather than fear them, helped me understand other cultures and develop compassion. Reading has been the cornerstone of my life. I now live in a country where tens of thousands of books have been banned, where the shelves of public and school libraries grow increasingly bare. The Bookshops of Forbidden Books was born out of a lifelong love of bookshops and a deep admiration for generations of booksellers—those who have shaped our tastes and defied restrictive laws to offer readers access to great writers. Publishers, too, can be bold. I’m thrilled to be part of the Firefinch launch list. To join a new publisher at the very start of its journey is a true joy.’

Kate Parkin said: ‘I defy any book lover not to fall in love with this novel. Marc Levy’s passion for books and the power of words leaps off the page. At a time when many authors and booksellers live under the threat of censorship, The Bookshop of Forbidden Books is a reminder of what we all stand to lose in a world in which others seek to control what we read. We are very proud to publish this charming and powerful book on our launch list in 2026 and look forward to joining with friends and colleagues across the trade in a campaign to highlight the issue of banned books.’

French rights: Robert Laffont
Translation rights: Susanna Lea Associates
US rights: HarperCollins

Firefinch is delighted to announce the acquisition of Jonathan Black’s much anticipated new book, The Secret History of the Universe. Black, author of the international bestseller The Secret History of the World, has written a character-driven history of mysticism and its influence on modern science, from nuclear physics to the latest AI. It shows how scientists have walked a line between genius, madness and ancient mystical ideas to create a picture of the universe which is deeply mysterious and unexpectedly spiritual.

Black has been acclaimed by Rick Rubin, legendary record producer and bestselling author of The Creative Act, who says: ‘mythology and ancient esoteric beliefs are finally found in cutting edge science’, and by Professor Jordan Giddings who calls this book ‘The Dancing Wu-Li Masters of the 21st Century’.

Kate Parkin, MD of Firefinch, who acquired UK and Commonwealth rights from Jonny Geller at Curtis Brown, said: ‘This is pure intellectual entertainment, full of dark drama, humorous anecdote and wild ideas. In it, we embark on an exhilarating journey in the company of some of the greatest minds of our age towards a deeper understanding of our place in the cosmos. We are hugely proud to be bringing The Secret History of the Universe to the audience it deserves and thank Jonathan Black and Jonny Geller for their trust in our new publishing venture.’

Jonathan Black said: ‘This book is the result of many years of research, and deep conversations with prominent academics in the field. I’m thrilled it will be published by Firefinch. Kate is as energetic, focused and commercially astute as anyone I have met in publishing.’

Jonny Geller said: ‘It is always exciting to see new publishers come on the scene, and I was delighted to receive a call from Kate, an editor and publisher whom I’ve worked with and admired for many years. Jonathan Black’s remarkable new book is in great hands.’

The Secret History of the Universe will be published in June 2026.

US and translation rights are held by Curtis Brown.