NZ author 'thrilled' over UK publisher bidding war | RNZ News

Catherine Chidgey's dystopian ninth novel The Book of Guilt is a "sinisterly skewed version" of the UK in 1979. The story follows 13-year-old triplets Vincent, Lawrence and William, who are the last remaining residents of a home that's part of the government's 'Sycamore Scheme'.

The best-selling, award-winning author has been with her New Zealand publisher Te Herenga Waka University Press since her first novel came in in 1998, she told RNZ's Nights. While her books have been published by a variety of UK houses too, her London agent sent The Book of Guilt to a select list of editors, Chidgey said.

Multiple offers subsequently came in so her agent accepted one as a "floor offer".