A STALYBRIDGE woman has seen her debut novel picked up by one of the world’s biggest publishers.
Alice Murphy-Pyle works as head of marketing and publicity at HarperNorth and is co-director of Love Stories Etc literary festival.
But after turning her talents to creating titles, she has seen her work picked up by Bloomsbury.
Now One Hundred Minutes More will get a full release in June 2027.
The book tells the story of Esther, whose brother Brendan begins to appear to her shortly after his death in a cycling accident in London’s Vauxhall.
When she wakes one night after Brendan’s death to find him sitting on the end of her bed, he tells her he will have 100 minutes more to spend with her over the course of her lifetime, because there were things Brendan did not tell her when he was alive.
When he returns home to Manchester for Brendan’s funeral, she rekindles old relationships, turns up old secrets and must find out how to flourish in a future she never foresaw, sharing a house with her parents, who have ghosts of their own to hide.
Bloomsbury Publishing’s editorial director Caroline Hogg bought UK and Commonwealth rights, including audio, from Cathryn Summerhayes at Curtis Brown.
News of the book was shared at this year’s Love Stories Etc literary festival, which took in Manchester for the third year.
And Alice said: ‘It has been so exciting to work with the brilliant Bloomsbury team.
“I fell in love with books as a little girl and was lucky enough to have been told lots of stories while I was growing up.
“In One Hundred Minutes More, I wanted to explore what might be said if someone could be granted precious extra minutes with the person they love most.
“It’s a story of siblings, love, and life following loss, set between Manchester, London and an afterlife.
“Cathryn has championed my novel with her signature verve and drive and found it such a brilliant home!”
Caroline Hogg added: ‘I read the first half of Alice’s novel in one obsessed sitting – within a few chapters I was both crying and holding my breath to see what would happen next.
“She creates so much emotional impact but with an incredible lightness of touch.
“I could not be more excited to push a copy of this book onto everyone in the publishing world.
“If they’re not already a huge fan of Alice through her work at HarperNorth, they very soon will be through this novel.’
Cathryn Summerhayes commented: “Can I say, Alice is one of the most brilliant marketers in publishing – and now, one of the most brilliant authors.
“She is collaborative, creative and the best possible advocate for her amazing debut novel.
“I am thrilled she has found such an enthusiastic home with Bloomsbury.”