Journalist Rachel English secures two-book deal with Orion Fiction

RTÉ presenter Rachael English has secured a publisher for her first novel.

The Morning Ireland broadcaster signed a two-book deal with Orion Publishing Group, the value of which the company refused to disclose, with the first novel, ‘Going Back’, to be published in June and the second novel to come in the summer of 2014.

“Writing ‘Going Back’was a brilliant experience and I’m still pinching myself that it’s going to be published by Orion,” Ms English said last night. In fact, in telling people my news, I’ve had to start by saying, ‘I swear I’m not making this up.’”

Orion Fiction acquired the Irish, UK and Commonwealth rights for the two novels by Ms English from Robert Kirby, United Agents. ‘Going Back’ follows Elizabeth Kelly and her friends – young economic migrants from Dublin – as they escape for a summer in Boston in 1988.

Twenty years later, as opportunities are scarce once again, the next generation is forced to follow in the footsteps of their parents and seek out greener pastures in the American city.

Orion Fiction senior editor Eleanor Dryden said the group was “delighted” to secure the deal with the award-winning Irish journalist. “We knew immediately that we had to snap it up.”