SIMON & SCHUSTER AUSTRALIA SIGNS JODI MCALISTER FOR TWO NOVELS

Simon & Schuster Australia has acquired UK & Commonwealth rights to two adult novels by Jodi McAlister, YA author of the Valentine series.

Here for the Right Reasons and Can I Steal You for a Second? are two adorable romantic comedies set on the same season of a reality dating show being filmed during a pandemic. A fun take on shows such as the hugely popular The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, these novels examine how the unlikeliest of loves can bloom in – well, the most likely of places. 

Jodi McAlister has had a passion for the genre of romance for a very long time and made it the centre of her academic career and research. She is currently a lecturer in Writing and Literature at Deakin University in Melbourne where her work focuses on the history of love, sex, women and girls, popular culture and fiction. 

Jodi said: ‘I'm an avid reader of romance novels and an avid watcher of reality TV. In my (other) professional life as an academic, I study them both as well, so writing a rom-com set on reality TV is something I'm honestly amazed I haven't done before now: it's the perfect blend of a lot of my interests. Up until this point, my fiction has been primarily for young adults, and while I really love writing for that market, I'm excited to take my first foray into writing for adults with Here for the Right Reasons.’

Simon & Schuster Commercial Fiction Publisher Cassandra Di Bello said: ‘I couldn’t be more excited to be welcoming Jodi to the S&S family. I instantly fell in love with Here for the Right Reasons and its endearing cast of characters. Sweet, romantic and so much fun, these novels are the perfect tonic for what we’ve all been going through these past eighteen months.’

Alex Adsett from Alex Adsett Literary said: ‘I’m so pleased to have played matchmaker between Jodi’s brilliant new series and Cass’s dynamic new list of commercial fiction. Jodi’s writing is smart and fun, and I can’t wait to see it out in the world.’

The first novel will be published in 2022. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Anna O’Grady
E: anna.ogrady @simonandschuster.com.au