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Francesca Main

@francescamain.bsky.social
6K followers 408 following 48 posts

Reader, editor, publisher of Phoenix, an imprint of Orion.

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Reposted by Francesca Main
Karolina Sutton @karolinasutton.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
A great Nibbies evening celebrating The Names with Florence’s editor, the best of the best, Francesca Main. @francescamain.bsky.social
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Laura Pearson @laurapauthor.bsky.social · 06/05/2025
Happy publication day to #TheNames by Florence Knapp, which is such a special debut and definitely one of my books of the year. I’m a sucker for a high-concept premise, and this is a great one. Three versions of the same life, in which the protagonist has three different names.
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Francesca Main @francescamain.bsky.social · 01/05/2025
Thrilled that @florenceknapp.bsky.social’s The Names has been selected as the Read With Jenna book club pick for May www.today.com/popculture/b...
today.com
Jenna Bush Hager calls her May 2025 Read With Jenna pick a 'classic'
"The Names" explores how a young boy's life drastically differs just based on his name.
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Laura Pearson @laurapauthor.bsky.social · 18/04/2025
Well, this was incredible. More thoughts to follow. @francescamain.bsky.social #TheNames
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Laura Pearson @laurapauthor.bsky.social · 03/04/2025
I loved the moving and tragic #AboutaSon and I’m delighted to have a proof of David Whitehouse’s next book, #SaltwaterMansions. Thanks to @francescamain.bsky.social and Phoenix Books. Out in June.
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Francesca Main @francescamain.bsky.social · 29/03/2025
This gem is 99p again for a few more days and I couldn’t recommend it more
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Benjamin Myers @benjaminmyers76.bsky.social · 28/03/2025
I'm very much enjoying this from @dwhitehouse.bsky.social
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Janice Hallett @janicehallett.bsky.social · 20/03/2025
Phew! 🍇 A fabulous night of books, cake and celebrations at @goldsborobooks.bsky.social for the launch of @katekemp.bsky.social’s amazing debut #TheGrapevine 🤩 What a story! What a night! Thanks @nelleandrew.bsky.social and @francescamain.bsky.social 🙏 Out now!
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Francesca Main @francescamain.bsky.social · 17/03/2025
I’ve been an avid reader of Louise Doughty’s novels for years and am honoured and excited to be publishing her memoir at Phoenix. Heartbreaking, eye-opening and uplifting, it’s about grief and loss and family but above all it’s a love story. www.thebookseller.com/rights/phoen...
thebookseller.com
Phoenix to publish a 'heartbreaking and revelatory' memoir from Louise Doughty
Phoenix is set to publish a "heartbreaking and revelatory" memoir from Louise Doughty, as she pieces together the origins of her parents’ relationship from a hidden collection of letters.
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Francesca Main @francescamain.bsky.social · 02/03/2025
The Wedding People is in the Kindle Monthly Deal this month and quickly rising up the Top 100. If you’re looking for an irresistibly entertaining book with real emotional substance, I can’t recommend it more
A screenshot of Alison Espach’s The Wedding People on sale for 99p and at number 8 in the Kindle Top 100
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Francesca Main @francescamain.bsky.social · 24/02/2025
Delighted and proud that both @emilyhowes.bsky.social and @newlands.bsky.social have made the longlist for the Authors Club Best First Novel Award www.authorsclub.co.uk/tag/best-fir...
authorsclub.co.uk
Tag: Best First Novel Award | The Authors' Club Since 1891
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Alison Hennessey @alisonhennessey.bsky.social · 03/02/2025
SO excited to read this as have heard just so many good things. And also because I am very shallow and just love that colour palette so much.
A bound proof copy of The Names by Florence Knapp, which is being published by Phoenix Books in May.
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Francesca Main @francescamain.bsky.social · 03/02/2025
I’m so proud to be publishing this extraordinary new book. It’s like nothing I’ve read before. I can’t wait for readers to fall down the rabbit hole and meet the residents of Saltwater Mansions www.thebookseller.com/rights/phoen...
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Laura Pearson @laurapauthor.bsky.social · 10/01/2025
#OrdinaryTime by @catrentz.bsky.social is a quiet masterpiece with shades of Bridges of Madison County. Ann is in a pretty loveless marriage to a vicar when she meets Jamie and her whole world changes. It’s so understated but I was absolutely hooked. @francescamain.bsky.social
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Francesca Main @francescamain.bsky.social · 29/12/2024
An amazing piece in The Times today on the power of great fiction and ‘the best debut novel I’ve read in years’ — The Names by @florenceknapp.bsky.social
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Francesca Main @francescamain.bsky.social · 29/12/2024
For the last few years, the latest @janicehallett.bsky.social novel has been the highlight of my Christmas reading and The Examiner is her best yet. So funny and entertaining, ingeniously plotted, surprising at every turn, full of big ideas and warm-hearted despite the darkness. Loved it.
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Laura Pearson @laurapauthor.bsky.social · 23/12/2024
Well, this is bloody good, isn’t it? #OrdinaryTime @francescamain.bsky.social
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Francesca Main @francescamain.bsky.social · 21/12/2024
When you’ve left your Christmas shopping to the last minute
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Francesca Main @francescamain.bsky.social · 20/12/2024
Still can’t believe I got to see this. Last night was magical.
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Rebecca Makkai @rebeccamakkai.bsky.social · 16/12/2024
Plus I hope this will just be interesting for readers, too. Please join me! rebeccamakkai.substack.com/p/blurb-no-m...
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Sarah Franklin @sarahefranklin.bsky.social · 16/12/2024
Glorious holiday reading c/o @orionbooks.bsky.social - thank you, @francescamain.bsky.social ! Have heard brilliant things about both & can't wait to get started.
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Francesca Main @francescamain.bsky.social · 10/12/2024
Congratulations @newlands.bsky.social! So proud to see Only Here, Only Now on the Gordon Burn Prize longlist in such exhilarating company
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Helen Cullen @wordsofhelen.bsky.social · 10/12/2024
Some beautiful proofs for some fabulous sounding books coming from Phoenix Books next year - thank you so much @francescamain.bsky.social 📚📚
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Laura Pearson @laurapauthor.bsky.social · 10/12/2024
As someone who’s lost both breasts to cancer and cancer prevention, I think #Breasts is going to be a tough but hopefully cathartic read. Huge thanks to @francescamain.bsky.social and Phoenix Books. Out in April.
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Francesca Main @francescamain.bsky.social · 06/12/2024
Congratulations to Alison Espach and The Wedding People! I have loved sharing the UK edition of this brilliant, hilarious and surprising book with readers this year
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Francesca Main @francescamain.bsky.social · 06/12/2024
Out dropping signed copies of Kate Murray-Browne’s One Girl Began in east London cafes today — hope the lucky readers who find them enjoy this immersive story and slice of local history
Author Kate Murray-Browne signing copies of her novel One Girl Began at a cafe tableA copy of a yellow hardback book on a cafe table next to a red vase of festive greenery A copy of One Girl Began with a personal handwritten note from the author to the reader A photo of a yellow book held next to a blackboard outside a cafe. The blackboard has ‘Better Things Are Coming!’ written on it with a drawing of a flower
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Francesca Main @francescamain.bsky.social · 06/12/2024
Loved this funny, insightful, generous chat between @clotimms.bsky.social and @newlands.bsky.social (even when Tom talked about the pain of editing his novel) — highly recommended along with Chloe’s podcast as a whole open.spotify.com/episode/0u1i...
open.spotify.com
Episode 3.48 Tom Newlands - Only Here, Only Now
Confessions of a Debut Novelist · Episode
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Neil Renic @ncrenic.bsky.social · 04/12/2024
Two stages of writing: 1) This shouldn't take too long 2) Oh no
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Francesca Main @francescamain.bsky.social · 04/12/2024
Distressed to discover there is no left-handed writing emoji ✍️
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Sarra Manning @sarramanning.bsky.social · 29/11/2024
My favourite books of 2024 for Red Magazine. www.redonline.co.uk/entertainmen...
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Francesca Main @francescamain.bsky.social · 03/12/2024
‘Books as fun as this one are few and far between… unexpected and delightful, funny but never cruel, loving and tender… pure enjoyment, and an excellent gift for almost anyone’ Thank you @jennycolgan.bsky.social for this dream review of The Wedding People! www.theguardian.com/books/2024/d...
theguardian.com
Five of the best romance books of 2024
Wedding mayhem, a story of lifelong love and fake‑relationship comedy are among the highlights
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Francesca Main @francescamain.bsky.social · 29/11/2024
Popular fiction Book of the Year in The Times! If you haven’t read Alison Espach’s The Wedding People yet, you have a treat in store
A review of The Wedding People by Alison Espach in The Times. ‘Will appeal to fans of Monica Heisey… scythingly funny’
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Chloe Timms @clotimms.bsky.social · 28/11/2024
Today I’m talking to Tom Newlands about his contemporary novel Only Here, Only Now, why he wanted to write about neurodivergence and poverty, and why ignoring all advice was the only way he got it written! 🎧 bit.ly/COADNtomnew
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Francesca Main @francescamain.bsky.social · 23/11/2024
Bit of a spoiler on this Great Gatsby gift edition
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John Self @john-self.bsky.social · 30/05/2024
Which Booker novel was rejected because some people at the publishing house didn't like the characters? What winner chose his publisher "I had not many other options, frankly"? I had great fun writing this piece about rejected Booker books: thebookerprizes.com/the-booker-l...
thebookerprizes.com
The Booker Prize-nominated books that were rejected by publishers | The Booker Prizes
John Self explores some of the most famous titles that were initially turned down by publishers, and speaks to editors, authors and agents about why those books struggled to secure a deal
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Sarah Brooks @sarahbrooks.bsky.social · 21/11/2024
I absolutely loved The Grapevine, by @katekemp.bsky.social - brilliantly gripping and atmospheric, with such great characters - secrets, lies, and all. (Also, an excellent cat). Out in March 2025 from Phoenix Books. Thank you so much to @francescamain.bsky.social for the proof!
A tabby and white cat posing with a proof copy of Kate Kemp's novel The Grapevine
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Francesca Main @francescamain.bsky.social · 20/11/2024
Had a lovely time at the Historical Writers Awards where @emilyhowes.bsky.social was shortlisted for the debut crown, as evidenced by this very wonky photo
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Francesca Main @francescamain.bsky.social · 20/11/2024
Thank you to everyone who made last night’s @orionbooks.bsky.social showcase so special and cheered on our authors — especially my two brilliant debut stars for next year @florenceknapp.bsky.social and @katekemp.bsky.social who spoke beautifully about their novels The Names and The Grapevine
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The Orion Publishing Group @orionbooks.bsky.social · 18/11/2024
Lovely to see lots of familiar faces over here 👋 For those of you who don't know us, we're Orion, home to some of the very best publishing including our friends @whiterabbitbks.bsky.social and @wnbooks.bsky.social 📖
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Jean Hannah Edelstein @jhe.bsky.social · 18/11/2024
Wrote about our failure open.substack.com/pub/jhethrea...
open.substack.com
That's what I have to say about this election
I can’t stop thinking about this essay in the New York Times by a high school student, writing of her grief, and the grief of her girl friends, the morning after the election:
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Anna Mazzola @annamazz.bsky.social · 11/09/2024
I hope your writing week is working out better than Wittgenstein’s.
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Francesca Main @francescamain.bsky.social · 18/11/2024
BBC Short Story Award winner Naomi Wood is running a FREE online short story masterclass this Wednesday! Link and details here: www.eventbrite.com/e/short-stor...
eventbrite.com
Short Story Masterclass with Naomi Wood
How to Nail Short Story Structure
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Michelle Pilkington @michellepilkington.bsky.social · 17/11/2024
Book 53 @katekemp.bsky.social #thegrapevine Fans of @joannacannon #goatsandsheep will adore this novel set in 1979, Australia. As 12yo Tammy sets out to investigate neighbour Antonio's death, secrets bubble to the surface, exposing more mysteries to solve. Out March '25. Pre-order now!
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DannyVE @dannyve.bsky.social · 16/11/2024
I spent ages reading #TheGrapevine, a devastating debut novel by #KateKemp bc rationing began early! Extraordinarily paced from its shattering opening through a slow burn revelation of what lies hidden in a community entrenched in prejudice, it’s positively incendiary. Out Mar 25
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Kate Barker @katebarker.bsky.social · 16/11/2024
Absolutely loved The Wedding People by Alison Espach. The start comes with some trigger warnings but it’s a funny, clever, gorgeous romantic (tragi-)comedy that’s completely absorbing and so insightful on relationships of all kinds. Might be my favourite book of the year so far.
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Francesca Main @francescamain.bsky.social · 15/11/2024
@katekemp.bsky.social your photo! 😍
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Lee Randall @leerandall.bsky.social · 15/11/2024
Currently reading. With thanks to @francescamain.bsky.social for the proof (and postcard for my collection)!
Open face down pb proof and postcard promo for The Grapevine by Kate Kemp
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