Swimmers

Longlisted for the Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction at the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards 2021
The outcast in a family of former competitive swimmers must prepare for the end of her mother's life in this sharp, sparkling debut from a bold New Zealand talent.
'Tackles the subject of assisted dying with wit and pathos' The Independent
'Darkly funny, desperately sad, brilliantly written. I absolutely loved it' Claire Fuller, author of Unsettled Ground

When an affair ends badly and takes her career down with it, 26-year-old Erin leaves Auckland to spend the holiday weekend with her aunt, uncle, and terminally ill mother at their suburban family home. On arrival she learns that her mother has decided to take matters into her own hands and end her life - the following Tuesday.
Tasked with fulfilling her mother's final wishes, Erin can only do her imperfect best to navigate difficult feelings, an eccentric neighbourhood, and her complicated family of former competitive swimmers. She must summon the strength she would normally find in the water as she prepares for the loss of the fiery, independent woman who raised her alone, and one last swim together in the cold New Zealand Sea.

About the author

Chloe Lane was a 2021 Grimshaw Sargeson Fellow and is founding editor of Hue+Cry Press. The Swimmers is her first novel and was written in Florida where Lane did her MFA. She now lives in Christchurch, New Zealand with her husband and young son.

Summary

Longlisted for the Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction at the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards 2021 The black sheep in a family of former competitive swimmers must prepare for the end of her mother's life in this sharp, sparkling debut from a bold New Zealand talent.

Foreword

• Galleys available for booksellers, press, media and influencers – both digital and physical.


• Broad campaign for coverage in newspapers and magazines in the UK and USA such as The Guardian and Washington Post.


• Targeted campaign for coverage in relevant publications and online outlets: Breathe Magazine, Calm Magazine, InStyle, Womankind, NB Magazine, Bookanista and Strong Words Magazine.


• Targeted promotion in Florida where Chloe Lane wrote The Swimmers while completing an MFA. She is supported by authors David Leavitt and Jill Ciment who both live in Florida.


• Entry into relevant awards including Women’s Prize for Fiction, Comedy Women in Print.


• Campaign across social media including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and blogs. Working with influencers to promote, hosting giveaways and sharing reviews.


• Audiobook planned.


• Will include book club questions and an author Q&A.


• Promotion through author website (chloevlane.com), Gallic Books website (belgraviabooks.com), and newsletters.

Additional text

Longlisted for the Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction at the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards 2021

‘Darkly funny, desperately sad, brilliantly written. I absolutely loved it’ Claire Fuller, author of Unsettled Ground

A beautiful, heart-rending and totally absorbing narrative, a compulsive page turner from start to end… it’s a little masterpiece’ Fiona Kidman, author of This Mortal Boy

'By turns touching, resonate, fiercely candid, and beautifully written' Jill Ciment, author of The Body in Question

'The Swimmers has the kind of intelligent and beautiful quiet that explodes a brightness deep within the reader... I can't remember the last time I read a more generous book about care, courage, and figuring it out' Pip Adam, author of The New Animals

‘An intense, moving, and darkly comic story about unrepentant, difficult women’ New Zealand Herald

‘Strangely compelling... intensely moving’ Academy of New Zealand Literature

‘A powerfully moving story confronting the very timely issue of euthanasia’ Together Journal

‘Lane confronts issues surrounding euthanasia with enormous sensitivity but with lashes of humour and humanity’ NZ Booklovers

‘A remarkable book’ ANZ Lit Lovers

Report

Longlisted for the Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction at the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards 2021
'Tackles the subject of assisted dying with wit and pathos' The Independent
'A powerful and intensedebut' The Sun
'Exquisitely observed, harrowing yet surprisingly funny' SAGA Magazine
'Poignant and subtle with humorous elements as this disjointed family struggles to fulfil the final wishes of their loved one' Candis Magazine

'Darkly funny, desperately sad, brilliantly written. I absolutely loved it' Claire Fuller, author of Unsettled Ground
'A beautiful, heart-rending and totally absorbing narrative, a compulsive page turner from start to end... it's a little masterpiece' Fiona Kidman, author of This Mortal Boy
'By turns touching, resonate, fiercely candid, and beautifully written' Jill Ciment, author of The Body in Question
'The Swimmers has the kind of intelligent and beautiful quiet that explodes a brightness deep within the reader... I can't remember the last time I read a more generous book about care, courage, and figuring it out' Pip Adam, author of The New Animals
'An intense, moving, and darkly comic story about unrepentant, difficult women' New Zealand Herald
'Strangely compelling... intensely moving' Academy of New Zealand Literature
'A powerfully moving story confronting the very timely issue of euthanasia' Together Journal
'Lane confronts issues surrounding euthanasia with enormous sensitivity but with lashes of humour and humanity' NZ Booklovers
'A remarkable book' ANZ Lit Lovers

Product details

• Authors: Chloe Lane
• Publisher: Pushkin Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 19.05.2022
• EAN: 9781913547318
• ISBN: 978-1-913547-31-8
• Subjects: Fiction > Narrative literature; FICTION / Women, FICTION / Sagas, Modern & contemporary fiction (post c 1945), FICTION / Friendship, Family life fiction, Contemporary lifestyle fiction, FICTION / World Literature / New Zealand