Grisham to write baseball novel for Hodder

16.11.11 | Charlotte Williams - The Bookseller

Hodder & Stoughton has acquired a new novel from bestselling crime writer John Grisham, with the author calling it his "first baseball novel".
Acquiring editor Oliver Johnson and Hachette UK Group c.e.o. Tim Hely-Hutchinson bought UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Canada, to Calico Joe from David Gernert at The Gernert Company. Hodder will publish on 10th April 2012.
The book is a short novel following Paul Tracey, a 13-year-old boy from a dysfunctional family who is caught in a conflict of loyalties when his troubled baseball-playing father comes face to face with the greatest young player of his age, Joe Castle. Many years later, as his father is dying, Paul decides to bring together the two men for a final meeting.
Johnson said: "Calico Joe, as well as being a great novel about sport, is a heartrending tale of tragedy and reconciliation which has deeply moved everyone at Hodder and which will enthrall and delight the many legions of John's fans."

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