First published in Books and Publishing, 14th July 2022.
Affirm Press has acquired world rights to Golden Days, the debut novel by Aotearoa New Zealand author Caroline Barron, via Nadine Rubin Nathan of High Spot Literary.
Described by the publisher as ‘a gripping drama about friendship, grief and love’, Golden Days is set against the backdrop of Auckland’s burgeoning party scene in 1995 and follows the intense late-teens friendship between bookish Becky and ‘star-dusted’ Zoe, and the one night that changes their lives forever. Years later, the end of Becky’s picture-perfect marriage brings back memories of that fateful night, and when Zoe reappears in Becky’s life, she is forced to reconsider her interpretation of events, as well as where the blame lies, her own true nature and her place in the world.
Affirm commercial publisher Kelly Doust says she was ‘hooked by Golden Days from the very first page with its compelling exploration of memory, grief, art and female friendships’. ‘It has a wonderful nostalgia about it, while still leaning into the darkness of that time. Affirm Press is delighted to be introducing her to Australian readers for what will be a glittering career in fiction, and to be bringing her immense talent to fans new and old in Aotearoa.’
Barron is the author of the memoir Ripiro Beach (David Bateman), which won the New Zealand Heritage Literary Award for Best Nonfiction Book in 2020.
Of signing with Affirm, Barron said: ‘I’ve found a kindred spirit in publisher Kelly Doust and I’m so looking forward to working with her and the Affirm Press team—and to introduce Becky and Zoe’s dazzling and dangerous friendship to the world.’
Golden Days will be published in March 2023.