Muswell Press scoops Ransom’s new book about 30 years in the lives of three gay men

Muswell Press has scooped Jon Ransom’s The Gallopers, the story of three gay men over 30 years.

Editor at large Matt Bates acquired UK and Commonwealth volume and audio rights from Abi Fellows at the Good Agency for publication in January 2024

Ransom was awarded an Arts Council grant to develop The Gallopers, the synopsis for which said: “Highly original and remarkably atmospheric, this mesmerising story focuses on the lives of three gay men, over 30 years, from the North Sea floods of 1953 to the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s.”

The author’s debut, The Whale Tattoo (Muswell Press), was hailed as “a stunning achievement” by Matt Cain and went to multiple reprints. He was a mentee on the 2019 Escalator Talent Development scheme at the National Centre for Writing and his short stories have appeared in multiple anthologies, including Queer Life, Queer Love (Muswell Press).

Ransom, who will be talking to Cariad Lloyd at the Hay Festival on 2nd June, said: “I couldn’t be more delighted for The Gallopers to have found a home with Muswell Press – a publisher whose passion and dedication continues to be immeasurable.”

Bates added: “Formally daring, The Gallopers is a work of absolute authenticity and rare brilliance that will delight fans of The Whale Tattoo as well as winning Jon a new legion of readers.”