Winner of the Pontas & JJ Bola Emerging Writers Prize Bhavika Govil's accomplished, prize-winning debut Hot Water is out with Fourth Estate/HarperCollins India! Hot Water is a three-voice coming-of-age contemporary story examining childhood and motherhood, sibling love and secrets, desire and grief. A portion of this manuscript was also a David Higham New Writers' Open Week finalist.
As the publisher puts it: "a remarkable coming-of-age story, Bhavika Govil’s debut novel expertly explores themes of identity, forbidden desire, homosexuality, love, angst and heartbreak. The narrative shifts through different perspectives and navigates the most delicate of relationships."
French rights were snapped up in a pre-empt by Editions de la Martinière in a two-book deal. WEL rights (excl. Indian Subcontinent) and all other translation and audiovisual rights are available.
In the press release for HarperCollins, the author says, ‘When I began writing Hot Water five years ago, I was trying to capture the fractured dynamics of one Indian family—and their joys and quiet tensions. I couldn’t foretell that over time the story would take the course that it does, becoming also a novel about intimacies and grief, about chidhood and loss. I’m absolutely thrilled to be publishing my debut novel with HarperCollins India and for this book to reach its reader, whoever is swimming in the dark."
Dharini Bhaskar, Associate Publisher, Literary at HarperCollins India said: "Hot Water is an incredible novel, at once buoyant and heartbreaking, innocent and wise. In telling the story of three people, whose lives are marked by proximity and deep secrets, it also tells the story of family, grief and the slow unfurling of love. HarperCollins India is incredibly proud to publish this astonishingly beautiful debut novel."
The author’s short fiction has already won or been selected for an impressive number of prizes, and we are convinced that this is just the start of a long literary career.
In june 2021, Bhavika Govil was announced as the co-winner of the Pontas & JJ Bola Emerging Writers Prize, alongside Cameroonian author Musih Tedji Xaviere. After four years of representation, writing, and editing, the whole Pontas team is delighted to see both of them published by esteemed publishing houses and making their way to readers around the world. We're proud to celebrate this full circle moment!