Helen Garnons-Williams, Publishing Director at Fig Tree has acquired UK & Commonwealth rights at auction, GROW WHERE THEY FALL, the new novel by Desmond-Elliot-Prize-shortlisted Michael Donkor, from Juliet Pickering at Blake Friedmann. Fig Tree will publish GROW WHERE THEY FALL as a lead title in summer 2024.

Ten-year-old Kwame Akromah’s life is changed forever when Yaw, a charismatic 22 year-old from his parents’ homeland of Ghana, comes to stay with his family. Kwame’s carefully-ordered routine doesn’t quite know how to hold this brash young man within it, but the two form a close bond and mutual admiration, learning from each other, until their friendship comes to an abrupt end.

Twenty years later, Kwame has become an upright young man with a respectable job as a teacher at an aspirational secondary school, living just as cautiously as when he was a boy in order to keep himself ‘safe’. But when electrifying new headteacher, Marcus Felix, arrives out of the blue and bullishly challenges Kwame’s behaviour, Kwame finds himself questioning whether he’s living – or simply existing.

GROW WHERE THEY FALL is a beautifully written, spirited and deeply moving novel about a young man coming to terms with his past and finding the courage to expand the limits of who he might become.

Helen Garnons-Williams says: ‘We are so excited to welcome the fiercely talented Michael Donkor to Fig Tree. GROW WHERE THEY FALL is a huge-hearted novel about love, fear and the freedom to be oneself, written with blazing compassion, humour and honesty.’

Michael Donkor says: ‘I was amazed by and so grateful for the care and commitment Helen showed when editing HOLD – it's a total joy to be working with her again. I'm thrilled to be part of the dynamic list she's building at Fig Tree.’

Juliet Pickering says: ‘This tender, skilful novel about the making of “a man” had me rapt from the first lines. Michael’s talent is to be warm and funny while he renders his characters deeply vulnerable, and this story is full of life. I can’t wait for Helen and Fig Tree to bring GROW WHERE THEY FALL to the readers who might empathise and find their voices here too.’

About Michael Donkor

Michael Donkor was born in London, to Ghanaian parents. He studied English at Wadham College, Oxford, and undertook a Masters in Creative Writing at Royal Holloway. His writing won him a place on the Writers’ Centre Norwich Inspires Scheme in 2014, where he received a year’s mentoring from Daniel Hahn. His first novel, HOLD, was published by 4th Estate in 2018, and was longlisted for the Dylan Thomas and shortlisted for the Desmond Elliott Prizes. Michael was also selected by Scottish Poet Laureate Jackie Kay as one of the most important British BAME writers working today. He has written for the Guardian, the Telegraph, BBC Radio 3, the TLS and the Independent.

Praise for Michael Donkor

‘Michael Donkor is a real talent.’ – Sarah Winman

‘A stirring new voice.’ – Irenosen Okojie

‘Michael Donkor is the freshest new voice in Black British literature’ – Derek Owusu

‘Donkor is a hugely skilful and fresh voice in literary fiction.’ — Anbara Salam, author of THINGS BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL

‘Donkor has plenty of heart as a writer, and a willingness to fully explore the hearts and minds of his characters.’ – Tanya Sweeney, Irish Independent

‘He’s a young writer in Britain to watch’ – Kerri Miller, MPR

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