A powerful new voice in literary fiction emerges as Well-Read Black Girl founder Glory Edim launches her anticipated book series with “The Catch,” a mesmerising debut novel by acclaimed poet Yrsa Daley-Ward, per people.com.
The book, releasing June 3 through Liveright Publishing, tells the supernatural story of twins Clara and Dempsey, whose mother Serene vanished into London’s River Thames during their childhood. Years later, Clara encounters a mysterious woman who bears an uncanny resemblance to their lost mother, except she hasn’t aged a single day.
Daley-Ward, whose multicultural background spans Jamaica, Nigeria, and England, weaves magical realism into this exploration of motherhood, sacrifice, and self-actualisation. “I want readers to know that choosing yourself isn’t selfish—it’s necessary,” the author explained in an interview.
The Well-Read Black Girl movement began as Edim’s Instagram account in 2015 and has grown into a literary powerhouse with over 435,000 community members. The organisation amplifies African-American voices across publishing, politics and pop culture.
“The Catch launching the Well-Read Black Girl Books series feels like a deep alignment,” Daley-Ward said. “This community feels like home to me. It’s not just about being seen, it’s about being understood.”
Drawing from her poetry background, Daley-Ward describes her approach as treating “the novel as a long poem with characters and consequences.” She characterises the work in three words: “Dark, tender, oddball.”
The partnership with W.W. Norton’s Liveright imprint represents a significant milestone for independent literary movements transitioning into traditional publishing spaces while maintaining their authentic voices and missions.
