Discovering new imprints, especially those that intend to break moulds, break rules and break down barriers always comes as thrilling news to us here at LoveReading. Which is why the launch of Renegade Books, part of Dialogue Books, well and truly piqued our interest, with us recently relishing Renegade novel Rosewater only adding to our excitement.

Setting out their stall with an intention to “rip up the rulebook” and “create distinctive, game-changing publishing”, we’d like to hand you over to Christina Demosthenous, visionary Publisher of Renegade Books, to share insights into what she plans to publish and achieve, and what you can look forward to reading in the coming months.

What led you to found Renegade Books? Can you tell us more about its “Books that Break Rules” ethos?

Renegade was started with the aim of supercharging commercial growth at Dialogue. It has been an exhilarating opportunity to create an imprint that meaningfully breaks the mould. In corporate publishing – especially in the commercial sphere – it’s rare to have an imprint that is inherently political, with an activist core at the centre of everything. 

We’re dedicated to radical inclusion, pairing this with commercial prowess and spades of ambition. We believe that books have the power to change the world, and we’re here to do the work to make that happen.

Being called Renegade speaks to our rebellious spirit that’s at the heart of everything we do. We promise to publish books that break rules – a promise to do things differently, shakes things up and take risks. 

Too often, commercial publishing can play it safe – sometimes it can be all about what the comps are and what box things fit in. It can often also be backwards facing, which doesn’t necessarily create culture. Our aim is to rip up the rulebook in the hope of reaching new readers, find new routes to market and create distinctive, game-changing publishing in the commercial arena.

What was the first book acquired for Renegade Books? What made it a Renegade book?

The first book I acquired was The Memo by Lauren Mechling and Laurel Dodes, that I pre-empted from Graiínne Fox at United Talent Agency. Out in June 2024, it’s a truly ingenious, high-concept novel about 35-year-old Jenny who’s is stuck in a dead-end job and a dead-end relationship. She feels like she didn’t get the memo… and, as it turns out, she didn’t. Literally. It turns out that there’s a secret female-led organisation providing memos to women. While men have the patriarchy to help them live their best lives, the memos serve as a blueprint for success for women. Gifted with a second shot at her dream life, Jenny travels back through time to fix her worst mistakes – but at what cost?

The Memo was actually the first submission I read for Renegade, and it couldn’t be more of a rule-breaking book. The concept is genuinely one of a kind, there’s time travel, and there’s a powerful commentary on society’s dangerous obsession with hustle culture. It’s all about going against the grain and not necessarily doing what society expects of you.

How many books do you plan to publish each year? Will you cover non-fiction and fiction?

In the first couple of years, I’m hoping that Renegade will publish between 20 and 30 books a year. This will be a range of commercial fiction and non-fiction, from several editors – not just me! I’m planning to personally build up to around 10 books a year. 

We really don’t want to fall into the trap of over-publishing – we want to take a bespoke and tailored approach to, where every book has the right kind of campaign for it.

Pitch time – what books have you published to date, and why should we read them?

Renegade is only five months old, which means I’ve only published one Renegade book to date – it was a very speedy acquisition in my first week! It’s the incredible The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson, which was a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick and an instant New York Times bestseller. It’s a heart-breaking yet life-affirming page-turner about two women and strangers whose paths cross through a home for fallen women. It’s genuinely unputdownable and it will make you feel *all* the feels!

Could you give us an elevator pitch for an upcoming Renegade book we should add to our reading wish-list?

Georgia Harrison’s inspiring and important memoir-meets-manifesto, Taking Back My Power, is not to be missed! Coming out in October 2023, it tells Georgia’s empowering story of her win against her ex-boyfriend on counts of revenge porn, after he shared intimate footage of her online without consent. It won’t just be a book, but a whole movement. 

As a new imprint, how do you plan to make an impact on the publishing landscape, and bring your books to the biggest possible audience?

Renegade is committed to making an impact on the publishing landscape by centring radical inclusion at the core of everything we do. From the books on our list, to the staff we hire and the authors we publish, we’re committed to representing the world we live in. 

For far too long, publishing hasn’t reflected the real world, and that means that the industry has done a disservice to readers. It hasn’t been publishing for everyone, and far too many audiences have been neglected, ignored and forgotten. I’m hoping that Renegade can go some way to fixing this, and open up the industry in a meaningful way – breaking lots of rules along the way!

Who would you invite to your dream literary party?

Such a great question! I’m assuming I can pick anyone I’d like – so I’m going to go for Agatha Christie, Oscar Wilde, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Colleen Hoover, Mhairi McFarlane, Michelle Obama and Toni Morrison. 

The conversation would be dazzling, radical and truly iconic! We’d have to make it into a podcast episode. Oh, and obviously Sharmaine Lovegrove, literary icon and MD of Dialogue, who no literary party would be complete without. 

Tell us a secret about books…

There’s no such thing as a ‘trashy’ book. Whether it’s entertaining or enlightening, books are gold dust that have the power to change the world.

Stay up to date with Renegade Books and mother company, Dialogue Books:

Website: www.dialoguebooks.co.uk

Twitter: @dialoguebooks

Instagram: @dialoguebooks

And, to discover more from the people who bring you all those books you love, read the rest of our Industry Insights series.