FLY ON THE WALL PRESS ACQUIRES SHORT FICTION COLLECTION ‘MAPS OF IMAGINARY TOWNS’ BY SJ BRADLEY

Independent publisher Fly on the Wall Press has acquired world exclusive rights to Maps of Imaginary Towns, a literary fiction collection by SJ Bradley. This collection of stories transports the reader to dystopian and parallel worlds in working-class Northern England and beyond, and was acquired by editor Isabelle Kenyon direct from the author.

Maps of Imaginary Towns immerses readers in richly imagined worlds, from a woman dreaming of escape via rocket from an oppressive colony planet, to a drab council estate, where a little girl finds magic in hardship. Bradley deftly explores universal themes of grief, ambition, technology, and our search for belonging. Her experimental narratives linger in the mind long after the final page.

SJ Bradley is a K Blundell Trust Award winning author, novelist (Brick Mother and Guest, Dead Ink) and short story writer, and the editor of the anthology Remembering Oluwale. As a creative writing instructor and literary event organizer in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, Bradley brings a teaching perspective and local flair to this inventive collection.

Credit: Ricky Adam

Managing Director, Isabelle Kenyon said, “I'm thrilled to be publishing SJ Bradley's outstanding debut collection, which announces an exciting new voice in literary short fiction. These stories brim with compassion, lyricism and emotional power. Bradley renders her flawed, achingly human characters with craft and care, in tales that resonate deeply but feel so intimate. This collection highlighting bureaucracy, austerity and the rise of technology, feels immensely relevant."

Fly on the Wall Press is an independent publishing house specialising in literary and experimental fiction, poetry and nonfiction. This acquisition underscores their commitment to championing new authors, with a focus on fearless, boundary-pushing work.

Maps of Imaginary Towns will be published as a paperback original on the 26th of September 2024.

SJ Bradley is available for features, readings and speaking engagements. Please direct all inquiries to Fly on the Wall Press.