White going somewhere with DEBUT NOVEL

Nowhere Child, the bestselling debut thriller from Ocean Grove local Christian White, is now the fastest-selling Australian debut fiction title on record.

From humble beginnings working odd jobs to make ends meet, to a best-selling author, White has recently sold the screen rights in a dual Australian/American deal.

Australian production company Carver Films (Snowtown, Sunshine) has partnered with prestigious US-based production company Anonymous Content (True Detective, 13 Reasons Why, The Revenant, Babel, Spotlight) for the rights to the chart-topping thriller.

The novel – published by Affirm Press on June 26 – has broken the record for the fastest selling Australian debut novel ever, with over 25,000 sales in its first eight weeks. The novel will be published in a further 15 countries and translated into 11 languages.

On the local front, Ocean Grove’s Bookgrove will give avid readers the chance to get copies signed and insight into the gripping story at 6pm September 14 (tomorrow) for a meet and greet.

Fellow award-winning crime author Sarah Bailey will also be there to sign copies of her latest novel, Into the Night, with her debut novel, The Dark Lake, recently awarded the Ned Kelly Award and Davitt Award for Best Crime Book.

White said selling the screen rights reflected how far he had come professionally from a year ago where he was living from one screen-writing contract to another.

“The idea of a screen adaption of The Nowhere Child is beyond exciting, and I’m thrilled that it’s in such capable and talented hands,” he said.

“Having worked with Carver before, I know their passion for storytelling is contagious, and Anonymous Content has produced some of my all-time favourite film and TV. Any second now, I’m sure I’ll wake up and discover this is all just a wonderful dream.”

Carver Productions said they couldn’t wait to start work on the project with Anonymous.

“It’s a thrill to be entrusted with the screen adaptation of Christian’s incredible debut novel The Nowhere Child. It’s an enthralling, combustible tale of identity and buried secrets, and we are so excited to be collaborating with Christian on this next phase,” they said. White will be involved in developing The Nowhere Child with Carver’s Anna McLeish and Sarah Shaw, and Anonymous Content’s Luke Rivett and Steve Golin.

For more information and to register for Bookgrove’s free event go to eventbrite.com, or phone 5255 5973.