hold back the stars
'The new One Day' — Stylist magazine
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katie khan
Katie Khan is a writer from London whose first novel, HOLD BACK THE STARS, was published on January 26th, 2017 in the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand by Transworld (Penguin Random House), followed in the USA and Canada by Gallery (Simon & Schuster) on May 23rd, 2017.
HOLD BACK THE STARS will also be translated into twenty languages around the world - more details, including foreign publishers, are on the International Editions page.
A graduate of the acclaimed Faber Academy writing course, and a fan of love stories with epic settings both on the page and on screen, Katie spent 10 years working in digital technology and editorial, including 4 years as Head of Digital at Paramount Pictures UK, before joining Warner Bros. in April 2017 to work on a major film production. Named in the 40 Under 40 working in European Cinema at CineEurope 2016, and The Drum's Top 50 most influential people in social media marketing in the UK, Katie was also selected as a Rising Star by The Media Eye.
Katie is represented by literary agent Juliet Mushens, and represented for film rights by UTA.
THE BOOK
'The new One Day' — Stylist
'The most unique love story I've read in years' — Rowan Coleman
'Gravity meets The Versions of Us' — Red
'A bold new talent' — Matt Haig
HARDBACK | USA
Available now
PAPERBACK | UK
Published on November 30th, 2017
HARDBACK | UK
Available now
HOLD BACK THE STARS
Ninety minutes.
A few years from now,
not too far in the future, two people meet.
It is a classic story of boy meets girl.
Except that it's not.
When we find them, Carys and Max have an hour and a half left.
After that, there's a chance they won't survive.
The clock is ticking.
Bittersweet and life-affirming, Hold Back the Stars is the love story of the year.
'An edge-of-your-seat tale' — Vogue
'An incredibly imaginative debut' — Sunday Mirror
'Prepare to shed tears' — Heat
'Original, surprising and romantic' — Woman & Home
TRANSLATIONS
Hold Back the Stars is being translated into more than twenty languages around the world.
Head to the INTERNATIONAL EDITIONS page for details including foreign publishers,
international cover designs and publication dates.
BOOK TRAILER
audioBOOK
Read by Games of Thrones actress Gemma Whelan.
Available on Audible and all good audio sites.
Listen to an extract below.
PRESS REVIEWS
“The new One Day”
“An edge-of-your-seat tale”
“A tense survival story with an unexpected ending ★★★★”
“As thought provoking as it is wrenching, prepare to shed tears ★★★★”
“Think Gravity meets The Versions of Us”
“Original, surprising and romantic”
“The ticking clock nature of the novel will have you tearing through it as quickly as you can, all the while getting caught up in the couple’s beautiful love story”
“An incredibly imaginative debut”
“Breaks your heart, then kicks it a few more times for good measure in the most beautiful way possible”
“Intriguing and moving, it’s a love story that’s out of this world ★★★★”
“This is a stirring, unique and beautifully crafted story on the complexities of first love that will stay with you long after reading. This is going to be huge”
“A space romance with a political edge”
“A unique take on the usual dystopian fiction . . . a worthy read which will keep you up past bed time ★★★★ ”
“Just the ticket if you’re looking to get lost in a breathless love story”
CRITICAL ACCLAIM
Nice things some brilliant authors have said about HOLD BACK THE STARS...
“Hold Back the Stars is a rare combination of thrilling action, deep emotional depth and intelligent ideas. The most unique love story I’ve read in years.”
“Dazzling . . . a truly stellar debut, full of wonder and heart. I’m sure it’s going to be a mega hit.”
“Terrific . . . a beautiful story.”
“Playfully serious, imaginatively assured, Hold Back the Stars packs real emotional punch.”
“Gorgeous, brilliant, heartbreaking . . . A love story to remember.”
“What a shiny jewel of a read! Such heart, such brilliance, such exquisite observation. I envy those who are yet to discover this bold and captivating delight.”
“A high-stakes, high-concept love story from a bold new talent . . . All of the obvious ‘out of this world’ comments apply.”
“Bittersweet and beautiful. An intricate and heart-breaking vision of the future.”
“Beautifully, frustratingly, heart-breaking.”
“A beautiful, moving, truly original tale. I loved this book for taking me by surprise.”
“A tense, crisp, edge-of-your-seat love story and a completely unexpected ending, I was gripped from the first line to the last. Hold Back The Stars is out of this world. I loved it.”
“This story is gorgeousness in book form.”
NEWS & Updates
![Posting this today as I duly expect it to be over by tomorrow! Never thought I'd see the day... #HoldBacktheStars became the #1 bestseller on Amazon in Contemporary American Fiction. (The story is set after the [self-]destruction of the USA, where Europe has formed a multicultural utopia. Lol.) ✨
It's 99p in the Kindle sale right now if you fancy. I find @amazonuk categories quite baffling, so I clicked this particular one: christ alive, it's full of Jack Reachers. And my little book there at #1! If you need me, I'll be lying down in a dark room 🤣🤣🤣 oh and getting up at 6am to work on my second... ⏰⏰⏰ goodnight everybody, thank you for indulging my shock and pleasure](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/57c31f90414fb59d81920e0c/57c4a38615d5db84098a674f/5962cbf58c6035942fcfefd1/1499646977775/)
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RT @sollyk: Do YOU like telly? Do you know how to do clever things with digital content? Then do I have the job for YOU. Pls RT https://t.co/xd2t0i0LfY -
RT @NaomiLHughes: If you think "I love this WIP like crazy but it's way too ambitious for me" you're probably writing exactly the right thing.
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To see tweets like this, in the week of a confidence crisis? Incredible. Thank you so much. #amwriting https://t.co/ZAHSG5yL4z