Now Burns Blue, the debut novel by musician and lawyer Cenac Rollins, was sold to Suze Olbrich at Somesuch Editions from Olivia Maidment. Cenac’s entrancing debut is set for publication in July 2026, and will be the imprint’s second novel.
Now Burns Blue follows young, Black (ex-)lovers, Afia and Frank, as they reckon with the fallout from their shared past and try to redirect their lives in a problematic city that never shines with promise. For artist Afia, this means wrestling with the compromises that creative dreams demand. Frank agitates to serve his community from within a corrupted system. As Carnival weekend nears during a simmering London summer, fate tempts them close once again. But it’s not just Frank and Afia who are enmeshed in this potent social mix. And the unwitting consequences of their reunion threaten to change their lives and their loved ones’ lives forever.
Rollins said: “My first novel, Now Burns Blue, is an ode to London, a city continually (re-)crafted by exploitation and devastation, that brims with community, passion and possibility. The prospect of my words reaching readers is very gratifying, and I’m looking forward to the book setting minds alight. I’m ecstatic that it’s found a home with Somesuch. I’m thankful to my agent Liv Maidment, whose guidance brought the best out of me, and my editor Suze Olbrich, whose instinct for narrative is phenomenal.”
Olbrich added: “An extraordinarily accomplished and entrancing debut, Now Burns Blue hooks readers with a relatable tale of romance gone awry, before revealing itself as a propulsive portrait of London today, and a vital portrayal of the tensions triggered by trying to live conscientiously, let alone artistically, in this city. Repeatedly, during the acquisition and editorial process, I was floored by Cenac’s talent for meaningful, pacy dialogue, scene-conjuring and emotional intelligence in crafting complex characters that stay with you, even return to you, long after the book’s finale. All of us at Somesuch are overjoyed at the prospect of introducing this special title to readers this summer.”
