ELKOST International literary agency - National Prize in China 2006

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THE LYING YEAR, a novel by Andrei Gelasimov

Rights sold: Bulgaria - ENTHUSIAST, France - ACTES SUD, Russia - OGI, Slovenia - Modrijan, World English - AMAZON CROSSING

Could have been the blown business deal with the Italians. Could have been the unauthorized office party, which ended with the cops—and then an arrest. No matter what finally got him fired, Mikhail never expected to find himself at Red Star Industries’ office again.

So down-and-out Mikhail is surprised to be called in by old boss, who offers Mikhail easy money and the Land Rover of his dreams to teach his son, Sergei, how to “be a man”—and to spy on him.

Of course, Sergei’s not the Internet-obsessed recluse his father believes. He’s hiding a relationship with the beautiful Marina, who Mikhail himself can’t help but fall for as well. To keep it all together, Mikhail finds himself lying to Petrovich about his son’s activities, lying to Marina about Sergei’s intentions, and lying to Sergei about his love for Marina. So when Sergei’s father invites them all to Italy, the web of lies holding their world together begins to fall apart, and about the time Mikhail finds himself held hostage at gunpoint, he realizes he’s gotten in way over his head…

Not Russian, a novel by Mikhail Shevelev

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Rights sold: Czech Republic - PROSTOR, France – GALLIMARD, Italy - E/O, Russia – ZAKHAROV, World English rights - EUROPA EDITIONS

One always pays over and above for his cowardice, treachery, or indifference, and the bill always comes at wrong time, and in most unexpected form. And you always pay yourself, no group discounts applied.

Protagonist of this psychological thriller finds himself being responsible for lives and safety of dozens of others. To save them, he should understand was he has done wrong in the past.

Dynamic, concentrated narrative of Mikhail Shevelev’s NOT RUSSIAN is written in the genre of retrospective journalist investigation, where real facts of recent Russian history are masterfully merged with fiction.

Pavel, the main hero and narrator of Shevelev’s novel, a reporter by profession, in early 1990ies has delivered Vadim, a young soldier, back to Russia from Chechen captivity. But things did not come around for Vadim as they both expected, and fifteen years later he unwillingly became a terrorist, taking hostage a congregation of the church outside Moscow. Pavel is called upon to serve as negotiator. To right the ship, Pavel should convince Russian president publicly recognize his political mistakes, and apologize for triggering wars in Chechnya and Ukraine.

I wrote this novel, Shevelev says, after I suddenly realized that journalism is no more an effective tool for changing social realm. I believe that in Russia today literature can do more than journalism.