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Haughton and Davies pledge book royalties to Sally Rooney

Children’s laureates Chris Haughton in Ireland and Nicola Davies in Wales have pledged income from their UK book royalties to Sally Rooney. Haughton offered his UK royalties, while Davies committed six months of royalties from The Day War Came. The offers follow the halt to UK sales of Rooney’s books. The writers are using income from their own works to support a fellow author and raise concerns about freedom of expression in publishing.

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Two stacks of unmarked books and blank envelopes flank a single blue paperback on a print workshop table.

Two laureates offer Rooney their royalties

Chris Haughton, Ireland’s children’s laureate, and Nicola Davies, the Welsh children’s laureate, have offered Sally Rooney proceeds from their UK book royalties. A solidarity statement Haughton wrote with Patrick Ness explicitly names both laureates among those making the offer. Rooney would decide how to use the money. The two writers are pledging income from their own books to a fellow author whose UK sales have stopped.[1], [2]

Haughton pledged his UK royalties; Davies specified six months of royalties from The Day War Came. Davies said that book follows a child displaced by war. Her offer concerns a defined period of income from one title, while Haughton’s concerns the UK portion of his book royalties. Those terms set out what each writer has promised rather than recording a payment already made.[1]

Halted book sales prompt fellow writers to act

UK sales of Rooney’s books had stopped before Haughton and Davies announced their royalty offers. Haughton framed his decision around solidarity among writers and freedom of expression. The statement he wrote with Patrick Ness supports Rooney and her publisher, Faber Books. Her books include the novels Normal People and Conversations with Friends. No date has been announced for sales in the UK to resume.[1], [2]

Davies ties her offer to one book

Davies said sales of The Day War Came rose during conflicts in Ukraine and Palestine. She plans to offer Rooney the income when her half-year royalty payment arrives. Haughton’s statement says other writers have also offered proceeds from their UK books. These separate pledges concern the writers’ earnings from their own work and would help another author. The accounts do not specify when any royalty payment to Rooney will be made.[1], [2]

References

  1. News sourceThe GuardianTwo children’s laureates pledge royalties to Sally Rooney↩1↩2↩3↩4
  2. News sourceChris HaughtonChris Haughton pledges royalties in solidarity with Sally Rooney↩1↩2↩3

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