about where goldfish fly
Where Goldfish Fly began with a single image: a goldfish too large and luminous to belong to any ordinary bowl, hovering in the half-light between childhood wonder and adult grief. From that grew a story that blends playful irreverence, philosophical doubt, and a stubborn belief in tenderness as a force that can still move the world.
Structurally, the novel follows a loose hero’s-journey pattern – though its heroes are imperfect, quarrelsome, and not always clear about what they are actually seeking as they embark on a surreal, quest-shaped, emotionally earnest, weird-but-warm, cross-generational roadtrip towards something resembling home.
The book may appeal to readers who love emotionally grounded stories with a streak of strangeness: those drawn to the warmth of Skellig, the inventive spirit of Nothing to See Here, or the lyrical, questioning heart of Ruth Ozeki and George Saunders. It is a novel for readers who believe that wonder still has something serious to say.
About me
I am seeking representation for my first novel, Where Goldfish Fly, a 95,000-word work of adult literary fiction with magical realist elements. Told through the voices of four flawed and deeply human characters, it follows their growing bond as Hector’s strange presence – and what he awakens in them – forces each of them to confront loss, belief, and the fragile possibility of found family.
I hold a summa cum laude MA in philosophy. I am a professional lyricist with over five hundred released songs, three musicals, and ten feature film credits. For the past twenty-seven years, I have been the exclusive lyricist for K3, a best-selling Belgian-Dutch pop group with over ten million units sold and the all-time record of number-one albums and concert ticket sales.
You can find more information about my work as a songwriter here and here.
Three agents have already requested the full manuscript and are currently reviewing it. If you are interested in voice-led literary fiction with formal play and imaginative risks, Where Goldfish Fly could be a strong fit for your list. I would be delighted to send the complete manuscript at your request.
You are welcome to have a look at the first six chapters, as well as a story outline.
Contact me for an exploratory chat, a full manuscript request, or a representation offer.
Thank you for your time and consideration,
Alain