Dean Atta makes adult literary debut at Cipher Press

Cipher Press has signed Big Man, the adult literary debut by YA author Dean Atta. The publisher bought UK and Commonwealth rights from Abi Fellows, and it will be out in autumn 2026.

Big Man follows the life of Big, a middle-aged, Black British gay man who lives a gentle life with his boyfriend, Little, in their home in East London. Big came of age in the club scene under the watchful eye of Mother, an African American trans woman who made a home and a name for herself in London, her house a refuge for wayward queer youth like Big. When he finds out Mother is releasing a memoir, the two reconnect after decades of distance, and Big finds himself having to confront a long-repressed assault that opens old – and new – wounds. 

Cipher Press Co-Founder and Publisher Jack Thompson said: "As long-time fans of Dean, we’re so thrilled to be publishing his first adult novel. Big Man is an incredible book; playful, vulnerable, daring, and full of heart. We were so taken with Dean’s exploration of queer aging, race, and past trauma, and with the thoughtful balance of tenderness and pragmatism with which he writes his protagonist. The novel captures the small and delicious oddities that make a human unique, and what it means to look back, not only at yourself but at the queer spaces that shape you."

Atta said: "I admire the boldness of the books Cipher Press has published so far, especially those by Brontez Purnell and Peter Scapello. I began writing Big Man in the Queer Writer’s Circle at The Common Press queer intersectional bookshop in East London, surrounded by numerous Cipher books on the shelves. When Big Man was ready for submission, I was certain Cipher would be the perfect publisher. I believed they’d understand the tone and intent of the work. And they absolutely do, they totally get it! I’m so excited to be publishing Big Man with them!"