Catapult Book Group Welcomes ‘The Chronology Of Water’ Adapted by Kristen Stewart in Her Directing Debut
EXCLUSIVE: Hawthorn Books & Literary Arts, known for publishing the acclaimed memoir The Chronology of Water, has been acquired by the Catapult Book Group.
The memoir has garnered renewed attention due to a film adaptation directed by Kristen Stewart, which premiered in the Un Certain Regard section at Cannes in May.
Catapult is an independent publishing collective established by the founders of Electric Literature and Black Balloon Publishing. It includes imprints such as Catapult, Counterpoint Press, Soft Skull Press, and Hawthorne Books, operating under the umbrella of Unlikely Collaborators, a nonprofit founded by Elizabeth R. Koch. Authors within Catapult’s network have earned accolades including the International Booker Prize, Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction, and the National Book Critics Circle Award.
The film adaptation of Chronology of Water portrays the journey of Lidia Yuknavitch, who escapes an abusive childhood through competitive swimming, sexual exploration, and addiction, ultimately finding her voice in writing. The cast features Imogen Poots as Yuknavitch, alongside Jim Belushi, Thora Birch, Charlie Carrick, Susannah Flood, Kim Gordon, and Tom Sturridge.
Watch on Deadline
Following its debut at Cannes, the film has been acquired for international distribution by Paris-based Les Films du Losange. The BFI plans to release the film in the UK and Ireland, while The Forge will handle its release in the U.S.
As part of the acquisition, Hawthorne Books will shift its distribution from Publishers Group West to Catapult’s partner, Penguin Random House. Hawthorne will continue to publish new titles, with its next scheduled acquisition for fall 2026.
“We were immediately drawn to how closely Hawthorne’s sensibility mirrors our own,” said Catapult Publisher Alyson Forbes in a statement regarding the acquisition. “Hawthorne has long published writers who probe beneath the surface of experience, aligning with Catapult’s mission to illuminate complexity and broaden perspectives. Combining our lists strengthens our commitment to delivering stories that resonate emotionally and reflectively, offering readers more opportunities to discover insightful and meaningful writing.”
Founded in 2001 by Publisher and Executive Editor Rhonda Hughes, Hawthorne Books comes with a notable backlist that includes titles such as Poe Ballantine’s Love and Terror on the Howling Plains of Nowhere, Frank Meeink and Jody M. Roy’s Autobiography of a Recovering Skinhead, and Sidney Morrison’s recent novel Frederick Douglass.
Hughes will remain with Catapult, acting as Contributing Editor for Hawthorne Books. In this new role, she will acquire titles for the imprint while reporting to Group Editorial Director Dan Smetanka.
“Having Hawthorne become an imprint alongside esteemed publishers like Catapult, Counterpoint Press, and Soft Skull Press—and collaborating with the remarkable Catapult team—is a joy and honor for me and our authors,” Hughes stated. “This new chapter has reaffirmed my deep appreciation for the art and spirit of publishing.”
