Recently in Deals Category

Random House Children’s Books has announced the sale of Newes from the Dead by Mary Hooper to Simon Boughton of Roaring Brook Press (Holtzbrink Group) in the US. This sale comes after a hotly contested auction and was brokered by Linda Summers, Associate Publisher (Rights) at Random House Children’s Books.

German rights have been bought by Verlagsgruppe Random House and French rights by Editions du Panama.

Charlie Sheppard, Editorial Director of Children’s Fiction at RHCB, who acquired this title from Rosemary Canter at PFD, comments: “This is an incredible novel and all the more powerful because it’s based on a true story. I was thrilled that we had so much interest from the US and I’m delighted that Simon will be publishing this book. I look forward to raising a glass of bubbly with him in Bologna and drinking to the success of this exciting acquisition”.

Ahmet Zappa, Hollywood based youngest son of late rock legend Frank Zappa, has signed a major three book deal with Puffin Books.

The first, The Monstrous Memoirs of a Mighty McFearless, will be published in the UK by Puffin in August 2006 with a simultaneous release in the US by Random House.

Legendary talent spotter, literary agent Darley Anderson, whose bestselling clients include Martina Cole, Lee Child, Lesley Pearse, John Connolly, Constance Briscoe and children’s author Cathy Cassidy conducted a fiercely contested auction which finally ended with Puffin Fiction Publisher, Sarah Hughes, securing UK and Commonwealth rights.

Darley Anderson said: ‘As soon as I read the ms of The Monstrous Memoirs of a Mighty McFearless I realized it was very special and very commercial, which is why I turned down a £150,000 pre-emptive bid offer and went to auction. The auction went on for weeks and was one of the most fiercely contested I’ve ever conducted. Finally Puffin just edged it over the underbidder HarperCollins.

‘The advance is monstrously enormous by any standard but it will sell by the truckload.

‘Ahmet has a wild and wonderful imagination and as Disney recognized, his monsters will prove irresistibly appealing and highly merchandisable. Kids and adults alike will love it.’

Sarah Hughes says: ‘When I read The Monstrous Memoirs of a Mighty McFearless I got that gut reaction that told me I was reading something that had the power to reach vast numbers of children. It has such direct child appeal, it’s the kind of book that turns non-readers in to readers. This kind of distinctive talent doesn’t come along every day. We are thrilled to welcome Ahmet to Puffin.’

Walt Disney Pictures and Jerry Bruckheimer Films have already paid $1.5 million for the film rights to The Monstrous Memoirs of a Mighty McFearless. Disney and Bruckheimer won a bidding war against Warner Bros’ David Heyman and Paramount’s Plan B that began just days after Zappa finished the manuscript. Ahmet’s US agent Helen Breitweiser brokered this deal as well as the US sale to Random House.

Random House Children’s Books has announced the acquisition of a fantasy adventure series from author Philip Caveney. Sebastian Darke: Prince of Fools will be the first of three novels acquired by Charlie Sheppard at RHCB. Caveney is a copywriter currently living in Manchester.

The author’s début work for children is pitched squarely at the 9+ market. Featuring the eponymous hero (a would-be jester desperate to make money, let alone make people laugh); a shaggy, sarcastic ‘buffalope’ called Max who can talk (and does, at great length); and Cornelius, an unlikely warrior in constant search of adventure, it's described by the publisher as "a fast, funny story that will grip readers from the very first page. Fans of Shrek, Terry Pratchett and The Princess Bride will not be disappointed!"

Charlie Sheppard, Editorial Director at RHCB comments ‘I am hugely excited about this find. Sebastian Darke has everything I look for in a classic children’s book: humour, excitement and a touch of pathos that will speak to generations of children. As I read the manuscript I felt like a ten year old again discovering a lifetime’s favourite book. I can’t wait to get kids reading this book and I’m so thrilled that we’re going to be publishing it.’

The deal is for World Rights, all languages.

Sebastian Darke: Prince of Fools will be published by The Bodley Head hardback in early Spring 2007 to be supported by a "massive publicity and marketing campaign".

HarperCollins Children's Books :: HarperCollins Children's Books Signs Debut Author for Worldwide Three-Book Deal

HarperCollins Publishers today announced that it has acquired world-English language rights to three books by screenwriter Derek Landy, following a frenzy of interest from publishers around the world. The book, audio and e-formats will be published in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, New Zealand and India. The series will begin with SKULDUGGERY PLEASANT, a comic-fantasy-adventure in which a young girl teams up with the wise-cracking skeleton of a dead magician to defeat an Ancient evil. "Sharply dressed skeleton detectives, feisty young heroines, scary monsters, and super-creeps -- I think my career guidance teacher is spinning in her grave. Or she would be if she were dead," said Landy, a Dublin-based screenwriter who wrote the 2003 thriller Dead Bodies and the 2005 dark comedy Boy Eats Girl. The deal was negotiated by Gillie Russell, Fiction Publishing Director and Sally Gritten, Managing Director, both of HarperCollins U.K., and Michael Stearns, Editorial Director, HarperCollins U.S., with Landy's agent Michelle Kass of Michelle Kass Associates... ...

Bloomsbury have announced that Ian Beck is to join their children’s list.

His first work for Bloomsbury, illustrating Digory the Dragon Slayer by Angela McAllister, is published next month. In 2006 he will also illustrate Winston the Book Wolf by Marni McGee.

Val Brathwaite, Design Director for children’s books comments: ‘I am delighted that Ian Beck has joined the Bloomsbury children’s list. One of the UK’s leading illustrators of children’s books, Ian brings a unique traditional charm and quality to everything he illustrates. Whether it be a fairy tale collection, picture book or fiction title, Ian has the ability to harmonise pictures and words that are a pleasure for both children and adults alike to enjoy.’

Macmillan Children's Books has announce the acquisition of three new books by Frances Hardinge, whose debut novel, FLY BY NIGHT, is already due for publication on the Macmillan list in October 2005. The new deal, for world rights, was brokered by Nancy Miles of the Miles Stott agency.

FLY BY NIGHT - described as a funny and fantastical adventure story set in a fictionalized eighteenth-century England - is said to have been making waves long before publication as word has spread of Hardinge's unique voice. It was, apparently, one of the most talked-about novels of the Bologna Book Fair and Macmillan has sold US rights in the book to Michael Stearns at HarperCollins USA in a six-gure=plus deal for four books.

Rights have already been sold to publishers in four other countries with several more auctions to be concluded shortly.

Hardinge's follow-up novels to FLY BY NIGHT will publish in the UK in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

Emma Hopkin, Managing Director of Macmillan Children's Books, says, 'We are delighted to have acquired a further three titles from Frances. Her writing is so original and beautifully crafted, and FLY BY NIGHT has been loved by all who have read it. It is immensely exciting and satisfying to have concluded a US deal with Michael Stearns at HarperCollins that reflects the same enthusiasm and confidence in Frances's future.

Frances Hardinge herself says, 'I am amazed and delighted by the response to FLY BY NIGHT, and I couldn't be more thrilled that Macmillan wants to publish my next three novels. This is something I've dreamed about since I was four years old and I can hardly believe that it's actually happening. It feels especially surreal as, in the midst of all the excitement, I am on the other side of the world travelling through the Antipodes.'