Story of ‘bloodthirsty unicorns’ brings debut author record publishing deal

Annabel Steadman’s fantasy series Skandar and the Unicorn Thief has won a seven-figure book contract, with film rights also sold to Sony PicturesA 28-year-old first-time author from Canterbury has landed what is believed to be the world’s largest ever book advance for a debut children’s writer, with a fantasy series about “bloodthirsty unicorns”.Annabel Steadman, writing as AF Steadman, was paid a “major” seven-figure sum by Simon & Schuster this week, following a hotly contested multi-publisher auction for three books in her fantasy adventure series for children, Skandar and the Unicorn Thief. Set in a world where unicorns are deadly, and can only be tamed by the rider who hatches them, the series follows Skandar Smith, who is preparing to become a unicorn rider. When the most powerful unicorn in the world is stolen by a mysterious figure, becoming a rider becomes a lot more complicated than Skandar ancitipated. Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2020-09-16 13:34:54 UTC ]

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Yinka, where is your editor? Part 1

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[ The Bookseller | 2020-11-05 21:40:55 UTC ]
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S&S sells Steadman's middle-grade series in 23 languages

Simon & Schuster's rights team has sold A F Steadman's debut middle-grade series Skandar and the Unicorn Thief in 23 languages, with total advances in excess of £1m.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-11-04 00:06:17 UTC ]
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S&S launches regional campaign for Thomas' Firewatching

Simon & Schuster is launching a billboard campaign in Sheffield to promote Russ Thomas' debut novel Firewatching.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-11-02 11:36:23 UTC ]
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YA thriller about Native American teen to Rock the Boat

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[ The Bookseller | 2020-11-01 23:11:25 UTC ]
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Picador wins auction for 'superlead' Maddie Mortimer debut

Sophie Jonathan, editorial director at Picador, has acquired Maps of Our Spectacular Bodies by debut author Maddie Mortimer in a "hotly contested" auction. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-10-27 05:29:02 UTC ]
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HCG bags YA novel about Bengali-Irish girls navigating queerness

Hachette Children’s Group has acquired two YA novels from debut author Adiba Jaigirdar, including two "heart-warming" queer romances based in Dublin featuring Bengali protagonists.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-10-26 05:52:10 UTC ]
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S&S snaps up Foulkes' vampire middle-grade series

Simon & Schuster has pre-empted debut author Alex Foulkes' Rules for Vampires middle-grade series.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-10-14 20:29:58 UTC ]
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A F Steadman | 'I really didn’t know if anyone would like it, so I was very shocked'

Though publishing deals are standard fair in the pages of The Bookseller, it is rare for them to make her whirlwind publishing journey a splash in the mainstream press. But this was the case last month, when 28-year-old début author A F Steadman’s fantasy adventure series Skandar and the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-10-14 05:47:38 UTC ]
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Bloomsbury lands Luke Cassidy's 'gritty' debut novel

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[ The Bookseller | 2020-10-13 22:22:54 UTC ]
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S&S pre-empts Eva Verde's 'urgent' debut novel

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S&S to publish Michael Holding's 'message of re-education'

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[ The Bookseller | 2020-10-07 17:25:25 UTC ]
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Egmont triumphs in six-way auction for debut series

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[ The Bookseller | 2020-10-04 17:03:36 UTC ]
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Hachette Children's signs two from Penguin publicist Kate Gilby Smith

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[ The Bookseller | 2020-10-02 10:02:53 UTC ]
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Bookouture's Thread acquires 'inspiring' memoir

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[ The Bookseller | 2020-09-29 21:34:05 UTC ]
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Netflix snaps up film rights to McDermott's Wilde and Chase series

Netflix has acquired film rights to all 15 titles in Andy McDermott's Nina Wilde and Eddie Chase series. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2020-09-28 14:06:57 UTC ]
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[ World Literature Today | 2020-09-25 11:55:24 UTC ]
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Reed Hastings, the Founder of Netflix, Keeps His Library in His Pocket

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