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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Susan Orlean: ‘We Expect Librarians to Be Everything to Everybody’

This week on The Maris Review, Susan Orlean joins Maris Kreizman to discuss her latest book, The Library Book, now available in paperback from Simon & Schuster. On how fire has shaped California: Maris Kreizman: A chilling thing that I realized when we first talked about the book is that you... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2019-12-19 09:48:21 UTC ]
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Michael Fassbender to adapt Kevin Barry’s Night Boat to Tangier.

Good news, lovers of brooding Irish actors and tragicomic literary noir: Michael Fassbender—the Academy Award-nominated Hiberno-German star of Inglourious Basterds, Shame, and the latest incarnation of the X-Men movies—has optioned the film rights to Night Boat to Tangier, Irish author Kevin... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2019-12-18 17:38:18 UTC ]
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Mackesy’s illustrated début is indies’ lead Christmas hit

Debut children's book The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse is proving a hit with independents in the run up to Christmas, with some bookshops reporting frustrations at not being able to replenish stocks of the title fast enough amid buoyant trading this festive season. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-12-09 19:47:28 UTC ]
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Doubleday signs debut author Anna Bailey in 'major' pre-empt

Doubleday has signed a "major" pre-emptive deal for world rights in two books from Anna Bailey with the first offers already in from France and Italy. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-12-06 15:35:31 UTC ]
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Serpent's Tail signs two-book deal with debut author Alice Ash

Serpent’s Tail has acquired an "irresistibly surreal" debut short story collection by Alice Ash. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-11-26 21:39:09 UTC ]
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Avon signs debut author Hannah Sunderland in two-book deal

HarperCollins has snapped up two women’s fiction books by debut author Hannah Sunderland. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-11-18 02:55:49 UTC ]
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Viper snares historical thriller debut by Leonora Nattrass

Serpent’s Tail’s newly launched crime imprint Viper have signed a historical "whodunnit" as part of a two-book deal with debut author Leonora Nattrass. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-11-15 02:01:24 UTC ]
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S&S sees revenues slide by 9% to $217m

Worldwide revenues at Simon & Schuster have dipped by 9% to $217m for the third quarter of 2019, from $240m for the same period last year, parent firm CBS has revealed. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-11-12 05:24:03 UTC ]
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S&S Squeezes Out a Q3 Profit Despite Sales Decline

Profits rose by $1 million at Simon & Schuster in the third quarter of 2019 over the comparable period in 2018, despite a 9% drop in sales. In last year's third quarter, Bob Woodward's 'Fear' drove strong sales for the publisher. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-11-12 05:00:00 UTC ]
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HarperCollins scoops Harvill Secker editor Adams debut in two-book deal

HarperCollins has won a multi-publisher auction for The Reading List by debut author and Harvill Secker commissioning editor Sara Nisha Adams in a two-book deal. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-11-10 16:51:18 UTC ]
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Myriad bags graphic novels from Williams and Slattery as it launches debut author contest

Myriad Editions has bagged a pair of "graphic medicine" books from Ian Williams and Zara Slattery, as the publisher launches its 2020 Myriad First Graphic Novel Competition. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-11-07 01:44:47 UTC ]
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Aria takes two from debut author Olivia Lara

Head of Zeus imprint Aria Fiction has snared a "sweepingly romantic" debut by Olivia Lara in a two-book deal. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-11-07 01:16:54 UTC ]
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What We're Reading – October 2019

Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine EvaristoSince studying Lara as a student, I have been a fan of Bernardine Evaristo’s work, and am delighted to see her win the Booker Prize this year. Girl, Woman, Other follows the lives of twelve black characters with different backgrounds and experiences, most... Continue reading at British Council global

[ British Council global | 2019-10-30 09:49:28 UTC ]
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Val Kilmer is releasing a memoir (!!!)

Stop whatever it is you’re doing and pay attention to me because I have, just this morning, stumbled upon some joyous, and potentially game-changing, literary news: Val Kilmer is releasing a memoir. Yes, friends, according to Publishers Weekly, Simon & Schuster will publish I’m Your... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2019-10-25 16:13:04 UTC ]
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OUP lands BBC Sports reporter’s debut children’s novel in two-book deal

Oxford University Press has snapped up the stand-alone debut children’s novel from BBC Sports reporter Joe Wilson. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-24 19:41:15 UTC ]
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In London, the Polari Prize Goes to Angela Chadwick and Andrew McMillan

The previously shortlisted Andrew McMillan and debut author Angela Chadwick are this year's honorees in the LGBT-themed awards program in the UK. The post In London, the Polari Prize Goes to Angela Chadwick and Andrew McMillan appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2019-10-24 09:30:44 UTC ]
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To Sell More Books, S&S Hits the Road

The S&S Selects PrePub Tour sends authors of books due out next season from Simon & Schuster’s five adult imprints across the country to schmooze with literary tastemakers around the country. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-10-18 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Walker signs comedy horror MG debut by Jordan Kopy

Walker Books has signed comedy horror middle grade series Theodora Hendrix and the Monstrous League of Monsters by debut author Jordan Kopy.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-17 21:39:40 UTC ]
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HarperCollins triumphs in 9-way auction for slushpile debut Girl A

HarperCollins has triumphed in a nine-way auction to publish Girl A by slushpile debut author Abigail Dean, with international rights sold in seven territories as well as an ongoing auction in Brazil and offers in Portugal and Israel.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-15 18:13:43 UTC ]
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Raven signs Katherine Faulkner debut after four-way auction

Raven Books has snapped up Greenwich Park by debut author Katherine Faulkner following a "passionately fought auction" with four publishers head-to-head in the final round.   Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-10-15 07:49:05 UTC ]
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