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 ]
News tagged with: #debut children #fantasy series #bloodthirsty unicorns #annabel steadman #unicorn thief #film rights #first-time author #simon schuster #debut author

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Story of ‘bloodthirsty unicorns’ brings debut author record publishing deal'


Sharjah Book Authority Announces its 2023 Publishers Conference

The three-day Publishers Conference professional program this year runs October 29 to 31, just ahead of Sharjah International Book Fair. The post Sharjah Book Authority Announces its 2023 Publishers Conference appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2023-09-18 17:22:40 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


What the sale of a major American book publisher means for authors, the industry — and you

Book publisher Simon & Schuster's sale to investment firm KKR is novel in many ways, but also part of a long-term trend. History tells us to expect the unexpected. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2023-08-08 17:35:35 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book publisher


‘There’s an industry-wide mental health crisis’: authors and publishers on why the books sector needs to change

After a survey revealed the stresses that authors face when placed in the spotlight for the first time, publishing houses and industry bodies have pledged extra training and pastoral careAuthor and publisher welfare has been a hot topic in the books industry of late. Publishing houses, trade... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-07-18 15:13:43 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #survey revealed #industry bodies #books industry #hot topic #mental health #anna frame #communications director #english pen #independent publisher #bookseller #publishing houses


Authors leave Hungarian publisher in protest at sale to Orbán-linked college

Libri Group’s takeover by Mathias Corvinus Collegium raises fears of crackdown on literary freedomsThe takeover of Hungary’s largest publishing house and bookstore chain by a private foundation with close ties to the country’s prime minister, Viktor Orbán, has prompted walkouts from authors who... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-06-23 11:38:44 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #close ties #prime minister #viktor orbn #literary fiction #bookstore chain


A rare Maurice Sendak story will be published next year.

Almost 60 years after the publication of Where The Wild Things Are (November 23 will mark the rumpus), the world is getting a new children’s book from the late Maurice Sendak. HarperCollins Publishers will be releasing Ten Little Rabbits: A Counting Story with Mino the Magician, a count-along... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-06-22 13:53:52 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #wild things #harpercollins publishers #harpercollins #children’s book


This Bestselling Author Says Publishers Rejected His New Thriller Because He’s White. I Read It, and I’m Not So Sure.

If you believe that the role of a novel is to instruct readers on correct moral positions, then Trial is a masterpiece. Continue reading at Slate

[ Slate | 2023-06-20 16:38:36 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bestselling author


Michael Caine announces debut thriller to be published in November

The actor’s novel, Deadly Game, features an ex-SAS police officer called Harry who must grapple with neo-Nazis, wealthy Russians and Colombian drug cartelsDeadly Game, the debut novel from Michael Caine, will be published in the UK and US in November, it has been announced.The actor, 90, has... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-06-07 13:35:48 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #uk publisher #michael caine #east end #lead character #debut novel


Book Review: ‘Code Red’ and ‘Calling the Moon: 16 Period Stories From BIPOC Authors’

Decades after “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret,” an anthology and a novel let readers see periods through the eyes of diverse protagonists. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2023-06-02 09:00:39 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book review #bipoc authors #anthology


Publisher and Author Elizabeth Sherrill Dead at 95

Sherrill was a cofounder of Chosen Books and co-author of bestsellers such as 'The Hiding Place' with Corrie ten Bloom, who hid Jews during the Holocaust. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-06-02 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #chosen books


U.S. Book Show 2023: Debut Authors in Conversation

First-time authors Alice Carrière, Tereh Shelton Harris, and Kelsey James will discuss their forthcoming books. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-05-12 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #debut authors #forthcoming books


Child authors discuss books, world records

Four-year-old author Saeed Almheiri discussess his book, The Elephant Saeed and the Bear, and his sister Aldhabi, 8, discusses hers, Here Was the Beginning — waxing poetic about its effect on classmates. Saeed has the Guinness world record as the... Continue reading at CBC

[ CBC | 2023-05-11 21:11:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #world records #female author


UK publishing industry reports record-breaking year in 2022

There were 669m physical books sold in the UK last year, according to new figures from the Publishers AssociationThe UK publishing industry had a “record-breaking year” in 2022, with a total income of £6.9bn.A Year in Publishing, a look at the state of the book market by trade body the... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-04-17 11:26:08 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #record-breaking year #trade body #publishers association #book market #books sold #publishing industry


Survey Finds Self-Published Authors Making Gains

The median income for self-published authors increased substantially in 2022 compared to 2021, to $12,749 last year—more than the median for authors published by traditional houses. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-04-17 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #median income #authors published #traditional houses


Millie Bobby Brown's debut novel is inspired by grandma's 'very personal' WWII story

Millie Bobby Brown of 'Stranger Things' will release her debut novel later this year. 'Nineteen Steps' is inspired by her grandma's experiences during WWII. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2023-03-24 22:14:27 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #stranger things #nineteen steps #debut novel


I believed readers only wanted trauma stories from writers of colour. Then I became an author | Zoya Patel

For so long, it seemed that readers were only interested in the experiences of people like me if we were traumatised, not triumphant – and I internalised this as an indisputable factGet our weekend culture and lifestyle emailI can’t pinpoint exactly when I started imagining myself in the stories... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-03-18 19:00:19 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #weekend culture #young age #cultural diversity #pop culture #hachette


8 Sad Short Stories to Quickly Bring the Tears

If you want a little shot of sadness, here are some of the best sad short stories to get the emotions flowing in no time! Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-03-08 11:36:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #short stories


Rediscovered Terry Pratchett stories to be published

Twenty stories written under a pseudonym and never before attributed to Pratchett, who died in 2015, will be released this year by TransworldA collection of newly rediscovered short stories by Terry Pratchett, originally written under a pseudonym, are to be published later this year.The 20 tales... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-02-27 14:52:08 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #terry pratchett #originally written #short stories


New Publisher Sibylline Press Celebrates Women Authors Over 50

Distributed to the trade by Publishers Group West, the publisher will release six new books this fall, and plans to publish twelve books a year starting in 2024. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-02-22 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #year starting


Deal Reached in HarperCollins Strike as Publisher Has Another Bad Quarter

HarperCollins has reached a tentative agreement with its striking union that includes an unspecified increase in minimum salaries. The deal was announced shortly after the publisher reported that sales fell 14% in the quarter ended December 31, and that profits plunged 52%. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-02-10 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publisher reported #bad quarter #tentative agreement #harpercollins


Meet the Champion of Debut Authors

If you are a debut author or a literary fiction and nonfiction stan, you’ve likely heard of Debutiful. Adam Vitcavage launched the podcast and website dedicated to highlighting the work of debut authors in January 2019. It has since become a beacon in the literary community, helping over 100,000... Continue reading at Electric Literature

[ Electric Literature | 2023-01-18 12:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #post meet #debut authors #website dedicated #literary community #electric literature #literary fiction #debut author