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

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Caitlyn Jenner Is on Pace to Break President Obama's Twitter Follower Record

Bruce Jenner effectively completed his gender transformation today—at least in the public sense—when the former Olympian appeared on the cover of Vanity Fair with the headline, "Call me Caitlyn." His new identity, Caitlyn Jenner, then got her own Twitter handle, @Caitlyn_Jenner, where she... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2015-06-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BookCon 2015: YA Authors: We’re All Hungry for Diversity

As anyone knows who’s read anything by the five authors on today’s diversity panel, none has ever shied away from controversy. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-05-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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HarperCollins to publish first George Macdonald Fraser novel

HarperCollins has acquired the first novel written by Flashman author George Macdonald Fraser, Captain in Calico. The book will be published on 10th September, but throughout August, it will be available from Heywood Hill in Mayfair. Fraser was a longstanding customer at the shop, which... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-05-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BEA debates 'power shift' to authors and readers

The theme of the International Digital Publishing Forum conference on day one at Book Expo in New York was “Putting Readers First,” but whether power has shifted from publishers and retailers to readers - asserted in a keynote by Canelo Publishing’s Michael Bhaskar - was quickly challenged by... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-05-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Fitzcarraldo signs short story collection

Fitzcarraldo Editions has bought the debut short story collection from the winner of the inaugural White Review Short Story Prize, Claire-Louise Bennett. UK and Commonwealth rights, excluding Ireland, were bought from Stinging Fly Press via Peter Straus at RCW.  The collection, titled Pond,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-05-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BEA 2015: Amy Stewart - Gardening Expert to Debut Novelist

When gardening writer Amy Stewart was researching The Drunken Botanist (Algonquin, 2013), about the intersection of botany and booze, she came across Henry Kaufman, a gin smuggler from a hundred years ago. Although she hasn't been able to verify that he's the same Kaufman who ran a silk-dyeing... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-05-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BEA 2015: Children's Breakfast Speakers Say That Life Is a Story

While all of the four speakers at Friday's Children's Book and Author Breakfast emphasized the importance of storytelling to their lives, James Patterson went even further, insisting that books save lives. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-05-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Book Deals: Week of June 1, 2015

Yumi Sakugawa sells an illustrated life and design book to St. Martin's at auction and more in this week's notable book deals. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-05-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Michael Joseph to publish Gerrard memoir this autumn

Michael Joseph will release an autobiography by footballer Steven Gerrard this autumn. The book, called Steven Gerrard: My Story, promises to be an “intimate and revelatory account” of Gerrard’s career. Gerrard joined Liverpool at the age of eight and went on to play more than 700 games for... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-05-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BEA 2015: Building a Successful Publishing Strategy in China

In The Art of War, Sun Tzu tells us, “In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.” Approaching the publishing market in China, it can be hard to distinguish the opportunities from the chaos. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-05-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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PW Launches 'Publishing Luminaries' Awards

The awards will identify and celebrate talented young members of the U.S. publishing community, and bring recognition to them on a global stage. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-05-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BEA 2015: Challenges, Triumph, and Big Debuts at the Adult Buzz Panel

This year, editors presented an even split of noteworthy, forthcoming fiction and nonfiction titles. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-05-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BEA 2015: Hoopla Signs More ‘Big Five’ Deals

Hachette Book Group and Simon & Schuster this week became the latest Big Five publishers to offer audiobook titles to libraries via Midwest Tape’s nascent Hoopla digital platform. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-05-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BEA 2015: A Resource Hub for Indie Authors

Writing can be a lonely endeavor, and self-publishing—without the support of a major house—can be even lonelier. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-05-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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James Patterson Debuts New Children's Imprint

In another effort to encourage children to read, James Patterson has formed the jimmy patterson imprint at Little, Brown. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-05-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BEA 2015: Picture Perfect Stories

What started as a photography blog by former bond trader Brandon Stanton grew into the bestselling Humans of New York (St. Martin’s Press) in 2013. Now, with more than 12 million followers on Facebook. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-05-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BEA 2015: Buzzing Debut YA Titles

Here’s an advance peek at why the editors participating in today’s Young Adult Editors’ Buzz Panel are especially enthusiastic about the novels they will spotlight, as well as their observations on the value of this forum for generating early book buzz. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-05-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Google Closes Down Play Books Publisher

The Digital Reader reports that due to concerns over “rampant commercial piracy,” Google has closed the Google Play Books Partner Center to new users. The post Google Closes Down Play Books Publisher appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-05-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BEA 2015: Boudreaux’s New Eponymous Imprint Set For Early Debut

Less than a year after she moved from HarperCollins’s Ecco imprint to Little, Brown to head her own imprint, Lee Boudreaux is putting the finishing touches on her first list of eight books. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-05-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Studio 28 to publish original novel

Studio 28, the digital-publishing arm of Curtis Brown Literary & Talent Agency, is to publish its first original title. The Swiss Spy by Alex Gerlis will be published as an ebook on Monday 1st June. Studio 28 officially launched in March this year, and will publish in the UK and other... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-05-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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