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'


Confessions of a Gay Erotica Writer in the Era of Indie Publishing

Self-published gay erotica writer M.P. Rey reveals his joy at moving from the dusty shelves of hidden rainbow-flag bookstores to better status on Amazon. The post Confessions of a Gay Erotica Writer in the Era of Indie Publishing appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-03-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #post confessions #indie publishing #dusty shelves


Mondadori and RCS Libri: An Italian Publishing Coup in the Making?

Marcello Vena discusses the offer Mondadori has made for RCS Libri, which would merge two of Italy's strongest education and trade publishing groups. The post Mondadori and RCS Libri: An Italian Publishing Coup in the Making? appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-03-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #rcs libri


VIDEO: Pupils 'spooked' by leading author

Pupils from St Edmund Arrowsmith High School meet author Joseph Delaney and talk to him about his best-selling book The Spook's Apprentice which has just been made into a Hollywood film. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2015-03-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #best-selling book


Sheila Barry on Publishing Children’s Books That Matter

Sheila Barry of Canada's Groundwood Books, discusses the challenges of consistently publishing an engaging variety of books to children of all ages. The post Sheila Barry on Publishing Children’s Books That Matter appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-03-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #groundwood books #matter appeared #publishing children #sheila barry


Confession of a traditional publisher: Inhabiting ‘that moral middle ground’

Robots haven't completely replaced media salespeople, but they've forced the role to evolve. In the latest in our Confessions series, an anonymous publishing exec says that while it's hard to get print reps with digital skills, too many digital salespeople don't even bother to read the company's... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2015-03-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #traditional publisher #confessions series #digital skills


E-book software company Trajectory signs deal with Tencent, plans to double workforce

It's a fact: even though printed books are not yet dead, there's an increasing number of people who are turning to ebooks to read their favorite book. Trajectory, a Marblehead-based company launched three years ago by two technology veterans, seeks to not only help publishers distribute their... Continue reading at Silicon Valley Business Journal

[ Silicon Valley Business Journal | 2015-03-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #printed books #increasing number #favorite book #online retailers


Jack White's Publishing Upstart Signs with Consortium

Grammy Award-winning rock musician Jack White's indie publishing effort, Third Man Books, has signed a North American distribution with Consortium, and is looking ahead to releasing three titles in 2015. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-03-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #jack white #man books


Management Group to Buy Peter Lang Publishing

A senior management group has agreed to acquire Switzerland-based international academic publisher Peter Lang Academic Publishing. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-03-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Livres Canada Books: Your Convenient Connection to Canadian Publishing

Livres Canada Books facilitates networking and connections to help the international publishing community to discover the latest from the vibrant Canadian publishing market. The post Livres Canada Books: Your Convenient Connection to Canadian Publishing appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-03-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #canadian publishing


Stephen King to release story collection

A collection of stories from Stephen King and the autobiography of footballer Didier Drogba will be among the new releases from Hodder & Stoughton this year. The Hachette UK division last night (12th March) held its annual showcase event, unveiling its highlights for the year ahead, which... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-03-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #year ahead #stephen king #hodder stoughton #sophie hannah


Terry Pratchett, acclaimed fantasy author, dies

Pratchett is the author of such works as 'Wyrd Sisters,' 'Night Watch,' and 'The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents.' He was knighted in 2009 and was the bestselling author in the United Kingdom in the 1990s. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2015-03-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #terry pratchett #bestselling author #night watch #united kingdom


2014 profit drop for Lagardere Publishing

Hachette UK’s parent company Lagardere has released its results for 2014, showing that profits at Lagardere Publishing, which includes Hachette UK as well as other publishing divisions across the world, were €197m, down by 12% or €26m year-on-year. Sales for 2014 came to €2,004m, down 4.5% from... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-03-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #lagardere publishing #hachette uk #publishing divisions #publishing division #general literature #english-speaking countries


Publishers Posted Solid 2014 Sales Gains

Driven by gains in the children’s/young adult and K–12 instructional materials segments, publishers’ sales hit $15.72 billion in 2014, up 4.9% over the previous year, according to the Association of American Publishers’ StatShot program. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-03-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #american publishers #/young adult


European publishers share their biggest revenue challenges

Digital advertising revenue isn't replacing publishers' lost print revenue. So, publishers are having to create new business units to make up the loss. But that's hard to pull off. Trinity Mirror says it's looking at user behavior to identify new revenue streams. Meanwhile, Norway's Dagens... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2015-03-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #business units #trinity mirror #revenue streams


Shantaram sequel to be published in October

Little, Brown will publish a sequel to Gregory David Roberts' Shantaram this October, 10 years after the release of the original. The Mountain Shadow will get a global publication on 13th October, with Little, Brown publishing across the UK and Commonwealth, and Pan Macmillan releasing it in... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-03-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #13th october #global publication


MJ buys debut in six-figure pre-empt

Michael Joseph has acquired a debut novel byUS author Alexandra Oliva in a six-figure pre-empt ahead of the rest of the world. Editorial director Jessica Leeke bought UK and Commonwealth rights to the book, titled The Last One, from Caspian Dennis at Abner Stein on behalf of Lucy Carson at the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-03-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #six-figure pre-empt #michael joseph #caspian dennis #abner stein #friedrich agency


Authors Annoyed by Gender-Segregated School Visits

Some public schools now exclude boys from school visits by female authors and it is driving authors crazy. The post Authors Annoyed by Gender-Segregated School Visits appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-03-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #public schools #school visits #female authors


Acclaimed 'Discworld' author Terry Pratchett dies aged 66

Sir Terry Pratchett, the author best known for his Discworld series, has died aged 66. His novels weaved fantasy, science fiction, satire and whimsy to great effect -- more than 80 million Discworld books have been sold worldwide. Despite publishing ... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2015-03-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #discworld series #science fiction


Profits Fell 12% at Lagardere Publishing in 2014

Profits at Lagardere Publishing, parent company of Hachette Book Group, fell to 197 million euros in 2014 from 223 million euros in 2013. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-03-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #lagardere publishing


Spirituality and Religion Update: Evergreens for Publishers

Certain kinds of books are the staff of life for publishers, because readers never tire of them. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-03-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #religion update