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'


VIDEO: Meet the Author: Kate Saunders

Nick Higham meets Kate Saunders who has won the Costa children's book award for Five Children on the Western Front. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2015-01-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #costa children #kate saunders #book award


Costa Short Story Award identities revealed

The identities of the finalists for the Costa Short Story Award 2014 have been announced, with writers from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland making the shortlist. The shortlist was chosen by a panel of judges including writers Patrick Gale and Victoria Hislop; Richard Beard,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-01-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #victoria hislop #richard beard #national academy #fanny blake #books editor #simon trewin


Authors speak out against ethnic and cultural stereotyping

Writers believe that the publishing industry still views them largely through a prism of ethnicity, but industry insiders say that there is no pigeonholing based on race. Authors told The Bookseller they are still defined by their racial identity for marketing purposes and receive more success... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-01-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #authors speak #authors told #publishing industry #industry insiders #racial identity #marketing purposes #publishing houses


Oneworld acquires debut set in NY restaurant

Oneworld has signed a debut novel set in the behind-the-scenes world of New York's restaurants. Sweetbitter, by Stephanie Danler, follows Tess, who arrives in New York and soon finds herself working at one the city's landmark restaurants. While learning to enjoy the food and other substances... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-01-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Big Changes at Penguin Publishing Group

Madeline McIntosh, who was named president of the Penguin Publishing Group last September, put her own stamp on the division last week. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-01-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #madeline mcintosh #named president


DBW Panel : Can Publishers Take Advantage of Reader Data?

Publishers are awash in data about readers' habits. Now: what to do with it all? Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-01-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #reader data


No, we haven’t banned books on pigs – but sensitivity is key in global publishing | Jane Harley

At Oxford University Press we have to balance children’s cultural and learning needs, while retaining some healthy common senseGiven that our editorial guidelines that reference pigs and pork have been in place for as long as I can remember, little did I imagine that they would attract... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-01-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publish books #positive impact #real difference


Publishers 'need to standardise OA policies'

Publishers need to standardise their Open Access publishing policies to reduce confusion among authors, while steps such as aggregated billing for Article Processing Charges could help with the administrative burden, according to a newly released report from the Copyright Clearance Centre.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-01-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #administrative burden


Farage to publish pre-election book with Biteback

Biteback Publishing has signed a new book by UK Independence Party (UKIP) leader Nigel Farage. The Purple Revolution: The Year that Changed Everything was signed by Biteback m.d. Iain Dale in a deal with Charlie Brotherstone at Ed Victor. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-01-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #biteback publishing #iain dale #charlie brotherstone #ed victor


DCMS stats: wider publishing industry worth £9.9bn in 2013

The wider publishing industry – including book, journal, newspaper and magazine publishing - was worth more than £9.9bn to the UK economy in 2013, 3.2% up from the year before, according to newly released government statistics. The rise is slightly above the 2013 UK annual inflation rate of 2.5%. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-01-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #uk economy


Five Trade Publishing Predictions for 2015

The CEO of Publishing Technology offers his five predictions for trade publishing in 2015, including more hybrid pubs, content marketing and mobile reading. The post Five Trade Publishing Predictions for 2015 appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-01-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #trade publishing #content marketing #mobile reading


Short Takes: Religion Publishing News Briefs, January 14, 2015

Catholic publishers elect new board members; Barbour author honored twice; Lucado’s latest is Family’s Book of the Year; Zondervan author on four-city tour; IVP a Best Workplace for Sixth Year. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-01-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #sixth year #short takes #board members #zondervan author


Pigs won’t fly in textbooks: OUP tells authors not to mention pork

Guidelines for writers have come to light telling them to avoid mention of anything which might offend overseas marketsStringent guidelines from educational publishers, that warn textbook authors off touching on topics from pork to horoscopes to avoid offending students in other countries, have... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-01-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publisher harpercollins #educational publishers #news earlier


International Alliance of Independent Publishers on Charlie Hebdo

In response to the Charlie Hebdo attacl, the International Alliance of Independent Publishers has issued a statement of support for freedom of expression The post International Alliance of Independent Publishers on Charlie Hebdo appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-01-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #international alliance #independent publishers #charlie hebdo


W&N buys debut about female astronaut

Weidenfeld & Nicolson has bought a debut novel about a female astronaut and an aging scientist. Publishing director Kirsty Dunseath bought UK and Commonwealth rights to Good Morning, Midnight by Lily Brooks-Dalton from Esmond Harmsworth at Zachary Shuster Harmsworth. The book charts the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-01-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #weidenfeld nicolson #good morning #book charts #outer space


Publishers Are Lining Up Behind ‘Netflix for Books’ Services. But Why?

On Tuesday, Scribd and Oyster both announced partnerships with Macmillan to bring new titles to their ebook subscription services. But how do all-you-can read platforms benefit publishers? The post Publishers Are Lining Up Behind ‘Netflix for Books’ Services. But Why? appeared first on WIRED. Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2015-01-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #post publishers #announced partnerships


Record year for children’s

Led by hits from David Walliams, Jeff Kinney and Egmont’s Minecraft stable, the UK children’s market hit an all-time high in revenue and market share in 2014, and exceeded sales of Adult Fiction for the first time since accurate records began. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-01-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #uk children #record year #david walliams #jeff kinney #market hit #all-time high #market share #adult fiction


Digital publishers turn to cartoons to cover the news

The future of digital publishing is increasingly borrowing from the long history of newspapers' political cartoons. The post Digital publishers turn to cartoons to cover the news appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2015-01-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #news appeared #digital publishing #long history


Why British publishers don’t sweat new US competition

Buzzfeed, HuffPo, Mashable and Vice have all set up in the U.K. Agencies weigh in on their collective impact. The post Why British publishers don’t sweat new US competition appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2015-01-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #competition appeared


Marunas Named Publisher at Quercus U.S.; Shelley to CEO at Little, Brown U.K.

Nathaniel Marunas has been named publisher of the U.S. division of British publisher Quercus, and David Shelley has been named as the successor to Ursula Mackenzie at Little, Brown U.K., with MacKenzie set to retire. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-01-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #named publisher #david shelley #ursula mackenzie