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'


S&S brings forward Malala picture book

Simon and Schuster Children’s Books is bringing forward the publication of Malala, a Brave Girl from Pakistan/Iqbal, a Brave Boy from Pakistan in light of Malala’s recent win of the Nobel Peace Prize, and will publish it next week.   The picture book tells the stories of Malala Yousafzai, who... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-10-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #malala yousafzai #schuster children #bringing forward


Authors on the Air October 31, 2014: Michael Connelly, Aasif Mandvi

Michael Connelly, author of 'The Burning Room' (Little, Brown and Company, 9780316225939) will appear on 'CBS This Morning' on Monday, November 3. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #michael connelly #burning room


Danielle Steel Strikes Ten-Book Deal with PRH

Perennial bestseller Danielle Steel has signed a ten-book deal with Penguin Random House's Ballantine Bantanm Dell imprint. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Wylie praises 'end to publishers cowering to Amazon'

Literary agent Andrew Wylie has said he believes the era of publishers cowering and giving in to Amazon is at an end, comparing the online retail giant to terror group ISIS. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-10-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


H&S acquires debut from 15-year-old

Hodder & Stoughton has acquired The Catalyst, the first novel in a fantasy crossover series from 15-year-old debut author Helena Coggan.   The book, which Coggan started writing when she was just 13, is about teenager Rose Elmsworth, who lives in a world divided into the Gifted (who have... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-10-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hodder stoughton


UK publisher numbers to double at Shanghai children’s fair

The number of UK publishers attending the Shanghai International Children’s Book Fair (CCBF) this year has nearly doubled, with 21 set to attend the November event, compared to 12 last year. The 2013 event was described as "storming" by UK publishers. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-10-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #shanghai children #uk publishers


Authors on the Air October 30, 2014: Philippe de Montebello and Martin Gayford

Philippe de Montebello and Martin Gayford, authors of 'Rendez-vous with Art' (Thames & Hudson, 9780500239247), will appear on 'Charlie Rose' on Thursday, October 30. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #thames hudson #charlie rose


Amazon’s Impact on Publishing? It’s Complicated

An industry panel on Amazon and its business tactics elicited a range of often contradictory responses. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


The publishers that put their content directly on social platforms

As homepage traffic dwindles, some publishers are now creating content that’s designed specifically to live and be read or viewed on social platforms like Facebook and Twitter. But there are risks. The post The publishers that put their content directly on social platforms appeared first on... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2014-10-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #content directly #social platforms #creating content #designed specifically


Silicon Valley Through the Prism of Publishing

Books in Browsers V demonstrated various efforts by Silicon Valley to help the publishing industry explore new digital opportunities. The post Silicon Valley Through the Prism of Publishing appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-10-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishing appeared #silicon valley #digital opportunities


Authors on the Air October 29, 2014: Chris Baty

Chris Baty, author of 'No Plot? No Problem: A Low-stress, High-velocity Guide to Writing a Novel in 30 Days' (Chronicle Books, 9781452124773) will appear on KERA-FM's 'Think' radio show Wednesday, October 29. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #chronicle books


“The West is Running Out of Stories,” say Africans

With Port Harcourt, Nigeria serving as UNESCO World Book Capital 2014, African book publishers consider the future for Africa's writers. The post “The West is Running Out of Stories,” say Africans appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-10-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Short stories from Kuwait win EIBF award

A short story collection by Kuwaiti author Mai Al-Nakib has won the 2014 Edinburgh International Book Festival’s First Book Award. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-10-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #short stories #book award


Facebook offers publishers a Faustian bargain

Facebook's plan to help publishers monetize on mobile sends a shiver down publishers' spines. The post Facebook offers publishers a Faustian bargain appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2014-10-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishers monetize


Snaith wins Bristol Short Story Prize

Leicester-based writer Mahsuda Snaith has won the 2014 Bristol Short Story Prize for her work "The Art of Flood Survival". Snaith, announced as the winner of the £1,000 prize on Saturday (25th October), beat almost 2,500 other entrants from more than 60 countries to win the competition. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-10-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Picador to publish Vietnam deserters tale

Picador is to publish Operation Chaos by Matthew Sweet, a “compelling narrative account” of the true story of a group of US military deserters who found asylum in Sweden during the Vietnam War. Publisher Paul Baggaley acquired UK and Commonwealth rights from Simon Trewin at WME, while Paul... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-10-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #true story #vietnam war #simon trewin #cold war


Authors vie for children's award

David Walliams, Malorie Blackman and Debi Gliori are among the authors on this year's shortlist for the Red House Children's book prize. Continue reading at BBC News

[ BBC News | 2014-10-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #david walliams #malorie blackman #book prize


Why publishers are flocking to explainer videos

The explainer video has become a pervasive format across digital publishers, from BuzzFeed to Business Insider. It’s not a new invention, but it’s proving more and more attractive to publishers as they aim to grow their Web video operations. Here’s why. The post Why publishers are flocking to... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2014-10-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #digital publishers #explainer videos #business insider


Bringing Back the Family Dinner: PW Talks with the Pollans

Can the “family dinner” be revived? In a new cookbook, Corky, Lori, Dana, and Tracy Pollan (mother and sisters to Michael Pollan) set out to find an answer. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bringing back


HarperCollins Debuts Global Podcast Network

HarperCollins has launched HarperCollins Presents, a global podcast network that incorporates the publisher’s existing podcast programs such as BookD and HarperAudio Presents. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |