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'


Frankfurt Book Fair 2014: Publishers Urged to Reclaim Copyright Debate

Copyright is "more important than it has ever been," but has the copyright debate been hijacked by anti-copyright forces, including those in the tech sector? Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishers urged #tech sector


Short Takes: Religion Publishing News Briefs, October 8, 2014

Wanda Brunstetter tops 8 million; publishers partner to provide resources to churches. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #short takes #publishers partner


Frankfurt Book Fair 2014: Spanish Author’s Short Novel Causes Stir

Amid a flurry of seven-figure deals igniting this year’s Frankfurt Book Fair—many for books by first-time American authors—a short Spanish novel has generated buzz, and some hefty advances. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #spanish author


Self-Published Books Topped 450,000 in 2013

Although it comes with a number of caveats, Bowker's newest report on the number of self-published titles rose again in 2013, increasing 16.5%, to 458,564. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Authors on the Air October 8, 2014: Yochi Dreazen

Yochi Dreazen, author of 'The Invisible Front: Love and Loss in an Era of Endless War' (Crown, ISBN 9780385347839), will appear on NPR’s 'Diane Rehm Show' on Thursday, October 9. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Canadian Authors Hit by Hachette-Amazon War

Canadian authors say the Hachette-Amazon fight is hurting U.S. sales, particularly for writers looking to break into the American market. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #canadian authors #american market


Authors on the Air October 7, 2014: Katha Pollitt

Katha Pollitt, author of 'Pro: Reclaiming Abortion Rights' (Picador, 9780312620547), will appear on NPR’s 'Diane Rehm Show' on Wednesday, October 8. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Surprising Range: Religion Publishing in Minnesota

The Midwest is home to many religion specialty publishers, across the full spectrum of faiths. Often publishing houses spring up because of the migration of certain ethnic and religious groups to the center of the country, but sometimes the reasons are more serendipitous. Minnesota, for example,... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #religion publishing #full spectrum


Should publishers take Web design cues from print?

Bloomberg may be building its digital footprint, but it's still taking some design cues from print. The post Should publishers take Web design cues from print? appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2014-10-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Frankfurt Book Fair 2014: Betting Big on Publishing’s Future

If you had $10 million to invest in a new publishing business today, with no limitations or obligations, where would you put your money? That's the question put to an opening panel at Frankfurt Book Fair's digital conference, ConTec. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #betting big #$10 million #opening panel #digital conference


When Publishing Begins to Look Like a Bad Relationship

On the eve of the 2014 Frankfurt Book Fair, Ed Nawotka wonders if publishers, booksellers, and authors need to closely examine their relationships with each other. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-10-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


SESA: A New Publishing Collective from Southeast and South Asia

Malaysian literary agent Linda Tan Lingard has formed an alliance of a half-dozen publishers to show off what the region’s writers have to offer at the Frankfurt Book Fair. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-10-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishing collective


Frankfurt Book Fair 2014: Two Debuts Draw Seven Figures

This year, two novels have sold to U.S. editors, for a rumored seven figures each, just before the Frankfurt Book Fair kicks off on Wednesday. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


How Dan Roth became the most powerful editor in business publishing

When Dan Roth left Fortune for LinkedIn, the publishing world thought he was crazy. Now he holds publishing's most powerful editorial position. The post How Dan Roth became the most powerful editor in business publishing appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2014-10-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #dan roth #business publishing


Bookshops hope super Thursday will help start a new chapter for publishing

Hardback titles by the likes of John Cleese and Jacqueline Wilson go on sale in race for Christmas bestseller listsTim Walker is expecting queues outside his familys bookshops in Oakham and Stamford on Thursday. Other booksellers up and down the country will be hoping for a similar rush of eager... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-10-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #year hit #andrew motion #heston blumenthal #fight back


Authors ask the government to investigate Amazon

The Authors Guild met with Justice Department officials to ask the agency to launch an investigation into Amazon, expressing concern that the retail giant might be violating antitrust law in its fight with Hachette over ebook terms. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2014-10-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #investigate amazon #expressing concern #retail giant #ebook terms


Book Deals: Week of October 6, 2014

Gotham invests in canine, Jimmy Choo and more in this week's notable book deals. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book deals


Frankfurt Book Fair 2014: Onix 3.0: Global Publishing, Global Metadata

Among the challenges technology poses for publishing is the issue of how to handle globalization. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #global publishing


Religion Update Fall 2014: The Business of Scholarly Publishing

The shape of publishing continues to shift, but academic presses still face the perennial questions: audience, sales, course adoptions, a shrinking library market. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #scholarly publishing #publishing continues #academic presses


Religion Update Fall 2014: SBL’s Publishing Program Evolves

The Society of Biblical Literature has long published books, but on July 1, 2014, the society renamed its publishing program SBL Press, creating a new identity as a scholarly publishing house. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #biblical literature