UNITED AGENTS CHILDREN’S TRANSLATION RIGHTS
OCTOBER 2016 NEWSLETTER
THE CELLAR by Natasha Preston is a nail-biting romantic thriller, ripped from the
headlines, about a girl trapped in a cellar by a psychopath. Published in the US by
Sourcebooks it has been in the New York Times YA paperback bestseller list
continuously for 14 weeks and is currently at No 4. Natasha’s new book, THE
CABIN, has just entered the list at No 8.
A well-written, completely absorbing nail-biter of a book…[with] a powerful,
suffocating atmosphere of dread and uncertainty. Bookish
A real treat for avid mystery and thriller fans; the story line pulls you inside the
world of a madman and the women he preys on… never a dull moment. Teen Reads blog
Translation rights have been sold so far to France (Hachette Jeunesse), Italy (Piemme), Mexico
(Selector) and Turkey (Dogan Egmont). Natasha is represented by Jon Elek.
Publishing in January 2017, the UK (Macmillan – Bella
Pagan) and US (Del Rey – Tricia Narwani) covers have been
revealed for GILDED CAGE by Vic James, the first title in the
DARK GIFTS trilogy. A dark and intriguing vision of an
alternate, magic-drenched Britain, it has received an early
starred review from Publishers Weekly:
James’s clever debut, first published on Wattpad,
introduces an alternate present day in which British society
is stratified into aristocrats, who have magical skill, and
mundane commoners, who are required by law to spend 10 years serving the skilled. . . .The setting is
so interesting that readers will eagerly suspend disbelief, and James drops tantalizing hints about how
the rest of the world treats those who do and don’t have access to magic. Brisk plotting, sympathetic
characters, and plenty of intrigue will keep readers on the edges of their seats, eager for the next book
in a very promising series.
Translation rights have now been sold to (all 3 book deals): France (Nathan), Germany (FJB/Fischer),
Hungary (Konyvmolykepzo), Russia (Azbooka-Atticua), Spain, including Catalan, ex US (La Galera),
Turkey (Pegasus). Vic is represented by Robert Kirby and has a new website at www.vicjames.co.uk.
Nick Lake’s much talked about new YA novel, SATELLITE, has been sold to Emma Goldhawk at Hodder
in the UK and to Melanie Cecka at Knopf/Random House in the US. Korean rights have just been sold
to Mirae Media. With an edited manuscript due at the end of the year, simultaneous UK and US
publication is planned for October 2017. Nick is represented by Caradoc King.
One publisher wrote of SATELLITE:
This is a wonderful, moving story; I'm tempted to call it THE MARTIAN for young
adults, but it's more than that. Like THE MARTIAN, there are daring space rescues
and real science, but what really makes it stand apart is the complex protagonist,
coming of age in space, and on earth, grappling with issues of family, identity and
mortality. The writing style, which is swift and sometimes bordering on free verse,
doesn't detract from the power and often the emotions and imagery jump off of the
page, resonating in a poetic and operatic way. Not central to the story but handled
delicately and with beauty nonetheless is Leo's feeling that he’s attracted to boys,
but his real journey is coming to terms with his family and taking control of his destiny, for if he doesn't
return to space, his body will shut down. The daring space rescue that his grizzly romantic grandfather,
a rancher and former astronaut straight out of a Corman McCarthy novel, helps him execute, is
adventure reading at its best. This is a story that will appeal to boys, girls, and adults, and seems tailor
made for the big screen.
Jodie Hodges has just gone out in the UK with BIG BONES. Sitting alongside Geek
Girl, Girl Online and other ‘clean teen’ novels but with, unapologetically, a bit more
grit, BB is the glorious, joyful, warm and unique creation of the phenomenon that
is Laura Dockrill. On top of this new project, ANGROSAURUS REX, the 5th title in
Laura’s Waterstones Prize nominated DARCY BURDOCK series for children, will be
published by PRH Children’s Books in the UK in February 2017. The series has been
translated into 11 languages. Hot Key will publish AURABEL in the UK in April
2017. With selkies, amusement parks, fanged teeth and fake legs it a curious,
hilarious, and riotous sequel to LORALI, Laura’s YA debut. And if that’s not enough Laura has just sold
a collection of her poetry for children to Faber and is working on a unique picture book project with
Walker Books.
Philip Kerr has just delivered the manuscript for his latest children’s book, FREDERICK THE GREAT
DETECTIVE. Inspired by the German classic Emil and the Detectives it follows the adventures of 13
year old Frederick Kissel in 1930s Berlin. Philip combines his mastery of the thriller genre with his
expert knowledge of Nazi Germany in this unique adventure for children. German rights have quickly
been pre-empted by Christiane Steen at Rowohlt and it will shortly be submitted in the UK and US.
Philip is represented by Caradoc King.
Walker Books have just bought UK rights to Rowena House’s debut novel, THE GOOSE ROAD. A
novelisation of her prize-winning short story, The Marshalling of Angelique’s Geese, it is set in France
in 1916. A 14 year old girl battles against bankruptcy and the requisition to save her family’s farm for
her soldier brother to come home to. Ultimately she resolves that she must heard her flock of
Toulouse geese across France to sell them at a Christmas market near the front. Private Peaceful
meets The Lie Tree, it is a deeply moving story with an incredibly authentic feel of time and place.
Rowena is represented by Jane Willis.
Danny Wallace has delivered the manuscript for HAMISH AND THE GRAVITY
BURP, the third title in the bestselling series that started with HAMISH AND THE
WORLDSTOPPERS, the second best-selling debut of 2015. Something very strange
has just happened in the small town of Starkley. Everyone has started to float! Up
and up they go, pressed against the ceilings of their houses, or clinging on to trees
and gutters for dear life! They’ve just experienced a GRAVITY BURP! A momentary
blip in the laws of nature! And the bad news is - it’s only the first! Illustrated by
the hugely talented Jamie Littler, it will be published in March 2017. Rights have
been sold or are under option in 10 territories. Danny is represented by Robert
Kirby and Ariella Feiner. Jamie is represented by Jodie Hodges.
Ellie Irving’s brand new novel, THE MATILDA EFFECT, is a brilliant, mad-cap adventure for children
about a race against time to reclaim Matilda’s Granny’s lost Nobel Prize. Narrated by a feisty sciencemad heroine it will make you laugh out loud while also subtly highlighting the importance of STEM
subjects for girls. UK rights have been sold to Natalie Doherty at PRH Children’s Books and it will be
published in July 2017. Ellie is represented by Jodie Hodges.
In other news from the children’s department (where rights are handled by the publishers):
Hanser published Julya Rabinowich’s debut YA novel DAZWISCHEN: ICH (And in the
Middle: Me), in August to great critical acclaim. A deeply prescient novel with adult
appeal, it is the story of 15 year old refugee Madina, fleeing war and persecution in
her homeland for hoped for security in the West. It is real and unsentimental,
addressing issues of migration and integration alongside the everyday angst of any
modern teenager. Julia is represented by Anna Webber.
Hot Key published Kerry Drewery’s high concept YA thriller CELL 7 on 22
September and have already ordered a reprint. In a world where justice is dictated
by reality TV the audience have seven days to decide whether the accused should
live or die. Translation rights have been sold in 12 territories and a major TV deal
has been agreed with Imperative Entertainment. Kerry is represented by Jane
Willis.
Chicken House have just bought rights to Nick Bowling’s debut novel, WITCHBORN, in a two book
deal. It will be a lead title for Autumn 2017. Nick is a multi-talented young man who combines writing
with stand-up comedy, music and teaching classics. WITCHBORN is a beautifully written, rollicking
adventure story involving secrets, lies and forbidden magic that extends from the dark underbelly of
the City, to the very heart of the Elizabethan Court. Nick is represented by Jane Willis.
Also from Hot Key/Piccadilly Press comes THE THORNTHWAITE BETRAYAL by
Gareth P Jones, published in the UK on 20 October. Delightfully dark and wickedly
funny it is a long awaited follow-up to THE THORNTHWAITE INHERITANCE which
was a bestseller in Sweden. After a lifetime of trying to kill each other the twins
of Thornthwaite Manor have finally called a truce, but when long-lost Uncle Harry
turns up and a series of near-fatal ‘accidents’ occurs, it seems that murder is once
again on the cards. Gareth is a multi-award winning author represented by Jodie
Hodges.
Egmont will publish SEA by debut author Sarah Driver in April 2017. The first
title of a brand new middle grade fantasy adventure trilogy, THE HUNTRESS,
it is sea-churning, beast-chattering, dream-dancing, whale-riding, terrodylflying, world-saving adventure for lovers of Northern Lights, The Lie Tree, The
Last Wild and Rooftoppers. Translation rights have been sold in Italy and
Germany. Sarah won the 2014 Bath Spa Prize for the Most Promising Writer
for Young People and is represented by Jodie Hodges.
All enquiries about translation rights (unless otherwise stated) to:
Jane Willis (Email [email protected] Direct line + 44 20 3214 0892)
Assisted by Naomi Pieris (Email [email protected] Direct line + 44 20 3214 0773)