Children's Books Rights Guide Autumn 2020
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united agents united children’s books rights guide Autumn 2020 All enquiries about translation rights unless otherwise stated to: Jane Willis (Email [email protected] Mobile + 44 (0) 7824 990510 Direct line + 44 20 3214 0892) Jane is assisted by Fatima Amin and Lucy Joyce Email [email protected] Direct line + 44 20 3214 0773 Email [email protected] Direct Line + 44 20 3214 0990 United Agents, 12-26 Lexington Street, London, W1F 0LE, UK Telephone + 44 20 3214 0800, www.unitedagents.co.uk 2 CONTENTS FRONTLIST 12+ THE BOOK OF DUST: THE SECRET COMMONWEALTH by Philip Pullman 5 TORCH by Moira Buffini 6 1984.4 by Philip Kerr 7 THE SILVER CHAIN by Jion Sheibani 8 Children’s NORTHERN LIGHTS illustrated edition by Philip Pullman and Chris Wormell 9 FROSTHEART trilogy by Jamie Littler 10 MOLLY THOMPSON AND THE CRYPT OF THE BLUE MOON 11 by Nick Tomlinson THE SECRET IN THE MAP by Jackie Tucker 12 Non-fiction HAPPY, HEALTHY MINDS by Alain de Botton and The School of Life 13 WHAT CAN I DO WHEN I GROW UP? by Alain de Botton and The School of Life 14 WHAT ADULTS DON’T KNOW ABOUT ART by Alain de Botton and The School 15 of Life WHAT ADULTS DON’T KNOW ABOUT ARCHITECTURE by Alain de Botton 16 and The School of Life WHY SHOULD I GO OUTSIDE by Alain de Botton and The School of Life 17 BLACK AND BRITISH: A SHORT ESSENTIAL HISTORY by David Olusoga 18 HOW TO THINK WHEN YOU DRAW BOOKS 1, 2 and 3 by Lorenzo Etherington 19 Graphic Novels WELCOME TO ODDLEIGH by Tor Freeman 20 DEREK THE SHEEP (3 books) by Gary Northfield 21 VERN AND LETTUCE by Sarah McIntyre 22 USELEUS: A GREEK ODDITY by Alexander Matthews and Wilbru Dawburn 23 SGT CHIP CHARLTON AND MR WOOFLES by Jim Medway 24 DONNY DIGITS by Woodrow Phoenix 25 Picture Books NEVER GROW UP, ALWAYS DOWN by Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake 26 3 CONTENTS BACKLIST HIGHLIGHTS 12+ THE TRAITOR GAME by B R Collins 28 TYME’S END by B R Collins 29 BIG BONES by Laura Dockrill 30 BEING BILLY by Phil Earle 31 HEROIC by Phil Earle 32 THE GOOSE ROAD by Rowena House 33 NOWHERE ON EARTH by Nick Lake 34 THE MISSING TRILOGY by Sophie McKenzie 35 THE SALLY LOCKHART MYSTERIES by Philip Pullman 36 Children’s HOW KIRSTY JENKINS STOLE THE ELEPHANT by Elen Caldedott 37 FROST HOLLOW HALL by Emma Carroll 38 THE BINDI BABES SERIES by Narinder Dhami 39 THE DARCY BURDOCK series by Laura Dockrill 40 A ROOM FULL OF CHOCOLATE by Jane Elson 41 THE MUTE BUTTON by Ellie Irving 42 THE THORNTHWAITE INHERITANCE by Gareth P Jones 43 LYRA’S OXFORD by Philip Pullman 44 ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE NORTH by Philip Pullman 45 I WAS A RAT! By Philip Pullman 46 THE NEW CUT GANG SERIES by Philip Pullman 47 THE SPRITES SISTERS SERIES by Sheridan Winn 48 Younger children’s JUST WILLIAM by Richmal Crompton 49 DICK KING-SMITH 50 Non-fiction DAEMON VOICES by Philip Pullman, edited by Simon Mason 51 BIG IDEAS FOR CURIOUS MINDS by The School of Life 52 United Agents—Children’s Authors 53 United Agents—Children’s Illustrators 54 International Sub-Agents 55 4 THE BOOK OF DUST (BOOK 2): THE SECRET COMMONWEALTH by Philip Pullman An adventure for our times: a thought-provoking look at what it is to under- stand yourself and to grow up and make sense of the world around you. Main Agent: Synopsis Caradoc King Lyra is no longer a child. The Secret Commonwealth is set 20 years after Rights sold: UK and US—PRH in con- the events of La Belle Sauvage: The Book of Dust Volume One unfolded, junction with David Fickling and seven years after readers left Lyra and Will Parry on a park Books bench in Oxford’s Botanic Gardens in The Amber Spyglass, the final Film/TV: United Agents book in the His Dark Materials series. UK paperback publication: Global in scale, The Secret Commonwealth: The Book of Dust Volume 17 September 2020 Two sees Lyra, now an independent young woman, forced to Other information can be navigate a complex and dangerous new world as she ventures far supplied upon request. beyond the edges of Oxford, across Europe and into Asia, in search of an elusive town said to be haunted by dæmons. As well as taking readers on an exhilarating journey into places that are at About the author: once familiar and extraordinary, the book is a timely exploration of Philip Pullman was born in what it is to be human, to grow up and make sense of the world Norwich, UK, in 1946 and around us, from one of the UK’s greatest writers. educated in England, Zimbabwe, Australia and Key points Wales. He studied English at Exeter College, Oxford. His The paperback edition is currently a No. 1 bestseller and includes most famous work is the His exclusive new original illustrations by Chris Wormell. Dark Materials trilogy: North- ern Lights, The Subtle Knife and La Belle Sauvage was a No 1 bestseller in the UK; the first ever chil- The Amber Spyglass. A multi- dren’s book to reach the No. 1 spot on the ebook chart; winner of award winning trilogy Waterstones Book of the Year and Philip Pullman was Author of prizes include the Carnegie the Year at the British Book Awards 2018. Medal (and the Carnegie of Carnegies—chosen as the best winner over the last 70 years), the Guardian Chil- dren's Book Award, a Sample reviews ‘Nibbie’ for Best Book of the Year and the Whitbread [Pullman] has created a fantasy world, made yet more satisfying in (now the Costa) - the first rigour and stylistic elegance. This is a book for getting older time in the history of that with. Guardian, Book of the Week prize that it was given to a children's book. Lyra is all grown up in a rich, vivid sequel. Telegraph 5 TORCH by Moira Buffini A spell-binding debut and a masterclass in world building from an award winning scriptwriter. Main Agent: Synopsis Anna Webber Rights sold: Torch is set many years in the future. It's an adventure story about UK: On submission two young women, Elsa and her friend, Clara. They live many miles away from each other and communicate using what they call 'song.' Film: United Agents We might call it telepathy. Their ability is mistrusted and persecuted Material: ms in their warring society, so they know each other by the nicknames Extent: approx. 100k words Lark and Nightingale. They find it safe to 'meet' only when Elsa Readership: 14+ takes her fishing boat out on the water. UK publication: TBC Elsa's arranged marriage is on the horizon and once she's a wife, she knows she'll lose all the small freedoms that she has. Her life is turned upside down when her boat capsizes at sea and she is res- cued by an enemy ship. Clara's distress gives her abilities away and she is discovered by one of the most dangerous women in the land. The two young women find themselves caught up in political events beyond their control. About the author: Key points Moira Buffini is an award winning dramatist. She has written over a dozen plays, A masterclass in world building with some unforgettable characters, including Dinner, Welcome to asking important, topical questions. The first in a planned trilogy. Thebes and Manor for the Na- tional Theatre, Silence and At it’s heart it might be a novel about personal freedom, about the Lovely for the RSC, Dying For freedom to go where we want to go and, maybe even more im- It for the Almeida and Hand- portantly, to think what we want to think. It is about war and peace, bagged for the Kiln. She has power and politics. It is about empathy and love and friendship in a written many screenplays in- place where such things are suppressed and controlled. cluding Tamara Drewe (2010), Jane Eyre (2011), Byzantium Comparisons include John Wyndham, Ursula Le Guin and Margaret (2013) and The Dig Attwood. (2020/21). She co-created the drama series Harlots for Hulu and was show-runner for three seasons. Lark is her first novel. 6 1984.4 by Philip Kerr A highly topical novel—a homage to Orwell's classic and one that shows that the power of love is stronger than any repression. Main Agent: Synopsis Caradoc King Rights sold: Set in 2034.4, Florence is a keen new recruit to the ‘Renfs’ or Germany (Rowohlt) Retirement Enforcers. At 16 she is a government sanctioned killer. Russia (Kompass) Everyone must have a CT scan at the age of 50 which determines Turkey (Alpha Basim) the age at which their mental decline will begin. They must agree to voluntary euthanasia within two years of the start of their anticipat- Film: United Agents ed decline. Those who refuse when they reach the appointed age Readership: 12+ are sorted out by the Renfs, and if they resist capture they are Material available: ms killed. This makes perfect sense to Florence – as life expectancy has Extent: 320 pp increased, the older members of the population need to free up the German publication: increasingly scarce resources for the younger ones. January 2021 Other children’s books: However Florence’s belief system is shattered when her own The Children of the Lamp series. mother is diagnosed with Early Onset Dementia.