A Very Merry Christmas from Darley and his Angels
December 2013
What a fantastic and busy year 2013 has been for the Agency. In amongst all the exciting authors, books and deals, we also celebrated 25 phenomenal years as an agency on 2nd December, and, as well as celebrating our anniversary, we had a very special Darley’s Angels Christmas party.
We are looking forward to what the new year brings and receiving many more submissions in 2014!
A very Merry Christmas from us all.
Two New Children's Authors!
November 2013
We are thrilled to welcome Martyn Ford and Caroline Crowe to the Darley Anderson Children's Book Agency.
Martyn is a 26-year-old journalist from Hampshire, where he writes for the Bordon Herald. His first story for younger readers is called The Imagination Box and will be published by Faber & Faber.
Caroline spent ten years as a national newspaper journalist and section editor before taking time out to look after her two young sons. Do Pirates Wear Pyjamas? is her first picture book and will be published by Little Tiger Press.
With these two brilliant new authors, we look forward to further expanding the children’s agency in 2014!
Adam Perrott writes some Mighty good stories!
August 2013
Our very own Adam Perrott, along with illustrator Clare Elsom, has teamed up with Persil and the Be Mighty campaign to create fun, action-packed adventures for children. Not just wickedly entertaining, these stories aim to show kids just how character-building challenges can be.
You can make your child the star of the story, or let them have great fun creating their very own adventure here:
www.persil.co.uk/kids-activities/be-mighty-stories/
Happy Publication Day Cathy!
June 2013
The latest addition to the delicious Chocolate Box Girls series, Coco Caramel, is out now and has gone straight to No.11. Congratulations Cathy!
Silent Saturday is out NOW!
April 2013
We are thrilled to announce the hard back publication of Silent Saturday by Helen Grant, the first in the chilling Forbidden Spaces Trilogy.
Seventeen-year-old Veerle is frustrated with life in suburban Brussels. But a chance encounter with a hidden society, whose members illegally break into unoccupied buildings around the city, soon opens up a whole new world of excitement—and danger.
When one of the society's founding members disappears, Veerle suspects foul play. But nothing can prepare her for the horror that is about to unfold when an old foe emerges from the shadows... No one is safe, and The Hunter will strike again...
Silent Saturday has already received fantastic feedback with the Daily Mail saying, “Grant has established herself as a major talent in YA fiction and this menacing story of stalking and murder simply confirms that.”
Read the full review here:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/books/article-2296998/YOUNG-ADULT-FICTION.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
Thank you to all of Helen’s fans who were able to make the launch for Silent Saturday at Waterstone's Brussels and Treasure Trove Books in Tervuren. For anyone who missed out check out her brilliantly creepy trailer here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcy8_576eBY&list=UU-Yw600YJyQR1g65YhnxHCg&index=1
Helen Grant is highly acclaimed YA author and her titles have been shortlisted and longlisted for the CILIP Carnegie Medal. Silent Saturday is published by Bodley Head, Random House UK, on 4th April 2013.
Bestselling Bittersweet Is No. 3 In Children's Chart!
March 2013
Much-loved children's author Cathy Cassidy's World Book Day book, Bittersweet is number 3 in the children's fiction bestseller list for the second week in a row!
She is also No. 5 this week in the UK's bestselling books of the week.
Cathy Cassidy continues to take the children's chart by storm with sales figures (from only 2 weeks) approaching 80,000 - congratulations Cathy!
Bittersweet hits No.8 in The Bookseller chart
March 2013
Massive congratulations to Cathy Cassidy!
Not only was she one of the 8 popular children’s authors specially selected to represent World Book Day, but her book Bittersweet has flown into the no. 8 spot in The Bookseller’s UK top 50 chart.
Celebrating reading all over the world, this year’s World Book Day was aiming to be the best World Book Day ever! And we’re absolutely thrilled that Cathy Cassidy has helped to make this happen.
Curse of Kings trailer is out NOW!
February 2013
The 'writer to watch' (Inis magazine) Alex Barclay has released a trailer to mark the release of her first Trials of Oland Born instalment, Curse of Kings.
Click below to watch it!
Trials of Oland Born: Curse of Kings by Alex Barclay is out today!
January 2013
"Fiercely imaginative, with razor-sharp twists and a plot that moves so fast it ignites" Derek Landy, author of Skulduggery Pleasant.
The first instalment of the highly anticipated fantasy trilogy by Alex Barclay is out today! Congratulations Alex!
The setting is a hugely atmospheric fantasy world of medieval castles, Romanesque games arenas, supernatural forests and harsh seas. Terrifying hybrid creatures and monsters abound – and Oland’s greatest ally is a girl called Delphi who has dark secrets of her own.
Fourteen-year-old Oland Born lives in dark times, in a world ruled by evil tyrant, Vilius Ren. Vilius and his fearsome, bloodthirsty army have wrecked the prosperous kingdom of Decresian, once ruled by good King Micah. Oland himself has been kept as Vilius’s servant in grim Castle Derrington, and he knows little about his past – or why Vilius keeps such a sharp, close eye on him.
One night, Oland finds a letter addressed to him, from the long-dead king. No sooner has he read the message than a mysterious stranger tries to kidnap him. Oland runs, the dead king’s warning ringing in his ears…
If Oland is to live he must restore the shattered kingdom. This is his quest. This is his curse. Let the trials of Oland Born begin…
“Curse of Kings firmly establishes Alex Barclay as a name to watch in the world of children’s books.” Sarah Webb, The Irish Independent
Trials of Oland Born: Curse of Kings is Alex Barclay's first title for young readers. Brazilian Portuguese rights have already been sold to Bertrand Brasil. Trials of Oland Born: Curse of Kings is published in the UK by HarperCollins Children’s Books on January 31st 2013.
Michelle Harrison Nominated for The Amazing Book Awards - THE LONG LIST Congratulations Michelle!
January 2013
Michelle Harrison's Unrest is on the long list for The Sussex Coast Schools Amazing Book Awards!!!
In December Unrest was nominated for the Carnegie Medal, shortlisted for the Coventry Inspiration Awards and longlisted for the Redbridge Book Awards.
Congratulations Michelle!
To read an interview with Michelle Harrison and to find out more about her latest spine-tingling page-turner visit....
www.darleyandersonblog.com/2012/04/26/an-interview-with-michelle-harrison
Cathy Cassidy Visits Paris
December 2013
Cathy Cassidy has just returned from a fantastic trip to Paris for the Montreuil Children’s Book Festival.
The fair opened on Wednesday 27th November and lasted until 2nd December. Cathy received a very warm welcome from her French publisher, Nathan, and they made it a very special and memorable trip for her. Cathy said: ‘I am so happy with what they are doing, and that the books are doing so well.’
In some exciting news for Cathy and the agency, the rights team are currently negotiating the first ever deal in comic rights, for THE CHOCOLATE BOX GIRLS: CHERRY CRUSH, with Editions Jungle. Cathy has seen the roughs for the edition and is thrilled.
Lorna Scobie makes a difference with The Art of Ping Pong
November 2013
We're immensely proud that our very own Lorna Scobie was selected to join eight of the UK’s top artists and illustrators in designing a ping pong bat for this year's Children In Need.
The auction opened on Friday and will run until Friday 15th November. So get there quick to bid on Lorna’s amazing design.
Sweet Success for Cathy Cassidy
June 2013
More congratulations are due to Cathy Cassidy, as her latest book, Coco Caramel, debuts at No.8 in the Bookseller’s Children’s Fiction bestseller list. Clearly The Chocolate Box Girls series is delighting her readers’ taste buds!
Congratulations to Pete Williamson!
May 2013
2013 is shaping up to be a busy year for Pete Williamson, artist, illustrator and animation designer. Not only does he have a book a month coming out between February and July, but two of his titles have made exciting shortlists.
Granny Grabbers' Whizz Bang World by Charlotte Haptie is shortlisted for the 2013 James Reckitt Hull Children's Book Award and the Leeds Book Awards, alongside Fright Forest by Marcus Sedgwick.
AND Pete has one of the busiest publication schedules we’ve ever seen: February saw the release of Granny Grabbers' Daring Rescue by Charlotte Haptie (Hodder), March introduced Lillyput by Sam Gayton (Andersen Press) and April arrived with The Cafe at the Edge of the Moon by Francesca Simon (Orion Early Readers). We can’t wait for Scream Sea by Marcus Sedgwick (Orion) and To Be A Cat paperback by Matt Haig (Corgi), which will both be released in May, followed by Cudweed's Time Machine by Marcus Sedgwick (Orion) in June and Stitch Head and the Spider's Lair by Guy Bass (Stripes) in July.
Congratulations Pete on a fantastic start to 2013!
For more information and for more of Pete's wonderful illustrations, please click here. Also, visit our blog for an interview with Pete, where he reveals more about his world of the spooky, gothic and weird…
Bittersweet Is No.4 In UK Bestseller List!
March 2013
Bittersweet moves up a place in the UK bestseller list to number 4, missing out on the number 3 spot by less than 100 copies!
The UK Official Top 50 combines fiction, non-fiction, children’s, cookery, all formats (hardback and paperback).
Cathy Cassidy also catapults into number 2 on the children's fiction list, ahead of almost all the other World Book Day books.
Watch the music video by Bittersweet's star Shay Fletcher here:
The Darley Anderson Children’s Book Agency meets the writers of tomorrow
March 2013
As part of book week, Comber Grove Primary School invited Clare Wallace and Vicki Le Feuvre to the Tate Britain Café for a workshop about children’s literature.
Clare and Vicki met with groups of children aged 9-10 and discussed what makes a good story, our favourite children’s titles and the common mistakes that aspiring authors make. Afterwards, the children went in search of inspiration, sat amongst the art, and started writing.
Polly Ho-Yen, a teacher at Comber Grove Primary School, and a Darley Anderson author, said ‘The kids loved it and we were all buzzing afterwards.’
Cathy Cassidy Releases BITTERSWEET For World Book Day on March 7th
March 2013
Cathy Cassidy is one of eight authors realeasing a £1 book for World Book Day.
Thursday the 7th of March is World Book Day. Childrens authors and illustrators will be taking part in live events across the country to encourage children to read. All nursery, primary and selected secondary school children will be given a £1 book token to buy one of these eight books.
Bittersweet tells the story of Shay, the boy with the cool blond fringe and the blue guitar, the boy who smells of darkness and the ocean and who is Cherry’s boyfriend. But it wasn’t always this way. Once, he was in love with Honey, Cherry’s oldest step-sister. Since their break-up, bitterness has twisted every word she’s said to him.
Now Honey needs his help. Should Shay reach out to her – or is it safer to steer clear?
Dip into the delicious world of the Chocolate Box Girls, as for the first ever time Shay gets the chance to tell his own story. And don’t miss the rest of the Chocolate Box Girls series: Cherry Crush, Marshmallow Skye and Summer’s Dream.
The Odds Strike Back! TODAY!
February 2013
Congratulations to Adam Perrott for the publication of the second title in the hilarious series about The Odds, a family of Professional Pranksters.
These meddlers are often to blame for life’s inexplicable little hiccups. Have you ever put down a drink, gone to do something else, and come back to find the drink is nowhere to be seen? Or what about falling flat on your face just seconds after buying an ice-cream? That’s The Odds! And now they are striking back!
But when the Odds face inspection by the Head Pranker to ensure they're still up to their meddling best, they are in for a shock. The inspector is none other than Mr Nobody, sworn enemy of Mr Odd.
This will call for a spectacular pranking plan…
The Odds Strike Back! is out now and last week Adam Perrott met with Stripes Publishing to talk about his life as a full-time dad and children's author http://www.littletiger.co.uk/tiger-blog/an-interview-with-adam-perrott
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CathyCassidy TV Goes Live
January 2013
Puffin HQ have created a fantastic new Youtube channel-CathyCassidy TV!
Fans of her Chocolate Box Girls series will be delighted to see colourful characters such as Skye, Cherry and Summer brought to life in their new video-blog diaries.
Click below for Cherry from Cherry Crush:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSL6oo03w5Y
Click below for Skye from Marshmallow Skye:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fag8TbaZ8V4
Click below for Summer from Summer's Dream:
Random House Children's Publishers acquire Polly Ho-Yen
January 2013
RHCP are thrilled to have acquired the Darley Anderson Children's Agency's début author Polly Ho-Yen.
The Bookseller announced today:
Random House Children's Publishers has acquired two books from début author Polly Ho-Yen, who previously worked in marketing at Hodder, with the first to be a stand-alone novel for readers aged 9+.
Boy in the Tower is described by the publisher as "a captivating fable about fear and hope, loneliness and friendship". Lauren Buckland, fiction commissioning editor at RHCP bought UK and Commonwealth rights from the Darley Anderson Children's Book Agency.
It all began on the day the rain stopped falling.
First, the buildings fell. Then the people on the streets. No one could explain why. Until they found the Bluchers.
Ade lives on the seventeenth floor of an inner city tower block. He’s just an ordinary boy. Apart from the fact that his mother won’t leave her bedroom. And he’s only got one true friend: the girl he’s known all his life, Gaia.
When the Bluchers, a plant-form that dissolves buildings and release fatal spores into the air, take over the city, everyone is forced to evacuate and Ade is left alone to face them.
Trapped in his tower block, how can Ade survive as the Bluchers weave their deadly circle around his home?
Boy in the Tower will be published in summer 2014.
http://www.thebookseller.com/news/rhcp-acquires-polly-ho-yen.html