Croggon to publish new middle-grade fiction with Walker

Alison Croggon, author of the ‘Pellinor’ series for young adults, will publish her first middle-grade fantasy adventure title, The Threads of Magic, with Walker Books.

Walker Books acquired world rights in all languages for The Threads of Magic from Veronique Baxter at David Higham Associates, acting on behalf of Jenny Darling & Associates.

The book follows a young pickpocket, Pip, who lives on his wits in the city of Clarel and finds himself in possession of a curious object: a dried-out heart that is trying to communicate with him.

‘The seed of the tale was the mystery around the Lost Dauphin, the son of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, who was imprisoned and then disappeared during the Revolution,’ Croggon told Books+Publishing. ‘His heart was reportedly stolen and pickled by a doctor who did an autopsy. The Threads of Magic spiraled out of that central horrible image of a dead boy’s heart, but it very quickly took on a life of its own!’

‘Walker Books UK and Candlewick have published all my YA books in the UK and the US since 2005, when they picked up The Books of Pellinor,’ added Croggon. ‘I’m very happy to continue our fruitful relationship with The Threads of Magic.’

Walker will publish the book in the UK in October 2019, and expects to release the book in Australia in December 2019.

Photo credit: Daniel Keene.

Category: Junior Local news Rights and acquisitions