bbc teams up with archie pAnjabi to adapt anisha accidental detective
BBC Studios Kids & Family has teamed up with Emmy award-winning actress Archie Punjabi to develop the comedic mystery series Anisha Accidental Detective by Serena Patel (illustrated by Emma McCann). Panjabi, the first South Asian woman to win an Emmy award for acting, will exec produce the 10-part live-action series and the script will be written by screenwriter and children’s novelist, Nikesh Shukla.
The deal was brokered by Emily Hayward-Whitlock at The Artist Partnership and Kate Shaw at The Shaw Agency.
geek girl netflix series launches may 30
The TV series based on Holly Smale’s bestselling Geek Girl books debuts on Netflix (outside Canada) on 30 May 2024, and on Canada’s STACKTV streaming channel in Canada.
The screen adaptation was co-created for television by Holly Smale, directed by Declan O’Dwyer, creatively produced by Zoë Rocha and executive producer was Jeff Norton; and it stars Emily Carey as Harriet, Emmanuel Imani as Wilbur, Sarah Parish as Jude, Liam Woodrum as Nick, Tim Downie as Richard, Zac Looker as Toby, Jemima Rooper as Annabel, Sandra Yi Sencindiver as Yuji, Daisy Jelley as Poppy and Rochelle Harrington as Nat.
lesley lokko wins riba gold medal
Lesley Lokko MBE, whose recent Venice Biennale was the second most visited Biennale in its history, has made history again as the first African woman - and only the second black architect - to be honoured with the Royal Institute of British Architects’ prestigious Gold Medal award.
Shaw Agency client Lokko is a Ghanaian-Scottish architect, academic and novelist whose 2023 Venice Architecture Biennale, “Africa: Laboratory of the Future”, put the focus on the African continent for the first time.
Lesley is currently writing her 13th novel, The Lonely Hour, which is due out next year.
headline review acquires ya star zoë marriOtt’s debut novel for aDULTS
Headline Review has acquired The Moonlit Maze, the debut adult novel from award-winning YA author Zoë Marriott. Publisher Sherise Hobbs snapped up world rights from Kate Shaw at The Shaw Agency, with Goldmann victorious in the German Auction. Headline will publish in hardback in June 2025.
The Moonlit Maze is set in the windswept Yorkshire village of Winterthorne in 1924 when a young woman slips away from a glittering ball at Kearsley Castle and into a maze with someone. By morning the grand house is in ashes, two bodies removed and the events of the night covered up. Decades later a newcomer to the village discovers the ruins and realises the past is destined to repeat itself until the dark secret is laid bear and a past wrong put right.
girl who broke the sea nominated for yoto carnegies
The Girl Who Broke the Sea by A. Connors is nominated for the Yoto Carnegies 2024. The longlist will be announced on 13 February 2024 and the shortlist on 13 March 2024.
anisha’s holiday adventure wins!
Serena Patel’s fifth book in her hugely popular Anisha Accidental Detective series (illustrated by Emma McCann) won the Younger Fiction Category of The Week Junior Book Awards.
Published by Usborne, Holiday Adventure was described by the judges as “immersive”, “well-plotted”, “a lot of fun” and “hooks the reader in immediately, right from the near perfect first line.” It beat seven other books to win the prize, which was awarded by actress and comedian Nina Wadia at a star-studded event in County Hall, London, on 2 October 2023.
In her speech Patel thanked her agent Kate Shaw “who believed in Anisha from the beginning and saw it could be a series” as well as illustrator Emma McCann “without whom the books would not be what they are” and “the brilliant publishing team at Usborne”.
The Week Junior Book Awards were launched in 2023 to celebrate the brilliant world of children’s books and are sponsored by Bookily from National Book Tokens.
NETFLIX geek girl tv cast announced
RubyRock Pictures, Aircraft Pictures, Corus Entertainment and Nelvana announces the cast of Geek Girl: Emily Carey is Harriet, Liam Woodrum is Nick, Zac Looker is Toby, Rochelle Harrington is Nat and the cast also includes Tim Downie, Jemima Rooper, Sarah Parish, Sandra Yi Sencindiver, Daisy Jelley, Jemima James and Emmanuel Imani. Filming is taking place in the UK and Canada in summer 2023. The series comprises 10X30 min eps, premiering on Netflix across the world (ex except in Canada where it will debut on STACKTV) in 2024.
shaw agency hat-trick on the week junior book awards shortlist
Three Shaw Agency clients have been named in the inaugural The Week Junior Children’s Book of the Year shortlist, announced on 26 May 2023.
Jasbinder Bilan is shortlisted in the Younger Non-Fiction category for India, Incredible India illustrated by Nina Chakrabarti and published by Walker Books; Serena Patel is shortlisted in the Younger Fiction Category for Anisha Accidental Detective: Holiday Adventure! illustrated by Emma McCann and published by Usborne and Isabel Thomas is shortlisted in the STEM category for The Bedtime Book of Impossible Questions illustrated by Aaron Cushley and published by Bloomsbury.
The Week Junior Book Awards were launched in 2023 - in partnership with The Bookseller - to address the lack of critical discourse around children’s literature caused by reduced review pages and underfunding of libraries.
holly smale’s cassandra is reese’s bookclub pick for june
Holly Smale’s debut adult novel is the June pick for Reese’s Book Club, the book club founded by Reese Witherspoon. Head over to Reese’s Book Club on twitter, instagram and website to see why Reese chose Cassandra in Reverse (the US title for The Cassandra Complex). Reese describes Holly’s book as “so fascinating” with “a lead character whose voice I just loved” and “there’s a twist at the end I did not see coming.”
cassandra complex picked for radio 2 bookclub
Holly Smale’s debut adult novel The Cassandra Complex has been selected for the BBC Radio 2 Bookclub with Zoe Ball, broadcasting on 9 May.
Farshore snaps up anarchic debut fiction series
Farshore has acquired Betty Steady and the Toad Witch, a hilarious illustrated young fiction adventure series by a fantastic debut voice for 7-to 10-year-olds, Nicky Smith-Dale, with illustrations by the internationally renowned Sarah Horne. Lucy Courtenay, Commissioning Editor, signed a three book deal for World All Language rights with Kate Shaw at The Shaw Agency.
Packed with jokes, catchphrases and mayhem, Betty Steady and the Toad Witch is full of lessons in magic, friendship, trust and battles.
Nicky Smith-Dale, author, said, ‘‘Golly gherkins, I’m so grateful to the amazing team at Farshore for appreciating the world of Betty Steady! I can’t wait for everyone to chuckle along with Betty and all her chums in Wobbly Rock.”
Book one will publish in June 2024 in paperback, followed by books two and three in 2025. The series will be illustrated by Sarah Horne who recently described the project on Twitter as “a comedy gold treat with After Eights on top”.
Reported in The Bookseller and BookBrunch, 7 Mar 2023
Geek Girl to netflix
Best-selling teen series Geek Girl by Holly Smale has been developed by Waterside Studios and ordered to series by Netflix. The TV series will be 10 X 30 minute episodes.
Dramatic rights were sold by Kate Shaw at The Shaw Agency and Rebecca Watson at Valerie Hoskins Associates to Jeff Norton at Waterside Studios (part of Corus Entertainment).
The protagonist of Geek Girl, Harriet Manners, is based on author Holly Smale’s own life. Holly was an awkward teenage model herself. Years later, at the age of 39, Holly was diagnosed as autistic. At this point Holly realised her creation, Harriet Manners, must be autistic too.
Holly Smale’s first novel for adults, The Cassandra Complex, a high concept comedic novel with a neurodivergent heroine at its heart, is published this spring by Century in the UK, by Mira in the USA (as Cassandra in Reverse). German, Dutch and Finnish rights are already sold.
The Geek Girl series comprises six novels, two novellas and one World Book Day book, all of which are published by HarperCollins UK and translated into 28 languages.
Reported in The Bookseller, 25 January 2023
lesley lokko awarded obe
Shaw Agency client Lesley Lokko has been awarded an OBE in the first New Year’s Honour List by King Charles III, “for services to architecture and education”. “Speechless and honoured,” said Lokko on receiving the phone call from the British High Commissioner to Ghana, Harriet Thompson. Professor Lesley Lokko is founder and director of the African Futures Institute in Accra, Ghana and an internationally bestselling novelist.
1 January 2023
Century wins seven-way auction for Smale's 'life-affirming' adult debut
Century has won a seven-way auction for The Cassandra Complex by Holly Smale, marking her adult debut after the success of her Geek Girl and The Valentines series. Senior commissioning editor Katie Loughnane acquired UK and Commonwealth rights for two books from Kate Shaw at The Shaw Agency. Rights have been sold to Mira in the US, and the book has also sold in Holland, Finland and Germany. The novel will be published in hardback, trade paperback, e-book and audio in May 2023 with the paperback following in 2024.
"It’s almost exactly 13 years ago to the day that I read the opening chapters of Geek Girl, fell in love with the voice of Harriet Manners and promptly fired off an email to Holly begging to represent her," said Shaw. "Since then Holly has never ceased to amaze me but she utterly blew me away with The Cassandra Complex. It’s quite simply the most ingenious and unpredictable love story I’ve ever read featuring the most authentic and endearing protagonist, Cassandra Penelope Dankworth. I can’t wait for readers across the world to experience it.”
The Cassandra Complex has been pitched as "About Time" meets The Rosie Project.
Loughnane commented: "I was immediately drawn to the high concept and hook of The Cassandra Complex … but it’s the character and unique voice at the heart of this novel that makes it so special."
Smale added: “Cassie is incredibly close to my heart, and we have both found the perfect home with Century. Katie has loved and believed in this book from the start, and I feel so lucky to have such a passionate, talented and creative publishing team to help bring Cassandra to life.”
Reported in The Bookseller, 22 June 2022
Everything with words signs irish feminist fantasy from debut cahill
Everything With Words has signed The World Between the Rain, a debut middle grade fantasy thriller from Susan Cahill.
Mikka Haugaard, editor, acquired world English rights from Kate Shaw at The Shaw Agency.
"Susan’s dreamlike evocation of other worlds is beautifully done in this gripping story," said Shaw. "I love that she turns the ’dark is evil; light is good’ trope on its head."
The World Between the Rain is an Irish-set feminist fantasy where the main protagonists and antagonists are female.
Haugaard commented: "I was immediately captivated by this novel. It is beautifully written: a small work of art and the story is unique, weaving Celtic mythology with other legends."
Cahill said: "I’m absolutely delighted that The World Between the Rain has found a place with Everything With Words. And what good company it’s in. The books that Mikka publishes are beautiful, innovative, and full of heart. I couldn’t think of a better home for this story."
Reported in The Bookseller, 13 June 2022
THE HARE WINS VERMONT BOOK AWARD
Melanie Finn’s novel The Hare wins the 2022 Vermont Book Award for Best Fiction, having been shortlisted twice before for her previous novels The Underneath and The Gloaming. All three novels are published by Two Dollar Radio in the USA.
S&S children’s bitten by sj wills’ slick werewolf series
Simon & Schuster children’s has snapped up Bite Risk, the first book in a teen horror adventure series by SJ Wills in a three way auction.
Lucy Pearse, fictional editorial director at S&S, obtained world rights for three books at auction from Kate Shaw at The Shaw Agency. A German auction is already underway ahead of the Bologna Book Fair.
S&S will publish as a super-lead in June 2023, backed by a major consumer campaign.
Set in Tremorglade and aimed at 11+ Bite Risk follows the teens in an isolated town where all the adults are werewolves and it’s up to them to keep their ferocious parents in check.
farshore lands alien adventures from gregory
Farshore is over the moon to announce the acquisition of two funny, action-packed adventure stories from award-winning middle-grade star Lorraine Gregory. Senior Commissioning Editor Sarah Levison bought world rights to the Interdimensional Explorers from Kate Shaw at the Shaw Agency.
The Interdimensional Explorers sees twelve-years-old Danny swept up in an unforgettable adventure as he ends up in charge of a secret Interdimensional Lost Property Office when his Grandad falls ill.
The first book will publish in June 2023 and book two will follow in early 2024.
Sarah Levison said, “As soon as Lorraine’s manuscript zoomed into our inboxes with as much energy as a giant purple squid riding a Segway, we knew this was a series we had to publish.”
Author Lorraine Gregory said, “I grew up with a huge love of reading but never saw characters like me or my family in the books I read. It’s so important to me now that children from ALL backgrounds can find themselves in books, living a real life but also having amazing adventures and saving the day!”
Kate Shaw said, “Lorraine’s unrivalled in the multiverse for her ability to blend high-concepts with relatable characters and make you laugh out loud. The minute she pitched Interdimensional Explorers to me I was hooked and I’m thrilled Farshore is now bringing the series to children across all dimensions.”
Reported in The Bookseller, 22 March 2022
HACHETTE ACQUIRES A HEART-WARMING MAGICAL MIDDLE GRADE FROM REBECCA KING
Hachette Children’s Group has acquired Ember Shadows and the Fates of Mount Never from debut author Rebecca King. With hints of Alice in Wonderland, shades of The Phantom Tollbooth and echoes of Pixar’s Inside Out, Ember Shadows is a thrilling race through magical realms, as one girl tries to save her sister from a terrible fate.
Lena McCauley, Senior Commissioning Editor at Hachette Children’s Group, acquired world rights for three books in the Ember Shadows series by King from Kate Shaw at the Shaw Agency. Ember Shadows and the Fates of Mount Never is the first book in the series and will publish in paperback on 18th August 2022, enchantingly illustrated throughout by Raquel Ochoa, a Spanish illustrator and designer who has a passion for creating stunning fairy-tale and fantasy characters. The second and third books will publish in 2023 and 2024.
Lena McCauley says, “In this exhilarating, warm-hearted race through magical realms, Rebecca explores the themes of loss, change, love and hope so deftly that it has the feel of a modern classic.”
Rebecca King says, “The idea for this story arose out of a class discussion: half the children I was teaching loved the idea of a certain future while the other half wanted every day to remain a surprise – and so the concept of the Fate Cards and the land of Everspring was born.”
January 2022
lesley lokko appointed curator of the biennale architettura 2023
On 14th December 2021 the Board of La Biennale di Venezia appointed Lesley Lokko as the Director of the Architecture Sector and Curator of the 18th International Architecture Exhibition to be held in 2023. Roberto Cicutto, President of the Board, said that Lesley Lokko’s appointment, “is a way of welcoming the gaze of an international personality”. Lesley Lokko thanked President Cicutto and the entire team for their “bold, brave choice”.
Lokko is an architectural academic, educator and best-selling novelist based in Ghana. Her thirteenth novel, The Lonely Hour, will be published by Pan Macmillan in 2023. The 2023 Biennale Architeturra exhibition will be held in Venice between 20 May and 26 November 2023.
Sphere lands thrilling locked room mystery debut by griffin
Sphere has bought a gripping thriller called The Second Stranger by Martin Griffin. Editor Callum Kenny has bought world rights in two novels by Martin Griffin from Kate Shaw at The Shaw Agency, with the first to be published in early 2023.
The Second Stranger is a thrilling, high-concept locked room mystery in which Remie Yorke is doing her last night shift at a remote Scottish hotel when storm Ezra hits. As temperatures plummet and the blizzard knocks out the phone lines, an injured policeman, PC Don Gaines, stumbles inside. He’s been in a terrible accident on the mountain road and a killer is now free. When a second stranger arrives also claiming to be PC Don Gaines Remie must work out which is which before the murderer kills her.
Callum Kenny described The Second Stranger as “one of the most exciting, high-paced thrillers I have ever read on submission” and Griffin said “it’s been an absolute joy working with Kate Shaw and Callum Kenny on this book”.
Reported in BookBrunch and The Bookseller, December 2021
SCHOLASTIC SIGNS THREE MGS FROM VASHTI HARDY
Scholastic UK has acquired three middle-grade titles from Vashti Hardy, including Firesong, the final instalment in the author's Brightstorm trilogy.
The first title in the trilogy, Brightstorm was shortlisted for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize 2019 and was followed by Darkwhispers in 2020. The third "promises more action-packed adventures" and will be published in May 2022.
Linas Alsenas, executive editor, bought world rights to three titles from Kate Shaw at The Shaw Agency. He commented: " Vashti’s wild imagination is limitless, and Firesong has all the elements her fans have come to expect - it’s only fitting that the twins’ epic trilogy should go out with a bang."
Vashti Hardy said: "Seeing the Brightstorm twins grow up on the page alongside the readers is a special experience and I love meeting children who identify with their ups and downs, and ultimately realise that they can be a strong force for change in the world."
Kate Shaw added: "When Vashti first pitched the Brightstorm adventures to me I knew she was on to something wonderful. Now the books have travelled across the globe and captivated teachers, librarians, booksellers and young readers everywhere."
October 2021
dressmakers OF AUSCHWITZ IS nyt bestseller
Lucy Adlington’s history book The Dressmakers of Auschwitz made it onto the New York Times Bestsellers list at number 4 (Paperback non-fiction) just one week after its publication in the States. In week two it climbed to the number 3 spot and the following week was at number 2. Since then is has hovered in and around the top 5.
Acclaimed by Kirkus as “fresh and moving” The Dressmakers of Auschwitz was published in the English language UK, ANZ and USA in September 2021 and will be published in sixteen other languages throughout 2022.
23 September 2021
debut author’s first prize-shortlisting
Debut author Chrissie Sains has been shortlisted for the Teach Primary Book Awards for An Alien in the Jam Factory. Her brilliant children’s book features a young boy, Scooter McLay, living with cerebral palsy, who is a genius jam inventor.
The winners of the Teach Primary Book Awards will be announced in October 2021. The awards highlight books young people want to read that also encourage learning and discussion. The Teach Primary Awards are hosted in Association with literary website Plazoom and Pearson.
1 September 2021
Scholastic signs cara mailey debut
Scholastic UK are publishing the heartwarming and insightful debut novel written by 12-year-old Cara Mailey - with Chrissie Sains - in the same week that an illuminating BBC One documentary airs about Cara and her family.
Cara has achondroplasia, like her mother and younger brother, and is keen to spread positivity, awareness and understanding through her story. I Got This is her debut novel inspired by her daily lived experiences as a preteen who has achondroplasia, written with Chrissie Sains, author of An Alien in the Jam Factory, which features a main character living with cerebral palsy.
Cara and her Belfast-based family appear in BBC One documentary, “Keeping Up with the Maileys”. Cara first gained notice when she was featured on CBBC “The Dengineers”. Since then Cara has appeared in a CBBC documentary “My Life: Made to Measure” where she helped design a fashion line for children with achondroplasia.
Linas Alsenas, Executive Editor at Scholastic UK, acquired World English Rights from Kate Shaw at The Shaw Agency. I Got This will publish in April 2022.
19 August 2021
wilde shortlisted for wales book of the year
Wilde by Eloise Williams is one of only three books shortlisted in the Children & Young People category of the Wales Book of Year 2021 People’s Choice Award. The award is sponsored by Wales Art Review.
July 2021
school’s cancelled shortlisted for lollies
We’re thrilled to announce another shortlisting for the comedy writing and illustrating duo Serena Patel (author) and Emma McCann (illustrator). The second book in their ANISHA: ACCIDENTAL DETECTIVE series, SCHOOL’S CANCELLED, is shortlisted for the Laugh Out Loud Book Awards 2021. The Lollies celebrate the best and funniest children’s books and are voted for by children. The winners will be announced in early 2022.
July 2021
hq digital signs new louise mumford THRILLER
To be published in May 2022 and as yet untitled, Louise Mumford’s new thriller is about 21 year old Esther, who has always believed the air outside the bunker she shares with her mother is toxic. Then a stranger turns up - the first new person in 16 years - and Esther’s whole life unravels. The deal for World English rights was struck between Dushi Horti of HQ Digital and Kate Shaw of The Shaw Agency.
14 June 2021
The very merry murder club goes to farshore
Farshore, formerly Egmont Books UK Ltd, has signed The Very Merry Murder Club, a new middle grade mystery anthology. With stories from 13 children’s authors it is edited by The Shaw Agency’s Serena Patel and Murder Most Unladylike author Robin Stevens. Publishing Director Lindsey Heaven signed world rights in all languages from Kate Shaw of The Shaw Agency and Gemma Cooper of The Bent Agency (for Robin Stevens). Heaven said: “Serena and Robin, with their joint passion for excellent crime & mystery storytelling and diverse representation, have brought together a stunning array of talent,” and Patel added: “I grew up not seeing myself in the stories I loved so this is a subject close to my heart. With this collection we hope to inspire children from all backgrounds to fall in love with crime stories and perhaps write their own one day.”
April 2021
anisha: ACCIDENTAL DETECTIVE shortlisted for THE NIBBIES
The Shaw Agency’s Serena Patel is the only debut author to be shortlisted for a prestigious British Book Award (also called the Nibbies) in the Children’s Fiction category. Anisha: Accidental Detective (published by Usborne, illustrated by Emma McCann) is up against tough competition but we know she can handle it. Winners are announced at a virtual Nibbies on 13 May 2021.
March 2021
the shaw agency’s chris haslam and serena patel on branford boase 2021 longlist
Two Shaw Agency authors are honoured on this year’s Branford Boase longlist. Chris Haslam and his editor at Walker Books, Frances Taffinder, are longlisted for Orla and the Serpent’s Curse; and Serena Patel and her editor at Usborne, Stephanie King, for Anisha Acccidental Detective. We’re so proud of all of them, as well as Anisha’s illustrator Emma McCann and all the publishing teams at Walker and Usborne.
February 2021
SLeepless optioned for tv
Insurrection Media, Inc has secured the rights to Sleepless by Louise Mumford in the week that Sleepless became the most pre-ordered title across the HarperCollins UK group. Described as “The Circle meets Black Mirror” by John Marrs (bestselling author of The One) Sleepless joins Insurrection’s growing slate of television series which has produced hits such as the Netflix drama Tiny Pretty Things and The Dead Girls Detective Agency on Snap.
January 2021
usborne acquires three more from patel
Usborne has acquired three more books in Serena Patel’s Anisha Accidental Detective series. The series was launched by Usborne in March 2020 with Anisha, Accidental Detective, which won the Sainsbury's Book Award. It was followed by School's Cancelled in September and the third in the series, Granny Trouble, will be published in July 2021.
Commissioning editor Stephanie King acquired UK and Commonwealth rights rights to three more titles from agent Kate Shaw at The Shaw Agency. Book four in the series will be published in November 2021, followed by books five and six in 2022.
The new titles will include more "madcap mystery stories" featuring the sensible, scientific Anisha Mistry, her best friend, animal-whisperer Milo, and Anisha’s huge, chaotic British-Indian family, says the publisher. Emma McCann will continue to illustrate the series
Edited article by Tamsin Hackett The Bookseller, January 25, 2021
Trapeze buys more from ashdown
Trapeze has acquired The Close plus one other novel from Isabel Ashdown. Publishing director Sam Eades acquired world rights from Kate Shaw at The Shaw Agency.
The Close is an "intensely dark and suspenseful" novel exploring the hidden lives of the residents of Golden Close, a gated community built on the site of a former asylum.
Eades said: "I’ve always loved Isabel’s writing but she has really upped her game with The Close, and we will match her ambition with an exciting new publication strategy launching in audio first. The Close has that addictive, compulsive quality of the best TV boxsets like 'The Nest' or 'Doctor Foster'.”
Edited article by Tamsin Hackett, The Bookseller, November 26, 2020
lokko moves to pan mac with 2 new novels
Lesley Lokko is moving from Orion to Pan Macmillan with two “intoxicating” multi-generational novels. Associate publisher Wayne Brookes acquired world English rights from Kate Shaw at The Shaw Agency.
Soul Sisters is “a rich, inter-generational tale of love, race, power and secrets centred on the lifelong friendship between two women: Scottish Jen McFadden and South African-born, British-educated Kemi Mashabane”.
Brookes said “I have been a huge fan of Lesley Lokko since her first novel Sundowners. Being able to launch Lesley’s new novels from the Pac Mac list is a career highlight for me.”
Lokko said: “I'm delighted to be working with Wayne Brookes at Pan Macmillan. A big, big thank you to my agent, Kate Shaw, for bringing us together.”
Edited article by Mark Chandler, The Bookseller, November 12, 2020
school’s cancelled SHORTlisted for blue peter book awards 2021
We’re so proud that Serena Patel’s second novel in her Anisha: Accidental Detective series, published by Usborne and illustrated by Emma McCann, is on the Blue Peter Book Award shortlist. This is such an honour! Two other Shaw Agency clients - Vashti Hardy and Andy Seed - are past winners and we’re now rooting for Serena and Emma to join them. The winners in the Best Story and Best Factual Book will be announced live on World Book Day 2021 on Blue Peter. This hugely popular CBBC programme has been on our screens for 62 years.
ANISHA: ACCIDENTAL DETECTIVE WINS SAINSBURY’S CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARDS 2020
We are thrilled to announce that Serena Patel’s novel, illustrated by Emma McCann and published by Usborne, has won the fiction category of this year’s Sainsbury’s Children’s Book Awards 2020. Now in its seventh year, these awards, run in partnership with The Book Trust, highlight the best children’s books for families to share.
welbeck to publish ‘brilliantly funny’ children’s series by andy seed
Welbeck will publish a new non-fiction children’s series by Andy Seed and Nick East, launching Interview with a Tiger & Other Clawed Beasts Too on 17 September. Associate Publisher Laura Knowles acquired world rights from Kate Shaw at the Shaw Agency, representing Seed. A second title in the series, Interview with a Shark and Other Ocean Giants will follow in the spring with further titles after that.
Edited article by Tamsin Hackett, The Bookseller, September 4, 2020
vashti hardy’s wildspark wins blue peter book award 2020
The winners of the Blue Peter Book Awards 2020 were announced on World Book Day, with The Shaw Agency’s Vashti Hardy winning the Best Story category for Wildspark! What an honour! Vashti was interviewed alongside Amanda Li, who won in the Best Factual Book category, on CBBC’s Newsround and Blue Peter.
Isabel thomas’s moth wins aas/subaru prize for excellence in science books 2020
Isabel Ashdown’s Moth: An Evolution Story, illustrated by Daniel Egneus, has been honoured as winner in the Children’s Science Picture Book category of this prestigious prize. This prize is awarded annually by the American Association for the Advancement of Science and is sponsored by Subaru. It recognises and encourages the writing, illustrating and publishing of outstanding science books for all ages.
ANISHA SELECTED FOR THE SUMMER READING CHALLENGE
Serena Patel’s debut children’s book Anisha Accidental Detective is selected by children and librarians to be part of The Reading Agency’s ‘Silly Squad’ Summer Reading Challenge 2020.
deal of the week: DRESSMAKERS CAUSES INTERNATIONAL STIR
For six figures at auction, Sara Nelson at Harper bought North American rights to Lucy Adlington’s narrative history The Dressmakers of Auschwitz. Adlington sold the book to Hodder & Stoughton in the UK after a five-way auction brokered by Kate Shaw at the Shaw Agency. Allison Hellegers at Stimola Literary Studio brokered the US sale on behalf of the Shaw Agency, which also noted that the title has, to date, sold in 10 international deals.
Edited article by Rachel Deahl, Publishers Weekly, December 2, 2019
Adlington’s Dressmakers of Auschwitz won by Hodder amid international rights frenzy
Hodder & Stoughton has won Lucy Adlington’s narrative history The Dressmakers of Auschwitz in a five-way auction.
The book tells the true story of the young women and teenagers who were saved from the gas chambers to sew haute couture dresses at a tailoring studio within Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp.
On the basis of the proposal, in the UK, it was acquired by Rupert Lancaster at Hodder & Stoughton in a deal negotiated by Kate Shaw of The Shaw Agency. In the US, it sold at auction to Sara Nelson, the US editor of The Tattooist of Auschwitz, at Harper in a deal brokered by Allison Hellegers at Stimola Literary Studio, working on behalf of The Shaw Agency.
Ten translation rights deals have also been done by the Intercontinental Literary Agency on behalf of The Shaw Agency. It has so far sold rights in Spanish, Catalan, Dutch, Italian, Portuguese (Portugal), Portuguese (Brazil), Hungarian, Czech, Slovak, and Lithuanian.
Adlington said: "Uncovering and sharing the real life stories of these remarkable women is a privilege. I am so pleased to be working with experienced, enthusiastic editors to bring The Dressmakers of Auschwitz to a wide readership."
Lancaster at Hodder & Stoughton said: “I was very moved by Lucy’s proposal. Her expertise as a costume historian gives her a unique perspective on the dressmakers’ tragic stories that I’m sure will resonate with readers all over the world.”
Edited article by Katherine Cowdrey, The Bookseller, November 27, 2019
wildspark shortlisted for the blue peter BOOK awards 2020
Wildspark by Vashti Hardy is one of three books shortlisted in the Best Story category of the Blue Peter Book Awards 2020. Children will now read and judge all the shortlisted books and the winners of the Best Story and the Best Factual Book will be announced during Blue Peter, CBBC on World Book Day, March 5, 2020.
Walker buys first children’s book from Sunday Times’s Chris Haslam
Walker has acquired a middle grade adventure story from the Sunday Times chief travel writer Chris Haslam, writing as C J Haslam.
Executive editorial director Denise Johnstone-Burt bought world right in all language to Orla and the Serpent’s Curse from Kate Shaw at the Shaw Agency.
The book tells of Orla Perry, a budding conservationist on a family holiday on the Cornish coast, who finds an ancient necklace in the woods and uncovers a 200-year-old curse that is poisoning the earth. According to a legend, only Orla can stop the curse.
Johnstone-Burt said: “We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Chris to the Walker list with his wonderful children’s debut, Orla and the Serpent’s Curse. His dry wit and sense of adventure shine through this atmospheric mystery. I knew the minute I met Orla, and her sidekick, Dave the dog, we had to publish this exciting witchy adventure.”
Haslam is the author of three black comedy thrillers for adults, including Twelve Step Fandango, shortlisted for the Edgar Allen Poe award.
Orla and the Serpent’s Curse is scheduled for April 2020.
Edited article by Benedicte Page, The Bookseller, November 28, 2019
OVERBROOK OPTIONS THE RED RIBBON
Overbrook Entertainment has optioned Lucy Adlington's YA novel, The Red Ribbon, about a 14-year-old Jewish girl working as a seamstress at Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp.
Film rights have been acquired by Hollywood-based Overbrook from Emily Hayward-Whitlock at The Artists Partnership, on behalf of Kate Shaw at The Shaw Agency.
Overbrook founder James Lassiter and president Caleeb Pinkett are attached to produce the film.
Pinkett said: “I believe The Red Ribbon to be a very powerful and moving story, which can be adapted into an award-winning film that will be heartfelt and captivating to all audiences.”
Founded in 1998 by Will Smith and Lassiter, Overbrook has developed and produced films including "I-Robot", "The Secret Life of Bees" and "Annie".
Tattooist of Auschwitz (Zaffre) author Heather Morris said The Red Ribbon "captivates, inspires and ultimately enriches".
Edited article by Katie Mansfield, The Bookseller, November 5, 2019
Chicken House lands MG mystery series by debut author Holly Rivers
Chicken House has struck a three-book deal with debut author Holly Rivers for her middle-grade mystery series, Demelza and the Spectre Detectors via Kate Shaw of The Shaw Agency.
Demelza and the Spectre Detectors publishes in February 2020, with the cover illustrated by acclaimed artist Alex T Smith.
Rivers, who is no stranger to children's books after starring in ITV's "Worst Witch" series as a child, said: "Demelza has found a perfect home with Chicken House, and I can't wait for readers to don their thinking caps, pick up their soldering irons, and join her on her first otherworldly adventure!"
Cunningham said: "Holly and Demelza are both charismatic, funny and engaging characters – a perfect pair to make their mark in children’s books together, I can’t wait to publish."
Shaw added: "Demelza and the Spectre Detectors is a gothic, gripping and gorgeous story that will fire up young imagination."
Edited article by Katie Mansfield, The Bookseller, October 8, 2019
eloise williams selected as inaugural children’s laureate wales
Eloise Williams, author of Gaslight (Firefly), has been named the first-ever Children’s Laureate Wales.
The newly-formed post was announced at Jubilee Park Primary School in Newport where Williams is patron of reading. "I want you to feel empowered by words, so that you can be the authors and storytellers of today and tomorrow," the author told students. As Children's Laureate she will encourage self-expression and develop literacy and communication skills amongst children; be an ambassador and positive role model for children, championing their rights and interests and raise the visibility of children’s literature in Wales, nationally and internationally.
Edited article by Katy Docherty, The Bookseller, September 18, 2019
The Shaw Agency has struck a two-book deal with Orion and a hat-trick of deals with Nosy Crow in its first month of business
Kate Shaw has sold UK and Commonwealth rights (excluding Canada) to two books by Jo Clegg to Orion Fiction.
BAFTA and Emmy award-winning script writer Clegg’s debut, Summer with the Wellbeloveds, is about one woman’s disastrous attempts to transform herself into a holiday goddess for a dreaded family break with her frenemy.
Shaw also negotiated three separate deals with Children’s Publisher of the Year, Nosy Crow. Shaw sold world rights and translation to Nosy Crow’s head of fiction Kirsty Stansfield for two new stand-alone thrillers for 8-12-year-olds by award-winning children’s novelist Fleur Hitchcock.
World rights and translation for Alex Cotter’s first two stand-alone novels for 8-12-year-olds were also sold to Stansfield. The first, The House on the Cliff, is a "chilling drama about Faith’s precarious home life and the secrets hidden beneath the crumbling cliffs on which their house teeters". Cotter has previously written Carnegie-nominated teen novels under the name Alex Campbell.
Completing the hat-trick of deals with Nosy Crow, Shaw sold world rights and translation to a new title by Blue Peter Book Award-winner Andy Seed to Nosy Crow's head of non-fiction Rachel Kellehar. Seed’s Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyph Book will be written in consultation with British Museum’s experts.
Announcing the deals Shaw said: “I am indebted to the authors I represent for their terrific writing and hard work and to these publishers for their support and great taste.”
Edited article by Katie Mansfield, The Bookseller, July 25, 2019