John Jarrold’s Corner: Book Deals for Curtis Jobling and Suzanne McLeod
Some great news from John Jarrold: two of his clients have just received great new deals!
PRESS RELEASE – MAJOR US DEAL FOR YA FANTASY SERIES
Zosia Knopp, Rights Director at Penguin UK, has confirmed a two-book deal with Kendra Levin at Penguin US for Curtis Jobling’s new YA Fantasy series WEREWORLD, for a significant sum. World rights in the books were acquired by Shannon Park at Puffin from agent John Jarrold. Puffin will publish the first volume in January 2011.
“Curtis and I are delighted that he will be published by Penguin across the English-speaking world. This is a fantastic deal! Congratulations to all involved,” said John Jarrold.
I’m very happy for Curtis and YA readers both! I’m reading Rise of the Wolf at the moment and all I’m going to say is keep a lookout for it in Jan 2011 – I’m pretty sure it’ll be one of the big YA sellers of next year. 
Next up, German readers of Suzanne McLeod’s Spellcrackers series have yet more awesomeness to look forward to:
PRESS RELEASE – GERMAN DEAL FOR THIRD SUZANNE MCLEOD URBAN FANTASY
Krystyna Kujawinska, Foreign Rights Manager at Orion, has sold German rights to THE BITTER SEED OF MAGIC – Suzanne McLeod’s third SPELLCRACKERS.COM urban fantasy – to Goldmann, who have already published the first two books in the series.
Six books in the series have been acquired by Jo Fletcher at Gollancz from agent John Jarrold.
Great news indeed!
Congrats to both authors – not only are the books kickass (going on what I’ve heard for Suzanne’s Spellcrackers here, haven’t read them yet) but they’re both awesome people, and it’s always great when kickass things happen to great people.
Be EPIC!
Paul S Kemp gets a new Duology-deal in the Star Wars EU
Some great news has been doing the rounds for a couple of days now, via the Star Wars.com message boards and hints on Twitter, but the news is now finally official: Paul has signed a two-book deal (hardcovers) for a duology set in the Star Wars Expanded Universe. I for one am extremely chuffed!
I read and reviewed Paul’s first Star Wars EU novel, Crosscurrent, a while ago and loved it, and I’m eagerly awaiting his The Old Republic MMO tie-in, Deceived (featuring the Sith Lord, Darth Malgus) and the sequel to Crosscurrent, Riptide – by the time Riptide is on the shelves we should have a good idea of what his new Duology will entail. Until then, though, if you haven’t yet read Crosscurrent, get down to your closest bookstore and pick it up. You can also have a look around for Paul’s non-Star Wars novels – check out his website here (Erevis Cale), here (Pathfinder) and here (RA Salvatore’s War of the Spider Queen) for the details.
Be EPIC!
I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore – now available in South Africa
Yep, our store’s copies arrived today and myohmy are they stunning! Hardcover and at a damn good price, too – I almost started reading the book all over again, although I have no idea just what that swirly thing on the cover is.
Anyway, to celebrate the availability of the book here in SA, I’m re-posting my review; readers in SA can pop over to their nearest Exclusive Books store and will probably find a copy waiting for them to devour. (;-))
Review:
Reading this book put me in mind of discovering JK Rowling’s Harry Potter novels, years ago, and for all good reasons.
Number Four is a fifteen-year old Loric, an alien from the planet Lorien, and he’s being hunted by the race that destroyed his planet and his people. You see, Nine Loric children were saved and sent to Earth, giving them the only chance they had at surviving. But they are being hunted once more and three of the Loric children have already been killed – Number Four know’s that it’s just a matter of time before the hunters track him and his protector and kill him too.
Why am I comparing this book to the Harry Potter series? (No, the publishers haven’t paid me to say that – in fact, the first they hear of it will be when they read this review) Well, remember when you read Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone? Remember when you really felt yourself getting caught up in the story, when you wanted to knock Malfoy onto his behind and thought that Hermione was irritating and Ron was a dope and Harry was this lost kid in a world he didn’t understand? Remember how easy it was to get caught up in the story, how easy it was to cheer for Harry? How cool the mysteries were that Harry had to solve?
That’s what I’m talking about here, that kind of comparison. I Am Number Four introduces you to a world where you are placed in the shoes of a fifteen-year old alien kid who has never known a moment’s peace, never known friendship (other than the friendship he has with his guardian), is always on the run, and knows that if he is caught, he’ll be killed. The journey that Number Four goes on starts off as a journey that none of us (hopefully) have ever known (and hopefully will never), but it becomes the kind of journey that we are all busy taking, and this is definitely one of the strongest aspects of this novel.
It’s a real hero’s journey, and an enjoyable journey, too – I’ve been out of High School for almost eleven years now and I was taken back to just how damn crap and awesome it could be while I was submerged in this novel – the bullies, the teachers, the girls, the dragging classes… I don’t want to say too much about what happens in the novel, but it definitely has a bit of everything on the emotional scale – love, hate, rage, acceptance, peace, happiness, etc. I was able to allow myself to completely submerge myself in Number Four because he was genuinely a likeable character and it didn’t take me long at all to begin cheering for him.
‘Pittacus Lore’ also sprinkles that tale with mysteries, little nuggest that get you wondering about what Number Four can do and what’s happening around him, and all the loose ends are tied up by the end of the novel. One of the mysteries is a bit obvious, at least on face value, but I was still pleasantly surprised when the answer was revealed.
The world-building is a bit sparse, but I think this was necessary – too much information about Number Four’s home-world would have been overkill and too much info about the Loric’s would have similarly taken much of that ‘discovery’-factor from the novel, so I’m glad that not every question I had was answered. One of my problems, though, was that sometimes certain explanations seemed a bit too easy and quick, but that’s a small problem.
What I enjoyed most was when Number Four’s Legacies begin developing (nope, not telling you what they are, either) – I thought that it was handled in a fresh, exciting way and I’m looking forward to when Number Four develops more Legacies in the next book.
All in all, this is a superb opening to what I really hope will become a huge series – not only in terms of success for the author, but huge in terms of becoming a phenomenon to rival Harry Potter and Twilight, and with the movie on the way (being directed by DJ Caruso) I’m sure that this book will turn out to be a massive hit. We need to get more people to fall in love with reading, and with vampires on their way out (speaking as a bookseller) it’s time for something new and kickass to take the top position.
If you like characters that you can relate to (no matter what their age or your age), getting introduced to a cool new ‘mythology’ and witnessing awesome action scenes then you’ll enjoy this book – it’s been hyped, sure, but I really think the hype is deserved. One thing is for damn sure – the movie (unless it’s completely raped like I heard happened to Percy Jackson) will be awesome!
8 / 10
Head on over to the official website for much more.
Be EPIC!
Sam Sykes’ The Lost Pages
Saw some pretty damn cool stuff on Sam Sykes’ website this morning: he’s put up a ‘Lost Pages’ section and has filled it with some awesome stuff, including the following –
Pics of Lenk’s supporting cast: Kataria (the awesome, bitchy, all-humans-must-die Shict), Dreadaeleon (the age-afflicted Wizard), Denaos (the shifty can’t-be-pinned-down Han Solo’s-nightmare thief), Asper (the priestess hiding something truly terrifying), Gariath (the massive, brutal, awesome Rhega) and a surprise at the end.
Each pic is accompanied by a journal-entry written by Lenk, leader of these mismatched and always-at-odds adventurers, and other than the pics and the journal entries what interested me the most was the character and circumstances behind the Lost Pages – maybe a hint of things to come? 
Check out the Lost Pages here, and here’s a link to the guy who did the character designs.
Either way, for those who’ve read Tome of the Undergates, the Lost Pages are something cool, both visually and also illuminating a bit more of the characters, to tide us over until Black Halo (Book 2) is released.
And I’m seriously looking forward to Black Halo!
Be EPIC!
Cover Reveal: Star Wars – Red Harvest by Joe Scheiber
The cover has been revealed and myOHmy does it look cool!
Now, going entirely on the cover, I’m expecting even greater things from this novel. How’s that, you ask? Well, look at the dude: there’s a good bet that he’s a Sith, considering the time in which this novel is set ( ) and considering that Death Troopers (reviewed here) didn’t have any Jedi / Sith or Force Sensitive individuals in it, I’m really looking forward to seeing what Joe can do by blending horror and Sith… Red Harvest may also give us a lightsaber battles, too, and I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of lightsaber battle Joe writes.
Also, the ‘liquid’ leaking from the Sith’s mouth? I’d bet that has something to do with whatever has made the Sith look slightly more unbalanced than is the norm.
The novel will be released in hardcover and audiobook in December; click here to pre-order the hardcover at Amazon US, here for Amazon UK, and click here to pre-order the audiobook at Amazon US and here for Amazon UK.
Don’t forget to visit Joe’s webpage, either.
Be EPIC!
Jennifer Rardin: RIP
I was stunned and saddened to see the news this morning. 
Jennifer passed away on the 20th of September. I haven’t yet read her novels though, as a bookseller, they’ve been consistent sellers and even here in South Africa she’s got quite the fan-base. I don’t think that’ll change.
I added Jennifer as a friend and Facebook some time ago, not because we were friends or had previously met, but because I thought it’d be great to have the odd moment to interact with her and chat about her novels and writing in general. Jennifer was going to to a guest blog-post on this blog in November, and even though that won’t happen anymore, Jennifer’s presence will still be felt on the blog from November onwards. I’ll be reading her books and spotlighting them on the blog, in an effort to keep her memory alive and to keep people talking about her work.
Jennifer struck me as an incredibly warm, friendly person, with absolutely no airs and graces, and that in itself is something important to celebrate about her. Urban Fantasy as a whole has lost someone wonderful, but our loss is as nothing compared to what her family has lost, and my heart goes out to them.
According to her website, book seven in the Jaz Parks series will be out in November, and the final book, which Jennifer completed, will be out in June 2011. Right now, and for some time to come, let’s miss her and remember her.
Be EPIC!
I Haven’t Read it Yet: The Dawning of Power by Brian Rathbone
Here’s another book that I just haven’t gotten round to reading yet. Brian contacted me via Twitter wayyyy back -I’m talking only a couple of months after the blog began- and sent me a PDF copy of The Dawning of Power.
I’m still trying to get into as many of the Indie-published or small press novels I’ve been sent, so I don’t want to give any kind of time frame, but The Dawning of Power will definitely be coming up in about 4 or 5 reads.
Here’s the novel’s blurb and cover:
And here’s a booktrailer, too:
To order your copies, visit the novel’s page on Brian’s site or follow this link to Amazon US and this link to Amazon UK.
Be EPIC!
The Macht are Returning: Read a Sample Chapter of Corvus by Paul Kearney
I had another post in mind but when I saw this (via my trusty Google Reader) I knew that I had to share it:
Solaris Books is offering a free sample chapter of Corvus (click the link to pre-order from Amazon US), the sequel to Paul Kearney‘s first Macht novel, The Ten Thousand (reviewed here). Here’s the blurb for you:
It is twenty-three years since a Macht army fought its way home from the heart of the Asurian Empire. The man who came to lead that army, Rictus, is now a hard-bitten mercenary captain, middle-aged and tired. He wants nothing more than to lay down his spear and become the farmer that his father was. But fate has different ideas. A young warleader has risen to challenge the order of things in the very heartlands of the Macht. A soldier of genius, he takes city after city, and reigns over them as king. What is more, he had heard of the legendary leader of the Ten Thousand. His name is Corvus, and the rumours say that he is not even fully human. He means to make himself absolute ruler of all the Macht. And he wants Rictus to help him.
And here’s the cover, in all its awesomeness (yeah, I guess I’m a bit biased – we’re talking Macht here, people!):
Click here for a link to Solaris’ blog, where you’ll be able to download the chapter. I’ve got a feeling that I’m going to be hounding Jonathan Oliver for a copy of this one…
Oh, and just because I’m such a fan of the Macht (these guys are, for me, in the same class as Steven Erikson’s Bridgeburners), here’s the cover for the third novel, the awesomely titled The Kings of Morning:
Cannot wait to disappear into these novels!
Be EPIC!
Angry Robot News: Jo Anderton Signed for Minimum of Two Novels
Check out the details below – Jo’s ‘Veiled Worlds’ novels sound great and are sure to generate a massive following for her. Angry Robot sure knows how to walk that cutting-edge line as if it was a wide highway.
PRESS RELEASE:
Angry Robot signs debut novelist for a Manga-inspired science fantasy epic
New Australian author Jo Anderton has signed with genre masterminds Angry Robot for at least two novels in her Veiled Worlds series. The worldwide deal, covering physical books and eBooks, was done by agent Anni Haig-Smith and Angry Robot’s publishing director, Marc Gascoigne. Debris will be published in the autumn of 2011, with direct sequel Suited to follow in 2012.
Series opener Debris introduces us to Tanyana, leader of a energy-harvesting team. Following an accident, she’s dismayed to be demoted to little more than a garbage collector, but it soon becomes obvious she’s been manipulated into that role by the faceless faction she calls the Puppet Men, to uncover a world-shattering secret.
Angry Robot’s man with the cheque book Marc Gascoigne said, “With the ever-increasing popularity of Japanese and Korean anime, manga and computer games, it’s been surprising that there hasn’t been more SF and fantasy showing its influence. Debris’s mix of SF and fantasy themes, exotic future-medieval settings, Dune-esque warring factions, and a fabulous kick-ass heroine is exactly the sort of on-trend science fiction Angry Robot was set up to publish. We’re damned pleased to have Jo on board.”
Jo added, “I’ve been reading Angry Robot books since their first giant, metallic steps and absolutely loving them. Debris started out as an idea about a magical version of the industrial revolution and a scarred garbage collector who saves the world, but still has to pay her rent. Add a few motley companions, a pinch of probably-misinterpreted quantum physics, and far too much time spent in front of various Final Fantasy video games. I’m thrilled my books have found a home at Angry Robot.”
Sounds damn cool! I’m very interested to see how a manga-inspired story mixes with hard SF, and there’s no doubt that we can expect kickass cover art, too.
Be EPIC!
Apologies for the Mini Hiatus!
Hey Everyone, I just wanted to let you all know that I’m having major internet connectivity problems at the moment – my ISP has been doing everything they can to try and help and sort out the problem, but the company that we rent our ADSL line from has proved to be an excellent example of crap service.
Yes, Telkom, I’m pointing my finger at YOU. The technician was booked on Sunday, people, and today is Thursday… You’re the most expensive ISP out there, surely your service should warrant your exorbitant costs? Or is that too much to ask? *grumble*
Anyway.
Don’t forget – I’m still running a giveaway for a set of Greg Hamerton’s novels, The Riddler’s Gift and Second Sight – the giveaway is running until October 5th and is open to SA residents only, so check out the details here.
When I return (and I wish I could tell you when, I really do), I’ll have a review of Christie Golden’s second Fate of the Jedi novel and audio book, Allies, and also a look at what Penguin Books SA has on the shelves this month in terms of SFF.
Until then, and as always,
Be EPIC!
