Penny Thomas, Publisher at children’s and YA publisher Firefly Press has acquired UK English rights in multi-award-winning Welsh language novel The Blue Book of Nebo by Manon Steffan Ros, from Christopher Combemale at Sterling Lord Literistic, Inc.
A prize-winner in three categories of the 2019 Wales Book of the Year Award and Winner of the 2018 National Eisteddfod Prose Medal, The Blue Book of Nebo (Llyfr Glas Nebo) is a spellbinding and minutely observed story of Dylan and his mother who survive the year ‘The End’ comes.
Isolated in their lonely hillside home near Nebo in north Wales, with no idea what has happened to the world they knew before it was destroyed in a devastating attack, mother and son begin to confide their experiences, memories and secrets in a notebook – the Blue Book of Nebo.
What unfolds is a compelling and intimate account of what is left behind when everyday 21 st century life vanishes; and a changing relationship as Dylan grows up in a world like no other, where he must protect his small family, and still keep his own secrets.
‘This is a subtle and beautifully told story of survival and adolescence against an eerie and unsettling backdrop, that will speak to YA and adult readers alike,’ said Thomas. ‘We are very proud to be publishing this book, which has been adapted into English by the author.’
Manon Steffan Ros said: ‘It’s an honour to be able to work with a publishing house that I have admired since its beginnings. I’m excited about sharing The Blue Book of Nebo with a new audience, and am delighted that it has found a new home with Firefly.’
The Blue Book of Nebo has so far sold in eight territories, including France, Spain, Poland, Egypt and the US. It will be publishing in the UK in PB in January 2022.
Firefly Press have contracted Louise Forshaw to illustrate Major and Mynah by Karen Owen, slated for publication in summer 2022.
Karen Owen, author
Louise Forshaw, illustrator
Karen Owen fell in love with books and stories at a young age. She read whenever and wherever she could. She’s been a journalist, a creative writing teacher, and an author.
Karen has written stories (real and imaginary) on everything from noisy elephants to the nomads of Mongolia. She is the author of picture books As Quiet as a Mouse (Maverick Arts Publishing) and I Could Be, You Could Be (Barefoot Books). Karen was brought up in Kent and currently lives in London. Find out more at www.karenowen.co.uk and on Twitter @AuthorKarenOwen
Louise Forshaw is an illustrator lives in a small town in the North East just outside Newcastle upon Tyne with her fiancé and 3 noisy Jack Russell Terriers.
Studying Illustration and Animation at Newcastle College, she graduated in 2008 before turning her attention to children’s books. To date, Louise has illustrated over 50 children’s books and is probably best known for her work on the ‘Busy’ series with Campbell Books and the ‘Find Out About’ series with Pat-a-Cake. When not drawing, Louise loves watching animated films and adding to her already overflowing ‘to be read’ pile and reading lots of books. Find her on Twitter and Instagram @Munkey_Pants
In Major and Mynah things are being stolen all over town, but 9-year-old Callie Major has other things to worry about – her dreaded new hearing aids, ‘The Slugs’. But when she meets Bo, an abandoned Mynah bird, she discovers something amazing; thanks to her new hearing aids, she can hear him! Can she use her Slugs to help catch the thief and save the day?
Firefly Press is publishing The Song that Sings Us, an epic environmental adventure novel by renowned children’s author Nicola Davies. The title publishes as a gift hardback this autumn, complete with stunning cover and chapter head illustrations by award-winning illustrator Jackie Morris.
Harlon has been raised to protect her younger siblings, twins Ash and Xeno, and their outlawed power of communicating with animals. But when the sinister Automators attack their mountain home they must flee for their lives. Xeno is kidnapped and Harlon and Ash are separated.
In a thrilling and dangerous adventure each must journey alone through the ice fields, forests and oceans of Rumyc to try to rescue the others and fulfil a mysterious promise about a lost island made to their mother.
‘Nicola Davies has written a thrilling rollercoaster adventure which is also a love-song to our planet,’ said editor Penny Thomas. ‘It’s a rare and wonderful combination with an urgent, deeply moving and profoundly hopeful story to tell.’
Award-winning illustrator, Jackie Morris, said: ‘This book has the feel of an absolute modern classic about it … with stunning characters and sublime poetry wrapped around action. Hope and beauty are a hard song to sing, but Nicola does, and this is it. Her work shines.’
The Song that Sings Us is for ages 12+ and will publish as a gift hardback edition (£14.99) on October 14th ahead of the UN Climate Change Summit in November. It is available to pre- order from the Firefly Press website [https://fireflypress.co.uk/books/the-song-that-sings- us/]
Firefly is also releasing limited edition signed proofs with exclusive pencil-drawn cover artwork from Jackie and a letter from Nicola to trade next month. Booksellers who would like to receive a signed proof are asked to contact hello@fireflypress.co.uk.
