Penny Thomas, publisher at children’s and YA publisher Firefly Press, has acquired UK and Commonwealth rights in The Cyber Ciphers of Eartha Quicksmith by Loris Owen from Anne Clark of Anne Clark Literary Agency.
Best friends Kip, Albert, Leela, and Timmi uncover a new series of ingeniously hidden riddles from Renaissance luminary Eartha Quicksmith, propelling them on a perilous quest to find the missing eyepiece of the Futurescope. Aided by big-hearted android Incognita, they set sail in Eartha’s extraordinary vessel, The Salamander, and journey through an ocean of transparent metal beneath the Earth’s crust. Captured by the tyrannical Nexus organisation, they must use all their skills to escape the ice floes of the North, with the help of mysterious new allies. As the Grittleshank Cooperative’s smoulderstone mine threatens global catastrophe, Kip faces an impossible choice: stop them or save his captive mother.
“Sideways thinking is very close to my heart, as something my dad taught me.” said Owen. “I’m thrilled that this third story in the Quicksmiths series will be told, and hope that its riddles, twists, lifelore and indestructible friendships give readers the elements they need to change their world.”
Thomas said, “Loris’ incredible powers of invention are second to none! She champions science, invention, friendship and teamwork in this remarkable trilogy which makes for a fascinating, fun and exhilarating read!’
The novel is slated for publication in spring 2025.
Penny Thomas, publisher at award-winning children’s and YA publisher Firefly Press, has acquired UK and Commonwealth Rights to VANISHING EDGE by Zillah Bethell from Julia Churchill at A.M. Heath.
Set somewhere between Port Talbot’s Sandfields estate and the horizon, Vanishing Edge is a dreamlike, fantastical novel, structured by the town’s omnipresent steelworks.
A postcard to the love-hate relationship between best friends, and the love-hate relationship with your hometown, the novel pulses with the tidal pull and push of family ties, and with dreams of escape.
One day Apricot Jones wakes up to graffiti on her front door, and a man in a black Jaguar who calls himself the Baglan Giant looking for her mum, Carys. Apricot and her best friend Charlie must find the secret that Carys is keeping and come to terms with the losses in their own lives while reaching out for new beginnings. But who is the boy waiting for Apricot in the speedboat beyond the breakers…
Vanishing Edge is a darkly comic tale of what it means to be alive, seventeen and living in Port Talbot.
Penny Thomas said: ‘Zillah Bethell has been one of my favourite writers for many years. Her writing is by turns fantastical, direct, elusive and joyous, and always pushes the boundaries. In this dreamlike portrayal of life for two teens in the steelwork’s town of Port Talbot, she manages to bring us a realism that isn’t gritty, humour, pathos and, as always, food for thought!’
Zillah Bethell said: ‘Under the steerage of Penny Thomas, Firefly is doing hugely exciting things in publishing which I’m super-honoured to be a part of.’
Slated for publication in March 2025, Vanishing Edge is the first in a series of short novels for children and young adults inspired by life in contemporary Wales. Books to follow include titles from Emma Smith-Barton and Patience Agbabi. The initiative is supported by the Books Council of Wales.
Huge congratulations to Nicola Davies whose stunning adventure novel Skrimsli has won the Wales Book of the Year Children’s Book Award 2024!
Illustrated by Jackie Morris, this epic prequel to The Song that Sings Us tells the thrilling story of a tiger sea-captain, a boy called Owl, a desert princess, a horse with a heart of gold and many others as they fight to save their worlds from war, hate and environmental destruction. Born into captivity in a circus, Skrimsli must work out where he belongs in a world ruled by human fear and greed. But he soon finds he has friends in many places, and that fear is not the only story…
Jackie said: There are few characters that are so dear to my heart as Skrimsli, the tiger captain, born in the imagination of one of Wales’ finest writers, and now roaming the wild. It is a real honour that the strength of this tale has been recognised by Wales Book of the Year. This book is born of truth and carries a great green message, about how to make a better world. It is also a rip-roaring adventure. So proud to have played a small part in its creation.
Firefly publisher Penny Thomas said, ‘Massive congratulations to Nicola and Jackie, and a huge thank you to the judges for picking this stunning and important book from an outstanding field of Welsh writing for children in English, which also included wonderful authors Atinuke and Lesley Parr.
‘This was also a tremendous night for Firefly which has never won a Wales Book of the Year award before. I am so proud of this awesome story and all it stands for: inclusion, kindness and forces for good in a environmmentally threatened world. If you want change, you have to write it!’
To celebrate Skrimsli’s win, we’re running a limited time offer for 50% off the hardback gift edition of both Skrimsli and The Song That Sings Us.
Firefly is roaring forward this weekend as hard on the hells of Skrimsli the tiger, our heartwarming story, Call me Lion by Camilla Chester is shortlisted for the UKLA awards, with the ceremony taking place tonight.
Skrimsli is the second fantasy adventure from author Nicola Davies set in a world where animals and humans can sometimes share their thoughts. It traces the early life of Skrimsli, the tiger sea captain who, along with his friends, Owl and Kal, must escape the clutches of a tyrannical circus owner, then stop a war and save the ancient forest.
Also in the series:
Harlon has been raised to protect her younger siblings and their outlawed power of communicating with animals. But when the sinister Automators attack, they must flee for their lives. In a thrilling adventure they must all journey alone through ice fields, forests and oceans to try to rescue each other and fulfil a mysterious promise.
YALC (Young Adult Literature Convention) has fast become a popular event bringing together fantastic authors, publishers and readers for two packed days of YA events, writing workshops, book signings, book-themed activities and more!
WORKSHOP: Lie or Die with A.J. Clack (approx 1 hour) Saturday 16th November 2024
Join author A.J. Clack for a live game of Lie or Die (similar to Mafia/Werewolf) influenced by her debut YA thriller Lie or Die. Perfect for fans of The Traitors!
Objective
Players must identify and eliminate both Agents before the Agents eliminate all Players in order to deactivate the Ticking Time Bomb.
Roles
Players – Players must uncover the Agents hidden among them, accuse and vote them out.
Agents – Disguised as Players, the Agents must work together to eliminate Players.
Detective – A Player with special abilities. They have the power to find out the status of one contestant of their choosing each round.
Do YOU have what it takes to survive?
PANEL: Intense Intent (approx 45 mins) Saturday 16th November 2024
The thriller genre is ever popular and continues to send chills down the spines of readers as they attempt to unravel the mysteries of these amazing books. Join our authors to hear about how they go about their writing and see if ‘who done it’ is always the same person as they thought it would be when they started writing the book.
A.J. Clack, Holly Jackson, Jennifer Lynn Barnes, Kayvion Lewis (Chair)
Penny Thomas, Publisher at award-winning children’s and YA publisher Firefly Press, has acquired world rights in MG novel The Haunted Life of Delores Mackenzie, the much-anticipated sequel to 2023’sThe Dark and Dangerous Gifts of Delores Mackenzie,from Edinburgh-based author Yvonne Banham.
The title publishes this autumn with another stunning cover from illustrator Nathan Collins.
Paranormal students Delores and Prudence are being hounded by inquisitors after they broke the rules and helped rescue a fellow student from death at the hands of an evil spirit. Cruel inquisitor Magoria Jepp is searching for secrets at their home in Edinburgh’s Tolbooth Bookstore. But does she have an uncanny history of her own to hide?
As Delores tries to save herself and her housemates, she attracts the unwelcome attention of a murderous Boçan, or evil spirit, intent on stealing her paranormal gifts.
Can Delores defeat her enemies, and maybe her own family too, to save everyone she loves at the Tolbooth?
‘I love the whole creepy, gothic, sensation-rich world that Yvonne has created around Delores and the Tolbooth Bookstore,’ said Thomas. ‘With beguiling, original characters, subtle relationships, and a real sense of danger, this is an adventure which even includes a grumpy, sherbert-straw-munching gargoyle with a blue blanket. What’s not to love?’
Yvonne Banham said: ‘I had such a great time working on the first Delores Mackenzie book with Penny Thomas and the Firefly team, so it was an absolute joy to find out I’d be working with them on more spooky adventures in Edinburgh Old Town. I knew I hadn’t finished causing problems for Delores and it’s been a lot of fun writing some darkly ghoulish new ones.’
The novel is slated for publication 12th September 2024.
Praise for The Dark and Dangerous Gifts of Delores Mackenzie:
