Mae Penny Thomas, cyhoeddwr gyda’r wasg llyfrau plant ac oedolion ifanc Firefly Press, wedi sicrhau’r hawl gan Penguin Random House i gyhoeddi The Last Firefox, nofel gyntaf Lee Newbery. Mae hi’n nofel gyffrous, wedi’i hanelu at Gyfnod Allweddol 2, ac yn cynnwys lluniau gan Laura Catalán.
Dyma un o bedwar addasiad i’r Gymraeg fydd yn cael eu cyhoeddi gan Firefly yr hydref hwn, datblygiad newydd o bwys i’r wasg annibynnol hon, gwasg a enillodd nifer o wobrau. Mae’r tri arall yn addasiadau o lyfrau Firefly – The Clockwork Crow gan Catherine Fisher a dau lyfr ffeithiol, Fantastic Football a Rampaging Rugby gan Robin Bennett.
‘Sefydlwyd Firefly Press er mwyn cyhoeddi ffuglen dda yn Saesneg ar gyfer darllenwyr ym mhobman, ac mae hynny wedi bod yn llawer mwy llwyddiannus nag y dychmygem y byddai yn y dyddiau cynnar ddeng mlynedd yn ôl,’ meddai’r cyhoeddwr Penny Thomas. ‘Ni fydd hynny’n newid, ond mae hwn yn gam cyffrous ar ein taith, lle byddwn yn gallu cyflwyno llyfrau gwych i ddarllenwyr Cymraeg yn ogystal. Fyddai ddim posib cael dwy stori well i ddechrau’r fenter na The Last Firefox a The Clockwork Crow, a gwych ydi gallu cyflwyno hiwmor gwallgof Rampaging Rugby a Fantastic Football (gyda chyflwyniad newydd gan Manon Steffan Ros) i ddarllenwyr Cymraeg hefyd. Hoffem ddiolch i Gyngor Llyfrau Cymru am eu cefnogaeth wych i’r fenter.
‘Rydym mor falch bod Lee’n ymuno â ni ar gyfer y fersiwn Gymraeg o’i nofel gyntaf, ac yn edrych ymlaen yn arw i’w chyhoeddi yn yr hydref.’
Mae The Last Firefox yn dilyn helyntion Charlie Challinor, ac yntau wedi cael ei wneud yn warchodwr dros dro i genau llwynog tân hudol, wrth iddo ddysgu y gall fod yn ddewr ac nad ydi bywyd efallai mor ddychrynllyd ag y credai.
Crëwyd yr addasiad, Y Llwynog Tân Olaf, gan Sian Northey, a bydd yn cyflwyno Charlie, Cadno a’u ffrindiau i gynulleidfa newydd yn yr iaith Gymraeg.
‘Rwy’n siarad Cymraeg, ac mae wedi bod yn nod gen i erioed i weld un o fy llyfrau’n cael ei gyfieithu i’r Gymraeg. Dw i wrth fy modd felly bod The Last Firefox wedi cael cartref gyda Firefly,’ medd Lee Newbery. ‘Mae’r iaith Gymraeg yn dechrau ffynnu unwaith eto yng Nghymru ac mi ydw i’n edrych ymlaen i weld Y Llwynog Tân Olaf mewn siopau llyfrau, ysgolion a llyfrgelloedd ledled y wlad ac yn cael ei fwynhau gan blant o gartrefi Cymraeg a siaradwyr newydd!
Penny Thomas, publisher at award-winning children’s and YA publisher Firefly Press has acquired World rights in Bigfoot Island by Roderick O’Grady, from Abi Sparrow at the SP Agency.
The acquisition is the sequel to middle-grade tale Bigfoot Mountain – which portrays a remote and fragile North American environment where the legendary bigfoots still roam the forests. Now the harmonious natural world of Minnie, her stepfather, Dan, and young bigfoot, Kaayii, is threatened when intruders arrive by land and sea.
‘I am thrilled that Firefly is helping to continue the story of Minnie and Kaayii, as their adventures move over to Bigfoot Island,’ said O’Grady. ‘With five new characters, caves, canoes and surprises it was a joy to write.’
‘Bigfoot Mountain is a sensitive and evocative story of grief and healing in a beautifully realised natural world, and Bigfoot Island broadens and deepens this story,’ said Thomas. ‘We are delighted with this compelling sequel, which will publish in spring 2023.’
Bigfoot Island will again feature the evocative cover and internal illustrations of Jess Mason.
Praise for Bigfoot Mountain, selected for the Welsh SchoolsLoveReading project: ‘The book explores family, friendship, dealing with loss and the importance of protecting the environment. This will sweep you away to the mountains for a wild adventure.’ The Week Junior Book of the Week
‘A beautiful and engrossing tale of a mighty child, a magnificent forest and the mysteries which bind us all in the best ways – this is a rich and powerful book, a real triumph of love, wisdom and storytelling.’ Horatio Clare
‘Bigfoot Mountain transports readers into the heart of the forest and allows them to see the wild from the perspective of the beings who know it best. A skilful interweaving of modern family relationships and wilderness adventure.’ Nicola Davies
‘An innovative and moving story, filled with wonderful descriptions of the West Coast wilderness.’ Tyler Keevil
‘Bigfoot Mountain is a thoroughly enjoyable and satisfying read.’ Just Imagine
Firefly Press is looking to appoint an editorial assistant to work with our small Wales-based team to help us reach new and diverse audiences for our quality children’s fiction list for 5-19 year olds. The post is a fixed-term contract and could be full or part time with a mix of home and Cardiff-based office working.
The ideal candidate will have a strong, demonstrable working knowledge of, and a passion for, children’s and YA fiction. Experience in an editorial or bookselling role is an advantage but not essential. Training and support will be given, and the successful candidate will be expected to work alongside Firefly editors on all aspects of the editorial role.
For more information please email penny.thomas@fireflypress.co.uk or apply to the same address with your curriculum vitae, and a covering letter which includes potential strategies for reaching new and diverse readerships in children’s and YA fiction.
Deadline for applications – 24 August 2022
Firefly Press particularly welcomes applicants from underrepresented communities.
Firefly Press has contracted Tim Budgen to illustrate Michael the Amazing Mind-reading Sausage Dog by Terrie Chilvers, a funny and endearing tale for younger readers.
Michael’s dream is to go from being an unknown pup to a Hollywoof sensation and global superstar. But becoming famous is no walkies in the park…
Editor Leonie Lock said: ‘I immediately fell in love with Tim’s sketches of Michael, he’s absolutely captured his charm and extravagance. I’m very excited to see all of Michael’s waistcoats brought to life!’
‘I can’t wait to get started on bringing Michael and all his doggy friends to life!’ said Tim Budgen. ‘Terrie Chilvers has written a brilliantly funny story and I am thrilled to be working with her and the team at Firefly Press.’
The book is slated for publication in spring 2023.
Penny Thomas, Publisher at children’s and YA publisher Firefly Press has acquired World English rights in two middle-grade titles from award-winning Welsh language author Manon Steffan Ros, from Christopher Combemale at Sterling Lord Literistic, Inc. The two titles: Feather (Pluen), and Me and Aaron Ramsay (Fi ac Aaron Ramsay) are due to publish in 2024. The acquisition follows Firefly’s publication of Ros’ multi-award-winning YA title The Blue Book of Nebo (Llyfr Glas Nebo) this January, to significant acclaim.
‘The Blue Book Nebo is a stunningly beautiful novel in English as I’m sure it is in Welsh,’ said Thomas. ‘I have absolutely no doubt that Feather and Me and Aaron Ramsay will be terrific additions to our list too. We are very excited and feel privileged to be bringing more titles from Manon Steffan Ros to an English language readership with these two much-praised middle-grade novels.’
Exploring themes of friendship, family bonds and the history of conscientious objection in WW2, Feather is both modern and historical. Huw always pops in to see his nan on the way home from school – she bakes him cakes and never fusses about his homework. And so it’s a great shock when, one day, Nan forgets his name, and calls him Hywel – the long-unmentionable name of her late brother. As Nan slowly slips into the grip of dementia, Huw and his friends go on a quest to learn more about Hywel and what happened to him. The Welsh language original version, Pluen won Welsh children’s book award, the Tir na n’Og, in 2017.
Me and Aaron Ramsay tells the story of Sam and his dad who both love football, which is always there for them however tough real life becomes, until Dad’s dreams of football stardom go horribly wrong. It’s a story about hope, and about the complicated and often fractious relationship between father and son when the one interest they share is taken away from them.
‘I’m so excited to be joining the Firefly family once again to publish the adaptations of novels that are very close to my heart,’ said Ros.
Penny Thomas, Publisher at children’s and YA publisher Firefly Press, has acquired UK and Commonwealth (exc. Can) rights in Digging for Victory, an exciting and emotional MG debut by Cathy Faulkner, from Silvia Molteni at Peters Fraser and Dunlop.
Firefly Editor Leonie Lock said: ‘Cathy has written a truly breathtaking verse novel which is simultaneously clever and sensitive. Her words transport the reader back in time to skulk through the night, uncovering secrets with the feisty protagonist, Bonnie. I hope young readers find this title just as inspiring and moving as I do!’
Set in Devon in 1941, Digging for Victory tells the story of twelve-year-old Bonnie Roberts who is desperate to play a valuable part in the war effort. For her, tending the family vegetable patch just doesn’t cut it; she wants to be a hero like her RAF pilot brother, Ralph. But when the mysterious Mr Fisher is billeted at her farmhouse, and Ralph is reported missing in action, she starts to question what heroism actually involves. And as Bonnie attempts to find out who Mr Fisher really is, she embarks on a life-changing and emotional voyage of discovery.
Mr Fisher?
Mother asks, untying her apron.
He holds out his hand and gives a quick nod
but his face looks as frosty as the frozen fields behind him.
Come in, come in!
Mother shuts the door, hurriedly puts another log on the fire and the kettle on the stove.
But the cold has come in now.
And somehow, I think it’s here to stay.
Appealing to fans of Phil Earle and Emma Carroll, Digging for Victory is an emotional rollercoaster that brings verse fiction to a middle-grade audience.
‘I’m absolutely thrilled to be publishing a novel with Firefly,’ said Faulkner. ‘The team have been so welcoming and supportive, and it’s such a pleasure to feel so involved with the creative decision making even at this very early stage. I’ve had great fun writing Digging for Victory and can’t wait to see it in the hands of young readers.’
The novel is slated for publication in summer 2023.
