Penny Thomas, Publisher at children’s and YA publisher Firefly Press has acquired UK and Commonwealth rights in Summer Under The Stars by author Kate Mallinder from Hannah Sheppard at DHH Literary Agency.
In the sequel to the much-loved Summer of No Regrets, the four friends drive across France in what should be the holiday of a lifetime.
But Sasha feels as if her dad’s wedding will be the end of her relationship with him; Cam is reeling from being rejected by her birth grandparents; Hetal is doing badly in school for the first time; and Nell’s in love and afraid she’ll lose Tom if she’s away too long.
They need to rekindle their friendship. They need a road trip to end all road trips. They need a summer under the stars.
‘This novel is a summer holiday in a book,’ said editor Janet Thomas. ‘I’m so delighted that we’re publishing this book. It’s full of Kate’s wise understanding of friendship. It’s a great read and an escape, and it’s also very wise, particularly on difficult families, first love and perfectionism. Readers are going to love it, and it’s such a joy to be working with Kate again.’
Kate Mallinder said: ‘I’m thrilled to continue working with the lovely Firefly team, and for the opportunity to write more adventures for Sasha, Hetal, Cam and Nell.’
The novel is slated for publication in Spring/Summer 2023.
Award-winning children’s and YA publisher Firefly Press has launched a competition to find the best new stories for children and young adults, by writers from Wales.
Launched on St David’s Day, the competition hopes to discover new authors, writing for children. With three separate age groups to write for (age 7-9, 9-12 and 12-18), three winners will be selected by top children’s authors Catherine Fisher, Catherine Johnson and Malachy Doyle and Firefly Publisher Penny Thomas. The winner of each category will win a one-to-one editorial session with a Firefly editor and the overall winner will win a place on a Literature Wales’ Tŷ Newydd Writing Centre residential course in 2023 (subject to availability).
The competition is for a story written in English by writers either based in Wales or who have grown up in the country. Entry is free to ensure that it is accessible to as many writers as possible and Firefly actively welcomes entries by writers from underrepresented communities. The entry must be an original story, all the author’s own work, and the competition is open to published and unpublished writers.
Firefly Press is an independent children’s and YA publisher based in Wales, established in 2013. Firefly is the winner of the Wales Small Press of the Year British Book Awards (NIBBIES) 2020 and 2021, and currently shortlisted for 2022. We publish quality fiction for 5-19 years olds and authors include former Children’s Laureate Wales Eloise Williams, Horatio Clare, Catherine Fisher, Jennifer Killick, Luke Palmer and Nicola Davies among many others.
Firefly Publisher Penny Thomas said: ‘Firefly is keen to find the next generation of children’s writers from Wales, particularly from underrepresented communities. If you write, or want to write great stories for young people, we’d love to hear from you, so please be brave, go ahead and enter.’
Sarah Todd Taylor, winner of the first Firefly writing competition in 2013 said: ‘Winning the Firefly prize was the start of an exciting adventure in children’s publishing. It gave me confidence in my writing and the chance to have Arthur and Me published by an amazing team who were truly interested in the story and were so kind and supportive of me as a debut writer. It brought me the friendship of other Firefly authors too – it really is a very special publisher. There is nothing quite like the thrill of seeing a book in a shop with your name on the spine. Now I’m editing my sixth book, and it all began by pressing send on an entry to the Firefly prize. I’d encourage anyone who wants to write for children to enter this fantastic competition.’
Entries open from 1 March and close on 24 April. Winners will be announced in October 2022. For full information on how to enter please visit our dedicated page here.
Penny Thomas, Publisher at award-winning children’s and YA publisher Firefly Press, has acquired world rights in non-fiction title Fantastic Football, the second instalment in the Stupendous Sports series by author Robin Bennett, from Joanna Moult at Skylark Literary.
Full of facts, funny stories, and crazy cartoons by Matt Cherry, the series aims to do for PE what Horrible Histories did for Friday afternoon history lessons.
Hilarious (hopefully), irreverent (probably), but factually correct (obviously), this action-packed book is about the spirit of the beautiful game as much as the rules. Covering the history of football, the future of the game including the rise in women’s football and the continuing importance of diversity, Fantastic Football also features a practical section on player positions, skills and tricks.
Illustrations by Matt Cherry Design by Becka Moor
‘Football is a hugely loved sport, and this fun and factual guide for primary school readers is a terrific second title in Firefly’s innovative Stupendous Sports series, coming as it does, ahead of the 2022 World Cup’ said Firefly Publisher Penny Thomas. ‘And cartoons are definitely the best way to explain the offside rule as far as I can see!’
Robin Bennett said: ‘Fantastic Football was brilliant to write. It’s aimed not just at young players but readers who want something fun and funny to dip into and, like the game itself, to share with friends. Fantastic Football is a team read!’
The book is slated for publication in early autumn 2022, ahead of the FIFA World Cup in November.
Huge congratulations to Luke Palmer, whose hard-hitting YA debut Grow has been longlisted for the 2022 Yoto Carnegie Medal!
Grow has also been longlisted for the 2022 Branford Boase Award and was featured on the Sunday Times 2021 Books of the year list.
Publisher and editor Penny Thomas said: ‘We’re so delighted to see Luke’s debut novel longlisted for both these prestigious awards this month. Grow is a brave, timely novel and a great read, raising difficult issues with honesty. It also marks Luke’s arrival as a YA writer and a talent to watch for the future.’
Janet Thomas, Editor at award-winning children’s and YA publisher Firefly Press has acquired world English rights in Libby and the Highland Heist, the second installment in The Travelling School Mysteries by author Jo Clarke, from Alice Williams at Alice Williams Literary.
After a tumultuous term in Paris, Libby and Connie are looking forward to a quiet holiday at Connie’s family home. But before long they find themselves caught up in another mystery, this time set against the dramatic backdrop of the Highlands and Edinburgh.
‘We are so thrilled to be publishing Libby’s second adventure,’ said editor Janet Thomas. ‘With snowy Highland mansions, the beauties of Edinburgh, forged paintings, secret passageways and the best of friendships, Jo’s readers are going to absolutely love it, especially combined with Becka Moor’s superb illustrations.’
Author Jo Clarke
Jo Clarke said: ‘Working with Firefly Press on my debut, Libby and the Parisian Puzzle, has been an absolute joy, so I am delighted to be following on with the next instalment in The Travelling School Mysteries. I have had so much fun writing an elaborate heist story for book two and can’t wait to collaborate with Becka Moor again. Her illustrations are wonderful and bring the story to life perfectly.’
The novel is slated for publication in spring 2023.
Penny Thomas, Publisher at award-winning children’s and YA publisher Firefly Press, has acquired UK and Commonwealth rights in historical MG novel Honesty and Lies by former Children’s Laureate Wales Eloise Williams, from Kate Shaw at The Shaw Agency. The news was announced live during Firefly’s first Bookseller Preview Evening last night.
Winter in London, 1601. In a city where fortunes can rise or fall in a moment, Honesty and Lies is the tale of Alice and Honesty, two 13-year-old maids serving in Elizabeth I’s court. Both are trying to survive as storytellers in their own way – one wanting attention as a performer and one trying to pass unnoticed as a spy. In such a precarious world and with assassination attempts being planned behind closed doors, their friendship will put both their lives in danger.
‘Eloise has an amazing gift for creating characters MG readers will bond with and love. I love how accessible and ambitious her writing is. Her fantastic new book brings Elizabeth I’s court to life through two teenage maids, who both have to survive in a treacherous world with no family to protect them.’ said editor Janet Thomas. ‘The way they go from strangers to friends is unforgettable. I’m so excited we’re publishing Eloise again with this extraordinary story.’
Eloise Williams said: ‘I am delighted to be publishing another book with Firefly. My huge thanks to Janet Thomas and Kate Shaw for their cheerleading, expertise and belief in Honesty and Alice. I can’t wait for readers, young and old, to walk into this Elizabethan world.’
The novel is slated for publication in autumn 2022.
