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’s The 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:
