Children’s/YA author Cornelia Funke is changing US publishers. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers signed a multi-book deal with her, taking her future books away from current publisher Scholastic (and their Chicken House imprint).
Talking about the deal, Little, Brown BFYR Publisher Megan Tingley said “Cornelia Funke is that rare breed of writer in the tradition of the master storytellers from the Brothers Grimm and Charles Dickens to Roald Dahl and Philip Pullman. We are honored to be the new US publishing home of this magnificent talent.” Editorial Director Jennifer Hunt will be Funke’s editor.
Under the terms of the deal, Little, Brown has acquired North American rights for a publishing program that will include middle-grade and young adult novels, as well as a picture book. The first book to appear under the deal will be the novel Reckless, about two modern brothers in a magical 19th century world reminiscent of Grimm’s fairy tales. The book is scheduled for publication in 2010, and will be followed by the middle-grade novel The Knight and the Boy.
Scholastic finished publishing Funke’s Inkheart trilogy a few weeks ago, with the publication of Inkdeath. A film adaptation of Inkheart (the first book in the series) is scheduled to open on 23 January 2009. The New Line Cinema film stars Brendan Fraser, Helen Mirren, and Paul Bettany.