Jeff Smith, creator of the Bone series of graphic novels, signed a deal with publisher Scholastic (specifically, its Graphix imprint) to extend the series with several new books looking in new directions. The deal—negotiated by Vijaya Iyer for Cartoon Books/Jeff Smith and by David Saylor, Vice President, Creative Director of Trade Publishing and Editorial Director of Graphix—covers US, Canada, Philippines, and English Language rights.
The deal covers several new books: the first to be published will be Bone: Tall Tales written by Jeff Smith and Tom Sniegoski, and illustrated by Jeff Smith. This one will be published next summer, and feature new art and stories with favorite Bone characters.
Also covered under the deal is an expansion of the Bone world: the Quest for the Spark trilogy. The books are scheduled to appear in Fall 2010, Spring 2011, and Summer 2011, and will be overseen by Smith, written by Sniegoski, and illustrated by Smith. The trilogy will “represent the first time Smith has continued the adventures set in the valley since the publication of Rose, the prequel to the Bone“, which is coming out next month.
“Jeff Smith has hinted over the years that there’s more to discover in the world of Bone,” said Saylor. “So it’s an incredibly exciting moment for Scholastic and for fans of Bone that we’ll now be publishing books that extend and enrich Jeff’s brilliantly original series.”
“I always said I would find a way to draw more Bone stories, and now I have,” said Smith. “Tom is great to work with and we’re going to have a lot of fun!”
Smith began self-publishing the comic book Bone in 1991 and Scholastic launched the colorized versions for young readers in 2005. He is the winner of ten Eisner Awards and eleven Harvey Awards.
Sniegoski is the author of more than two dozen novels for adults, teens, and children, including the YA fantasy series Fallen, which was adapted into a trilogy of TV movies by ABC Family Channel.