Self-published YA author Kit Berry sold world rights to her Stonewylde series to Senior Commissioning Editor Gillian Redfearn at Gollancz via agent Piers Russell-Cobb of MediaFund Limited.
Publicist Jonathan Weir describes the series: “Hidden away in the heart of Dorset, Stonewylde is a self-sufficient, closed community, in tune with the natural world and resources around them. It’s an idyll, an Eden of ancient woodlands, standing stones, and traditional rural crafts and traditions, and it’s protected and ruled over by the Magus of Stonewylde, a powerful, charismatic, handsome man dedicated to his people. For Sylvie, a young girl dying in hospital, Stonewylde could be more than a paradise: it could save her life… but for all the harmony of this world, there is something dark lurking at its heart. The magic of Stonewylde could save her… but at what price?”
Commenting on the deal, Redfearn said “I’m delighted that Kit Berry has joined the Gollancz list. The Stonewylde books are a breath of fresh air, a multi-faceted series with something that will reach out to every reader, and a character to touch every heart. Kit herself has an amazing story as well: her success as a self-published author is amazing, there’s a wonderful tale behind how she came to write the novels—with magic, romance, and a spirited battle against the publishing odds.”
Berry said “I’m thrilled with the brilliant publishing deal secured by my agent and delighted to be working with Gillian Redfearn and the Gollancz team. It’s a tough old world for a self-published author and most give up fairly quickly, but I’ve been very lucky in gaining a substantial band of die-hard Stonewylde readers who’ve helped me promote the series over the years. With a major publisher such as Orion behind me, Stonewylde should now move beyond cult status and become a household name.”
Gollancz expects to publish the first four books in the series—Magus of Stonewylde, Moondance of Stonewylde, Solstice at Stonewylde, and Shadows at Stonewylde—in 2011.
Berry is a mother of four and a former teacher who lives in Reading, Berkshire. She quit teaching to become a full-time, self-published author.