A press release from HarperCollins Children’s Books:

Ruth Alltimes, Fiction Publishing Director, has agreed UK and Commonwealth rights in a one book deal with agent Laura Cecil, to publish Diana Wynne Jones‘ posthumous novel, The Islands of Chaldea.

The Islands of Chaldea is Diana’s last book, written just before she died and completed by her sister Ursula, also an award winning author. HarperCollins Children’s Books has long been delighted to be the home of such an enduring, revered and influential writer of truly magical fantasy. The book will publish in a gorgeous hardback edition in March 2014, with the paperback following in 2015.

The Islands of Chaldea has all the hallmarks of Diana Wynne Jones’ very best books – it is funny, fantastical and packed with adventure. Set amongst a group of four warring islands the novel weaves a compelling tale of a king’s son held for ransom behind an enchanted forcefield, while a young girl and her bossy White Witch aunt set out to fight its powerful magic. Along the way they encounter a giant invisible cat, a very fiery lizard and a boy and his gas air balloon that relies on singing to keep it afloat. An unexpected and uniquely humorous picaresque adventure follows. Ursula Jones said ‘Working on the ending of The Islands of Chaldea I think I became even closer to my sister than I was during her lifetime. I began to feel as if Diana was leaning over my shoulder. So writing the last sentence was an unbearable second parting from her: as if she had died again.’

Ruth Alltimes added, “I feel privileged to have the opportunity to publish this final book from such a treasured and talented author. Especially when the book itself is so delightful – packed with magical twists and turns to keep you guessing from beginning to end. Ursula has done an amazing job of tying together the several story strands that Diana so expertly set in motion – we are very lucky to have had someone with such an intimate and meaningful connection to Diana in a position to help bring the book through the final writing stages to publication.”

Diana Wynne Jones’ first children’s book was published in 1973. Her fantasy adventures have enthralled children and adults ever since, and she has inspired many of today’s best children’s and fantasy authors. Some of Diana’s most beloved books include the classic Chrestomanci stories and her novel Howl’s Moving Castle which was made into an award-winning film. She was described by Neil Gaiman as “the best children’s writer of the last 40 years”.

Ursula Jones trained as an actress at RADA and soon after began writing plays and stories for children, including the award-winning The Witch’s Children picture books, illustrated by Russell Ayto. She now lives and works in London and France.