Andersen makes Ross its biggest fiction buy in years

Andersen Press has signed a Middle Grade fantasy series from Blue Peter Book Award-winner Ross MacKenzie, in what it called its “biggest fiction acquisition in recent years”.

Charlie Sheppard, Andersen publishing director, bought world rights at auction to Evernight and two further titles from Stephanie Thwaites at Curtis Brown. Andersen said it had been the subject of “huge interest” from foreign publishers at this year’s Bologna Children’s Book Fair.

Evernight is a “darkly magical adventure story with a strong mixed-race heroine”, pitched as “Northern Lights meets Nevermoor”. It features Larabell Fox, an orphan of the Silver Kingdom, who stumbles across a mysterious wooden box while treasure-hunting in the city’s sewers. It catapults her into a world of “magic, danger and a man who casts no shadow”.

Sheppard said: “Evernight has the perfect combination of magic, intrigue, twists and world-building that my inner child still can’t resist. I’m so pleased and proud to be publishing this book, and can’t wait to get it into the hands of children everywhere.”

Glasgow-based MacKenzie is the author of four Middle Grade titles, including 2015’s The Nowhere Emporium (Floris), which won the Blue Peter Book Award and also the Scottish Children’s Book Award.