Egmont snaps up new Laura Ellen Anderson series

Egmont has snapped up a new illustrated fiction series by Amelia Fang creator Laura Ellen Anderson.

World rights in all languages for three books in Rainbow Grey were bought by Lindsey Heaven, fiction publishing director, and Sarah Levison, senior editor, from Helen Boyle at Pickled Ink. The first book, Rainbow Grey and the Weather Magic, will publish in July 2021 in paperback, at £6.99.

"Ray Grey’s life at Madame Lucille’s Home for Orphans is anything but exciting. Her days are cloudy and dull . . . until the day Ray discovers that she’s a Weatherling ‚Äì a member of a rare, magical group with the ability and responsibility to control the climate," reads the synopsis.

Heaven said: "Laura Ellen Anderson is one of the most talented, creative and magical people I know. It is no surprise that her debut series Amelia Fang was such an instant bestseller and favourite of children and parents alike. And in this brilliantly exciting new series Rainbow Grey, with her trademark sparkling writing, wonderful sense of humour and delicious artwork, Laura has created what is destined to be a children’s classic of the future. We are so very proud to be publishing Rainbow Grey at Egmont and for young readers everywhere to discover a new fantasy world of weather magic that is both timely and timeless."

Anderson added: "I am over the moon (or should I say, rainbow) that Rainbow Grey has found a colourful home at Egmont and I can’t wait to introduce her to the world next year. I hope that readers will enjoy discovering Rainbow’s exciting new life with her Weatherling friends as much as I’ve enjoyed creating it."

Rainbow Grey is Anderson’s second series with Egmont. Her first, Amelia Fang, has sold 180,000 English language copies across two years, with rights sold in 21 languages, according to Egmont. Anderson has sold 137,602 books for £704,743 to date in the UK through TCM, with the Amelia Fang series currently on 118,948 copies sold in total, according to Nielsen.

Amelia Fang and the Bookworm Gang was published as a £1 World Book Day title this March and Anderson is the official illustrator for the 2020 Summer Reading Challenge. The final two instalments in the Amelia Fang series will publish this February and October.