HarperCollins secures Baddiel until 2023 in new global four-book deal

HarperCollins has signed a new four-book deal with David Baddiel, securing the middle-grade children's author until 2023. 

The four-book deal, acquired by Ann-Janine Murtagh, executive publisher at HarperCollins Children’s Books, from Georgia Garrett at RCW. The first book in the deal, The Taylor Turbochaser, with illustrations by Steven Lenton, will publish in hardback on 17th October.

Murtagh said: “We are thrilled to be publishing more wonderful books with David Baddiel on the HarperCollins list in the years ahead. He is an exhilarating voice in the world of children’s books, and the energy and confidence of his writing is utterly compelling. I am especially proud to be publishing his latest book The Taylor TurboChaser, which is surely his boldest, bravest and most beautiful story yet!"

Baddiel added: “So I’ve signed a new deal with Harper Collins to do four more kids books, because it turns out I really love writing them - and none more so than The Taylor Turbochaser, my new story about Amy Taylor, a disabled petrolhead 11-year-old, whose inventor best friend pimps her wheelchair-ride into the most incredible roadster - and then she and her gang take it on the wildest road trip. Hopefully, there’s something in there for everyone, from eight- year-old Jodie Kidds to 13-year-old Jeremy Clarksons.” 

A road trip rollercoaster with a twist, The Taylor Turbochaser will follow the "unforgettable Amy Taylor, who loves cars, and dreams of being a driver. But there’s a major catch: her slow old wheelchair with its broken wheel. When Amy finally gets a new electric one, it’s exciting at first," the synopsis reads. "But standard engines only have so much power. And that’s where Rahul comes in – Amy’s best friend and genius inventor. Soon Rahul turns a wheelchair into a supercar! But when it all goes suddenly wrong, Amy is going to have to hit the road – and drive."

Murtagh added: "Baddiel puts his child protagonists in the driving seat of this fast-paced adventure, creating a brilliant road movie in a book. But at its core is a joyful, tender story of a girl with a heroic heart and who, with a little help from her friends, and an extraordinary fantastical SuperCar invention, The Taylor Turbochaser, sets off on a chase that is as heart  stopping as it is hilarious. I urge everyone young and old to read it; laugh, cry, and expect the surprises to keep coming till the end. It will be a major launch for us this Autumn and we look forward to building David Baddiel even more in the years ahead.” 

Since hitting the children's book market in 2014, Baddiel's children's novels, which have all been published by HarperCollins Children's, have been translated into 26 languages. He has sold 1.07 million children's books for £5.19m through BookScan, with his bestseller The Parent Agency, at 251,863 copies sold, optioned for film by Fox and a winner at the inaugural Laugh Out Loud Awards.