Potter illustrator Taylor in move to Walker

Thomas Taylor, illustrator of the original Harry Potter editions, has signed a six-figure deal with Walker for a new trilogy.

Walker duo Denise Johnstone-Burt (UK) and Susan Van Metre (US) jointly acquired world rights to Malamander, set in a seaside town, and two further titles in a trilogy of the same name.

Malamander is told from the perspective of Herbert Lemon, the Lost-and-Founder of the Grand Nautilus Hotel, who tries to unite objects that have been left at the hotel with their owners. Other characters in the story include Violet Palma, who is lost and needs to be found, and the eponymous Malamander, who controls people’s dreams.

The trilogy was signed for a six-figure sum, after an eight-way auction, from Kirsty McLachlan at David Godwin Associates. Walker will publish Malamander in May 2019.

Taylor created the original cover for J K Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and will illustrate the series throughout. He has also signed up to illustrate a graphic novel edition of Anthony Horowitz’s The Falcon’s Malteser for Walker Books.